While the books of the Hebrew Bible often use to describe the Israelites, the later Jewish writings of the Hellenistic Period (from approximately 300 BCE to 30 BCE) tended to apply the term to other nations.
wHile thE bOOKs Of the HebReW bible OFteN use To deScribE tHe iSraEliTes tHe laTeR JeWish wRiTiNgs oF the hellenistIc pErioD (frOM aPProximAtely 300 bce TO 30 bce) TEndED to aPply the tErM TO oTher nations.