Difference between revisions of "Frontlets"

<p> [[Frontlets]] or Phylacteries. Thrice mentioned in Old Testament: totaphot (&nbsp;Exodus 13:16; &nbsp;Deuteronomy 6:8; &nbsp;Deuteronomy 11:18). What [[Moses]] meant figuratively and in a spiritual sense, "a memorial," "that the Lord's law may be in thy mouth," the [[Hebrew]] (excepting the Karaites) take literally (&nbsp;Exodus 13:9). Charms consisting of words written on papyrus folds, tightly sewed up in linen, were found at [[Thebes]] (Wilkinson). It is not likely God, by Moses, would sanction the [[Egyptian]] superstition of amulets. The key is in &nbsp;Proverbs 3:3; &nbsp;Proverbs 6:20-22; &nbsp;Proverbs 7:3; &nbsp;Song of [[Solomon]] 8:6. </p> <p> The fringes were merely mnemonics; the phylacteries (which the Jews now call tephillin , i.e. prayers, for they were worn at prayer to typify sincerity, but others explain ligaments) were parchment strips, inscribed with &nbsp;Exodus 13:2-17; &nbsp;Deuteronomy 6:4-9; &nbsp;Deuteronomy 6:13-22 (by no means the most important passages in the Pentateuch, which fact is against the [[Jewish]] literalism), in prepared ink, rolled in a case of black PHYLACTERY. calfskin, attached to a stiffer leather, having a thong one finger broad and one cubit and a half long. (See FRINGES.) Placed at the bend of the left arm, and the thong after making a knot was wound about the arm in a spiral line, ending at the top of the middle finger. </p> <p> Those on the forehead were written on four cowhide parchment strips, and put into four little cells within a square one, on which the Hebrew letter [[Shin]] ( ש ) was written. The square had two thongs passing round the head, and after a knot going over the breast. [[Phylactery]] is from a Greek root, to keep or guard; being professedly to keep them in continual remembrance of God's law; practically it was used by many as an amulet to keep the wearer from misfortune. (See EARRINGS.) "They make broad their phylacteries" (&nbsp;Matthew 23:5) refers not to the phylactery, which was of a prescribed size, but to its case, which the [[Pharisees]] made as ostentatious as possible. They wore them always, the common people only at prayers; and as [[Jehovah]] occurs in the tephillin 23 times, but on the high priest's golden plate but once (&nbsp;Exodus 28:36), the tephillin) were thought the more sacred. </p> <p> The [[Sadducees]] wore them on the palm, the Pharisees above the elbow. The Jews probably learned the use of such amulets from the [[Babylonians]] during the captivity, for no mention of the phylacteries occurs previously, nor indeed in the Old [[Testament]] at all. The carnal heart gladly substitutes an external formalism for an inward spiritual remembrance and observance of God's law, such as God required, with the whole inner and outward man. The Karaites, women, and slaves alone did not wear them. [[Boys]] at 13 years and one day become "sons of the commandments" and wear them. The rabbinical treatise [[Rosh]] Hashanah contains many of the puerile superstitions regarding them; compare Lightfoot, Hor. </p> <p> Hebrew: "they must be read standing in the morning, when blue can be distinguished from green, sitting in the evening from sunset; both hands must be used in writing them; the leather must have no hole; the wearer must not approach within four cubits of a cemetery," etc., etc. Rabbis quoted &nbsp;Isaiah 49:16; &nbsp;Isaiah 62:8; &nbsp;Deuteronomy 33:2, to prove that even God wore them! and &nbsp;Isaiah 38:16 to show that the wearer thereby prolonged his days, but he who did not wear them should go to perdition. [[Jerome]] remarks the same superstition virtually crept in among weak [[Christian]] women "with diminutive Gospels, pieces of wood in the form of a cross (women in our day should take warning), and things of that sort, showing a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge." </p>

<p> We find in the law of Moses a precept concerning frontlets. (&nbsp;Exodus 13:16; &nbsp;Deuteronomy 6:8) And though we, under the glorious dispensation of the gospel, have no direction concerning them, yet it may not be improper, nor perhaps unprofitable, to notice them in a cursory way. The religious world hath been divided in opinion concerning what was intended by frontlets. Some have contended that the precept was not meant in the literal sense of the word, but only figuratively. By frontiers between the eyes, they say, was shadowed, that all the Lord commanded should be continually before their eyes, that they might never lose sight of his precepts. And in confirmation of this opinion, it is said, that before the church was carried into Babylon, they were not known. And we do not find a word in any of the prophets in respect to their neglect, or the use of them. That they were in use in the days of our Lord seems more than probable; for Jesus, speaking of the [[Scribes]] and Pharisees, said, "that they made broad their phylacteries." (&nbsp;Matthew 23:5 ) It doth not appear, that our Lord condemned the use, but the abuse of them; and from the motive for which they wore them—to be seen of men. But those who accept the precept of Moses in the literal sense of the thing itself, not only believe, that the Hebrews wore frontlets, but have described the form and manner in which they were worn. The account is gathered from &nbsp;Exodus 13:1-22, and from portions of the book of Deuteronomy. If the reader will consult those chapters, he will find four distinct precepts; which four precepts they say, were marked on four pieces of a kind of skin or parchment, and wore on their foreheads. The first was, "Sanctify unto me all the first-born," etc. (&nbsp;Exodus 13:2-10) The second was, "When the Lord shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanites," etc. (&nbsp;Exodus 13:11-16) The third was taken from the book of Deuteronomy, "Hear; O Israel! the Lord our God is one Lord." (&nbsp;Deuteronomy 6:4-5) And the fourth was taken from &nbsp;Deuteronomy 11:13-21 "If thou shalt hearken diligently unto my commandments," etc. </p> <p> The frontlets of the head were called by the Jews Tephila. It is said, that even in modern times the most devout of the Jews wear them in their devotions. What a blessedness is it, in the holy faith the believer in Jesus is called to, that our great High [[Priest]] bears the names and persons of his people on his breast and on his arm, and is himself the sweet and holy frontlet for all the redeemed. How beautiful and expressive the prayer of the church on this point. (&nbsp;Song of Song of Solomon 8:6) </p>

