HEBER (heler), (Ileb. ay'ber, of the other side, i. e., of the river, immigrant).
1. The son of Salah, who became the father of Pcleg at the age of 34 years, and dicd at the age of 464 (Gcn. x:24; xi:14; Chron. i :25). His name occurs in the genealogy of Christ (Luke :35), B. C. 2448-1984. There is nothing to con stitute Heber a historical personage; but there is a degree of interest connected with him from the notion, which the Jews themselves entertain, that the name of Hebrews, applied to them. was derived from this alleged ancestor of Abraham. No historical ground appears why this name should be derived from him rather than from any other personage that occurs in the catalogue of Shcm's descendants; but there are so much stronger objections to every other hypothesis, that this perhaps is still the most probable of any which have yet been started.
2. Grandson of Asher (Gen. xlvi :17; Chron. vii:31; Num. xxvi :45), B. C. before 1873.
3. Onc of the tribe of Judah (1 Chron. iv:18).
B. C. after 1612.
4. A Gadite Chron. v:13), ?3. C. between 1612 and 1093.
5. A descendant of Hobab, son of Jethro, and brother of the wife of Moses. His wife was the Jael who slew Sisera (B. C. i4o9), and he is called Heber the Kenite ( Judg. iv t, 17; v :24), which seems to have been a name for the whole family (Judg. :t6). Heber appears to have lived sep arate from the rest of the Kenites, leading a patri archal life, amid his tents and flocks. He must have been a person of some consequence, from its being stated that there was peace between the house of Heber and the powerful king Jabin. At the time the history brings him under our notice his camp was in the plain of Zaanaim, near Kedesh in Naphtali. (See JAEL ; KENtrEs.) 6. A Benjsmite (Chron. yin:17), B. C. about 518.
7. Also a Benjamite (I Chron. viii :22), B. C. before 598.