israelites

Everyday

1. (Bible) The Israelites were the people of ancient Israel, the descendants of Jacob (also called Israel) and his twelve sons, whose story is told in the Hebrew Bible. tree →
2. An Israelite is one person of that people. tree →

In the lessons

In RE the Israelites are slaves in Egypt, led out by Moses in the Exodus, wander in the desert for forty years eating manna, and then settle in the Promised Land. They are the ancestors of the Jewish people. Today's citizens of the modern state of Israel are called Israelis, not Israelites. Phrases: the twelve tribes of the Israelites, lead the Israelites, the Israelites in Egypt.

Examples

• Pharaoh made the Israelites build cities. tree →
• Moses led the Israelites across the Red Sea. tree →
• The Israelites ate manna in the desert. tree →
• God gave the Israelites the Ten Commandments. tree →
• The walls of Jericho fell when the Israelites shouted. tree →
• The twelve tribes of the Israelites came from Jacob's sons. tree →

Note

Capital I. Plural noun as in the input. Trap: Israelites (ancient Bible people) vs Israelis (people of the modern country). Also called Hebrews in some stories.

In Jewish tradition

The Israelites are the descendants of Jacob, also called Israel, and are the people to whom the Torah was given at Sinai. In the books of Samuel the word names the people as a nation with armies and a land, such as those who camped at Jezreel or were frightened at Abner's death. In the primary lessons: In RE the Israelites are slaves in Egypt, led out by Moses in the Exodus, wander in the desert for forty years eating manna, and then settle in the Promised Land. They are the ancestors of the Jewish people. Today's citizens of the modern state of Israel are called Israelis, not Israelites. Phrases: the twelve tribes of the Israelites, lead the Israelites, the Israelites in Egypt.

Examples

• And Pharaoh sent, and, behold, there was not so much as one of the cattle of the Israelites dead. (Torah EXO.9.7, JPS 1917) tree →
• So they did unto all the Israelites that came thither in Shiloh. (Prophets 1SA.2.14, JPS 1917) tree →
• Now the Philistines gathered together all their hosts to Aphek; and the Israelites pitched by the fountain which is in Jezreel. (Prophets 1SA.29.1, JPS 1917) tree →
• And when Saul's son heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his hands became feeble, and all the Israelites were affrighted. (Prophets 2SA.4.1, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Capital I. Plural noun as in the input. Trap: Israelites (ancient Bible people) vs Israelis (people of the modern country). Also called Hebrews in some stories.