Mibzar and Magdiel are biblical figures designated as Dukes of Edom in the books of Genesis and Chronicles. Etymologically, Mibzar (Hebrew: מִבְצָר) translates to "fortress" or "stronghold," signifying a place of defense, containment, and rigid boundaries. Magdiel (Hebrew: מַגְדִּיאֵל) translates to "prince of God" or "the fruitfulness of God," representing a high, concentrated expression of power or divine emanation. Together, they represent the dual aspects of containment and active projection within the primordial Edomite hierarchy.

Position on the Tree of Life

In the Qabalistic schema, Mibzar and Magdiel are aligned with Yesod, the ninth Sephirah, which represents the Foundation. Yesod is the sphere of the astral light, the subconscious, and the generative forces. Within this sphere, these two Dukes represent the unbalanced, pre-creation forces (the "kings of old") that ruled before the establishment of the balanced Tree of Life. They show the raw, unrectified state of the astral foundation, where the "fortress" (Mibzar) can become a prison of stagnant energy, and the "prince" (Magdiel) can manifest as unbalanced pride or illusion.

Astrological and Planetary Correspondence

Yesod is traditionally ruled by the Moon (Luna). The lunar qualities of reflection, fluctuation, and the subconscious mind find their chaotic, unrectified counterparts in Mibzar and Magdiel. Mibzar represents the rigid, defensive shell of the ego-mind trying to fortify itself against the shifting tides of the astral waters, while Magdiel represents the illusory brilliance and deceptive glamours that often populate the lower astral plane.

Historical Context

The Dukes of Edom are detailed in Genesis 36 and 1 Chronicles 1. In Jewish mystical tradition, particularly within the Zohar and Lurianic Qabalah, Edom is identified with the World of Tohu (Chaos). The kings and dukes of Edom "ruled and died" because they lacked the balancing influence of the masculine and feminine principles. Magdiel, in rabbinic literature, was sometimes associated with Rome—specifically the spiritual archetype of Rome as the ultimate oppressor or the final kingdom of exile. In the context of the fall of the Edomite kings, Mibzar and Magdiel represent the final stages of the descent of light into the material vessel before it reaches the kingdom (Malkuth).

In Aleister Crowley's Liber 777, Mibzar and Magdiel are placed in the ninth scale step (Yesod) under the category of the Dukes of Edom. This placement highlights their role as the unbalanced astral foundations that must be purified and integrated to achieve spiritual stability.