Who, or What, is a "Hebrew"??

Although I really should be working on an essay that is due this Thursday, I can't resist answering another question of etymology. This one is closer to my heart, as I've grown quite fond of the symantics behind the historical continuum that constitutes the Hebrew language. Where does the word "Hebrew" come from? I've accepted the reality of this english word for a very long time without ever questioning what it means (other than the proper name of a language that people from my ethnicity might speak). It appears as though the word has biblical origins. Like many other hebrew words, it was transliterated in a strange way into the form which you now see before you!

Take a look at the explanation that I found off of a site called the Biblical Hebrew Magazine.

The root עבר means to "cross over" or "pass through". As names play a very significant role of the ancient peoples of the Near East, this name and its meaning is indicative of Abraham and his descendents. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were nomads who by definition are ones who travel or pass through many lands on their nomadic journey. In Genesis 12:6 we read (From the KJV) "And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem, unto the plain of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land." The phrase "passed through" is the Hebrew verb עבר (the same word as the noun/name Eber).

Curious isn't it? My ancestors were properly known as nomads. This seems to be the general trend throughout history. Jews have 'crossed over' borders into many countries, and have been harassed and made to 'pass through' to yet other areas, in hopes of some respite from their troubles. How is it that a nation which relied on so many different forces of nature (i.e. the sun, the rain, the soil, the animals, the plants and the wind) came to conceive of only one god? Why is it that these nomads had the single greatest influence on the Western world?

An acquaintance, with whom I was chatting earlier on today, spoke of Christianity and how it served to spread Judaism's message of Monotheism to most of the Western world. I don't know if this would be a sound argument to make, but Monotheism seems to complement nicely the political structure of Monarchy. One King, many subjects. Was it this political compatibility which led to such a strong impetus to convert everyone? Did it turn people into such subservient subjects so as to facilitate the reign of kings throughout ages?

History is interesting, isn't it?

Hebraically,

- Inkhorn