Mishael

The name Mishael is a Hebrew name derived from the elements "mi" meaning "who" and "El" meaning "God". It is believed to have originated in ancient Israel and has been in use for thousands of years. The name is often interpreted to mean "who is like God".

Mishael is found in the Book of Daniel in the Hebrew Bible. It was the name given to one of the four young men from the tribe of Judah who were taken captive to Babylon along with Daniel. Mishael was known in Babylon by the name Meshach. In the Book of Daniel, Mishael and his companions refused to worship the golden idol erected by King Nebuchadnezzar, leading to their famous deliverance from the fiery furnace.

One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Mishael is found in the Dead Sea Scrolls, which date back to the 3rd century BCE. The name appears in several scrolls, including the War Scroll and the Damascus Document, indicating it was in use among the Essene community at Qumran.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals named Mishael. One of the earliest was Mishael ben Uzziel, a 1st-century BCE Jewish scholar and one of the famous Tannaim, the rabbis who lived during the period of the Mishnah. Another was Mishael ben Shesheth, a 9th-century CE Karaite Jewish scholar and author from Jerusalem.

In the Christian tradition, there was Mishael the Confessor, a 9th-century Byzantine monk and saint who was exiled for his opposition to iconoclasm. A later figure was Mishael Shulamit, a 16th-century Italian Jewish poet and writer from Ferrara.

In more recent times, Mishael Cheshin (1923-2015) was an Israeli Supreme Court judge who served for over 30 years, and Mishael Caspi (1924-2001) was an Israeli politician and member of the Knesset.