THE STAR OF DAVID
by Avram Yehoshua
(Endnotes in red. Click on the number to go to endnote. Click the BACK button on your browser to return to the article)
A number of years ago, when the Lord was dealing with me about the
'Jewish' Star of David, my heart was bound up in the symbol. Being
raised Jewish it had much emotional meaning for me. When someone first
suggested that it wasn't kosher, and that I look into its history, I
became defensive. But, I did, and the more I looked into the matter, the
more I became convinced that I could not, in good conscience, continue
to use it on my stationary (letterhead and synagogue card), or wear it,
because it was not a biblical symbol but a pagan one. At best, it was a
profane (common), ordinary symbol, the innocent placing of two triangles
together. At worst, it was taken from the occult and introduced into
Judaism by the Kabala.1 But Kabala picked it up from the occult.
I found the following information upon a book marker. It read that the
Star of David was,
'In use for many centuries and in many cultures, the original hexagrams
were a part of ritual magic and cabalistic mysticism. It was only about
two hundred years ago that the Star of David was appropriated as symbol
of the Jewish people.'2
That's not exactly what you want to read concerning something you wear
around your neck or use on your stationary. In The New Standard Jewish
Encyclopedia, under 'Magen David' (Hebrew for Shield of David, a common
term for the Star of David), this article appears, quoted at length:
'(Heb. 'Shield of David'): Mystical symbol consisting of two
superimposed triangles forming a star or hexagram; today regarded as a
Jewish symbol. Although occurring in the Capernaum synagogue (3rd cent.
CE), it was in ancient times predominantly a non-Jewish decorative motif
(e.g. on Roman mosaic pavements), and is found in Christian churches in
the Middle Ages, while absent from contemporary Jewish decoration and
not mentioned in rabbinic literature.
The name figures from the 13th cent. in the 'practical Kabbalah,' where
it is a magic symbol associated with the pentagram or 'Star of Solomon'
(with which it is frequently confused). The origin and period of its
adoption as a Jewish symbol is a matter of dispute. It occurs in a
specifically Jewish context in Prague in the 17th cent. The M.D. was
adopted by the First Zionist Congress (1897) as a symbol, and figures on
the flags of the Zionist Organization and of the State of Israel. It was
used by the Nazis, in the form of a yellow star, as the Jewish 'Badge of
shame.'3
A 'magic symbol associated with the pentagram'?! The pentagram is one of
the most powerful symbols of the occult. The Lord specifically warns
against this kind of thing in His Torah. As Jews, and certainly as
followers of Yeshua, we are not to look to magicians, mediums or
sorcerers, etc. to guide us in our walk with the Lord, or protect us.
And we are certainly not to use their symbols as representative of
Yahveh or His People Israel:
'When you enter the Land which Yahveh your God gives you, you shall not
learn to imitate the detestable things of those nations. There shall not
be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through
the fire, one who uses divination, one who practices witchcraft, or one
who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who casts a spell, or a
medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. For whoever does
these things is detestable to Yahveh and because of these detestable
things Yahveh your God will drive them out before you. You must be
blameless before Yahveh your God. For those nations, which you shall
dispossess, listen to those who practice witchcraft and to diviners, but
as for you,Yahveh your God has not allowed you to do so.' Deuteronomy
18:9-14
How can believers take the things of sorcerers (the cross, the Star of
David, etc.), and use them for symbols of Yeshua or the Jewish People.
We must be blameless before Yahveh our God.
'But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their
senses trained to discern good and evil.' Hebrews 5:14
'If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the
darkness, we lie and do not practice the Truth...' 1st John 1:6
Messianic Rabbi Barney Kasden, in wanting to uphold the Star of David
within Messianic Judaism writes:
'The earliest apparent mention of this symbol is found in the Talmud. In
describing the reign of King Solomon, the mention is made of how he had
power over demonic forces by the emblem on his ring known as the "Seal
of Solomon" (Gittin 68). Although the specific design of this seal is
not described in this passage, it is also called the "Shield of David"
(Magen David) because according to later tradition this also appeared on
King David's battle gear.
