Skip to Content.
Sympa Menu

b-hebrew - Re: Gen 14:13 Abraham the Hebrew

b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org

Subject: Biblical Hebrew Forum

List archive

Chronological Thread  
  • From: Cindy Smith <cms AT dragon.com>
  • To: B-HEBREW AT FRANKLIN.OIT.UNC.EDU
  • Cc: cms AT dragon.com
  • Subject: Re: Gen 14:13 Abraham the Hebrew
  • Date: Sun, 30 Jan 2000 17:33:28 -0500


>From: MX%"dwashbur AT nyx.net" "Dave Washburn" 30-JAN-2000 08:35:29.11
>To: MX%"b-hebrew AT franklin.oit.unc.edu"
>Subj: Re: Gen 14:13 Abraham the Hebrew

>From: "Dave Washburn" <dwashbur AT nyx.net>
>To: Biblical Hebrew <b-hebrew AT franklin.oit.unc.edu>
>Date: Sun, 30 Jan 2000 06:37:32 -0700

>Brian,
>> Gen 14:13 refers to Abraham the `Ibriy. Could this be an identification of
>> Abraham as a Habiru - a term often used to mean 'gypsy', or 'peasant',
>> perhaps 'nomad'? As the term 'Hebrew' implies the Jewish nation - at that
>> stage in the Biblical narrative Abraham's household is no more than a
>> wandering troupe - would it be more accurate to translate the phrase
>> 'Abraham the Hebrew' as 'Abraham the Nomad' or "Gypsy'?

>My understanding - though where it came from is lost in the mists
>of my long term memory loss - is that the term was built on the
>name of his reported ancestor Eber, hence "Abraham the Eberite."
>I have no idea how correct or accepted this view is, but there it is
>for whatever it's worth.

I think it's actually "Abram the Hebrew" at this point, as Abram had
not yet had his name changed by the LORD to Abraham. At any rate, the
NAB notes say it means something like "immigrant." Genesis 10:21
says, "To Shem also, Japheth's oldest brother and the ancestor of all
the children of Eber, sons were born." See also 10:24-25.
Genesis 11:14 says, "When Shelah was thirty years old, he became the
father of Eber." The NAB notes say, "Eber: the eponymous ancestor of
the Hebrews, 'descendents of Eber' (Gn 10, 21.24-30); see note on
Gn 14, 13." Also, Numbers 24:24b, "When they have conquered Asshur
and conquered Eber, He too shall perish forever." Other references:
1 Chronicles 1:18-19; 1:25; 5:13; 8:12; 8:22; Nehemiah 12:20; and,
last but not least, Luke 3:35.

>Dave Washburn
>http://www.nyx.net/~dwashbur
>Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth;
>give me an undivided heart that I may fear your name.
> Psalm 86:11


Cindy Smith Spawn of a Jewish Carpenter
GO AGAINST THE FLOW! \\ _\\\_ _///_ // A Real Live Catholic in Georgia
cms AT dragon.com >IXOYE=('> <`)= _<< "Delay not your conversion
cms AT romancatholic.org// /// \\\ \\ to the LORD, Put it not off
cms AT 5sc.com from day to day" Ecclus/Sira 5:8




Archive powered by MHonArc 2.6.24.

Top of Page