Re: Simon of Bethany

From: Jack Kilmon (jkilmon@historian.net)
Date: Tue May 05 1998 - 14:01:31 EDT


dalmatia@eburg.com wrote:

> Carl W. Conrad wrote:
> >
> > At 10:01 AM -0500 5/5/98, Steven Cox wrote:
> > >Dear all
> > >This may actually be a question for b-aramaic list, but as I
> > >don't know aramaic and there may be something in the greek
> > >text I am missing I submit this question to b-greek. Your
> > >forbearance please.
> > >-----------------------------------------------------------
> > >
> > >Below there is a simplified parallel of the anointings in the
> > >Gospels. My question relates to the name LAZAROS, which BAGD
> > >gives as an abreviation of Eleazar (which in LXX is ELEAZAR),
> > >and cites Josephus' War 5:567 MANNAIOS hO LAZAROU.
> > >
> > >(1) Is it possible that as in the Josephus example LAZAROS is a
> > >patronymic?
> > >
> > >(2) Alternatively the Medieval Latin "lazarus"(=leper) has
> > >something more than the NT use behind it. My gut reaction is
> > >to reject this out of hand.. but.. maybe there is an Aramaic
> > >word play in the stem L-Z-R?
> > >
> > >(3) Or Simon is simply Lazarus' elder brother or father?
> > >
> > >------------------------------------------------------------
> > >Matt 26:6 Mark 14:3 Luke 7:40/10:40 John 11:2
> > > Simon Pharisee
> > > Capernaum
> > > woman drys feet who dried feet
> > > with her hair with her hair
> > >
> > > a village
> > > Mary
> > > Martha
> > > Martha
> > >Simon leper Simon leper Lazarus
> > >Bethany Bethany Bethany
> > >woman woman Mary
> > >Judas Judas Judas
> > >------------------------------------------------------------
> >
> > One factor that probably should be considered is that Greek LAZAROS,
> > Heb/Aram ELEAZAR is a fairly common name meaning "God is my help." I think
> > that the name is symbolic in the Lucan parable of "Lazarus and the Rich
> > Man" (aliter "Lazarus and Dives"). Secondly, my guess is that Josephus'
> > example simply Hellenizes the Hebrew/Aramaic practice of indicating a man's
> > father (as the second part of one's name) with a BEN ELEAZAR (Heb?) or BAR
> > ELEAZAR (Aram?). I would certainly defer to Jack Kilmon or others in the
> > know on the latter point, but I would guess that (a) the name itself is
> > fairly common in Palestine, and (b) that this IS a typical patronymic
> > formula. I too would reject the Medieval Latin usage, and I'd also be
> > rather skeptical (personally) about trying to draw a very close
> > relationship between the Simons and the Lazaruses in these various
> > traditions.
>
> I would add [to Carl's observations] that "God is my help", especially
> as a common name, provides exegetical force [via the selection of this
> name] in John 11, vis a vis the death and rebirth thematic that is
> illustrated there [with Lazarus], and which allows this gospel then to
> 'hinge' into the thematic focus of 'blood'. [And out of that of
> 'water'.]
>
> And jar maker does seem to make more sense than leper for Simon, eh?
> Yet there might could be a play on words here that has significance.
> [Another back burner item!!] :-)

    One of the reasons I consider Lazarus as an historical personage is the
rendering of his name in the Greek and Latin. His name ALAZAR
would have been pronounced by a Galilean as `-LAZAR. Galilean
Aramaic dropped their alefs and ayins like Cockney's dropping their
H's. The Greek and Latin renderings are reallt transliterations of
the Galilean pronounciation which apparently came from his rather
famous buddy.

Jack



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