Amulet for Winning a Legal Case

You are the one around whose appearance I have resided [?]‌, two kings [and] three rulers of the world, who [were there] when they were split apart. You are the one who shines over the sun. You are the one whose power is over the mountains, and your [divine] presence is on the well-known mountain. You are the one under whose domain is life, the living and the dead, [who have been] in your presence from eternity. You are the one who raises earthquake, lightning, affliction and flood. You are the name that shakes and stirs the world. You are the name from whom are derived the stars and the nativities, and from whom all the spirits rise. You are the one whose name is the name of Adonai Sabaoth. You are the eternal name, heaven is your kingdom. You are the name of the voice that was heard [?] in it, with the fast sword [?] and the SSMH of death [?], so that you should destroy every sinful soul. You are the name that [has been there] since the time [?] of the flood. Lord of the ways, you overpowered the yoke of a king, [?] except for kings [who] carry out your wish. May your name be blessed. May we all be [?] [with?] our dwelling within you. You are the god of Joseph, god of Jacob, and may human beings [persist in] beseeching you and praising your name, for you were [?] our fearsome [deity?] and a destroyer of nations [?]. You are the great name which no man on earth can recite until he perishes. The earth shakes and trembles [?], and the sun will not shine towards heaven, and in it his covenant will be established, and every soul will perish. It is upon you that I call by the power of Shamish, in the presence of the mighty Shamish. Preserve me, for by his [?] hand I will be preserved [?] from smiting, from apparition, from satan, from accuser, from earthquake, from the birds of the sky, from the evil impulse, from sorcerers, from kayyabin and from evil persons. And I shall achieve victory, and all their adversaries [will be] under my authority. May the tongues of those who speak ill be bound, and no person should be able to rise against your great name [which] is [placed] over the palace of victory. And I shall gain victory over him in all litigation, and I shall be considered the hand of God [?], while I am accumulating [?] your grace [?]. Give me a tongue of wisdom, and give me graceful speech [that you would] place on my tongue, and [enable me] to fix my speech [properly] in my mouth, and give me grace and kindness, like the kindness of Joseph son of Jacob, son of Isaac, son of Abraham. Everything that I should wish to ask, bring that close to me. I shall take counsel [?] within his kingdom [?], and there is no [other] ruler in his kingdom. For Baro [?] son of Esther. [Place] these [things] on a plate of a meal, [containing] everything with which I am satisfied, for I am covered by your splendid name. Fast, fast, right away, right away. Do not utter the signs written [here] with your mouth. [This spell is suitable] for everything that you desire. [It is] exceedingly good and praiseworthy. Recite [it], and [this] amulet [will be] exceedingly good. Amen, Amen, Selah. [A spell suitable] for all authorities.

Translated by Shaul Shaked and Rivka Elitzur-Leiman.

Notes

Words in brackets appear in the original translation.

Credits

Unknown, Amulet for Winning a Legal Case, trans. Shaul Shaked and Rivka Elitzur-Leiman, in Shaul Shaked and Rivka Elitzur-Leiman, “An Aramaic Amulet for Winning a Case in a Court of Law,” Jewish Studies Quarterly, vol. 26 (2019): 4–6. Published with the approval of Jewish Studies Quarterly, and with permission of the translators.

Published in: The Posen Library of Jewish Culture and Civilization, vol. 3: Encountering Christianity and Islam.

Engage with this Source

This long amulet text, written in a variant of Jewish Palestinian Aramaic, was inscribed with a stylus on a thin gold sheet for a client named Baro (or possibly Badu), son of Esther. The amulet seems to have been found in the Balkan region. The text, seemingly copied (with errors) from a book of magical formulas, contains unusual words and spellings, making the translation tentative in places. It begins with praise of the deity, then turns to requests for protection. The last section instructs the user on how to use the amulet and seems to have been mistakenly copied from the book of magical recipes along with the amulet text. The golden amulet was folded, probably to be tucked into a container and worn on the body.

Read more

You may also like