Hebrews

This article is about the Hebrew people. For the book of the Bible, see Epistle to the Hebrews.

Hebrews (or Heberites, Eberites, Hebreians "Habiru" or "Habiri"; Hebrew: עברים or עבריים, Standard ʿIvrim, ʿIvriyyim Tiberian ʿIḇrîm, ʿIḇriyyîm; meaning "descendants of biblical Patriarch Eber"), were people who lived in Canaan, an area encompassing Israel, both banks of the Jordan River (The West Bank and Jordan), Sinai, Lebanon, and the coastal portions of Syria. Traditionally they are also known as the ancestors of the Israelites. They are classified as Jewish and believe in the same customs.

History

There is some disagreement as to both the history and legacy of the Hebrew people. Biblically, the Hebrews were the ancestors, or simply an alias, of the Israelites, and therefore the modern Jews. Among historical scholars however, there is some disagreement as the real relationship between the Hebrews and Israelites. See History of ancient Israel and Judah

Language

These areas were politically Phoenicia and of the Philistines in Canaan when they first arrived in the area lake t (this statement is matter of debate: some archaeologists believe that the Israelites simply arose as a subculture within Canaanite society). The Hebrews lived within this region in the 2nd millennium BCE and spoke a Canaanite dialect, which played a role in the Hebrew languages, the local Canaanite culture. The extent of the distinction between the culture of the Canaanites and the Hebrews is a matter of great debate, touching as it does on strong religious sensibilities. They were also known as the Israelites and Judeans.

See also

• History of ancient Israel and Judah
• Israelite
• Jew
• Semitic peoples