The Ancient Hebrews

The Ancient Hebrews and the Habiru

The term "Hebrew", and its use in designating the ancient Hebrews associated with the Israelites of the Old Testament, is a term somewhat shrouded in mystery.

When the Amarna Letters were discovered, the term Habiru surfaced frequently for the first time. Bible scholars and historians were quick to determine a connection between the two, primarily based on the obvious linguistic similarity. However, this initial connection was premature.

The Habiru have widely been accepted by scholars as representing a social element only. This is one distinct difference between the Habiru and the ancient Hebrews.

Habiru held no ethnic importance. It was used to designate a new social element of displaced people forming new tribes. These people had been displaced for a number of reasons (war, famine, debt, etc.) from their native tribes and societies.

They were forced into exile, and would form up with other outcast individuals of similar fates.

These bands may include runaway slaves, overthrown kings, exiled individuals, bandits and outlaws, deserters, or migrants.

This tribes were internally composed of complex social elements from diverse backgrounds and cultures, united under the common theme of being forced from home.

Some Habiru bands became mercenary like units. Some individual Habiru became mercenaries. Habiru are found integrating themselves into their new societies at every level of society.

They ranged from domestic work, to government work, manual labor, artisans, metal workers, musicians, indentured servitude, mercenaries, farmers, etc.

They were found in every society of the ancient Middle East and Near East. The term Habiru, and related terms, were first identified around 3000 B.C., and cease to exist after 1000 B.C.

The ancient Hebrews connection to the Habiru is less easier to define. What becomes clear in the Old Testament is that there are two appellations used to denote the Israelites; with one being "Israelite", and the second being "Hebrew".

A clear understanding of the context of the word "Hebrew" and its use in ancient Hebrew culture is necessary in order to understand the difference between the two names.

The first appearance of the word "Hebrew" appears in Genesis 14:13 in association with Abraham.

"Then a fugitive came and told Abram the Hebrew. Now he was living by the oaks of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and brother of Aner, and these were allies with Abram."

Interestingly enough, a fugitive is mentioned in this particular passage as coming to find Abram. Fugitives are a distinct and agreed upon element found within the Habiru.

The interpretation of the Hebrew word rendered "Hebrew", has been brought into question as well. The association of Abraham with a fugitive, and the questionable interpretation of the word "Hebrew", pose interesting questions. Though "fugitive" in this passage may indicate a broad spectrum of meanings, it is generally agreed upon the word in antiquity implied someone separated from his tribe and home.



Scripture seems to imply he immediately sought out Abraham, as if he had some sort of acquaintance with him. The Habiru are known to have existed throughout the later parts of the third millennium, and all throughout the second.

It is not an illogical presumption to claim Abraham may have been viewed as a Habiru cheif. He did have soldiers in his household.

He was the head of a large household, eventually splitting into two, with Lot separating himself. He did migrate from another land. However, the use of the word "Ibriy" clearly distinguishes him from the Habiru.

This first reference to Abraham must pull into the equation a brief discussion on the linguistic similarities between the Habiru and the ancient Hebrews.

The actual word used in the Hebrew language in this passage is, "Ibriy", pronounced ib-ree.

In the Strong's Dictionary of the Biblical Hebrew and Chaldee this word derives from a family name. In other words, it is a surname, from the Hebrew word Eber, and designates an Eberite.

The Hebrew word Eber indicates "a region beyond". Eber is mentioned as a descendant of Shem, and ancestor of Abraham. Genesis 10:21 makes mention of Eber.

"Unto Shem, also the father of all the children of Eber, the brother of Japheth the elder, even to him were children born."

Interestingly enough, the word Eber finds its origins in the Hebrew word translated as "Abar". Abar is a primitive Hebrew root, found over 550 times in the Old Testament.

Two different meanings are taken from this root. One meaning is to pass over, through, by, or pass on. The second meaning is to violate a law, to be arrogant, become angry, or to transgress.

The significance of the above concerning the Habiru and the ancient Hebrews emerges from the languages found throughout the land of Canaan.

In short, many of the languages in Canaan are thought to have originated from one, or a group of, similar unknown language(s) of Semitic origin. This takes on significance when viewed in context with the appearance of the word Habiru.

The ancient Hebrews were a West Semitic tribe in the days of Abraham. Abraham, however, was the only one of the ancient Hebrews to dwell permanently in Canaan. As has been shown, much of his family dwelt in Haran and the surrounding villages and cities.

The ancient Hebrews, however, were not the only West Semitic people living in Canaan. The Phoenicians and Amorites are just a couple of the nations claiming West Semitic descent.

The Arameans were close relatives of Abraham and Jacob. The Edomites would become the West Semitic descendants of Esau. The ancient Hebrews would not become known as Israelites until God renamed Jacob such.

As shown in the previous sections, the earliest reference to Habiru is found in ancient Sumerian sources. The term appears at the same time large numbers of native Akkadian speaking people appear in Sumeria.

These Akkadians became a new element in Sumerian society, and the terms Habiru and Habiri begin appearing. Thus the earliest known reference of the word is Akkadian in nature.

The word Habiru stems from an Akkadian root scholars have been unable to identify with certainty.

The origin of languages remains one of the most bothersome mysteries to historians and scholars. The ancient Hebrew alphabet is the oldest language still in use today. Hebrew is a Semitic language, very different from the Indo-European based languages of today. Some scholars have suggested the word Habiru stems from the same West Semitic root as Ibriy.

