[119] Maimon. in Tephillim. c. 4. sect. 3.
[120] Scal. Trihæres. p. 258.
In these Parchments they wrote[121] only the Decalogue, or Ten Commandments, in the opinion of Chrysostome and Hierome: but generally, and upon better grounds, it is thought they wrote these four sections of the Law.
[121] Chrysost. & Hieronym. in Mat. 23.
1. The first began, Sanctifie unto me all the firstborn, &c. Exod. 13. 2. to the end of the 10. verse.
2. The second began, And it shall be when the Lord shall bring thee, &c. Exod. 13. 11. to the end of the 16. verse.
3. The third began, Hear O Israel, Deut. 6. 4. and continued to the end of the ninth verse.
4. The fourth began, And it shall come to pass; if you shall hearken diligently, &c. Deut. 11. 13. to the end of the one and twentieth verse.
These four Sections written in scrols of Parchment, and folded up, they fastned to their fore-heads and their left-arms: those that were for the fore-head, they wrote in four distinct pieces of parchment[122] especially, and if they wrote it in one piece; the length of every Section ended in one column, and they did put them into one skin, in which there was the proportion of four houses or receptacles, and not into four skins: every receptacle was distinct by it self; and those that were for the hand, were written in one piece of Parchment principally, the four Sections in four columns; but if they wrote them in four pieces, it was at length, and they put them in a skin that had but one receptacle.[123] In time of persecution when they could not openly wear these Phylacteries, then did they tye about their hands a red thread, to put them in mind of the blood of the Covenant of the Law.
[122] Moses Kotsen. fol. 104. col. 3.