Israel (vocalized Ge'ez እስራኤል ʾIsrāʾēl or ይስራኤል Yisrāʾēl, c.590) was a king of Axum. He is primarily known through the coins minted during his reign.
The Kebra Nagast and Ethiopian historical tradition states that Kaleb had two sons, Gabra Masqal and Israel. Skeptical that this Israel was actually the son of King Kaleb, Munro-Hay suggests that Israel may have been better than the other kings between him and Kaleb (or Gabra Masqal), and tradition compressed the succession. Richard Pankhurst mentions the name of this king as an early example of Judaic influence in Ethiopian culture.
Famous quotes containing the words israel of and/or israel:
“We Americans are the peculiar, chosen people—the Israel of our time; we bear the ark of the liberties of the world.”
—Herman Melville (1819–1891)
“For in the division of the nations of the whole earth he set a ruler over every people; but Israel is the Lord’s portion: whom, being his firstborn, he nourisheth with discipline, and giving him the light of his love doth not forsake him. Therefore all their works are as the sun before him, and his eyes are continually upon their ways.”
—Apocrypha. Ecclesiasticus 17:17-9.