Bible Question: Are Israelites, Jews, and Gentiles, 3 different entities / groups?? |
Bible Answer: Hi BarbW3, Are Israelites, Jews, and Gentiles, 3 different entities / groups?? The terms “Hebrew”, “Israelite” and “Jew” have different meanings within the context of the Bible. Hebrews are those subject to God’s covenant with Abraham, i.e. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Jacob’s descendants. It does not include Abraham’s other children or Esau. An Israelite is a descendant of Jacob/Israel and his twelve sons. An Israelite would be any member of the twelve tribes of Israel. A Jew, as interpreted by the Bible, is a Hebrew citizen of the southern kingdom Judea or one of their descendants. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were not Jews. There were no “Jews” until the establishment of Judea. The ten tribes of the northern kingdom of Israel were not Jews. The first use of the term “Jews” in the Bible is found in II Kings 16:6. King Rezin of Syria recaptured Elath from the Jews. King Rezin had waged war against Jerusalem with his ally, King Pekah of Israel! So here you see Israel at war against the Jews! When the kingdoms were divided, God gave to Judah the tribe of Benjamin, so “that David My servant may always have a light before Me in Jerusalem . . .” Also, most of the tribe of Levi, the priests, moved to Judea because they were replaced by the King of Israel in their priestly duties. These individuals were also referred to as “Jews” because they lived in Judea. Israel was carried off into captivity by the Assyrians and fell below the historian’s radar. Later, Judea (the Jews) was carried off into captivity to Babylon. They returned 70 years later and rebuilt the temple. Their descendants are recognized today as Jews. Thus, modern Israel is Ancient Judea, not Ancient Israel. Therefore the words Hebrew, Israelite, and Jew, though related, differ in scope: Hebrew, is the most comprehensive of the three, and includes all who are described by the words Israelite and Jew; the word Israelite designates one descended from Jacob; and, the word Jew a citizen of Judea, usually of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin and their descendants. Hoth |