Biblical Hebrew Forum

[George Athas <George.Athas AT moore.edu.au>]

Not necessarily, James. Aetiologies can be quite late, even more than a 
thousand years after the supposed origin on the name. Furthermore, there is a 
methodological assumption in your reasoning. You are assuming that the 
aetiology is necessarily accurate as to its origin. You might be right on 
that count, but how would you actually know? That is, how do you know it's 
not a very late author making up a tradition, or drawing on a tradition which 
isn't quite accurate or historical? There's little to go by here.


GEORGE ATHAS
Moore Theological College (Sydney, Australia)
www.moore.edu.au