Nicodemus ben Gurion

Nicodemus ben Gurion (Hebrew: נַקְדִּימוֹן בֶּן־גּוּרְיוֹן, romanized: Naqdīmōn ben-Gūryōn), also called Buni (Hebrew: בּוּנִי, romanized: Būnī) was a wealthy Jewish man who lived in Jerusalem in the 1st century AD. He is believed by most scholars to be the Nicodemus mentioned in the Gospel of John.^[1] Elsewhere he is discussed in Josephus' history, The Jewish War,^[2] and later, rabbinic works: Lamentations Rabbah,^[3] Ecclesiastes Rabbah,^[4] the Babylonian Talmud,^[5][6] and Avot of Rabbi Natan.^[7]

Name

Ben Gurion means "son of Gurion", the Hebrew patronymic, his personal name was apparently either Buni or Bunai.^[8] He acquired the nickname Nicodemus, meaning "victory of the people" (from νίκη and δῆμος), or alternate Semitic etymology Naqdimon, signifying "to break through" (from Hebrew: קדר or נקד) because of a miraculous answer to a prayer he made ("the sun broke through for him").^[9][1][10] or by some editions and later rabbis, came before or stood (קדם), in relation to the sun, And since it's closer to the name and appears in relation to the miracle directly after the previous explanation, and in another passage relating to this miracle, this is the one used the most.^[10] Some argue the name Nicodemus in the Bible to be a Hellenization of the Hebrew and Aramaic name Naqdimon, while others consider the latter to be of a folk etymology.

Biography

Nicodemus appears to have been a wealthy and respected figure, known for his holiness and generosity. He was an opponent of the Zealots and of the Jewish rebellion against the Roman Empire which led to the destruction of Jerusalem.^[11] When Vespasian became emperor, Nicodemus sought peace with the emperor's son Titus, who was conducting the war. He agitated against the prosecution of the war by the Zealots. In retaliation, they destroyed the stores of provisions that he and his friends had accumulated for the use of pilgrims.^[11]

References

1. Titchmarsh, E. H. (1906–1918). "Nicodemus". Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament.
2. Josephus. The Jewish War. 2.17.10., Perseus Project BJ2.17.10, . (cf. note, Steve Mason^{[permanent dead link]})
3. Lamentations Rabbah i. 5;
4. Ecclesiastes Rabbah vii. 11
5. Ta'anit 19b pdf; Ktubot 65a-b, 66b, 67a; Gittin 56a (cf. Josephus, Jewish War, v. 1, § 4); Avodah Zarah 25a. All links to Isidore Epstein's translation of the Babylonian Talmud.
6. "Nakdimon ben Guryon". Encyclopedia Judaica. 2008. Retrieved 9 August 2015 – via Jewish Virtual Library.
7. vi. 3
8. note 52:1 of Tractate of Babylonian Ta'anit at 21a (scroll to page 52) Jewish Virtual Library
9. "Taanit 19b-20a". Sefaria. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
10. "Jastrow I 1". Sefaria. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
11. "Nicodemus (Naḳdimon) ben Gorion". Jewish Encyclopedia. 1906.