After he had sealed the crest of dragons, Solomon bade another demon to present himself.
And there came before him a spirit in woman's form, that had a head and half a body, but
without any limbs, for they were invisible, and her hair was disheveled.
And Solomon said to her: "Who are you?"
But she answered: "Nay, who are you?
And why do you want to hear concerning me?
But as I stand bound before your face, if you would learn, Go then into your royal storehouse
and wash your hands.
Then sit down afresh before your tribunal, and ask me
questions; and you shall learn, O king, who I am."
And Solomon did as she told him, so that he might hear of her deeds and the extent of
her powers, so that he might suppress them, and manifest them to men.
He sat down, and said to the demon: "What are you?"
And the demon said: "I am Obizuth as men call me, and I do not sleep nor tire.
By night, I go round over the world, and visit pregnant women who are due to give birth,
divining the hour I take my stand.As the woman goes into labour and as she pushes forth the
child, I go in for the child and make sure it does not live, for I strangle it to death.
But if I am not lucky, I retire to another place, and look for the next child and the
next.
I do not retire unsuccessful even for a single night, for I am a fierce spirit, known by
many names and able to take on many forms.
Indeed, Obizuth is a fierce demon, a very terrible one.
Known as Abyzou in European myths, and as Hal in Persian myths, she is said to cause
miscarriages and the death of new-borns, motivated by envy for what she could never have.
She was once human and could not beget a child, for she was infertile.
Some say she is the same as the Geek medusa, Medusa's head turned into a demon, but this
is likely not so, as they share no similarities, except that sometimes Obizuth appears with
a head full of snakes, similar to a gorgon, but as she said, she is a spirit of many forms.
And Solomon asked her, saying: "Where is your residence, Obizuth?"
And she answered: "Here and there do I roam, and like the sun, from the east to the west
do I go my rounds.
But as it is now, you have sealed me with the ring of God, yet you can do nothing.
I stand bound before you, but you will not be able to command me, For I have no work
other than the destruction of children, the making their ears to be deaf, the working
of evil to their eyes, the binding of their mouths and tongues with a bond so they shall
not speak, the ruining of their minds, and the affliction of pain in their bodies.
I can be of no other service."
When Solomon heard this, he again slowly beheld this demon and marveled at her appearance.
Her lower body was no where to be seen, for it was hidden by the darkness, or perhaps
she had none.
Her voice was clear, her eyes were bright and shiny, and her long but unkempt hair was
tossed wildly like that of a dragon.
And he said to her: "Tell me by what angel you are frustrated, O evil spirit?"
And the demon answered me: "By the angel of God called Afarôt, who is better known to
men as Raphael.
by him am I frustrated, now and for all time.
If his name be written on a woman in childbirth, then I shall not be able to enter her and
harm her child.
Having heard this, Solomon sealed Obizuth, and ordered her hair to be bound, and that
she be hung up in front of the Temple of God; so that all the children of Israel, may see
her as they passed, and glorify the Lord God of Israel, who had saved them from this evil,
by the authority, wisdom and power he had given to Solomon their king.