Hebrews

The appellation of Hebrew (from the Hebrew word Ibri, from the other side, that is, of the Euphrates), so far as we can learn from history, was first _ to Abraham by the people of Canaan, among whom he dwelt (Gen. xiv. 13). It seems to have been applied to him on account of his emigration (about 2,000 B, ©.) from Me so pot am i a, beyond the Huphrates, into the land of Canaan (Palestine). Some, however, consider it as a patronymic derived from Heber, great-grandson of Shem, from whom Abraham was _ descended. Whatever meaning was attached to the term Hebrews, before the time of Jacob (Israel), it appears afterward to have been limited to his posterity, and to have been synonymous with Israeli tes. This latter term was used by the Jews of themselves among themselves, the former was the name by which they were known to foreigners. The word Hebrew is used either where foreigners are introduced as speaking (Gen. xxxix: Sam. iv: 6, 9), or where they are opposed to foreign nations (Gen. xliii: 32; I Sam. xiii: 3, 7). So in Greek and Roman writers we find the name Hebrews or Jews, but never Israeli tes. Hebrew Language and Literature.— The Hebrew language forms a branch of that_extensive family of languages called Semitic, from the real or sup descent of those who speak these anguages from Shem, the son of Noah.