The term "Aramaean" refers to a group of Semitic people originating from the region of Aram, which is located in present-day Syria. The Aramaeans are frequently mentioned in the Old Testament, where they are depicted as both neighbors and adversaries of the Israelites. The Aramaeans played a significant role in the history of the ancient Near East, particularly during the first millennium BC.

Biblical References and Historical Context

The Aramaeans are first mentioned in the Bible in Genesis 10:22, where Aram is listed as one of the sons of Shem, making the Aramaeans descendants of Noah. The patriarchal narratives also connect the Aramaeans to the family of Abraham. In Genesis 24:10, Abraham's servant travels to "Aram Naharaim" to find a wife for Isaac, indicating the familial ties between the Israelites and the Aramaeans.

The Aramaeans are often associated with the city of Damascus, which became a significant Aramaean kingdom. In 2 Samuel 8:5-6, King David defeats the Aramaeans of Damascus, establishing Israelite dominance over them: "When the Arameans of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David struck down twenty-two thousand men. Then he placed garrisons in Aram of Damascus, and the Arameans became subject to David and brought him tribute."

Throughout the period of the divided monarchy, the Aramaeans were both allies and enemies of Israel and Judah. The prophet Elisha frequently interacted with the Aramaeans, as seen in 2 Kings 5, where Naaman, the commander of the Aramaean army, is healed of leprosy. The Aramaeans also besieged Samaria, as recorded in 2 Kings 6:24-25.

Language and Culture

The Aramaeans are credited with the spread of the Aramaic language, which became the lingua franca of the Near East during the Neo-Assyrian and Neo-Babylonian empires. Aramaic was the language spoken by Jesus and his disciples, and portions of the Old Testament, such as parts of Daniel and Ezra, are written in Aramaic.

Theological Significance

The interactions between the Israelites and the Aramaeans highlight themes of divine sovereignty and judgment. The victories of Israel over the Aramaeans, as seen in the reigns of David and Solomon, are attributed to God's favor and covenant promises. Conversely, the Aramaean incursions and victories over Israel serve as instruments of divine discipline when Israel strayed from God's commandments.

In Hosea 12:12, the prophet reflects on the historical relationship between Israel and Aram: "Jacob fled to the land of Aram; Israel worked for a wife, and for a wife he tended sheep." This reference underscores the deep historical and familial connections between the two peoples, while also serving as a reminder of God's providential care and guidance throughout Israel's history.

Conclusion

The Aramaeans, as depicted in the Bible, are a testament to the complex interplay of relationships in the ancient Near East. Their interactions with Israel provide valuable insights into the historical and theological narratives of the Old Testament, illustrating the unfolding of God's plan through the nations.(a.) Alt. of Aramean.761. Arammi -- an inhabitant of Aram (Syria)
... of Aram (Syria) NASB Word Usage Aramean (8), Arameans (4). Syrian, Aramitess. Patrial
from 'Aram; an Aramite or Aramaean -- Syrian, Aramitess. see HEBREW 'Aram. ...
/hebrew/761.htm - 6k

7421. rammi -- Syrian
... Word Origin scribal error for Arammi, qv. Syrian For 'Arammiy; a Ramite, ie Aramaean --
Syrian. see HEBREW 'Arammiy. 7420, 7421. rammi. 7422 . Strong's Numbers
/hebrew/7421.htm - 5k

450. Elyada -- "God knows," three Israelites
... NASB Word Usage Eliada (4). Eliada. From 'el and yada'; God (is) knowing; Eljada,
the name of two Israelites and of an Aramaean leader -- Eliada. see HEBREW 'el ...
/hebrew/450.htm - 6k

The Original Text and Its History.
... 1,) the Arabic, having its original seat in the southeastern part of the Shemitic
territory, and of which the AEthiopic is a branch; (2,) the Aramaean in the ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xiv the original text.htm

The Nations of the North-East
... The main part of the population of Syria and Mesopotamia was Aramaean"that is to
say, it consisted of Semites from Arabia who spoke Aramaic dialects. ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter iv the nations of.htm

Language of the New Testament. 1 in the Character of the Original ...
... One result of the Babylonish captivity was that Hebrew ceased to be the vernacular
of the masses of the people, and a form of Aramaean took its place. ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xxiv language of the.htm

