oa Vernoemen in de antieke wereld. De historische achtergrond van Luk. 1, 59-63

The habit of naming children after (grand)parents can hardly be traced in the O.T. and is not corroborated by pre-exilic epigraphical data, in contrast with neighbouring countries like Egypt or Phoenicia. Its first appearance among Jews is at Elephantine c. 500 B.C. In Palestine it emerges only after Alexander, no doubt in imitation of the Ptolemies and Seleucids. Instances are given from the aristocracy and the ‘Goliath family’. Another habit, re-using patriarchal names, is attested since Ezrah. The two genealogies are now analysed according to both habits. It is indicated which parts of them are historical and which are not, or cannot be judged. An endeavour is made to account for the difference between the two.