The Biblical Characters Who Were Called by Name Before They were Born
There are five who were called by their names before they were even born. Two of the five appear in the Torah portion Lech Lecha, “Go for yourself”, (Genesis 12:1-17:27). In order of their appearance, the five Biblical characters are: Ishmael, Yitschak, Shelomoh, Yoshiyahu, and Koresh.
Regarding Ishmael, Avraham’s son, the angel of the Eternal said to Hagar, the servant of Avram’s wife Sarai:
Behold, you are with child and shall bear a son. And you shall call his name Ishmael (“God hears”), because the Eternal has heard your affliction. (Genesis 16:11)
And Avram (86) called the name of his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael.
Regarding Yitschak, Avraham’s son from his wife Sarah, it is written:
Only Sarah, your wife, shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Yitschak (“He laughs”). And I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant for his seed after him. (Genesis 17:19)
The promised son according to the Covenant was called “He laughs”, because Avraham fell upon his face, laughed, and said in his heart: “Shall a child be born to him that is a hundred years old, and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?” (Genesis 17:17). He said this since he did not beget a child from her while he was young, and he thought how could he beget from her after he was a hundred and she ninety.
And further it is written again regarding Yitschak:
But My covenant will I establish with Yitschak, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this set time in the next year. (Genesis 17:21)
Regarding King Shelomoh,
Behold, a son shall be born to you, who shall be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all his enemies round about, for his name shall be Shelomoh (“Peaceful”), and I will give peace (shalom) and quietness to Israel in his days. (1 Chronicles 22:9)
Regarding King Yoshiyahu it is written:
Behold, a son will be born to the house of David, Yoshiyahu (“Founded by the Eternal”) is his name. (1 Kings 13:2)
And regarding Koresh, King of Persia who is mentioned by name centuries before his time, it is written:
That said of Koresh: “He is My shepherd and shall perform all My pleasure; even saying of Yerushalyim: ‘She shall be built’; and to the Temple: ‘My foundation shall be laid.'” (Isaiah 44:28)
And further it is written again regarding Koresh, the founder of the Persian Empire:
Thus said the Eternal to His anointed (Hebrew, mashiach), to Koresh, whose right hand I have strengthened, to subdue nations before him”. (Isaiah 45:1)
According to Antiquities of the Jews, Book 11, Chapter 1, this was foretold by the prophet one hundred and forty years before the Temple was demolished.
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May we merit seeing the coming of our Mashiach speedily in our days!
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