The Torah Portion Bamidbar, while describing a head count, goes no to list a large number of individual’s names. Biblical names were defining; names, as we learn from the Torah, have currency.
The best example of a defining name comes from Moses’ Burning Bush encounter. Moses queries God as to what name he should provide for the Deity to the Hebrew slaves. The future leader is told, “you shall say this to the children of Israel, Hashem, your fathers’ God, Abraham’s God, Isaac’s God, and Jacob’s God has sent you.” Exodus 3:15. Association brings meaning to names.
Unlike modern times with “fixed” last names, biblical names consisted of the individual’s first name along with the identification of the individual’s parents. Thus, “son of” or “daughter of” is used as part of the last name. Thus, Isaac, son of Abraham and Sarah would be considered as a full name.
As such, children are in part defined by their name. They carried within them their parent’s legacy. Likewise, parents were in part defined by their children. This naming method transformed identity into a Ten Commandments’ issue.
The Ten Commandments’ provision to honor one’s parents, as we can see from the above stated notions, is inextricably intertwined into a person’s name. This occurs in many ways.
Children can be the beneficiary of a parent’s good name. In biblical days, one must believe that a parent’s good name provided the child “the benefit of the doubt” with respect to initial interactions. In those times, surely the reverence and reputation of their parent carried over into the community.
With this notion in mind, a child also enters the world with caution. Given their name identified their parent, the child’s conduct could impact on their parent’s reputation and standing.
An upstanding child could raise a parent’s profile while a wrongdoing child could diminish their parent’s reputation. Thus, one can assert that a child conducting oneself properly in society brings honor to both the parent and the parent’s name. As such, acting as an upstanding individual fulfills the commandment. In contrast, a ne’er do well child can do much to harm to their parents and their good name.
In sum, one’s biblical name was not only like currency, but they were also like a stock. Reputations shaped by performance can bring rise or fall to the value of a name. Thus, a child’s positive conduct can be a source of honor towards one’s parents.
Be well!!
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