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 (9:13; 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, 10: 26, 28;22:48; 2-Chr 1:16;9:10, 9: 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.