Bible Dictionaries
Hebrew (Descendent of Eber)

Holman Bible Dictionary

(hee' brew) A descendant of Eber. See Genesis 14:13 ), showing that he belonged to an ethnic group distinct from the Amorites. It distinguished Joseph from the Egyptians and slaves of other ethnic identity (Genesis 39:14 ,Genesis 39:14,39:17; Genesis 41:12; Genesis 43:32 ). Abraham's land has become the land of the Hebrews (Genesis 40:15 ), and his God, the God of the Hebrews (Exodus 5:3 ). Given the ethnic identity, special laws protected Hebrew slaves (Exodus 21:2; Deuteronomy 15:12; compare Leviticus 25:40-41; Jeremiah 34:8-22 ). After the death of Saul (1 Samuel 29:1 ), the term “Hebrew” does not appear in the historical books, pointing possibly to a distinction between Hebrew as an ethnic term and Israel and/or Judah as a religious and political term for the people of the covenant and of God's nation. See Habiru .