Habiru

The Habiru name list on the "Tigunani prism" (reference still to come) indicates they might have originally been nothing more than a wandering tribe of Hurrians, but this ethnic distinction disappeared at a very early stage. Like the 17th century Cossack bands of Eastern European Steppes, scholars since Moshe Greenberg have envisioned the Hapiru as being formed out of outlaws and drop-outs from neighbouring agricultural societies. The numbers of the Habiru of the 2nd millenium BC grew from the peasants who had fled the increasingly oppressive economic conditions of the Assyrian and Babylonian kingdoms. An example of this is found in an inscription of the Mittani king Idrimi, found at Alalakh in southwestern Anatolia, where he states that between the time he fled Aleppo and his capture of Alalakh (when he became king) he led the life of a leading Habiru warrior.

Some scholars have seen their legacy preserved in the place-names of Iranian Kabira, the Khabur valley of the Northern Euphrates and perhaps also the Hebron valley.

The Oxford History of the Biblical World, citing the Amarna texts, characterizes a "troublesome group of people found in ancient Syria-Palestine called the 'Apiru/'Abiru or Hapiru/Habiru. Scholars eagerly equated these Apiru with bibliclal ibri , or "Hebrew", and at first thought that they had found confirming, independent evidence of the invading Hebrews under Joshua. As more texts were uncovered througout the Near East, however, it became clear that these Apiru were found throughout most of the Fertile Crecent" The Oxford History 's scholars conclude that the "Habiru" had no common ethnic affiliations, that they spoke no common language, and that they normally led a marginal and sometimes lawless existence on the fringes of settled society. Oxford characterizes the various Habiru/Apiru as a loosely defined, inferior social class composed of shifting population elements without secure ties to settled communities. Apiru are frequently encountered in texts as outlaws, mercenaries, and slaves.

Scholarly opinion remains divided as to whether there is an etymological relationship between Hapiru and 'ibri, though many scholars think that the Hapiru were a component of the later peoples who inhabited the kingdoms ruled by Saul, David, Solomon and their successors in Judah and Israel. Likewise, the relationship of the Habiru with the Biblical personages of Eber and Abraham is purely speculative.

Georgian historians believe those who were later known by the Greeks as "the sons of noble Iberes" (this quote is untraceable so far; it may be spurious) were descendants of the Habiru who remained in the vicinity of the Caucasus.

References

• Moshe Greenberg, The Hab/piru, American Oriental Society, New Haven, 1955.
• Oxford History of the Biblical World, page 72. ISBN 0195139372

Referenced By