09-21-2013, 11:56 PM
Aside from Josephus, we also know the difference between Old Hebrew and Aramaic through this information.
"YA" (Yodh Alap) is Aramaic form of Hebrew "YH" in YHWH. So the names will also get changed when they are converted from Hebrew into Aramaic.
Let me put Hebrew names on the left and Aramaic names on the right.
Hebrew - Aramaic
YEHOSHUA - YESHUA
YEHONATHAN - YONATHAN (JONATHAN)
YEHOSEPH - YOSEPH (JOSEPH)
YEHOCHANAN - YOCHANAN (JOHN)
YEHOIAKIM- YOYAKIM (JOACHIM)
YEHUDA - YUDA (JUDE)
YEHUDEA - YUDEA (Judea)
Note - YEHUDA and YEHUDEA are written in Aramaic exactly like in Hebrew. But "H" is silent except after proclitics (Introduction to Syriac, Pg. 35).
As you know, Aramaic was the spoken language of Jews until Simon Bar Kokhba tried to restore Hebrew as the official language of Jews instead of Aramaic during Bar Kokhba revolt (132-135 AD).
When Hasmonean coins were minted in Hebrew, the names also became Hebrew. Here are some examples from Hasmonean coins in Hebrew.
1. Yehochanan Kohen Gadol Chever Hayehudim" (Yehochanan the High Priest, Council of the Jews).
2. "Yehochanan Kohen Gadol Rosh Chever Hayehudim" (Yehochanan the High Priest, Head of the Council of the Jews).
3. "Yehonatan Kohen Gadol Chever Hayehudim" (Yehonatan the High Priest, Council of the Jews).
Here is the wikipedia link - <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hasmonean_coinage">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hasmonean_coinage</a><!-- m -->
When Bar Kokhba tried to restore Hebrew, the names of the people who lived during that time also began to get converted to Hebrew. For Example, Yonathan Bar Beayan (who worked with Bar Kokhba) came to be called "Yehonathan Ben Beaya." In Bar Kokhba letters, there is a man named "Yehoseph" which is Hebrew form of Aramaic name "Yoseph."
"YA" (Yodh Alap) is Aramaic form of Hebrew "YH" in YHWH. So the names will also get changed when they are converted from Hebrew into Aramaic.
Let me put Hebrew names on the left and Aramaic names on the right.
Hebrew - Aramaic
YEHOSHUA - YESHUA
YEHONATHAN - YONATHAN (JONATHAN)
YEHOSEPH - YOSEPH (JOSEPH)
YEHOCHANAN - YOCHANAN (JOHN)
YEHOIAKIM- YOYAKIM (JOACHIM)
YEHUDA - YUDA (JUDE)
YEHUDEA - YUDEA (Judea)
Note - YEHUDA and YEHUDEA are written in Aramaic exactly like in Hebrew. But "H" is silent except after proclitics (Introduction to Syriac, Pg. 35).
As you know, Aramaic was the spoken language of Jews until Simon Bar Kokhba tried to restore Hebrew as the official language of Jews instead of Aramaic during Bar Kokhba revolt (132-135 AD).
When Hasmonean coins were minted in Hebrew, the names also became Hebrew. Here are some examples from Hasmonean coins in Hebrew.
1. Yehochanan Kohen Gadol Chever Hayehudim" (Yehochanan the High Priest, Council of the Jews).
2. "Yehochanan Kohen Gadol Rosh Chever Hayehudim" (Yehochanan the High Priest, Head of the Council of the Jews).
3. "Yehonatan Kohen Gadol Chever Hayehudim" (Yehonatan the High Priest, Council of the Jews).
Here is the wikipedia link - <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hasmonean_coinage">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hasmonean_coinage</a><!-- m -->
When Bar Kokhba tried to restore Hebrew, the names of the people who lived during that time also began to get converted to Hebrew. For Example, Yonathan Bar Beayan (who worked with Bar Kokhba) came to be called "Yehonathan Ben Beaya." In Bar Kokhba letters, there is a man named "Yehoseph" which is Hebrew form of Aramaic name "Yoseph."