על שירי הפגעים מקומראן

Bilhah Nitzan (Tarbiẓ 55 1, 19-46) has described the 4Q Songs for a Sage which, aside from their hymnal content, were used to repel evil spirits. This paper cites additional sources which are helpful in characterizing the שירי פגעים, mentioned in rabbinic sources and in 11QPs 27 (Compositions of David). While the latter attributes the composition of such songs to David, Ant. 8, 45-46 names Solomon as their author. In 11QPsAp both names appear in the context of a spell against the demon Resheph. Ps. Philo's Biblical Antiquities ch. 60 also includes a Davidic exorcistic psalm which alludes to Solomon as the future vanquisher of demons. It is suggested that מירא אל (cf. מיארא in a Christian magic text) is an exorcist who employs divine hymns, with the participation of the angels, to subdue the evil spirits, though this not "for all eternity".