What is the source of the Magen Dovid (Star of David) in Rabbinic Judaism?
When was it first used, and for what?
Answer
The Star of David has been in use as a symbol of Judaism since the 17th century, with precedents in the 14th to 16th centuries in Central Europe, where the Shield of David was partly used in conjunction with the Seal of Solomon (the hexagram) on Jewish flags. Its use probably derives from medieval (11th to 13th century) Jewish protective amulets.
And:
A Shield of David has been noted on a Jewish tombstone in Taranto, Apulia in Southern Italy, which may date as early as the third century CE. The Jews of Apulia were noted for their scholarship in Kabbalah, which has been connected to the use of the Star of David. Medieval Kabbalistic works show hexagrams among the tables of segulot, but without identifying them as "Shield of David".
source: Wikipedia
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