ISRAELITES

the descendants of Israel, who were first called Hebrews by
reason of Abraham, who came from the other side of the Euphrates; and
afterward Israelites, from Israel, the father of the twelve tribes; and,
lastly, Jews, particularly after their return from the captivity of
Babylon; because the tribe of Judah was then much stronger and more
numerous than the other tribes, and foreigners had scarcely any
knowledge but of this tribe. See JEWS.