Jannes And Jambres

VIEW:39 DATA:01-04-2020

JANNES AND JAMBRES.—In 2Ti_3:8 these names are given as those of Moses’ opponents; the Egyptian magicians of Exo_7:11; Exo_7:22 are doubtless referred to, though their names are not given in OT. They are traditional, and we find them in the Targumic literature (which, however, is late). Both there and in 2Ti_3:8 we find the various reading ‘Mambres’ (or ‘Mamre’). ‘Jannes’ is probably a corruption of ‘Johannes’ (John); ‘Jambres’ is almost certainly derived from a Semitic root meaning ‘to oppose’ (imperfect tense), the participle of which would give ‘Mambres.’ The names were even known to the beathen. Pliny the Elder (a.d. 23–79) mentions ‘Moses, Jamnes (or Jannes), and Jotapes (or Lotapes)’ as Jewish magicians (Hist. Nat. xxx. 1 ff.); thus ‘Jannes,’ at least, must have been a traditional name before the Christian era. Apuleins (c [Note: circa, about.] . a.d. 130) in his Apology speaks of Moses and Jannes as magicians; the Pythagorean Numenius (2nd cent. a.d.), according to Origen (c [Note: circa, about.] . Cels. iv. 51), related ‘the account respecting Moses and Jannes and Jambres,’ and Eusebius gives the words of Numenius (Prœp. Ev. ix. 8). In his Commentary on Mat_27:8 (known only in a Latin translation), Origen says that St. Paul is quoting from a book called ‘Jannes and Mambres’ (sic). But Theodoret (Com. in loc.) declares that he is merely using the unwritten teaching of the Jews. Jannes and Jambres are also referred to in the Apocryphal Gospel of Nicodemus § 5 (4th or 5th cent. in its present form?), and in the Apostolic Constitutions, viii. 1 (c [Note: circa, about.] . a.d. 375). Later Jewish fancy ran wild on these names; according to some they were Balaam’s sons; according to others they were drowned in the Red Sea; or they were put to death, either for inciting Aaron to make the Golden Calf or at a later stage of the history.
A. J. Maclean.
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible
Edited by James Hastings, D.D. Published in 1909

Two magicians. "Withstood Moses" (2Ti_3:8-9). They could "proceed no further," though for a time they simulated Moses' miracles (Exo_7:11). At last "their folly was manifested unto all," when not only could they no longer rival Moses and send boils but were themselves smitten with boils. So as to the lice, the magicians confessed," this is the finger of God" (Exo_8:18-19; Exo_9:11). An or unrra is Egyptian for "scribe." It is the name of a writer in papyri of the reign of Rameses II Jambres may mean "scribe of the S." (Speaker's Commentary, note at end of Exodus 7) The Targum of Jonathan mentions Jannes and Jannes as "chiefs of the magicians." Numenius, a Pythagorean (in Eusebius, Proep. Evang., 9:8) wrote, "Jannes and Jannes were sacred scribes, deemed inferior to none in magic." Paul by inspiration endorses the names given them in secular history, though not mentioned in the inspired Exodus. Pliny (H. N. 30:1) makes Moses, Jamnes, and Jotape, heads of magic factions.
Fausset's Bible Dictionary
By Andrew Robert Fausset, co-Author of Jamieson, Fausset and Brown's 1888.

jan?ēz, jam?brēz (Ἰαννῆς καὶ Ἰαμβρῆς, Iannḗs kaı́ Iambrḗs, 2Ti_3:8):
1. Egyptian Magicians
These are the names of two magicians in ancient Egypt, who withstood Moses before Pharaoh. This is the only place where the names occur in the New Testament, and they are not mentioned in the Old Testament at all. In Exo_7:11, Exo_7:22 Egyptian magicians are spoken of, who were called upon by Pharaoh to oppose Moses and Aaron: ?Then Pharaoh also called for the wise men and the sorcerers: and they also, the magicians of Egypt, did in like manner with their enchantments.? Jannes and Jambres were evidently two of the persons referred to in this passage. It should be observed that the word translated here ?magicians? occurs also in Gen_41:8 in connection with Pharaoh's dreams: Pharaoh ?sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt, and all the wise men thereof.? the Revised Version margin reads for ?magicians? ?or sacred scribes.? The Hebrew word is ḥarṭummı̄m, and means sacred scribes who were skilled in the sacred writing, that is in the hieroglyphics; they were a variety of Egyptian priests. Jannes and Jambres were doubtless members of one or other of the various classes spoken of in the passages in Exodus and Genesis, the wise men, the sorcerers, and the magicians or sacred scribes.
2. Mentioned by Pliny and Others
Jannes and Jambres, one or both, are also mentioned by Pliny (23-79 ad), by Apuleius (circa 130 ad), both of whom speak of Moses and Jannes as famous magicians of antiquity. The Pythagorean philosopher Numenius (2nd century ad) speaks of Jannes and Jambres as Egyptian hierogrammateis, or sacred scribes.
3. Traditions
There are many curious Jewish traditions regarding Jannes and Jambres. These traditions, which are found in the Targum and elsewhere, are full of contradictions and impossibilities and anachronisms. They are to the effect that Jannes and Jambres were sons of Balaam, the soothsayer of Pethor. Notwithstanding this impossibility in the matter of date, they were said to have withstood Moses 40 years previously at the court of Pharaoh, to whom it was also said, they so interpreted a dream of that king, as to foretell the birth of Moses and cause the oppression of the Israelites. They are also said to have become proselytes, and it is added that they left Egypt at the Exodus, among the mixed multitude. They are reported to have instigated Aaron to make the golden calf. The traditions of their death are also given in a varying fashion. They were said to have been drowned in the Red Sea, or to have been put to death after the making of the golden calf, or during the slaughter connected with the name of Phinehas.
4. Origen's Statement
According to Origen (Comm. on Mat_27:8) there was an apocryphal book - not yet rediscovered - called ?The Book of Jannes and Jambres.? Origen's statement is that in 2Ti_3:8 Paul is quoting from that book.
5. Derivation
In the Targumic literature ?Mambres? occurs as a variant reading instead of ?Jambres.? It is thought that Jambres is derived from an Aramaic root, meaning ?to oppose,? the participle of which would be Mambres. The meaning of either form is ?he who opposes.? Jannes is perhaps a corruption of Ioannes or Iohannes (John).

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
PRINTER 1915.

Jan?nes and Jam?bres, two of the Egyptian magicians who attempted by their enchantments to counteract the influence on Pharaoh's mind of the miracles wrought by Moses. Their names occur nowhere in the Hebrew Scriptures, and only once in the New Testament (2Ti_3:8). The Apostle Paul became acquainted with them, most probably, from an ancient Jewish tradition, or, as Theodoret expresses it, 'from the unwritten teaching of the Jews.' They are found frequently in the Talmudical and Rabbinical writings, but with some variations.
The Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature
by John Kitto.

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