The Star of David is not mentioned in the Hebrew Bible, nor does the Bible associate a hexagram with King David. The Shield of David (Magen David) is mentioned in the Babylonian Talmud in reference to God’s protection of David—a religious concept and not a physical shield or visual symbol. The hexagram or pentagram did exist as an important symbol of the Seal of Solomon, which was often associated with magical abilities. The hexagram does appear sporadically in early Jewish cultural artifacts, including a seal from Sidon dated to the 7th century bce, a synagogue frieze at Capernaum (4th–6th century ce), and a Jewish tombstone in Taranto, Italy (6th century ce).
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