Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1892-10-02
THREE DESIGNATIONS
HEBREW, ISRAELlTs, JEW; THEIR
MEANING AND THEIR USE.
The Etymoiogy aud Historical signif-
cance OF the Names Applied To the
De-cendents Of Abraham-A Rabbi's
Explanation That l. Interesting.

eance OF the name. Applied 20 the
Descendants Of Abrahaps-A Rabbi's
Explanation That l. Interesting.
II is not nm unfrequent occurrence
that | am asked which of the three APP
pellations given TO our people, Hebrew,
lsraelite or Jew. be the more correct or
acceptable. have no doubt that one
or the other among YOU have had similar
questions To answer. nor that you ex-
perienced some difficulty in shaping
your reply. In books, periodicals. and |
daily papers. IN public meetings and .
private conversations. these words are /
used either indiscriminately or with an
apparent doubt as to whether or not one |
or the other would be preferable. or per-
haps objectionable In order to form q
correct opinion IL would appear neces-
sary 10 have some knowledge OF the
etymology. origin and former usage Of
these terms
Hebrew-in our sacred tongue called
'Ibri"-is derived from 'avar" Ito
cross. come over" II was first applied
by the ancient inhabitants Of Palestine
to the family of our ancestor Abraham,
who. migrating from Mesopotamia to
Palestine, had to cross OF pass over the
river Euphrates. 1t was the name by
which the Jews were known to foreign
ers in ancient days Thus Joseph is
spoken OF by the Egyptians. and intro
duced himself to them as an 'lbri" or
| Hebrew" Miriam asks Pharaoh's
daughter whether she should go and call
| a Hebrew" woman. Moses speaks to
| Pharaoh of the God of the Hebrews"
and the Prophet Jonah tells the heather
mariners, Il am a Hebrew"
The second term, Israel, "lsraelite,
is to be traced to the story of Jacob
wrestling with a mysterious being at
'Peniel, when he was told. Thy name
shall he called no more Jacob. but
Israel" that il, striving with God.
victorious in God, or as Gesendus
translates soldier Tor champion) of
God"
Thus the term Israel or Israelite points
to the mission Of the children of our
race-to wrestle with or battle against
any forces hostile to their sacred trust,
at the same time foreshadowing their
final trump and victory
The name "lsrael" became the ma
tional name of the twelve tribes collec-
lively Later, after the division of the
kingdom under Jeroboam, the name ap
piled only to the ten seeding tribes
forming the northern kingdom. known
as the kingdom of Israel, in contradis-
tinction TO the southern kingdom. con-
sisting chiefly Of the tribes Of Judah,
Benjamin and Levi. After the destruc-
tion of the ten tribe kingdom we find
the old name Israel again used to desig-
nate the people Of the kingdom OF Ju-
dah, and the name Israel collectively.
and "lsraelite" individually, has to this
day remained in common usage.
Phe third appellation, "Jehudi" or
jew, originates in the name given by
Jacobs wife, Leah. to her fourth son.
'Judah" or "Jehudah. meaning praise
or thanks to God. For at his birth the
mother exclaimed. This time | will
give thanks unto the Lord.'' The name
was worthily borne by the noble and
sturdy son of Jacob whose record
throughout is without stain or blemish.
The tribe of Judah, named after him,
was the most numerous, enterprising
and valiant among all the tribes Of
israel. During the march through the
desert judah's place was in the van Of
the host.
The traditional standard of the tribe
was lions whelp. with the words,
Arise, o Lord, and let thine enemies
be scattered" Later the name "Jehudi, :"
or jew" was applied to member of
the kingdom of Judah (after the separa-
ton of the kingdom of lsrael), even to
those not of the tribe of Judah proof of
which we find in the fact that in the
book of Esther Mordecai. though of the
tribe of Benjamin, is called "lsh Jehu-
di, .'Jehudi" or jew" After the re-
turn from the Babylonian captivity all
the members of the new state were
called Jehudim, Jews or Judeans, the
name being extended to the remnants of
the people scattered throughout the ma
tions.
SO much as to the etymology and his
torical significance of the names He
brew, "Israelite" and jew" From it
ii appears that among the three the
first, Hebrew, is the most ancient and
: remote And as in ancient days. by il
the jew was distinguished from for
eigners. so today il would appear that
in order To point out anything distinc-
lively Jewish the word Hebrew is more
{ properly applied. Thus we speak of a
I Hebrew language Hebrew literature,
= Hebrew melodies, etc. Otherwise the
appellatinns lsraelite and Jew, or Israel
I itish and Jewish, are more frequently
0 employed as more expressive and char
acteristic in their meaning and impor-
: tant in history.
: OF the two the former is name of
s honorable distinction, referring TO the
q divine calling Of Israel, the spiritual
T combat of truth against falsehood, OF
. light against darkness. in which our
people were enlisted as a nation, in
which they were still engaged when
y with the fall of Jerusalem and the do
Q struction Of the temple, they ceased tc
a Do a nation and which will not termi
; nate until. in the fullness Of time. Gods
, light and truth will finally triumph.
: And with the name "lsraelte" that oi
3 jew" the children Of our race will ever
y proudly bear and cherish They tracs
its origin to the noble ancestor, and
brave and distinguished tribe, who's,
name was perpetuated in the kingdom ol
. Judah, loyal and true 10 its ancestral
faith and traditions
a And when the autonomy of Israel as Q
II nation was DESTROYED lis Fragments
though scattered broadcast over ths