NAMES (rams), (Heb. , shame; Gr. 6vop.a, on-om-ah).
It is so interesting, as well as useful, to know the original signification of proper names, that a careful investigation of their nature has many advantages. The chief use, however, which ac crues from an accurate knowledge of them is, that we are by their means enabled to attain a more lively apprehension of the truth of ancient history.
/. Ttoo Classes. There are two chief classes of proper names, those of men, and those of everything besides man. as beasts, places and festivals. Those of the latter class are much zore durable in their form, as man alone is al ways changing; they are also important for his tory, and it is desirable to ascertain, as far as possible, their original signification. But the proper names of the changeable races of men are in a much higher degree those in which history reflects itself in its viciscitudes; they also consti tute the more numerous class. For these reasons we confine ourselves at present to the proper names of men, as it is beyond our present scope to treat the entire subject.
2. 'Simplicity in Use of Names. The first fact that strikes us, on a general view of them all, is that the ancient Hebrews always retained the greatest simplicity in the use of names. In real ity, there is always only one single name which distinguishes a person. Where it is necessary, the name of the father is added; sometimes that of the mother instead, in case she happens to be more celebrated; or the line of descent is traced farther back, often to the fourth generation, or even farther. Mere epithets, like 'David the king,' 'Isaiah the prophet,' always express the actual and significant dignity of a man. The instances in which a person receives twa names alternately, as Jacob-Israel. Gideon-Jerubbaal (Judg. vi-ix), are casual and rare. and are not to be ascribed to a general custom of the people.
3. Three Periods. When we, then, consider proper names with reference to the grand distinc tion of times, we are able to discover in their vary ing use nearly the sante three periods as those which mark the history of this people in all other respects. These are the three periods which are most simply defined by the three different names of the nation which prevailed in each—the He brews, as they were called in early times, grad ually adopted the name of Israelites in the middle period, and exchanged this name, in the third, for that of Jews. It is a remarkable, but neverthe
less true, coincidence that, just as the name of the nation varies in these three periods, the color of the names of individuals changes in like man ner, according to the different tendencies char acterizing the times.
(I/ First Period. In the first period, which, for reasons adduced below, wc here limit by the comniencement of the Mosaic religion, we are able to see the whole process according to which names arc formed among this people; the distinct char acter of the formation of names which was estab lished in this primitive tune, continues essentially the same in the sneceeding period, while the ele ments of WhiCh names are formed undergo a par tial change. For this reason we may explain the laws of this formation in terms of merely general application. NOW names are either simp/e or compound words, or also words which arise from either of these kinds by derivation.
(a) The simple names exist in great abundance, and their signification as to the mere word itself, is generally evident; as 'judge ;' the Latin dexter, an ancient name, according to Gen. xlvi:to; Chron. ii :27; 'desired,' also an ancient name ac cording to Gen. xlvi :to; comp. xxxvi:37; 'hero,' a Kings iv :to. Thus most of them express an hon orable sense; although examples are not wanting of the direct contrary, as 'crooked' (2 Sam. xxiii: 26).
(b) The compound names, however, are more important for history, because they express more complete and distinct ideas than the simple names. Some of them arc altogether isolated, as prop erly 'serpent's mouth,' the grandson of Aaron; the son of Jacob; Oholiab (Exod. xxxi :6), 'father's tent,' a name resembling the Greek Pa trocles. But most of them bear a general re 2-.,mblance to each other, and follow in shoals '-ertain dominant opinions and customs; and these ast are what we must particularly consider here.