The first concrete evidence in archaeology was found in the city of
Sidon. This consisted of a ring with a seal on it in the shape of a
six-pointed star, which was dated from the seventh century BCE. For
those who have been to Israel, you will remember the famous six-pointed
star on the synagogue of Capernaum. This structure has been dated from
the second century CE but it is believed to be directly over the site of
an earlier synagogue, the one likely used by Yeshua himself (Luke
4:31-37).' (This was taken from the web cite of Rabbi Barney Kasdan)
Rabbi Kasdan appears to have confused the Star of David (six pointed),
for the Seal of Solomon (five pointed), as the Encyclopedia mentions
above. Be that as it may, he wants to foster a foundation for acceptance
of the Star of David by telling us of the archeological 'evidence' that
makes it kosher. But this no more makes the Star of David kosher, than
finding crosses and fish symbols on the tombs of early Roman Gentile
Christians. Perhaps they didn't realize that those symbols were
representative of the pagan gods, Tamuz and Dagon, respectively.4 Today,
most believers who wear the Star of David or the cross or who use the
fish symbol, don't realize it either. That's a very sad commentary on
our 'teachers.'
When Rabbi Kasdan speaks of the ring appearing in the Talmud, lending
itself to magic (that by the ring Solomon could control the demons), is
utter rabbinic nonsense. How would the author of Gittin 68, living at
least 600 years after King Solomon, know if Solomon had a ring like that
if it wasn't written in Scripture? The Rabbis love to make up legends as
they go along.
What makes it so anti-Torah, and therefore anti-Yahveh, is that this
lends credence to magic and the occult, which Yahveh soundly condemns.
Unfortunately, this practice is prevalent within Judaism (and
Christianity), today. An interweaving of occult mysticism, with the
Scriptures and the traditions of the Jewish (or Christian) People. The
Talmud was begun in Babylon, with all its pagan-occult influences, long
after King's David and Solomon were dead. And the Kabala5 is not part of
the Word of God. Kabala is Jewish sorcery.
That the ring had no specific star design mentioned in the Talmud, lends
itself to silence, as there is no way for us to know what actual design
was upon it (the five points being given to the ring at a later date).
But this is a moot point, for the ring never existed, except in the
minds of the Rabbis.
Second, Sidon was never a city in Israel. Therefore, the ring that was
found in the 7th century BCE with the 'Jewish Star of David' was not the
ring of a Jew, but of a pagan. Only it wasn't known as the Star of David
to the person who wore it!
So why do we Jews now have it as the symbol of ourselves? Because we
Jews have always longed after the Gentile nations and their way of
worshiping their gods. Stop a Jew (Messianic, traditional or secular, it
doesn't matter), on the street and ask them why they wear their Star of
David and they'll tell you it's Jewish or they want to identify with the
Jewish People. Tell them about where it came from and what it means, and
they'll tell you they don't care; it's not magic to them! Not the
greatest answer for one seeking to walk in Truth. It says that the
Serpent was more subtle than all the beasts of the field.6 How Satan
loves to pervert the Truth!, to mix the perverse with the pure.
Third, the star spoken of in Capernaum, dating back to the 3rd century
as the Jewish Encyclopedia states, or the 2nd century CE as Rabbi Kasdan
writes, again speaks of pagan or Christian influence, just as the zodiac
found on another synagogue floor in Israel, tells us that those Jews
were not unduly influenced by their pagan neighbors. Nothing new for us
Jews.
There is no biblical evidence, whether Scriptural or archeological, that
the so called 'Star of David' is a God given symbol for His People
Israel. But there is extensive evidence that the 'Star of David'
originated in the occult and continues to occupy a place in it today. I
could not see how I, as a representative of Yeshua (Truth), could give
legitimacy to an anti-biblical symbol. Therefore, I discontinued using
the Star of David because I could not biblically justify it. It was from
ancient time, and still is today, a symbol of the occult, long before it
came to be a symbol for the Jewish People.
One of the principals that I live by is to be able to biblically state
to anyone, 'why I do the religious, ceremonial, symbolic things that I
do.' I keep Shabat because it is commanded. I wear the tzit-ziot because
it is commanded, etc. I cannot defend the 'Star' that way.
Many years ago, in 1983, the Lord of the Heavens and the Earth began
shaking my theological, church leavened understanding of the Scriptures.
I began to see the Word of Yahveh in His Light. I said to the Lord that
I didn't want to walk in darkness of any kind, thinking that it was
Light. For no darkness, however it glitters, has the Life of God in it.
It may look good, but intrinsically, there is no real Light or Life
within it.
When believers 'don't care' about the origin and occultic practices that
they participate in (i.e. Sunday, Easter and Christmas, etc.), or the
wearing of occultic objects (the cross, the fish, and the Star of
David), it tells me that their flesh is overruling the Spirit. The Lord
Yeshua said, 'But when He, the Spirit of Truth, comes, He will guide you
into all the Truth...' (John 16:13).
