Were Tefillin Phylacteries?

The article analyses anomalies in the Qumran tefillin corpus, the earliest archaeological evidence for the practice, in the light of which I argue that tefillin originated as ‘length-of-days’ amulets. These anomalies and other features of Qumran tefillin are also explained, with reference to this hypothesis, against the backdrop of comparative evidence for ancient amuletic ritual. A popular / private model for tefillin practice is highlighted, and I additionally argue that the etymology of the word ‘tefillin’ reflects the objects’ function as a prayer in material form. I conclude that tefillin were indeed protective amulets, i.e. phylacteries, calling into question the implications of this finding for the Jewish encounter with Hellenistic religion. In an appendix I bring the Qumran mezuzot into the picture, suggesting that these may in fact have been tefillin, and that they are in any event support for my argument. Copyright © Oxford Centre for Hebrew and Jewish Studies