We know so much about the people in the Bible because their names give away so much about their life. In Biblical times, people were not expected to be individuals, but be exactly a replica of their father. Skills, knowledge and abilities were handed down the generations, daughters were like their mothers, boys like their fathers - but there were exceptions!
Because so many of the Aramaic names have been changed, we can easily lose sight of this simple information.
In the Old Testament, 500 BC a visionary and prophet who foretold the coming of the Messiah was named Zacharius. He came from a family of priests and was involved in rebuilding the temple.
Jonathan was a brave soldier who fought many battles and was the eldest child of the mad King Saul and was therefore first in line to the throne. He was a loyal and faithful friend to David, who he saved from being murdered by Saul. Jonathan knew David might become King in his place, and this came to pass when Saul and Jonathan were killed in battle.
John the Baptist was also a Jonathan! Older than Jesus by a few months, he was the son of Zachariah and Elizabeth. Zachariah was a temple high priest, one of the most important positions in the entire land. Zachariah was on duty in the Jerusalem Temple, when an angel told him he would have a son who would prepare the people for the messiah. He and his wife were too old to have a child and he laughed and did not believe the angel. For this reason, he was struck dumb! He would have called his son, as tradition dictated, Zachariah. On the 8th day, at the ceremony for the naming and circumcision, suddenly Elizabeth said his name must be John. She was questioned, as there were no family of this name. Elizabeth insisted. Zachariah was given a slate to write and wrote the name John. Immediately, he could speak again. All the people said 'What manner of child is this?' And his father was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophecied saying:
"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people, And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David; As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began: That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us; To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant; The oath which he sware to our father Abraham, That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life. And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins, Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the day spring from on high hath visited us, To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace."
Jesus was Joshua. Joshua was an old testament leader and saviour of his people. He led an army whilst the people were enduring a very difficult time. He was a positive thinker. He took over from Moses and divided the land amongst the 12 tribes. Joshua was also a high priest who rebuilt the temple at the time of Zachariah.
Jesus was the son of Joseph. Joseph was the first son of Jacob and Rachel after many years of waiting. He was the youngest child and the favourite. Jacob gave Joseph a special coat which made his brothers jealous. His brothers bowed to him in his dreams. They sold him as a slave to Egypt and brought the shredded coat to their father, saying he had been killed by wild animals. He was accused of raping his employer's wife and sent to prison. In prison, he interpreted dreams. The pharoah's dreams were predicted by Joseph as a coming time of great famine, and he was granted high office. During the famine, his brothers came to Egypt to buy corn and were recognised by Joseph. He tested them and forgave them for the past. Joseph invited his father and brothers to live in Egypt where they were cared for by Joseph, by then a rich man.
Joseph was the name of the foster father of Jesus. When he was betrothed to Mary, she became pregnant. At that time, an adulterous woman could be stoned to death. An angel had told him to care for Mary and the child. He was warned in a dream that King Herod, the puppet king, planned to kill Jesus. After Herod's death, Joseph brought the family back.
Joseph of Arimathea was a member of the Sanhedrin council, a very high religious office. After Jesus was crucified, he asked Pilate for the body of Jesus and placed it in his own unused tomb.
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