The origin of Israelites is traced to the Hebrew people; therefore, understanding the creation and evolution of the Hebrew people is essential in understanding the origins of Jewish people. This article will discuss Biblical and scholarly works on the origins of the Hebrew People.
The story of the creation of the Hebrew People, as depicted in the Hebrew Bible, holds a significant place in shaping the historical narrative. Two primary schools of thought exist regarding the historical text of the Hebrew Bible.
One school argues the Hebrew Bible is a historical text, while the other claims it is a mystic text. Those who view the Hebrew Bible as a historical text argue that it details the literal history of ancient Hebrews. On the other hand, those who claim the Hebrew Bible is a mystic text point out that it was written about 500 years after the events it describes and has stories similar to other Bronze and Iron Age stories, such as the Epic of Gilgamesh. They argue that, like other Books found during that time, the Hebrew Bible is a collection of folklore written to help explain culture and important events. The difference in these schools of thought results in a variation of about 700 years between the time it is believed that Hebrews became a People.
Biblical Perspective
If one views the Hebrew Bible as a historical text, the Hebrews became a People around 1900 B.C. when the Biblical patriarch Abraham (Ibrahim in Arabic) left Ur, a Mesopotamian city, and became a nomadic herder who settled in the land of Cannan. Abraham’s wandering led to the creation of the word Hebrew, which initially meant nomad or wanderer.
According to the Hebrew Bible, Abraham’s son Isaac and grandson Jacob are patriarchs and critical figures in the history of the Hebrew People. Isaac had twins, Esau and Jacob. Jacob was later called Israel, and his name was later given to the Kingdom of Israel.
Per the Hebrew Bible, Israel had twelve sons who founded the twelve tribes of Israel. Israel went with his eleven sons to Egypt to escape a famine (his son, Joseph, was earlier sold into slavery by his brothers and was already in Egypt working for the Pharaoh) around 1600 BC. The Hebrews are said to have grown substantially while in Egypt and eventually became enslaved Egyptians. According to Genesis 46:26 in the Hebrew Bible, 70 men entered Egypt during the great famine. Exodus 12:37 in the Hebrew Bible says about 600,000 men left Egypt, excluding women and children.
According to the Hebrew Bible, around 1300 - 1200 BC, Moses played a pivotal role in leading the Israelites on an exodus out of Egypt after being enslaved for hundreds of years. Moses, a prophet and leader, guided the people of Israel on their journey from Egypt to Canaan, where they established themselves and created the Kingdom of Israel.
Scholarly Perspective
Scholars have traditionally cast doubt on the Biblical story of the Hebrews’ enslavement in ancient Egypt and exodus out of Egypt due to the lack of historical or archaeological evidence. However, new evidence from the papyrus Anastasi VI has given weight to the Biblical story of Hebrews being in Egypt during the reign of Ramses II during a great famine around 1225 B.C.
Outside the Hebrew Bible, the earliest mention of the word Israel comes from the Pharaoh Merneptha, who referenced the people of Israel living in Canaan in 1207 BC. In addition, Merneptha created a stele (an inscription carved on stone) over 3,200 years ago in modern-day Luxor that said there was a military campaign in the Levant where Merneptah “laid waste” to Israel.
Wall from the tomb of Pharaoh Merneptah in Valley of the Kings, Luxor, Egypt.
In brief, the date that the Hebrews became a People varies between Biblical and Scholarly literature. It ranges from the Bronze Age’s end to the Iron Age’s beginning. The date of the Hebrews’ origin depends on whether one accepts the Hebrew Bible as a historical text or if one only relies on historical evidence outside of the Bible. Although there is disagreement on when Hebrews became a People, both Biblical and Scholarly literature converge on the fact that Hebrews lived in Egypt, migrated from Egypt to Cannan, and established the Kingdom of Israel.
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