semiopen

This is not an area I'm an expert in, but if the lineages were not clear the Hasmoneans could have said they were Aaronid.

I'm assuming your position is a reasonable one although pretty far to the minimalist side.

Personally I find a slightly left wing/mainstream, Josiah/Ezra explanation reasonable. I'd consider switching but there are linguistic, redaction and other issues in your explanation that I'd have to work my way through.

Clivedurdle

Let us look at this carefully.

Various tribes all have different gods and tell stories of winter evenings,

Some tribes develop habits of not eating pigs.

They begin to create alliances, through marriage for example, they create more stories of a common path. They invent patriarchs and the twelve tribes.

Empires come along, some of their leaders get educamated.

Their niche market is telling of tales. They become so good at it they believe their own stories!