Episode 113 - Q & A Session: “Why Were Israelites Called Hebrews?”

Episode Summary

The word is related to a Sumerian word—SA.GAZ—and an Akkadian (=Babylonian; Assyrian) word: Hap/biru. People who are designated by these names are always no longer in their original social or political setting. They have been “on the move” for a variety of reasons: (1) Social dislocation; (2) Political Oppression; (3) Economic Distress; (4) the “Grass is Greener” syndrome. Such people speak a variety of languages, are found in texts that span hundreds of years, are geographically diverse, and the like. Thus, they refer to immigrants or refugees. In one biblical text, this is suggested by Hebrews who had attached themselves to Philistines rather than Israelites, though they “switched sides” eventually (1 Samuel 14:21).

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