Old Testament People of Promise

The people of Promise are called by several names in the Old Testament. They are called Hebrews, Israelites, and Jews. Why?

Noah had three sons; Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

Shem had five sons; Elam, Asshur, Arphaxad, Lud, and Aram.

Arphaxad had one son; Shelah. Shelah had one son; Eber.

Eber had two sons; Peleg and Joktan.

Peleg had one son; Reu.

Reu had one son; Serug.

Serug had one son; Nahor.

Nahor had one son; Terah.

Terah had one son; Abram.

The term Hebrew is associated with the descendants of Noah. Noah had three sons; Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Shem’s direct descendants are traced to Abram. Abram became Abraham after a promise of a son was given to him. The term was used to distinguish the difference among ethnic groups. Joseph was called a Hebrew to differentiate him from the Egyptians and other slave individuals.[1] Hebrew may have been an ethnic term that references the descendants.

The term Jews is associated with the Tribe of Judah.[2] After the death of King Solomon, Judah was one of the two tribes in the Southern Kingdom that remained loyal to King David. The term Jew is seen throughout the New Testament as an ethnic group. The term separated them from the Samaritans and Gentiles.

The term Israelites was given to the ten tribes of the Northern Kingdom following the death of King Solomon. The tribe of Benjamin survived the deportation of the Northern tribes by the Assyrians.[3] Jacob’s name was changed to Israel when fought the angel of God on the way to see his brother Esau.

Bibliography

“Hebrew.” In Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, 723. Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2015.

Yamauchi, Edwin. “Jews in the New Testament.” In Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, 897-901. Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2015.

[1] “Hebrew,” in Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2015), 723. [2] Edwin Yamauchi, “Jews in the New Testament,” in Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2015), 897-901. [3]Edwin Yamauchi, “Jews in the New Testament,” in Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2015), 897-901.

[1] “Hebrew,” in Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2015), 723. [2] Edwin Yamauchi, “Jews in the New Testament,” in Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2015), 897-901. [3]Edwin Yamauchi, “Jews in the New Testament,” in Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2015), 897-901.