As we walk with the Master, the Way gets narrower and narrower. Our
flesh is continually put to the test: 'Which way do we go?' It's nice to
sing and dance and praise the Lord, but we are also called to walk after
Him, to become like Him, to walk in the Truth and to be a living example
of Truth.7 I just can't imagine the Apostles wearing a 'Star of David'
or a cross or placing a fish symbol on their Bibles. For in their day,
they knew what those symbols represented, and it wasn't the Jewish
People or the Lord Yeshua. It was Satan.
'Everybody does it' is the justification for walking in the way of the
pagan, and not looking too closely as to why one does or thinks what
they do. But the Lord has specific words for Israel in relation to what
we believe and therefore practice:
'When Yahveh your God cuts off before you the nations which you are
going in to dispossess, and you dispossess them and dwell in their land,
beware that you are not ensnared to follow them, after they are
destroyed before you, and that you do not inquire after their gods,
saying, 'How do these nations serve their gods, that I also may do
likewise?' You shall not behave thus toward Yahveh your God, for every
abominable act which Yahveh hates they have done for their gods. For
they even burn their sons and daughters in the fire to their gods.
Whatever I command you, you must be careful to do. You shall not add to
nor take away from it.' Deuteronomy 12:29-32
This paper may be offensive to some. It is not my intention to offend
anyone, but there may be some that, like myself in the beginning, become
defensive. May you overcome your defensiveness and search out the Truth
of the matter for yourself.
We must learn to discern the Voice of our Savior, and not give way to
the Enemy of our soul who would deceive us into representing Yeshua to
others, in ways and symbols that are consistent with Satan. For those
who have ears to hear, and hearts to obey; may this paper be a tool in
Yeshua's Hand for your good.
END NOTES
- The first Jewish 'Star of David' is seen on a gravestone of a Jewish
man named David who practiced kabala in the Middle Ages. It was around
1400 CE.
- A 24 karat, gold plated Pagemarker? Bookmarks; designed and
manufactured by Marbex, Inc. (c) 1994.
- Geoffrey Wigoder, D. Phil., Editor in Chief, The New Standard
Jewish Encyclopedia (New York - Oxford: Facts on File, 1990, 7th
Edition), p. 618.
- For an excellent work on this and the cross see The Two Babylons by
the Rev. Alexander Hislop. (Neptune, New Jersey, U.S.A: Loizeaux
Brothers, 1959)
- The New Standard Jewish Encyclopedia. Listed under Kabbalah on page
535 appears these phrases of Kabala: 'The mystical religious stream in
Judaism.' 'In all periods it was influenced by foreign spiritual
currents, such as GNOSTICISM and NEOPLATONISM;' 'popular religious
movement in the 16th cent. and again, later, in Hasidism.' ',,,consisted
of the use of Divine or Holy Names, the permutation and combination of
Hebrew letters, magical formulae (amulets), etc. for healing the
sick...hastening the advent of the Messiah,' 'The religious syncretism
(the mingling and fusion of various oriental religions, mythologies,
semi-philosophical notions, etc.)...' Some major concepts:
'transmigration in human or animal form in order to make restitution and
be cleansed.' And 'Man must restore the damage...' '...complete
restoration will lead to redemption and the advent of the Messiah.'
- Genesis 3:1: 'Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the
field which Yahveh God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, has
God said, You shall not eat of every tree of the Garden?'
- Rom. 2:20: 'a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of the immature,
having in the Law the embodiment of knowledge and of the Truth,'
2 Cor. 13:8: 'For we can do nothing against the Truth, but only for the
Truth.'
Gal. 4:16: 'So have I become your enemy by telling you the Truth?'
Gal. 5:7: 'You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the
Truth?'
Eph. 4:25: 'Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak Truth each one of
you with his neighbor, for we are members of one another.'
Eph. 5:9: 'for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and
righteousness and Truth,'
1 Tim. 2:4: 'who desires all men to be saved and to come to the
knowledge of the Truth.'
2 Tim. 2:15: 'Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a
workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of
Truth.'
2 Tim. 3:7: 'always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of
the Truth.'
2 Tim. 4:4: 'and will turn away their ears from the Truth and will turn
aside to myths.'
Heb. 10:26: 'For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the
knowledge of the Truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,'
1 John 1:6: 'If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in
the darkness, we lie and do not practice the Truth;'
1 John 2:4: 'The one who says, 'I have come to know Him,' and does not
keep His Commandments, is a liar, and the Truth is not in him;'
Email Avram — avramyeh@netvision.net.il