1703. That the term "Hebrew" is predicated in the Word of some form of servitude, is evident from the following passages. In Moses:
When thy brother, a Hebrew, or a Hebrewess, shall be sold unto thee, and serve thee six years, then in the seventh year thou shalt let him go free from thee (Deut. 15:12);
where it is said "a Hebrew" and "a Hebrewess," because servitude is treated of. In Jeremiah:
At the end of seven years ye shall let go every man his brother that is a Hebrew, who hath been sold unto thee, and hath served thee six years (Jer. 34:9, 14);
where in like manner the term "Hebrew" is used, because servitude is treated of; otherwise the sons of Jacob are not in the Prophets called "Hebrews." In Samuel:
The Philistines said, Be strong, and be men, that ye be not servants unto the Hebrews as they have been to you (1 Sam. 4:9);
where the word is used for the same reason.
[2] In Moses:
Jehovah said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh, and say to him, Thus saith Jehovah, the God of the Hebrews, Let My people go, that they may serve Me (Exod. 9:1, 13; 10:3);
where they are called "Hebrews" from serving. The wife of Potiphar, speaking of Joseph:
Called unto the men of her house, and said unto them, See, he hath brought in a Hebrew unto us to mock us (Gen. 39:14).
Joseph is here called "a Hebrew" because he was a servant there. The chief of the butlers said unto Pharaoh:
There was with us a young man, a Hebrew, servant to the captain of the guard, and he interpreted to us our dreams (Gen.
Moreover, the Egyptians called the sons of Israel "Hebrews," because they were servants, or in servitude, as is known (see Exod. 1:15-16, 19, and other places).