From: ben.crick AT argonet.co.uk (Ben and Jo Crick)
To: b-hebrew AT franklin.oit.unc.edu
Subject: Re: Meaning of term "Hebrew"
Date: Tue, 6 Aug 2002 21:29:55 +0100
On Tue 6 Aug 2002 (14:19:21), yigal-levin AT utc.edu wrote:
> Within the Bible, `Ibri is sometimes used as an "ethnic" term, and
> sometimes as a social one (as in "Hebrew servant"). Look at 1 Sam.
> 13:6-7,
> where "Israel" and "Hebrew" seem to refer to two different groups.
>
> So it's not so simple.
Dear Dr Levin,
Indeed it is not. Please excuse my "silly season" short answer. Thank you
for your most concise longer answer. I was not one who regarded the Habiru
or `Apiru as "Hebrews"; but I do regard the descendants of Abraham as a
subset
of the descendants of 'Eber and of the "Semitic" tribes. The "Semitic"
languages are "cognates": they are of common birth or origin.
I am most grateful to you, as I am sure John Carras is.
With best regards,
Ben
--
Revd Ben Crick BA CF, and Mrs Joanna (Goodwin) Crick
<ben.crick AT argonet.co.uk>
232 Canterbury Road, Birchington, Kent, CT7 9TD (UK) http://www.cnetwork.co.uk/crick.htm