Definition
In the Grimoire of Arm-adel, Mathers edition, Beelzebub under the name of Belzebut is supposedly have joined Lucifer and Astaroth in telling the summoner abbot the rebellion and the fall of the angels. In the Sacred Magic of Abramelin the Mage Beelzebub has the metamorphoric power to change men into animals and animals into men.
He also sows discord. casts curses, and causes harm. He ranks as one of the eight sub-princes over all the demons.
The Meaning of Beelzebub
Its meaning is prince of the demons, also lord of the flies.
In the bible
Beelzebub first appears in the Old Testament in 2 Kings, being worshipped by the Philistines in the city of Ekron.
To him King Ahazah sent an oracle which greatly disturbed Elijah. Rabbinical literature interpreted Beelzebub as «King of Dunghill»; other interpretations have the title as «King (or) Lord of filth,» hence «Lord of Flies».
It should be noted «Lord of filth» is a more general title given the Devil, Satan, Lucifer, by those on the left-handed path believing in the power of these dark deities. For some filth and power are synonymous. «Lord of filth» also maybe derived from the Hebrew «Baalzebub» or «Prince Baal.» Phonetically the sound of «zebub» is similar to «zebel, ‘to make dung'» that the opposition to this demon-deity was able to interpret the name which ever way they wished.
Even though Beelzebub was called a false god in the Old Testament his place within the infernal hierarchy was confirmed in the New Testament. In Mathew 12:24 he is the «Prince of Demons».
It is in the 1863 edition of Collin de Plancy’s Dictionarie Infernal that Beelzebub is depicted as the infernal fly with a skull-and-crossbones motif on its wings. In the Grand Grimoire, Beelzebub, spelled Belzebuth, is named the Prince of Hell.
Frenchman Charles Berbiguier in his 1821 work says Beelzebub replaces Satan as ruler of Hell, giving him the regal title of Chief of the Infernal Empire and Founder of the Order of the Fly. In the True Keys of Solomon Beelzebub is said to co-rule with the demon Astaroth all the spirits of the Americas.
Beelzebub in the Testament of Solomon under the name of Beelzeboul claims primacy over all demons since he was not a child of an angel but an angel himself, the First Angel of the First Heaven prior to his fall.
This latter statement associates him with Shemyaza and Azazel of the Watcher tradition and also to Lucifer in more common demonology. As a result of his supposed exalted angelic status, Beelzeboul claims to answer only to one of the names of God.
Demonology and Beelzebub
Beelzebub was said to reign highest of the demons at the Black Mass. He also supposedly reigned over the witches’ Sabbaths in which the participants denied Christ, danced, and copulated with in and other demons during wild orgies.
Some said he appeared in the form of a fly (it is sometimes known as lord of the flies), but he apparently had other manifestations. He also is proclaimed to have been involved in the possession of the nuns in Louviers, France during the seventeenth century. A.G.H.
Sources:
Belanger, Michelle. The Dictionary of Demon: Names of the Damneds. Llewellen Publications. 2010. ebook. Bowker, John, The Oxford Dictionary of World Religions, New York, Oxford University Press, 1997, p.283 Cavendish, Richard. The Black Arts, A Perigee Book, New York. Berkley Publishing Group. 1967.p. 261
Guiley, Rosemary Ellen.The Encyclopedia of Witches and Witchcraft. New York: Facts On File.1989. p. 95