The origins of the Hebrew language and the corresponding writing system
Hebrew is a Northwestern Semitic Canaanite language, the modern form of which is the main language of Israel.
Classical and liturgical Hebrew is used in Jewish communities around the world. Originally, Hebrew was one of the spoken languages in ancient Canaan. It was the main language of the ancient Israelites from about 1000 BCE (Βefore the Common Era, covering the period from year 1 onwards) until the 3rd century BCE at the latest, and it was during this period that the texts of the Bible (Tanach) were written.
Gradually Hebrew was replaced by Aramaic as the main vernacular of the Israelites.
Hebrew remained in use as the sacred liturgical language of the synagogue and in this form it was preserved in the majority of the communities that began to form in the Diaspora.
Hebrew was cultivated as a common language among intellectuals and rabbis and was used in the writing of philosophical, religious and scientific texts.
