Exercitations on the Epistle to the Hebrews

which word seems to be taken from the Hebrew [Greek or Hebrew] prayer or prayers, and to be so called, from the prayers that they used in the Consecration and Wearing of those frontlets. But because they are rendered in the Greek [Greek or Hebrew] Philacteria, some would derive it from [Greek or Hebrew], to conjoin, keep, and bind, which hath some allusion at least to the sense of the Greek Word. And this Origination and denotation of the word the Learned Fuller contends for: Miscelan. l. 5. c. 7. The manner of their present observation hereof to this purpose is; they write four Sections of the Law on parchment. And why four? that they gather from the signification of the word [Greek or Hebrew], Totaphoth, Tot. saith Rabbi Solomon in Pontus by the Caspian Sea somewhere signifies two, and Poth signifies two in Egypt; both which make four undoubtedly. Or as they say in the Talmud, Tat in Casphe signifies two, and Pat in Africa. So that four Sections, must be written. Scaliger supposeth the word to be Egyptian, which is not unlikely; but that it should signify an Amulet, or a Charm, as Petitus supposeth, is not so probable. For that such amulets were in use among the Heathen, with inscriptions either ridiculous or obscene, which God would not have his People to make use of, and therefore appoints them other things, and inscriptions in their stead, which is the only reason produced for that Opinion, doth indeed overthrow it. For it is abundantly evident, that God in his Laws, doth directly on all occasions command the contrary to what ever was in practice of this sort among the Nations. So that Maimonides well observes, that the Reason of many of their Institutions cannot be understood, without a due consideration of the Superstition of the neighbouring Nations.

which word seems to be taken from the Hebrew 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 prayer or prayers, and to be so called, from the prayers that they used in the Consecration and Wearing of those frontlets. But because they are rendered in the Greek 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 Philacteria, some would derive it from 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, to conjoyn, keep, and bind, which hath some allusion at least to the sense of the Greek Word. And this Origination and denotation of the word the Learned Fuller contends for: Miscelan. l. 5. c. 7. The manner of their present observation hereof to this purpose is; they write four Sections of the Law on parchment. And why four? that they gather from the signification of the word , Totaphoth, Tot. saith Rabbi Solomon in Pontus by the Caspian Sea somewhere signifies two, and Poth signifies two in Aegypt; both which make four undoubtedly. Or as they say in the Talmud, Tat in Casphe signifies two, and Pat in Africa. So that four Sections, must be written. Scaliger supposeth the word to be Aegyptian, which is not unlikely; but that it should signifie an Amulet, or a Charm, as Petitus supposeth, is not so probable. For that such amulets were in use among the Heathen, with inscriptions either ridiculous or obscene, which God would not have his People to make use of, and therefore appoints them other things, and inscriptions in their stead, which is the only reason produced for that Opinion, doth indeed overthrow it. For it is abundantly evident, that God in his Laws, doth directly on all occasions command the contrary to what ever was in practice of this sort among the Nations. So that Maimonides well observes, that the Reason of many of their Institutions cannot be understood, without a due consideration of the Superstition of the neighbouring Nations.