Genesis 10:24

24. The line of Arphaxad is now specially taken up, as that with which the narrative is mainly concerned . Salah, or Shelah, from שׁלח , to send forth, one sent; hence Shiloah, or Siloah, sent . John 9:7. Eber, or Heber, from עבר , beyond, that is, beyond the river, (Euphrates,) an emigrant . Both of these names seem to point to the migration of the Hebrew people from Aram westward . The name Hebrew, עברי , first occurs in Genesis 14:13, in the phrase Abram the Hebrew, and seems to be derived from the same root, meaning “one coming from beyond,” (the river Euphrates,) that is, immigrant, pilgrim. So the Seventy understood the word, and, therefore, translated it ο περατης , one from beyond . (So Jerome, Theodotion, Chrysostom, Origen, Rosenmuller, Gesenius, Furst, Knobel . ) In later years the term became narrowed to those who came from beyond the Jordan, that is, the Israelites proper, who dwelt west of the Jordan . (Furst . ) The sacred historian is supposed by many to have traced the word Hebrew to the person Eber, making it a patronymic, in styling Shem the “father of all the children of Eber . ” Genesis 10:21. (So Gesenius . ) But he calls the Hebrew people sons of Eber simply because the name Eber expresses their character; they were a pilgrim people, going forth by faith to a land that was not their own; wandering there for generations before they obtained possession, yet believing it theirs, (Hebrews 11:8-9,) and conquering it at last by divine help. They were owners of the land where they dwelt, not by original possession or conquest, but by faith. The word Eber expresses this distinguishing trait of the Hebrew people. Comp. Genesis 12:1-2. Thus were they typical of the spiritual Israel, who are pilgrims and strangers here, but seek a heavenly country. Hebrews 11:13-14. This is the name by which the chosen people were designated by foreigners (see Genesis 39:14; Genesis 39:17, etc . ) and by the Greek and Roman writers until the term Jew (from Judah) came into use . They called themselves Israelites, except when speaking of themselves to foreigners, or in contrast with foreigners . Genesis 40:15; Exodus 1:19; Exodus 2:11; Exodus 2:13. This trait made them a peculiar people .