希伯來人(Hebrews)自稱是以色列人。他們在紀元前11世紀建立了以色列联合王國,首位國王是掃羅,第二位是大衛王,第三位国王是大卫王之子所罗门。所羅門王在位时期國力鼎盛,呈現前所未有的繁榮景象,所羅門王死後,联合王国分裂成以色列(北国)和猶大(南国)兩個國家。
在公元前二千年内,希伯来人定居在迦南。他们使用迦南人的语言,尽管他们的文化有别于本地迦南人的文化。这两种文化的区别是一个激辩中的问题。而且这个问题在宗教方面非常敏感。
以上的关于希伯来人起源的说法可能都部分地正确。也许真实情况是这样:有一群被隔绝的迦南人设法山区定居。山区在迦南地东部是主要地形。他们吸收了其他的迁徙群体诸如“哈比鲁人”。文化融合使他们获得了不同于以往的特性。后来,这个组合而成的部落与迦南人截然不同。他们移居埃及,成为了埃及文献中统治埃及的喜克索斯人。在他们被驱出埃及回到迦南地的时候,他们自认与迦南人无任何关系。正如他们已经迥异于他们的祖先。以上的理论各有其支持者和批评者,相互之间并不是绝对排斥的。
Other controversial theories hold that the Hebrews were the mysterious Hyksos, a semitic people, who gradually took migrated into Egypt, eventually taking power from the extremely weak pharoah by force, and subsequently being expelled after many years, matching up well with the biblical description of the Hebrews in Egypt. Indeed, it was Ahmose (in Hebrew A-moses), who was from Thebes, down the river from the seat of power – Memphis, who caused the Hyksos to leave, although in contrast to the bible, Ahmose was the enemy of the Hyksos and expelled them by force. A curious feature of the hyksos rulers over Egypt is that the third ruler (of six) is named Yaqob-her which is cognate with Jacob, the name of the biblical forefather of this period, although the name may just be a common one, and this would still be contrary to the bible, as it would denote Jacob as a ruler of Egypt as well as over the Hebrews.
There are many Canaanite and Mesopotamian (via Amorite mythology) themes preserved in Hebrew culture, like the specific biblical version of the story of Noah which is similar to the Sumerian story of Ziusudra/Utnapishtim, the ark, and the deluge unleashed by the angry, jealous god Enlil (Babylonian Ellil, Canaanite El), who was thwarted by the wise god Enki (Babylonian Ea). Also, textual sources appear to indicate that Hebrews lived in villages and raised livestock, seasonally grazing them in drier areas which didn't farm well, a form of subsistence known as transhumance. Consequently many have drawn the conclusion that the Hebrews were merely Canaanites who lived in the more difficult mountanous areas of Canaan, over time becoming separated from other Canaanites, and thus taking separate paths, including favouring El over Hadad.
It is possible for all three of these potentials to be partially true – had a group of Canaanites separated and tried to live in the hills, which were mainly to the eastern side of Canaan, they could have absorbed other migrating groups, such as the Habiru, gaining a differing identity in consequence of the merging of cultures. Subsequently, the combined group, now distinct the Canaanites who remained, could have migrated to Egypt, becoming the Hyksos, and upon their return no longer viewing the Canaanites as related, as they no longer resembled themselves. Thus although each theory has its supporters and detractors, the groups are by no means mutually exclusive.
Today, modern-day Jews are descended from only a few of these Tribes. The Tribes of Judah, Benjamin, and parts of Levi (the priestly tribe – who in the period of the kingdoms of Judah and Israel had no land, unlike the other 11 tribes) are seen by Jewish people, and many Christians, as the ancestors of modern-day Jewish people. Some would say the Tribe of Simeon is included in this list, due to the view held by some that the Tribe of Simeon was absorbed into the Tribe of Judah. The remainder of the Twelve Tribes are said to have been exiled by the Assyrian Empire, and have become known as the Lost Tribes of Israel.
Certain Christian groups sometimes use the term Hebrews to distinguish the Jews in ancient times that lived before the birth of Jesus from Jews that lived afterward. This distincion is part of the Christian doctrine that the favor bestowed upon the ancient Jews, as God's chosen people, was removed upon their rejection of Jesus as the messiah, and transferred to Christians. The distinction is not recognized by the Jews.
http://www.ancient-hebrew.org http://www.world-destiny.org/a35ibr.htm