HEBREW (Hebr. "'Ibri"; Aramaic, "'Ibrai," whence the Greek
Ἑβραῖος; Latin, "Hebræus"; Norman, "Hebreu"; Eng. "Hebrew"). The
expression "Hebrews" is used as a name for Israelites in
contrast with Egyptians, or by Egyptians for Israelites, in both
the early narratives of the Pentateuch (J and E), but only in
the story of Joseph and in that of Moses (Gen. xxxix.-xliii.;
Ex. iii,-x.). It is alsoused in contrast with "Philistines," or
by Philistines in speaking of Israelites, in I Samuel, both in
the story of Saul and in that of Samuel (Smith, in
"International Commentary," s.v. "Saul" and "Samuel"). It is
further used once in the early legislative document commonly
known as "The Book of the Covenant," to differentiate a Hebrew
slave from one of any other nationality (Ex. xxi. 2). In Deut.
xv. 12, based upon the preceding, it is used both in the
masculine and in the feminine. This latter passage is twice
quoted by Jeremiah (xxxiv. 9, 14). In Gen. xiv. 13 occurs the
expression "Abram the Hebrew," rendered in the Gr