It's the AX part that nobody knows/understands.
AX...beginning and end of the alphabet! Just my observation.
See my 1023. The "change through destruction" seems to fit, and he was an English major. It's as good a guess as any.
I did some looking on the web and found some interesting facts. Ishmael (or the Islamic name Ismail) was Abram’s (later to be called Abraham) first son born to the slave girl, Hagar, when Abram was 86 years old. According to the Koran, it was Ishmael, not Isaac, that God commanded Abram to sacrifice on an altar with a knife. In some accounts it was to be done with an ax. Also, in accounts in the Koran, Abram is described as using an ax to destroy pagan idols in the Temple.
Hope it helps.
Daniel J. Geduld says,
Not sure if this is a connection or not, but it very possibly could be. A search on 'Ishmael's Ax' (I realize the spelling is slightly different, but if the killer wrote that, I'm guessing spelling was not in his right mind) comes up with a link in the book Ishmael by E.D.E.N. Southworth [ aka Emma Dorothy Eliza Nevitte Southworth ].Link downloadable text of "Ishmael by Emma Dorothy Eliza Nevitte Southworth" at Project Gutenberg.Here is how the novel is described:
"E.D.E.N. Southworth considers Ishmael to be her very best work, being founded on the life of one of the noblest of our countrymen who really lived, suffered, toiled, and triumphed in this land. Its inspirations of wisdom and goodness were drawn from the examples of heroic warriors and statesmen of the Revolution. Ishmael—born in the depths of poverty, misery, and humiliation and raised to the summit of fame—was good as well as great. His life is proof that there is no depth of human misery from which we may not, by virtue, energy, and perseverance, rise to earthly honors, and by God's grace, attain eternal glory."
Here is the relevant section:
----------
"Well, Hannah, my dear, I'm thankful as you feel any interest in me at all; and I'll tell you everything. Let me see, what was it you was wanting to know, now? all about myself; where I was living; how I was getting along; and what fotch me back here; all soon told, Hannah, my dear.
First about myself: You see, Hannah, that day as you slammed the door in my face I felt so distressed in my mind as I didn't care what on earth became of me; first I thought I'd just 'list for a soldier; then I thought I'd ship for a sailor; last I thought I'd go and seek my fortun' in Californy; but then the idea of the girls having no protector but myself hindered of me; hows'evar, anyways I made up my mind, as come what would I'd leave the neighborhood first opportunity; and so, soon after, as I heard of a situation as overseer at Judge Merlin's plantation up in the forest of Prince George's County, I sets off and walks up there, and offers myself for the place; and was so fort'nate as to be taken; so I comes back and moves my family, bag and baggage, up there.
Now as to the place where I live, it is called Tanglewood, and a tangle it is, as gets more and more tangled every year of its life. As to how I'm getting on, Hannah, I can't complain; for if I have to do very hard work, I get very good wages.
As to what brought me back to the neighborhood, Hannah, it was to do some business for the judge, and to buy some stock for the farm. But there, my dear! that boy has slipped out, and is cutting the wood; I'll go and do it for him," said Reuben, as the sound of Ishmael's ax fell upon his ears.
Hannah arose and followed Gray to the door, and there before it stood Ishmael, chopping away at random, upon the pile of wood, his cheeks flushed with fever and his eyes wild with excitement.
"Hannah, he is ill; he is very ill; he doesn't well know what he is about," said Reuben, taking the ax from the boy's hand.
"Ishmael, Ishmael, my lad, come in; you are not well enough to work," said Hannah anxiously.
Ishmael yielded up the ax and suffered Reuben to draw him into the house.
"It is only that I am so hot and dizzy and weak, Mr. Middleton; but I am sure I shall be able to do it presently," said Ishmael apologetically, as he put his hand to his head and looked around himself in perplexity.
"I'll tell you what, the boy is out of his head, Hannah, and it's my belief as he's a going to have a bad illness," said Reuben, as he guided Ishmael to the bed and laid him on it.
"Oh, Reuben! what shall we do?" exclaimed Hannah.
"I don't know, child! wait a bit and see."