Ishmael Ben Fabi
He is said to be the most ruthless master in the region: he oppresses his servants, has cruel demands, lends at usury, and loves only himself.
He drives out Mary and Matthias, young orphans. The Hungry: "'Out, starving dogs!'" he shouts at them.[1] Jesus takes them in.[2] They are later adopted by Johanna of Chuza.[3]
He is "one of the leaders of the Pharisees" Salton Luc[4], at whose house Jesus goes to lunch near Maggedo.
In his fifties and rather short, Maria Valtorta describes him as a "Sadducee", a term here indicating his belonging to the chamber of the great priests. Like the guests Eleazar ben Boëthos and Chanania, he sees in Jesus's growing reputation a way to conquer the royalty of Israel. Jesus corrects them, his kingdom is not of this world.[5]
In response to the title of "merciful" they attribute to one another, Jesus heals the dropsical man even though it is the Sabbath. The Sanhedrists are outraged.[6]
Then Jesus says to Ismael:"But you had two orphans on your property. They were the children of two faithful servants who died at work, one with the sickle in hand, the other killed by excessive fatigue. To keep her, she had to add her husband's work to her service. You said: 'I have made a contract for two workers and, to keep you, I demand your work and that of the dead.' And she gave it to you, and she died with the child she was carrying, because this Woman was a mother, and she did not get the pity that is shown to a beast that bears young. Where are these two little ones now?"At the next Passover, with other Enemies of the Lord, Ismael protests his observance of the law.[9] In response, Jesus quotes Scripture to him:"I don't know... They disappeared one day." - "Do not lie now. It is enough to have been cruel. (...)
"I know. I found them one November evening (...) cold, The Hungry and trembling, near a house, like two little dogs searching for a piece of bread... [7] Cursed and chased away by a man who had a dog's heart, a man worse than a dog, for a dog would have had pity on these two orphans. And you and that man showed no pity. Their parents did not serve you anymore, right? They were dead. (...)
The little girl could serve by gleaning... And you drove them out, even denying them the little Good that belonged to the father and mother. They could die of hunger and cold like two dogs on a road. They could live by becoming one a thief and the other a prostitute, for hunger leads to sin. But what did you care?"[8]
"The bread of the needy is the life of the poor, and he who takes it away from them is a murderer".[10]Ismael is one of those with whom Judas conspires.[11] At the trial of Jesus, he brings the accusation: Jesus healed a sick person on a Sabbath day.[12]
His Name
Ismael (Ishmael) means "God hears". Historical reference: the son Abraham had with Hagar, the Egyptian servant. This Ishmael was supplanted by Isaac.
Where is he mentioned in the work?
EMV 298 EMV 299EMV 334 EMV 335 EMV 362 EMV 373
EMV 604
Learn More About This Character
Maggedo is known in the Apocalypse under the name Harmagedon, "the mountain of Megiddo".[13]
Ismael, son of Phiabi, was high priest from 15 to 16, under Valerius Gratus[14] His son, Ismael II, also was from 55 to 61.
Salton the Talmud, his excessive penchant for effeminate luxury was the Scandal of his time[15].
Notes and references
- ↑ EMV 298.3
- ↑ EMV 298.2-6
- ↑ EMV 299.3-8
- ↑ Luc 14,1-6
- ↑ John 18,36
- ↑ EMV 335.12-13
- ↑ EMV 298.2
- ↑ EMV 335.14
- ↑ EMV 373.5
- ↑ Sirach 34,24-27
- ↑ EMV 423
- ↑ EMV 604.11
- ↑ Ap 16,16
- ↑ Flavius Josephus, Jewish Antiquities, 18.2.2, 34; 20,8 and 11.
- ↑ Babylonian Talmud, Passover feast, folio 57, verso.