This would account for the linguistic similarities between the words. Both words, as they are, seem to indicate a state of passing over, or, to cross over.

The Habiru consist of the criminal element of the word. Many of their members crossed over into a life of crime, and were forced to flee legal authorities.

Many of the references regarding the Habiru involve legal disputes. It is important to note that not all Habiru were criminals or law breakers.

The Hebrews

The Hebrews, on the other hand, crossed over from a migratory sense. Abraham and his family crossed over into the land of Canaan from Mesopotamia. They literally had to cross over the desert to achieve this, by way of Haran and Aram - Naharaim. In this sense, Abraham the Hebrew, may have also been called, Abraham the Habiru.

Along these same lines, the ancient Hebrews could have been viewed as part of the Habiru. It seems logical the ruling authorities would have cared less about the Hebrew lineage, and presumably would have grouped them in with the other "outcast" and "troublesome" elements found amongst the Habiru of the Amarna Letters.
The ancient Hebrews, however, took careful pains to clarify their ethnicity as being pure. Hebrew was an ethnic term. Habiru, as stated earlier, was purely a social term.

Thus, though the two may stem from the same West Semitic root, one was distinctly different from the other. Though in later Old Testament stories, as will be seen, Hebrew became a derogatory term, in the time of Abraham it was not so.

Something set Abraham apart as "Ibriy", as opposed to, "Habiru". Ibriy is Abraham's family name, thus consistent with Hebrew as an ethnic term.

This lineage is seen in the lines of Shem and Eber. Scripture lists five sons of Shem. One of these sons is Arphaxad. Arphaxad is said to have had a son named Salah.

Salah, in turn, gives birth to a son named Eber. Eber was one of the earliest post-flood members of this divine family. He was the great-grandson of Shem.

Eber was the last man of the Bible to live an exceptionally long, though still reduced, life. He lived to be 464 years old. Pelug, Eber's son, died at 239. Ages continued to significantly reduce from that point.

From the line of Eber emerges the ancient Hebrews, and eventually Abraham. By the time Abraham is referred to as the "Hebrew"(or Habiru ?) in Genesis, he is the sixth generation removed from Eber.

Eber (from root Abar) is recognized by many Bible scholars as the father of the ancient Hebrews (from root Eber), through the lineage described.

The distinguishable characteristic of the line of Eber, which from Shem can be traced to Adam, and extends to Abraham, was their worship of God Almighty.

Scripture makes it clear, however, that Abraham's forefathers worshiped other gods, and God Almighty may have just been one of their many gods.

The line of Eber perhaps held fast to the true God moreso than other family tribes. Scripture indicates the ancient Hebrews, such as Terah, previously had practiced idolatry from time to time.

Abraham, thus, fully established God Almighty as the Hebrew God by answering His call faithfully, and living a life dedicated to the worship of one God.

The linguistic similarities of the two words, coupled with the unknown origins of the Akkadian root for Habiru, seem to lend credence to theories supposing a fundamental connection between the two words.

Though different, perhaps, they may have stemmed from the same language at some point in time. The ancient Hebrews were distinguishable as an ethnic group.

Further connection between the ancient Hebrews and the Habiru were found in ancient Hittite documents attributing special divine powers to certain Habiru groups.

These Habiru groups were given special mention because of their god, and their divine presence. The ancient Hebrews indeed possessed a special Hebrew God, and a special Hebrew name for God.

It was this belief in God which separated the holy family from the other tribes of its day. However, any further connections are but speculation as to the linguistic and religious nature of the words.

The word translated as "Hebrew", "Ibriy", according to Scripture, was the term used to designate Abraham. It appears to be used in a similar way as Amorite is used to describe Mamre.

Hebrews, thus, predated the term Israelite. This term did not surface until Jacob, the son of Isaac. Jacob was renamed Israel by God. Thus, the sons of Israel became the foundation upon the Israelite bloodline. This bloodline obviously included the Hebrew line from Abraham.

The ancient Hebrews shared many similar traits to the Habiru. The two shared similar linguistic traits, and Abraham may have been considered as Habiru as well.

The unknown origin of the Akkadian root of Habiru indicates the two words may have been related to the same West Semitic language.

However, Hebrew was a distinctly different appellation used to designate a select ethnic group. Habiru designated a social element of society, of which the Hebrews were most likely a part of.

It was only after the Israelites appeared, that "Hebrew" began to take on a negative connotation. This only strengthened the connection between the Habiru and the ancient Hebrews.

The Hebrew Israelites became a separate designation for Israelites which found themselves in certain circumstances. The stories of David found in I and II Samuel best illustrate the differences between these two groups of Israelites.

These stories also serve to strengthen the identification of the Habiru with the ancient Hebrews in ways other than purely linguistic.

Source: http://www.israel-a-history-of.com/ancient-hebrews.html

First Photo Details: ISRAELITES GOING INTO EXILE "Therefore, son of man, prepare for yourself an exile's baggage, and go into exile by day in their sight..." (ref. Ezek.12:3) The Assyrians conquered and relocated the Israelites of the Northern Kingdom into what is now known as Iraq, Iran, and Kuwait. Those Israelites who escaped the Assyrians fled south into the lands of Judah, and into Egypt.
Source: http://sarabe3.tripod.com/israeliteimages.html