Names and Numbers PDF

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Summary

LBST 2101 Dr. Thiede...

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NAMES, NUMBERS, AND FORMULAS IN MEDIEVAL JUDAISM The Power of Good (and the angels...) ● What we would call “magic” is not magic by the medieval jews who practice it ○ A way to access the divine or “speak to god” ○ Use this by calling on the angels ● Reliance on the powers of good, not the powers of evil!!! ● Jewish communities realize they’re calling on powers of god’s good ○ Use this by using god’s name and invoking his celestial angels ○ Word for angel in hebrew also means messenger ○ None of the 3 western religions are monotheistic (but have monotheistic natures ) ● In the medieval jewish world, everything on earth has an angel ● Angels only speak hebrew ● The whole manipulation of letters and numbers are for learned jews as a way to speak to god Numbers both magical and dangerous ● 70 attributes/names of god ● Names are understood as the characteristics of a person and to be revelatory ○ Knowing a name is knowing how to control the person whose name you know ● 42 is important Words are important ● Bible verses are powerful because they contain god’s name and pertain to the situation Names and Naming; how to gain power in the world The Names of God; the names of Angels ● Shamriel- guardian angel ● Chasdiel, Chaniel, and Rachmiel- angels of benevolence, grace, and mercy ● Zachriel- rules over memory ● Calling on an angel 242 times can help memory (Uriel) Put it in Writing! ● Incantation bowls ● Amulets- when you have words close to you, you soak them up ● Mezuzah- small scroll put on the door to bless or protect their house ● Reading bible- prophylactic ● Deut 33:3-4

Conclusions ● Language is really important to these people and to their culture as a source of self defense to the dangers of the world (also study of language) ● Numbers and words and the mysteries that they can reveal to the learned ● The only thing that has more power than your enemy is God ● No physical self-defense, so you have to use words ○ The only place you have refuge is in the name of god and the power of god ● Is bringing all these things together a religious act (and not spells?) ○ Reaching to god for god’s protection...