Satan is a pure Hebrew word, meaning Adversary. It is an ordinary word to designate a person, who stands in opposition. In Scripture it is specially used to designate the fallen spiritual being, commonly called the Devil. In this latter sense we give this sketch of his being, character, and activities.
The first mention of the name, Satan, in the Old Testament is found in 2 Chronicles 21:
"And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel."
Satan is mentioned fourteen times in Job 1 and 2. There is one mention in the Psalms:
" Set thou a wicked man over him: and let Satan [the adversary, N. Tr.] stand at his right hand " (Psalm 109:66Set thou a wicked man over him: and let Satan stand at his right hand. (Psalm 109:6)).
Finally the prophet, Zechariah, in a vision sees Satan standing at the right hand of the Angel of the LORD. We read: "And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is this not a brand plucked out of the fire? (Zech. 3:22And the Lord said unto Satan, The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan; even the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire? (Zechariah 3:2)).
These are the only instances where the name, Satan, occurs in the whole of the Old Testament.The word adversary as referring to Satan occurs in the New Testament in a passage which may come to the mind of the reader: " Your adversary the Devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour " (1 Peter 5: 8).
The word translated adversary in the above passage is the Greek word, antidikos, which is used to designate an opponent in a lawsuit. It is used to set forth the implacable nature of Satan as opposed to God, and His people, and His interests in this world. The word, Devil, is only found in the New Testament.
Despite the fewness of times that Satan, the Adversary, is mentioned in the Old Testament, there is no doubt but that he is the active agent behind the scenes. That Satan should provoke David to commit an evil act in numbering Israel shows how he is behind all the evil in the world.