I recently learned that his name was not arbitrarily chosen by Melville. I was reading through Genesis for the first time since reading Moby-Dick and came across this verse (KJV seems appropriate for this subreddit): "And unto Eber were born two sons: the name of one was Peleg; for in his days was the earth divided; and his brother's name was Joktan." Genesis 10:25. Peleg is the Hebrew word for division. I guess it's no coincidence that a man named Peleg, a Quaker, takes part in which lay the sailors of the Pequod will receive.
I'm aware of HM's religious background and his allusions to the Bible and Shakespeare but I missed that one because he used such an obscure name. (I do remember thinking it a peculiar name when I read MD.) He either had that written down as a note somewhere or his Bible trivia is out of this world.
Just picked up 1/18 at brewery. Better now, or cellared for a while?
