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Rabbi Rafael Ochana (1850-1906), born in Morocco, wrote a book called Mareh HaYeladim (1899?) that has the following design for an amulet, as protection from demons (on p.50, kaf-hey in book):

picture from Rabbi Ochana's book

Can someone explain the words/letters and the significance of their arrangement? Magen David and Shmo Shaday are clear, and יקוק is a deliberate misspelling of Hashem's name. But I wasn't sure what these mean?

באב

קבול כסן

כסאן כסאבן

And what the letters around the Star of David signify?

Thank you.

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I am using a dictionary of Syriac, which is close in meaning to Arabic. I could be mistaken. The letters around Magen David spell טפטף י-ה - make noise Hashem (plea), clatter, do not be silent. I.e. outside of the grave (symbolized by Magen David) frighten the demons.

Inside the grave:

באב - entrance/gate (for father is incorrect).

קבוֹל כסן - accept (with gratitude) the covered (likely several people)

כסאן כסאבן - honor/distingush them like old people (or a gift (sent in honor) at the time of their old age)

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  • thank you. did you mean "distinguish" them like old people? what does distinguish mean here? is it like sanctify, or lekadesh in Hebrew?
    – user99658
    Commented Sep 13 at 14:09
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    @user99658 the root כסא has also meaning "mark"; in Hebrew it's chair throne. Perhaps a better translation is "honor".
    – Y DJ
    Commented Sep 13 at 14:26

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