“In light of these combined data, I cautiously suggest that the central position
the Gilead held in the Aramean-Israelite relations in the time of the Nimshides
is the result of their origin from this region”.
Nadav Na’aman
“The Case for a Gileadite Origin of the Nimshide Dynasty” Gileadite_origin_of_Nimshides_BN.pdf
Nadav Na’aman will sum up his article with five points:
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Discussion
The numerous references to Gilead in the context of the struggle between Israel and Aram during the time of the Nimshide Dynasty call for an historical explanation. Why has the Gilead’s conquest by the Arameans in the time of Hazael and its later reconquest by Joash held such a prominent place in the biblical accounts of the time of the Nimshides? In an effort to answer this question, consider the following evidence:
1. The account of Jehu’s rebellion opened when he was posted at Ramoth Gilead and gained significant support from Hazael, the ruler of a neighbouring kingdom.
2. Elisha of Abel-meholah, a town located near the region of Gilead, supported the Nimshide kings in the internal and external affairs of the kingdom.
3. The introductory accounts of the first three kings of the Nimshide dynasty systematically referred to the Gilead rather than the west-Jordanian areas.
4. Pekah might have belonged to the Nimshide dynasty and cooperated with Rezin of Aram, similar to the earlier collaboration between Jehu and Hazael.
5. The prophecy of Amos emphasizes the Aramean atrocities in the course of their conquest of the Gilead.
In light of these combined data, I cautiously suggest that the central position the Gilead held in the Aramean-Israelite relations in the time of the Nimshides is the result of their origin from this region. Hence, these texts reflect the efforts the kings of the dynasty made to regain control of their homeland. It seems that the fierce struggle over the Gilead was memorialized in the biblical literature and found expression in the different accounts passed down to us.
Admittedly, the evidence that supports my suggestion is slim and in the present state of documentation cannot be validated. Until further evidence appears, it should be treated as the most plausible solution available for the question of where the ancestral home of the Nimshide dynasty was and why it held such prominent place in the biblical account of their history.
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