364 angelika berlejung
with open frontiers) did aramaeans arrive from northern parts of syria,
acculturate, and become part of the regional population (see above). But
dtn 26: 5 is very interesting from a constructivistic point of view. the
verse refers not to a historical “ethnic,” “genetic,” or “biological” kinship
between israelites and aramaeans, but to a purposely established kinship
(Wahlverwandtschaft; syngeneia) that is purely fictional. in contrast to real
kinships, which cannot be chosen, fictional kinships are self-determined.
dtn 26: 5 gives therefore a clear impression, which relatives of the writers
of this verse (and of the Old testament genealogies mentioned above)
wanted to have and which they wanted to deny.
it has to be kept in mind that the biblical genealogies with aramaeans
are in the earliest exilic, but mostly post-exilic texts. this is also exactly
the time when Judean deportees had been settled by the Babylonians
in the aramaean heartland or in “Chaldaea,” where they had to interact
with the native or previous aramaean settlers. in the logic of the given
genealogical construct of the Old testament, the Judaeans who had been
deported into the aramaean heartland were no strangers, but had there
their familial roots and networks. On the other side, the exiled denied
their roots in Canaan: as descendants of abra(ha)m and of Jacob/israel
and their wives they claimed to be more closely related to the aramaeans
than to the Canaanites, which made them newcomers when they entered
palestine from the outside in the “conquest.” the genealogies of Gen and
dtn 26: 5 support the self-made construct that nothing would connect
israel/Judah, respectively yehud, with the native Canaanites. this real
kinship was eliminated in favor of the chosen and constructed one (with
the aramaeans).119
Considering the massive aramaean presence in the Old testament the
final question is what stood behind the strong interest in the aramaeans.
three possibilities are conceivable:
- aramaeans from syria settled in palestine and participated in shap-
ing its culture (attested from the iron age i on during each following
period). - inhabitants of israel/Judah were in aramaean settled areas for a visit
and were so deeply impressed by the aramaean culture that aramaean
traditions and elements were purposely included in the Old testament
and imported into the local material culture. this option is explicitly
119 for the functions of genealogies, see hieke 2003: 301f, 345–352.