Biblical Hebrew Forum

["K Randolph" <kwrandolph AT gmail.com>]

Yohanan:

I think part of the answer lies in the difference between the Hebrew
and English definitions of "name". I read this verse with the
understanding that in Hebrew, "name" had a broader meaning than in
English, which included references to attributes, not only the formal
name. So that when the prophet came with the claim that the "name" was
Yedidyah", he referred to the attribute that Sholomo was beloved of
YHWH at that time, not that that was his name in the more restrictive
English sense.

Karl W. Randolph.

On 4/17/07, Yohanan bin-Dawidh <yohanan.bin.dawidh AT gmail.com> wrote:
> I have been reading theories at the ANE-2 discussion forum concerning the
> etymology of the name Sholomo, and the following thoughts and questions came
> to mind:
>
>
>
> Sholomo and Yedidyah (Solomon's two names).
>
>
>
> According to Sefer Shemu'el Bet 12:24, 25 it was Bath-sheva who referred to
> Sholomo as Sholomo, whereas YHWH sent the prophet Nathan to name him
> Yedidyah. But then every other occurrence of this figure we see him by then
> name Sholomo, the name his mother named him, not the name that YHWH named
> him. This may be more of a theological question than a question of language,
> but does anyone have any thoughts as to why we see him referred to as
> Sholomo rather than Yedidyah when the text clearly points out that it was
> YHWH who named him Yedidyah?
>
>
>
> And what I have been reading at ANE-2 about both Sholomo and Yerushalam is
> quite interesting to say the least.