leonarde

Found something on the modern practice of
naming among Jewish families: (word "not" boldened by leonarde)
Above from pages 22-23 of "The Jewish Book of Why"
by Alfred J. Kolatch, Jonathan David Publishers Inc. Middle Village New York, 1981.

Still doesn't tell us for sure about the practices
of 2000 years ago in Gallilee and Judea.

Cheers!

Geoff Hudson

Here is my view of Lk.1

Chapter 1
Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eye-witnesses and servants of the Spirit. Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Epaphroditus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

In the time of Coponius, Governor of Judea there was a man named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly clan of Rechabites in the division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was a descendant of Aaron. Both of them were upright in the sight of God, observing all the Rechabite commandments and regulations blamelessly. But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren; and they were both well on in years.

Once when Zechariah's division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense. And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled priests were praying in the court of the priests.

Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied: "Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because his Spirit has come to redeem his people. He has raised up his Spirit for us in the house of his servant David to remember the oath he swore to David: ‘You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek’ – to enable us to serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. And you will be called Spirit of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising Spirit will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness, and in the shadow of the spirit of deceit, to guide our feet into the path of peace."

Then, in the sanctuary, the high priest Annas appeared to Zechariah, at the right side of the alter of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. The high priest said to him: " Zechariah; your prayer has been overheard. How can you be sure that the Spirit will forgive? I am the high priest. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to intercede for sins. You will be silent and you will not be able to speak." Immediately, his mouth was held opened by the temple guards and his tongue was cut-out by the high priest.

Meanwhile, the priests of his division were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long at the alter of incense. When he came out through the sanctuary doors, he could not speak to them. At first they thought he had seen a vision. Then they realised his tongue had been cut-out, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak. Then he made signs to the priests to ask for a writing tablet. To their astonishment, he wrote the name, ‘Annas’. When his spirit returned to God, the assembled priests were all filled with fear.

After this, Zechariah’s wife Elizabeth who was pregnant remained hidden in Zechariah’s cave. "The Lord has done this to me," she said. "In these days he has shown his anger and taken away my husband from among the people." Then the Spirit came to Elizabeth, and said to her, “Do not be afraid Elizabeth, you will bear a son, and you are to give him the name John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the Spirit of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth. Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God. And he will go on before the Lord, in the power of the Spirit, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."

When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son. Her neighbours and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy. And Elizabeth said: "My spirit glorifies the Lord and rejoices in the Spirit, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Lord has done great things for me -- holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants for ever, even as he said to our fathers."

On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him after his father Zechariah, but his mother spoke up and said, "No! He is to be called John." They said to her, "There is no-one among your relatives who has that name." Everyone who heard this wondered about it, asking, "What then is this child going to be?" For the Lord's hand was with him.
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Geoff