Barabbas - There's Something About That Name

[JoeMo]

I was reading a comparison between the Yom Kippur sacrifice where two identical goats are chosen; and by lots one would be chosen as the sacrifice; and one would be chosen as the scapegoat to be "set free", driven out on the camp into the wilderness.  The goats' anti-type were found in Jesus and Barabbas - where one was chosen as the sacrificial goat and one would be set free.  Jesus was the Son of the Father.  If we break up Barabbas into its components, we get Bar- Abba, which in Hebrew means "Son of the Father".  Coincidence or somehow significant?

[Gregory Matthews]

In the time of Christ, there were many who claimed to be the Messiah.  Often they came from nowhere (in the example of John the Baptist), raised up an army, fought with Rome, were defeated and died.

You are correct as to Barabbas, in Hebrew, meaning Son of the Father.  This leads many to believe that Barabbas was one of those false Messiahs.  If so, the people were essentially being given a choice between the  true Messiah and a false Messiah.

 

[Kevin H]

This was also a way of Pilate manipulating the situation. He knew which one he wanted to release. 

[8thdaypriest]

Great point Joe. 

Just wondering:  In what sense was Barabbas released by the hand of a "fit man" into the "uninhabited place".  Was Pilate really a "fit man"?  Would Barabbas have fled from human habitation?  Just wondering if this "anti-TYPE" (of the scapegoat) was only a partial fulfillment, not THE fulfillment.

I believe that Satan will be THE scapegoat/azazel goat   who will be released into the uninhabited place - the wilderness - the bottomless pit (the without form and void),    by Christ (the fit man) at the glorious return for both rescue (of the redeemed) and judgment (of the rebellious).

[JoeMo]

3 hours ago, 8thdaypriest said:

... this "anti-TYPE" (of the scapegoat) was only a partial fulfillment, not THE fulfillment.  I believe that Satan will be THE scapegoat/azazel goat   who will be released into the uninhabited place - the wilderness - the bottomless pit (the without form and void),    by Christ (the fit man) at the glorious return for both rescue (of the redeemed) and judgment (of the rebellious).

Totally agree, Rachel.  I just had never made the connection of Barabbas = Son of the Father before.  I would not be surprised if satan's real name isn't Azazel.  "satan" means "accuser"; which is more of a title than a name.  In the Book of 1 Enoch, it says that Azazel is the angel who will be punished forever for teaching humans how to sin.

[Rahab]

point well made about Barrabas...

seems like people are still choosing him today  

[Gregory Matthews]

False Messiahs continued to appear in the years following the coming of the Christ.  These have included:

Rar Kochba   132

David Alroy   1147

Abraham Abulafia   13th Century

Moses Botarel  1391

1492  multiple ones.

Shelomo Molcho   1500-1532

Shabbetai Zevi  1626-1676  ( later converted to Islam)

Loibele Prossnitz  1889

NOTE:  The above information was taken from:

Alfred J.  Kolatch, The second Jewish Book of  Why. Jonathan David Publishesr, 1985, pages 210 & 211.