<p> Leo of [[Modena]] thus describes them: The Jews take four pieces of parchment, and write, with an ink made on purpose, and in square letters, these four passages, one on each piece: </p> <p> <strong> 1. </strong> "Sanctify unto me all the first-born," &c, &nbsp;Exodus 13:1-10 . </p> <p> <strong> 2. </strong> "And when the Lord shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanites," </p> <p> &c, &nbsp;Exodus 13:11-16 . </p> <p> <strong> 3. </strong> "Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God is one Lord," &c, &nbsp;Deuteronomy 6:4-9 . </p> <p> <strong> 4. </strong> "If you shall hearken diligently unto my commandments," &c, &nbsp;Deuteronomy 11:13-21 . This they do in obedience to these words of Moses: "These commandments shall be for a sign unto thee upon thine hand, and for a memorial between thine eyes." These four little pieces of parchment are fastened together, and a square formed of them, on which the letter ש is written; then a little square of hard calf's skin is put upon the top, out of which come two leathern strings an inch wide, and a cubit and a half, or thereabouts, in length. This square is put on the middle of the forehead, and the strings being girt about the head, make a knot in the form of the letter ד ; they then are brought before, and fall on the breast. It is called <em> teffila-schel-rosch, </em> or the <em> tephila </em> of the head. The most devout Jews put it on both at morning and noon-day prayer; but the generality of the Jews wear it only at morning prayer. Only the chanter of the synagogue is obliged to put it on at noon as well as morning. </p> <p> It is a question, whether the use of frontlets, and other phylacteries, was literally ordained by Moses. They who believe their use to be binding, observe, that the text of Moses speaks as positively of this as of other precepts; he requires the commandments of God to be written on the doors of houses, as a sign on their hands, and as an ornament on their foreheads, &nbsp;Exodus 13:16 . If there be any obligation to write these commandments on their doors, as the text intimates, there is the same for writing them on their hands and foreheads. On the contrary, others maintain that these precepts should be taken figuratively and allegorically, as denoting that the Jews should very carefully preserve the remembrance of God's law, and observe his commands; that they should always have them before them, and never forget them. Prior to the [[Babylonish]] captivity, no traces of them appear in the history of the Jews. The prophets never inveigh against the omission or neglect of them, nor was there any question concerning them in the reformation of manners at any time among the Hebrews. The almost general custom in the east of wearing phylacteries and frontlets, determines nothing for the antiquity or usefulness of this practice. The Caraite Jews, who adhere to the letter of the law, and despise traditions, call the rabbinical Jews bridled asses, because they wear these tephilim and frontlets. See PHYLACTERY . </p>

<p> Thus described by Leo of Modena: the Jews take four pieces of parchment, and write with an ink made on purpose, and in square letters, these four passages, one on each piece: (1.) "Sanctify unto me all the first born," etc., &nbsp;Exodus 13:2-10 . (2.) "And when the Lord shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanites," etc., &nbsp;Exodus 13:11-16 . (3.) "Hear, O Israel; the Lord our God is one Lord," etc., &nbsp;Deuteronomy 6:4-9 . (4.) "If you shall hearken diligently unto my commandments," etc., &nbsp;Deuteronomy 6:13-21 . This they do in obedience to the words of Moses: "These commandments shall be for a sign unto thee upon thy hand, and for a memorial between thine eyes." </p> <p> These four pieces are fastened together, and a square formed of them, on which the Hebrew letter Shin is written; then a little square of hard calf-skin is put at the top, out of which come two leathern strings. This square is put on the middle of the forehead, and the strings being girt about the head, are then brought before, and fall on the breast. It is called the Tephila of the head. The Most devout Jews put it on both at morning and noonday prayer; but it is generally worn only at morning prayer. See [[Phylacteries]] . </p>

<p> <strong> FRONTLETS </strong> . See Ornaments, 2; Phylacteries. </p>

<p> Frontlets [PHYLACTERY] </p>