My
great-great-great-grandfather was named Jehoiada S. Roberts. After
Jehoiada's wife, Maria, died, her property was to be sold to pay
debts. The government workers involved contacted the widower about
the land. One of them stated, in Maria's official probate records,
that he was waiting in case “the old chap with the long front-name
wanted to come in.”
Well!
With comments like that, I suppose I might have decided to go by “J.
S. Roberts” too!
What's in a name? In the Old Testament, Jezebel's daughter, Athaliah,
married the king of Judah and introduced idol worship. She also
killed all of the heirs to the throne, except for one baby, Joash,
who was stolen away to safety. Six years later, the high priest
Jehoiada overthrew usurping Queen Athaliah, established Joash as king, and
restored the worship of Jehovah. In death, Jehoiada was honored by
being buried with the kings of Judah. "Long front-name," sure, but what a great namesake!
