INTRODUCTION

ANAZA ANṢH: Write this on the small twig of a nut-tree, and beat the sea or stream with it, and it will become dry.

LALUN LLUN: Is of avail for those possessed of an evil spirit, as soon as they are placed upon them.

YHYH: Elijah A biblical prophet famous for his ascent to heaven and role in Jewish mysticism. gave to Elisha, and is of avail against every ill, as soon as it is placed upon a man.

ṬṬRAEL: Is of value for the sight of a child, when pronounced and placed upon it.

BJṬ BJAṬ: When worn, delivers from all ill and from evil persons. The end.

At the foot of folio 5 b A "folio" refers to a single leaf of the manuscript; "b" denotes the "verso" or back side of that leaf. (3 lines from the bottom) we have the following:

‘Solomon remarks by Divine inspiration: “God alone is One, and there is one Faith only—the exalted one which the Creator desired to be revealed unto mankind and to be distributed among the multitude; inasmuch as the angel Samaël In this context, Samaël is presented as a messenger of wisdom, though in other traditions he is often associated with the figure of the accuser or fallen angel. said to Solomon, ‘This shalt thou give to the people of Israel’, that is to say, Shmuiel, the Great Prince, Chief of all the angels and all the Ten Classes The "Ten Classes" refers to the traditional Jewish hierarchy of angelic beings, such as Seraphim, Cherubim, and Ophanim.; and he gave it further unto others. And it was pleasing in the eyes of the Lord, and He commanded him to sanctify it, and adjured him in the following manner.”’ original: "אמר שלמה בשפע אלהי, אחד הוא האל יחיד, אמונה אחת לבד המעלה אשר רצה הבורא לגלותה לבני אדם ולחלקה ברבים באמור המלאך סמ"אל לשלמה זה תתן לעם ישראל..."

As I observed above, the chief word of the title-page, in fact of the title itself, has been mutilated, cut out; so that if it were not for the accident that the expression is repeated in the body of the work, we might have been at a loss to know the exact title of the work before us. This we have in folio 6 b, where the writer remarks: "I will now begin, with the help of the Helper, the second book of the Key (MAPHTEAḤ)." original: "ואתחיל בעזרת העוזר הספר השני מהמפתחו" (Ve-atchil be-ezrat ha-Ozer ha-sefer ha-sheni me-ha-Maphteaḥ). And it occurs twice in the Appendix (folio 3 b), once in the phrase: "in the book of the Key which Solomon, peace be to him, composed". original: "בספר המפתח שעשה שעל"ה" (be-sefer ha-Maphteaḥ she-asah She-A-L-H). The acronym stands for "Solomon, peace be upon him."

This compilation then, according to its full title, would be known as The Book of the Key of Solomon original: "ספר מפתח שלמה" (Sefer Maphteaḥ Shelomoh)..

That the Magic Art was looked upon as a serious occupation, and was kept as an exclusive possession, may be gauged from the paragraph (folio 6 b) containing the following regulation or order:

"I entreat and command everyone into whose hand this composition comes, that he shall not give it to any person unless he be modest, a keeper of secrets, and diligent in his actions in this work; and I adjure him by the Living God, the Creator of the universe, that just as he guards his own soul, he should guard this book so as not to reveal it to those who are unworthy; and if he does not listen to this, I will pour out my plea before Him who granted me this knowledge, that he may not succeed in all his actions and desires which he seeks to do. Amen, may it be His will." original: "אחנן ומצוה אני לכל המגיע החיבור הזה לידו שלא יתנהו לשום אדם אם לא יהיה צנוע ובעל סוד וחרוץ במעשיו..."