Jews and Gentiles in "The Land"
... and names in the gospels as Raka, Abba, Golgotha, Gabbatha, Akel-Dama, Bartholomaios,
Barabbas, Bar-Jesus, and the various verbal quotations, are all Aramaean. ...
/.../edersheim/sketches of jewish social life/chapter 2 jews and gentiles.htm

Index of Subjects.
... Apostle's Creed, 517. Aquila and his version, 204. Aramaean or Aramaic and its branches,
175; became the language of the Jews after the captivity, 177, 369. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/barrows/companion to the bible/index of subjects.htm

Chapter xxxi
... her father. And Jacob tricked Laban, the Aramaean, by not telling him
that he was fleeing. So he and all that were his fled. He ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xxxi.htm

Chapter xxx
... else gives indications of polytheistic leanings, and since Jacob surely would have
tolerated no names for his children that were allusions to Aramaean or other ...
//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xxx.htm

The Upbringing of Jewish Children
... That our Lord taught in Aramaean, and that He used and quoted the Holy Scriptures
in the Hebrew, perhaps sometimes rendering them for popular use into Aramaean ...
/.../edersheim/sketches of jewish social life/chapter 7 the upbringing of.htm

Brief Outline of Ancient Jewish Theological Literature
... the Midrash. Primarily the Targum, then, was intended as a translation
of the Hebrew Scriptures into the vernacular Aramaean. Of ...
/.../edersheim/sketches of jewish social life/chapter 18 brief outline of.htm

The Historical Books. 1 the New Testament...
... Luke 5:29), and his office must have required for its proper discharge a knowledge
of the Greek as well as of his native Hebrew; that is, Aramaean, as the word ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xxix the historical books.htm

Aramaean (13 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (a.) Alt. of Aramean. Multi-Version Concordance
Aramaean (13 Occurrences). Genesis 25:20 Isaac was forty ...
/a/aramaean.htm - 10k

Aramaeans (49 Occurrences)
... 2 Samuel 10:18 And the Aramaeans went in flight before Israel; and David put to
the sword the men of seven hundred Aramaean war-carriages and forty thousand ...
/a/aramaeans.htm - 23k

War-carriages (76 Occurrences)
... 2 Samuel 10:18 And the Aramaeans went in flight before Israel; and David put to
the sword the men of seven hundred Aramaean war-carriages and forty thousand ...
/w/war-carriages.htm - 31k

Jaladah (1 Occurrence)
... Jaladah (1 Occurrence). 1 Chronicles 7:14 Sons of Manasseh: Ashriel, whom Jaladah
his Aramaean concubine bare, with Machir father of Gilead. (YLT). ...
/j/jaladah.htm - 6k

Fleeing (38 Occurrences)
... Genesis 31:20 and Jacob deceiveth the heart of Laban the Aramaean, because
he hath not declared to him that he is fleeing; (YLT NAS). ...
/f/fleeing.htm - 18k

Footmen (13 Occurrences)
... 2 Samuel 10:18 And the Aramaeans went in flight before Israel; and David put to
the sword the men of seven hundred Aramaean war-carriages and forty thousand ...
/f/footmen.htm - 11k

Deceiveth (8 Occurrences)
... (KJV ASV WBS). Genesis 31:20 and Jacob deceiveth the heart of Laban the Aramaean,
because he hath not declared to him that he is fleeing; (YLT). ...
/d/deceiveth.htm - 8k

Positions (41 Occurrences)
... And on the seventh day the fight was started; and the children of Israel put to
the sword a hundred thousand Aramaean footmen in one day. (BBE). ...
/p/positions.htm - 19k

Butlers (13 Occurrences)
... 18:26 And Eliakim son of Hilkiah saith -- and Shebna, and Joah -- to the chief of
the butlers, 'Speak, we pray thee, unto thy servants 'in' Aramaean, for we ...
/b/butlers.htm - 10k

Chronicles (45 Occurrences)
... The peculiar form of the language, being Aramaean in its general character, harmonizes
also with that of the books which were written after the Exile. ...
/c/chronicles.htm - 60k

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