The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-03-23
RELIGIOUS
NOTES.
The Oldest Hebrew
Book of Magic
Found.
AN IMPORTANT
DISCOVERY
Ancient Astrology and Fragments
Of Biblical Times Brought
to Light.

TIE rediscovery of the eldest Hebrew
book of magic in existence, the manu-
script of which was lost over a thou
sand years ago, is an event of interest
to Jewish and Christian scholars. An
account of the manuscript and its his
tory was lately given at meeting of
the London Society of Biblical Archie
ology. DR.. Caster, a well known Jew
ish scholar, stated that he had come
into possession of the manuscript from
NiSibis in Mesopotamia. 1t consists of
siXty-two leaves, written by at least
two or three hands, some of it in Ara
bic with Hebrew characters, and proves
to be collection of magical formulas
and recipes belonging to many ages.
Among the wonder-workers whose for
mulas are mention4l are Moses, Elijah,
Elisha, Ezra the priest, Rabbi Aharon
the famous magician of the ninth
century-and many other medieval rab
bis belonging both to the Northern
Askenazim and to the Southern Sep
hardin. We quote the following ac-
count of the manuscript from a sum-
mary OF DR.. Casters address in the
London Jewish Chronicle (Novem-
Der 81:
The most important portion of the
manuscript proved to be a compendium
of the astrological value and utilization
of the powers that rule in the course of
the week. Each regent is described, the
image is given, the mode of drawing it
is indicated and instructions are set
forth how to make use in magical
manner of the image thus drawn, and
nj the formulas which acn0m-
pany any of these magic operations.
We are told to what profit this knowl-
edge can be turned, the good and evil
that can be performed by means of
these divine images, and many curious
instructions, as well as the Sigils or
seals of these regents. The revelation
of these mysteries is ascribed, in the
first place, to RaZiel, and, secondly, to
the primitive Enoch. The Book of
Enoch is often quoted in the ZOhar and
brought into connection with this self
same RaZiel. To him, and through him,
etc. the astronomical mysteries of the
world are said to have been commune
Gated to Adam, Noah. Abraham. The
same tradition is found in this manu-
script except that this knowledge is
not communicated to Abraham but to
the Chaldeans. Curiously enough, the
name OF God is never mentioned in this
particular treatise, and there is not
single citation of Biblical text or
verse. On the other hand, it is saturat
ed with the principles that rule in the
Oriental magic, inasmuch as the ruling
powers of the day are strictly separat-
led from the planets, which are simply
mentioned to indicate the propftious
hour for writing the amulets. Evident
'ly the regents of the different days are
regarded as angels and supreme spirits
that move these planets without being
identified with them. Throughout, the
names of these angels are Hebrew,
there being scarcely one which is not
capable of being explained by the He
brew language. One point in the text
under consideration is extremely inter
esting as showing it's archaic character
and the clew it gives to a metaphorical
expression often used in Cabalistic
writings, but seldom clearly expressed.
1t is often stated that God, or the name
of God, or one of the Chief Powers, is
included in and identified with that of
His serving or ministering angels. The
same expression occurs in the text To
each one of the chief angels of the day
a number of angels are added as serv-
found that the first letters of the serv-
ing angels are the very letters of the
name of their Chief Ruler. They form
an anagram of his name, so that it is
truly said that his name is included in
theirs and theirs in his In one case
the angel is described in the form of a
, woman. The influence of the notion
i that the regent of the sixth day is Ven
| US has been so strong as to cause the
: author to accept female angels in the
heavenly hierarchy-a strong proof OF
the non-Jewish origin of the text, be-
/ cause the conception OF female angels
is contrary to Jewish notions.
The title of this treatise is The Wis
) dom of the Chaldeans.' Reference tc
: Chaldean astronomy is very rare III
: Hebrew writings; but it is referred tc
in the oldest astronomical book-the
'Beraytha de Rabbi Samuel. Chapter
= TX is devoted exclusively to the inter
t probation of the astrological Importance
3 of each of the seven planets. Each is
> infinitely described as ruling over some
!. occurrence or other. Sabatai Saturn
q rules over poverty, misery, illness anc
: sickness, destruction internal ailment:
and sin. Sabatai is first in order, anC
e is said in the Book of Creation to have
: been created on the first day of tn
week. The author of that work mus
. therefore have commenced his week OF
h Saturday. The other six planets ar
: the Sun, Venus, Mars Mercury, tn
g Moon and Jupiter. Over the sever
4 planets are appointed seven rulers. o
: angels, viz, Raphael, the angel of tn
/ Sun: Anael. the angel of Venus: Mi
( chael, the angel Of Mercury; Gabriel
4 the angel Of the Moon: Qaphsel tn
n angel of Saturn; Sadkiel, that of Jupf
n ter, and Samael, that of Mars. Will
d these names are to be found in othe
g mystical works, nowhere do we find
: parallel to the entire text, or to tn
70 images under which these angels ar
to be represented"
p
s. Christian Church, Rev. E. A. Cory
1 LII .Ar irna