israelite

Everyday

1. (Bible) An Israelite was a member of the ancient people of Israel, the descendants of Jacob, whose stories are told in the Hebrew Bible (the Old Testament). tree →
2. Israelite describes things belonging to that ancient people. tree →

In the lessons

In RE pupils meet the Israelites in stories of Moses, the Exodus from Egypt, the crossing of the Red Sea, the Ten Commandments and the journey to the Promised Land. Jews today see the Israelites as their ancestors. Phrases: «the Israelites in Egypt», «the twelve tribes of the Israelites».

Examples

• Moses led the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt. tree →
• The Israelites wandered in the desert for forty years. tree →
• God gave the Israelites manna to eat. tree →
• The Israelites crossed the Red Sea on dry land. tree →
• Pharaoh would not let the Israelites go. tree →
• The Israelites were made up of twelve tribes. tree →

Note

Always with a capital I. Trap: «Israelite» (the ancient Bible people) is not the same as «Israeli» (a citizen of the modern state of Israel). Christians and Jews read the stories of the Israelites in the Bible.