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Nun, the father of Yehoshua, is apparently named after a word for fish in Aramaic (for example, Beresheet Rabbah 97:3; Divrei Emet, Matot). His father Elishama (according to Divrei Hayamim 1:7:26-2...
#1: Initial revision
by
Harel13
·
2020-07-27T11:40:44Z (over 4 years ago)
Why does Nun have an Aramaic name?
Nun, the father of Yehoshua, is apparently named after a word for fish in Aramaic (for example, [Beresheet Rabbah 97:3](https://www.sefaria.org/Genesis.48.16?vhe=Tanach_with_Ta%27amei_Hamikra&lang=he&aliyot=0&p2=Bereishit_Rabbah.97.3&lang2=he); [Divrei Emet, Matot](https://www.sefaria.org/Divrei_Emet%2C_Divrei_Emet_on_Torah%2C_Matot.4?vhe=Divrei_Emet,_Zalkowa_1801&lang=he)). His father Elishama (according to Divrei Hayamim 1:7:[26](https://www.sefaria.org/I_Chronicles.7.26?lang=he&with=all&lang2=he)-[27](https://www.sefaria.org/I_Chronicles.7.27?lang=he&with=all&lang2=he)) had a Hebrew name. His son Yehoshua had a Hebrew name. Arguably, all of Ephraim's descendants (prior to Nun) have Hebrew names. Why does Nun have an Aramaic name? Something to consider: If it's because Elishama _wanted_ to give his son a non-Hebrew name, wouldn't an _Egyptian_ name make more sense?