Hebrew-language head-scratcher from the depths of a drawer

I bought this forever ago and pretty well forgot I had it. The gentleman is gray-haired and seems to be holding a sword while standing on top of a globe. The really confusing part is the writing looks like Hebrew. I tried running it through a translater and got gibberish. "Balance Stand A Jar You Guys" ???? He ought to be a Persian/Muslim figure from the way this is designed but the wording is in the Hebrew alphabet.

 

one god , ??? throne.

one god, you guys fast...

I'm having trouble with this one .........

 

If my son were reachable he would be able to translate it. If I speak with him, I will ask him.

 

Are you sure?

Makes perfect sense.

Maybe this helps, Biblical magic swords:
https://jewishmonsterhunting.com/2021/10/02/jewish-magic-swords-in-the-biblical-period/

 

The painting looks more Persian than anything else, and Israeli art wouldn't depict G-d himself. It's strictly taboo. I can't think of a major prophet who was ever depicted with a sword or who frankly would have known which end to hold. I never thought of Jewish folklore. Methusaleh would kind of make sense.

 

the words on the right are quite clear.......... Jehovah echad.... one god ....!

 

Which even still makes me wonder who the gray-haired dude with the sword is. I can't imagine anyone Jewish making a depiction of Hashem.

 

unless it's a burning bush !!!!

 

Oddly, I have a burning bush pin sitting next to me. The text on that one says Faith in Hebrew. Ludwig Wulpert design. Not sure where it's going, except not up in smoke. After all, the original wasn't consumed either.

 

It gives me the same general feeling as images of the Virgin Mary standing within a crescent moon atop a globe, crushing a serpent beneath her foot, the idea of religion/right conquering & ruling the world. Could this figure be Moses? Is there anything about the Commandments becoming the law of the world, the sword indicating justice?

 

I got back a translation of 'Your fast' for the 2 other words, perhaps fast as in tight, strong? I read it as: צום הכם

 

Is the "fast" as in rapid, or abstaining from food?

Just a wag - there is a tradition of pearl shells carved with Christian themes made in Palestine. St. Paul is sometimes depicted with a sword, and he is also associated with fasting.
https://aleteia.org/2018/10/03/why-is-st-paul-depicted-carrying-a-sword/

https://www.shadesofgrace.org/2010/01/30/targeting-decisions-the-st-paul-fast/

 

It doesn't read like Moses at all. If he was carrying a budded staff it would , but not metal. David used Goliath's own sword to chop off his head, but that's the only sword I remember in the Tanach or the Torah. They're all over in the New Testament. Paul with a sword sounds...weird. I'd think "fast" as in "hold fast" or "holding fast" rather than anything to do with food.

 

https://www.lookandlearn.com/history-images/YR0470017/Saint-Paul-with-sword




https://artmuseum.princeton.edu/collections/objects/42342

 

I read fast......as in no eating..

 

That typically is called “fasting”.

 

Paul is usually depicted with a sword, because as a Roman citizen he had the right to be executed with a sword rather than on a cross.
So in Christianity, bearded man with sword = St. Paul.

 

Why is he standing on a globe? Any thoughts on that?

 

If it is Paul, it could be because he was the apostle who brought Christianity to the wider world, outside Judaism.

But we don't know that it is Paul. It could be Methusaleh, or one of the other possibilities.

 

Apparently there's some old, weird (and the old ones usually are) about him slaying demons with a sword. There's no actual record of how Paul died, but could have been having his head chopped off. If the Hebrew used is "fast" as in Day of Atonement no food.... Time to ask a Rabbi I know if he's got a clue.