SKULLCAP - NYOBS 32.11

Rabbit trail from HEAD COVERING - NYOBS 32.06

SKULLCAP – RABBIT TRAIL

• In the earliest of times there was no established practice or law for a man to cover his head; but in Babylonia, the Jews would get up in the mornings and place a handkerchief on their head while they recited the blessing; “Blessed is He who crowns Israel with glory”.
• The Talmud speaks of “Fear of Heaven (God)” and “The Shechina is above my head” (God’s glory) – It associates the covering of the head as reverence and respect for God’s glory.
• A RESPECTED fifth-century scholar said “I never walked four cubits with an uncovered head, because God dwells over my head”. - As time moved on “Scholars” would cover their heads to identify themselves as “God Fearing” and this quickly spread to the common man.
• This practice in Babylonia was not observed in Palestine. However some Church leaders supported a PREFERENCE of praying with the head covered and thought that without it would be frivolous and disrespectful. 
• CHRISTIANS were observed going to Church bareheaded and the Jews often avoided the practices that were common among the Christians; therefore the Jews thought it best not to go bareheaded.
• In the middle ages it was the German custom to doff your hat to a government official, so the Jews wore a small skullcap called a “yarmulke” under their hat so their head would not be uncovered for even a moment when they doffed their hat. – (The Jewish book of Why)
• The skullcap has no religious significance in “Jewish Law”; therefore a non-Jew can wear a yarmulke in a Jewish service. – TRADITION and CUSTOM sometimes tops the scriptures and you may find practices that are; just because “they always did it that way”.
• TODAY Orthodox Jews believe the head should be covered at all times – Conservative Jews believe the head should be covered just during prayers and many other Jews believe it’s just optional.

In the multitude of counselors,

 there is wisdom.

Prov 11:14

I am grateful for those that went before me providing concepts, ideas, historical information, and scripture verses.  Because of them I can stand on their shoulders and see further that I otherwise ever could have.

A Commentary – Critical, Experimental & Practical - Eerdmans

Bible Almanac; The – Packer Tenney White

Baker Commentary on the Bible – Walter A. Elwell

Bible Commentary – F.B. Meyer

Customs and Folkways of Jewish Life – Theodor H. Gaster

Expositor’s Bible Commentary; The – Frank E. Gaebelein

Guide Post - Lent – Max Lucado

Harpers Bible Dictionary – Harper & Row

Illustrated Encyclopedia of Bible Facts – Packer-Tenney White

Jewish book of Why; The – Kolatch

Liberty Commentary on the New Testament – Jerry Falwell

Matthew Henry’s Commentary - Zondervan

New International Version Bible – NIV

New Unger’s Bible Handbook; The – Gary N. Larson

Paul & His Letters – John B. Polhill

The Message Bible

Tyndale New Testament Commentaries - Leon Morris

Vincent’s Word Studies of the NT – MacDonald

Webster’s New World College Dictionary - Webster

Why Do Catholics Do That? – Kevin Orlin Johnson

Wikipedia

Wycliffe Bible Commentary; The – Pfeiffer & Harrision

Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible; The - Tenney