History of the star of David
MAGEN DAVID: .
It was used by Jews in the third century. It is also found on a Hebrew seal discovered in Sidon and dating from the seventh century B.C./E. It began to appear frequently on synagogues from the sixteenth century on, when the influence of the Cabalistic Isaac Luria was spreading. It also appears side by side with the Menorah, which also has been called the shield of David.
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On the catacombs near Rome, where Jewish people are buried, the isignia “Magen David” is found as also on the wall surrounding the city of Jerusalem.
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Interesting note: George Washington ordered the symbol of thirteenstars on the reverse side of the National Seal so arranged in five rows [one-four-three-four-one] as to create the outline of the six-pointed Star [Magen David] to honor the Jew, Chaim Solomon, who literally financed the U.S. Government through the Revolution! .
The Shield of David, [or, more popularly known as the “Star of David”] is linked to the sacred Name of the L-rd, HaShem, which Jewish people do not pronounce. The Name is called “Tetragrammaton” and frequently has appeared in the center of the Magen David which custom was observed for centuries.
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It has been suggested that the combination of the triangles is taken from the ancient Hebraic signature of King David. The three letters of his name, Daled, Waw, Daled, by extension, compose a double triangle. .
Jewish teachers have held that the six points of the star represent the omnipresence of G-d in all directions: east, west, north and south, also up and down.
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The Hebrew term Magen David itself is made up of exactly six letters. Orthodox Jews claim that each point of this star stands for a Hebrew word spelling out the Shema, the great confession of Deut. 6:4 .
Others feel that when drawing the inner diagonals of the star one would come upon twelve triangles which might symbolize the position of the twelve tribes of Israel as encompased around the Tabernacle in the wilderness.
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There are those who maintain that there is an association between the six points of the star and the six measures of barley Boaz gave to Ruth, which symbolized the fact that six great people would stem from Ruth, foremost among these being King David.
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It has been interpeted to denote the seven days of the week. The center of the star, the most complete figure, being the Shabbat; the six outer triangles, the six week days.
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There are those who interpret it as symbolizing the six heroes of Israel: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, and Aaron. There are still others who consider it a symbol of the coming Messiah Who is scheduled to arrive after six thousand years. In this connection they claim the prophecy of Balaam in Numbers 24:17…There shall step forth a STAR out of Jacob, And a sceptre shall arise out of Israel.
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There are writings that state, when David was fighting the armies of Saul he asked the L-rd what he could put on their shields to distinguish the two armies apart, as they are to make no graven images, and that this is the symbol the L-rd gave him.
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To some Jewish scholars, the triangle pointing downwards to the earth, represents man in his triune being – body, soul, and spirit. The triangle pointing upwards toward heaven, according to a Jewish history of it, represents the G-dhead, a mystery which they feel will be explained when the Messiah comes!
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To us as Messianic Believers, it shows the Tri-Unity of G-d, reaching down to Tri-nature man, and in Messiah Yeshua, the two are brought into fellowship.
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| |———————————————-| | | | Sh’ma Yisrael HaShem Eloheinu HaShem Echad | | | | V’ahata et HaShem Elohekha b’khol l’vavcha | | | | oovkhol nafsh’kha ovvkhol me’odekha | | | |———————————————-| |
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