Genesis Rabbah contains two references to a tradition that
may be related to the Alphabet of Ben
Sira, although probably not directly to Lilith. Here we
find a much earlier example of the idea that Eve was Adam's second
wife. But in this tradition the first woman is unnamed, and there
is no reason to think that she should be identified with Lilith.
In addition, the reason given for the failure of the first marriage
is entirely different than that given in the Alphabet.
Whereas Ben Sira has the problem center around sexuality and dominance,
R. Judah b. Rabbi has Adam apparently disgusted by seeing the
process of the woman being created "full of discharge and blood"
(although this may instead be a reference to menses).
In spite of these differences, this tradition certainly serves as a
probable source for Ben Sira. It may well be that Ben Sira's primary
contribution to the tradition is to connect the well known stories of
the demoness with the midrash of the failed prototype for Eve. [AH]
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