Editing Shedim (section)

== Appearance ==
In early [[midrash]]im, shedim are corporeal beings. they take the form of men, but have no shadow (Yeb. 122a; Giṭ. 66a; Yoma 75a). Sometimes they are black goat-like beings ([[Kiddushin (Talmud)|Kiddushin]] 29a); other times, seven-headed dragons (Kiddushin 29a). They are occasionally called ''malʾake ḥabbala'' (angels of destruction) (Ber. 51a; Ket. 104a; Sanh. 106b). If a man could see them, he would lack the strength to face them, although he can see them by throwing the ashes of the fetus of a black cat around his eyes, or by scattering ashes around his bed he can trace their footprints similar to those of [[rooster|roosters]] in the morning ( Ber.6a). To see if the shedim were present, ashes were thrown to the ground or floor, which rendered their footsteps visible. In later Judaism, these entities developed into more abstract beings.

Shedim can [[shapeshifting|shapeshift]], sometimes assuming a human form, the Talmud telling how [[Asmodeus]] assumed [[King Solomon]]'s form and ruled in his place for a time.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Babylonian Talmud|pages=Gittin 68a}}</ref>

In the Zohar:<ref>{{Cite book|title=Zohar|pages=3:276a}}</ref> 
{{quote|The [[Shekhinah]] hid [[Esther]] from [[Ahasuerus]] and gave him a ''Shedah'' [a she-devil]<ref>{{Cite web|title=שדה {{!}} Definition of שדה at Definify|url=http://definify.com/word/%D7%A9%D7%93%D7%94|access-date=2021-10-18|website=definify.com}}</ref> instead while she returned to [[Mordecai|Mordechai's]] arms. [...] This is why a man must speak with his wife before he mates with her, because she might have been exchanged with a female demon.}}