Aram and Israel relations

The Bible reveals that Arameans and the Hebrew Patriarchs have shared origins and marriage ties existed between the peoples.

According to the Bible, there were ongoing rivalries between Israel and its neighboring Aramean kingdoms, but there were also relations of trade and family between them.

As Semitic races, both Arameans and Hebrews (Israelites) trace their lineage back to Shem, son of Noah. But what ties them even closer is Aram, son of Shem.

Shem's son Aram played a key role in the creation of many nations across the Middle East and is believed to be the ancestor of both the Arameans and the Hebrews.

Jacob who later became Israel, was forbidden by his father Isaac to marry a Canaanite woman, so he was commanded to marry Leah and Rachel^[1], both Aramean daughters of Laban. His mother, Rebecka was an Aramean. His maternal grandfather Bethuel is called Aramean^[2] and so is his uncle Laban^[3].