The Definition of the word Merchant

Merchant

The Hebrew word so rendered is from a root meaning to travel" "about," "to migrate," and hence "a traveller." In the East, in" "ancient times, merchants travelled about with their merchandise" "from place to place (Gen. 37:25; Job 6:18), and carried on their" trade mainly by bartering (Gen. 37:28; 39:1). After the Hebrews became settled in Palestine they began to engage in commercial "pursuits, which gradually expanded (49:13; Deut. 33:18; Judg." "5:17), till in the time of Solomon they are found in the chief" "marts of the world (1 Kings 9:26; 10:11, 26, 28; 22:48; 2 Chr." "1:16; 9:10, 21). After Solomon's time their trade with foreign" nations began to decline. After the Exile it again expanded into "wider foreign relations, because now the Jews were scattered in" many lands.