Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

MISHAEL

(Heb. mîšāʾēl)

1. A priestly figure of the wilderness period; a son of Uzziel in the line of Kohath (Exod. 6:22; Lev. 10:4).

2. An influential community member, perhaps a Levite, who stood at Ezra’s left hand during his public reading of the law (Neh. 8:4; 1 Esdr. 9:44).

3. The Hebrew name (“Who is what God is?”) of a companion of Daniel, also called by the Babylonian name Meshach (Dan. 1–3). 4 Macc. 16:3 highlights Mishael’s special association with Dan. 3’s fiery furnace. Mishael represents a brand of Israelite sage associated with bureaucratic circles. Some such circles survived, and even flourished (e.g., Dan. 2:49), in Diaspora environs through their shrewd wisdom and fresh apocalypticism. In Jewish literature subsequent to Daniel, Mishael came to serve as a classic example of heroic faith (Pr. Azar. 66; 1 Macc. 2:59; 4 Macc. 16:21; 18:12).

Bibliography. R. R. Wilson, “From Prophecy to Apocalyptic: Reflections on the Shape of Israelite Religion,” Semeia 21 (1981): 79-95.

Stephen L. Cook







Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)

Info Language Arrow Return to Top
Prayer Tents is a Christian mission organization that serves Christians around the world and their local bodies to make disciples ("evangelize") more effectively in their communities. Prayer Tents provides resources to enable Christians to form discipleship-focused small groups and make their gatherings known so that other "interested" people may participate and experience Christ in their midst. Our Vision is to make disciples in all nations through the local churches so that anyone seeking God can come to know Him through relationships with other Christians near them.

© Prayer Tents 2024.
Prayer Tents Facebook icon Prayer Tents Twitter icon Prayer Tents Youtube icon Prayer Tents Linkedin icon