Final answer:
True, many Israelites were indeed farmers or herders, reflecting early agricultural practices and pastoralist traditions, although there was a shift towards urban occupations over time.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement regarding Israelites being most commonly farmers or herders is True. Initially, the Hebrews were indeed agriculturalists and herders, as reflected in their religious practices and early traditions. For instance, the festival of Sukkot was a harvest celebration originating from their agricultural past.
However, over time, as the Hebrews began to live in cities and adopt urban occupations, the prevalence of agriculture and herding changed. Despite these shifts, significant numbers of Israelites continued to engage in farming and pastoralist activities for a considerable period.
Similarly, in the region of Arabia, the Bedouins were primarily involved in pastoral farming, indicating the significant role that herding played in sustaining pastoralist societies.
While urban occupations expanded over time, the division of labor in pastoralist communities, such as the Bedouins, was still highly influenced by their roles as herders, with men and women assigned different responsibilities based on the size and type of livestock they managed.