Significance of “Aramean”

Question

Bethuel (Rebecca’s father) and Laban (Rebecca’s brother)
are both referred to as Aramean.
What is the significance of Aramean?

Doesn’t that make Rebecca also Aramean?
Yet the word Aramean is not mentioned in connection to Rebecca. Why not?

0

Answers

  1. The Just Ask! - AskTheRabbi.org Team

    The Rabbis explain that the Hebrew word for Aramean – Arami – is very closely related to the Hebrew word for trickster “ramai”. Both Betuel and Lavan were renowned for the fact that they were ready to trick and cheat anyone who they could. That is why the Torah gives them the title Arami and that is also why Rivka is not called an Arami – because she was pure and honest, the opposite of her father and her brother!

    Best wishes from the AskTheRabbi.org Team