David found something in his youth
that became his shield.
Magen David – Star of David
The “Star of David”, what is it’s origin?
The origin of the Star of David is found in the Hebrew Scriptures first in 2 Samuel 22:31. In the old English King James language of the 1600s, it would be the word “buckler”. This is the exact same Hebrew word used in verse 36 where it is translated “shield”. The word is pronounced “magen”. You will hear the word in the Jewish community said thus: Magen David, or the Shield of David”. Throughout David’s writings, as lead by the Spirit of God, he made many references to his protection as the “shield of God”.
The following photo is from the Scroll of Samuel which was written in Poland in the early 1900s. The Scroll moved to America before the Holocaust and now resides in The Scriptorium in Houston, Texas. The “yad” pointer is showing the word magen, “shield” in 2 Samuel 22:36. “Thou hast given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy gentleness hath made me great”.
It is so fitting that the word after magen (shield) is the name of the one who is a shield to everyone who will come to Him for salvation. His name is “Salvation”; Yeshua in Hebrew, Jesus in English.
Scroll
of Samuel written in Poland early 1900s
It is well recognized that the crocus flower is the emblem of David in ancient Israel.
This ancient altar discovered in Israel has the crocus flower carved many places in the stone.
Ancient
stone altar found in Israel shows the crocus flower
Thousands of olive oil lamps were found at the Pool of Silwan (Pool of Siloam) in 2004. This pool is located at the southwest corner of the old City of David. The following photo is one of the lamps and on the bottom of the lamp is embossed the crocus flower, shield of David.
Oil
Lamp found in Israel shows the crocus flower on the bottom
Countless times in the last 1,000 years the crocus flower and the star are shown together in Jewish carvings and drawings. The following photo is from an ancient doorpost from a synagogue. The origin of the synagogue is not certain at this time but the scrolls enclosed in the base of the posts indicate great age. Notice the crocus flower carved many times with the star.
Ancient
Synagogue door post showing Star of David and crocus flower
The Star of David, which is properly called the Magen David, the shield of David as mentioned in 2 Samuel 22:36, Psalms 3:3 and many other places originated with the crocus flower. Perhaps David saw the beauty and gentleness of this flower on the hills of Israel when he was a shepherd boy and took it’s form as his emblem. This emblem has evolved throughout time to the star shape most commonly seen in the western world.
“Thou hast
given me the shield of thy salvation:
and thy gentleness hath made me
great.”
