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From: Yair Davidi To: heb_roots_chr@hebroots.org Subject: Nitzavim-3
[DEUT 29:28] AND THE LORD ROOTED THEM OUT OF THEIR LAND IN ANGER, AND IN WRATH, AND IN GREAT INDIGNATION, AND CAST THEM INTO ANOTHER LAND, AS IT IS THIS DAY.
"INTO ANOTHER LAND" = THE "NEW WORLD" = AMERICA = LOCATION PREDICTED TO BE THE PLACE OF THE LOST TEN TRIBES!
It was predicted that if Israel did not keep the commandments they would be cast out into an "Eretz Acheret" which is translatable from the Hebrew as meaning both "another land" (Deuteronomy 29;28*q) and/or a "New World". The Mishna (Sanhedrin 10) opines that the verse in Deuteronomy refers to the Lost Ten Tribes who are destined to remain in "Eretz Acheret" until close to the End Times. The American hemisphere when first revealed in our era to European eyes was known as "The New World"*r. Deuteronomy (29;28) and the Mishna, may be therefore understood as saying that the Lost Ten Tribes would be mainly in "The New World" (i.e. "Eretz Acheret") after its discovery (or rediscovery) by Europeans since only then did the term become applicable. It follows that either North or South America was intended as a place of exile and all other evidence points to Northwest Europe and North America.
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From: Yair Davidi To: heb_roots_chr@hebroots.org Subject: Isaiah 49 no.4
These notes are based on Chapter Four in "Ephraim". A few additional comments and additional information have been added here and there. Isaiah 49 no. 4
ISAIAH Chapter 49 is Also About the Lost Tribes
[Isaiah 49:8] THUS SAITH THE LORD, IN AN ACCEPTABLE TIME HAVE I HEARD THEE, AND IN A DAY OF SALVATION HAVE I HELPED THEE: AND I WILL PRESERVE THEE, AND GIVE THEE FOR A COVENANT OF THE PEOPLE, TO ESTABLISH THE EARTH, TO CAUSE TO INHERIT THE DESOLATE HERITAGES;
A covenant of the people [Hebrew: "BRIT-AM" i.e. Britain], to establish the earth [or in the Hebrew: "to found a country", e.g. the U.S.A., the State of Israel], to cause to inherit the desolate heritages".
"Desolate heritages" relatively speaking were the regions of North America, Australia and New Zealand, and South Africa before the nations here spoken of colonized them. Also, on a long-term geopolitical and economical level the ZionistJewish resettlement of part of the Land of Israel was made possible (like and/or believe it or not), in some measure, due to the policies of Britain (sic!) and America!!
[Isaiah 49:9] THAT THOU MAYEST SAY TO THE PRISONERS, GO FORTH; TO THEM THAT ARE IN DARKNESS, SHEW YOURSELVES. THEY SHALL FEED IN THE WAYS, AND THEIR PASTURES SHALL BE IN ALL HIGH PLACES.
[Isaiah 49:10] THEY SHALL NOT HUNGER NOR THIRST; NEITHER SHALL THE HEAT NOR SUN SMITE THEM: FOR HE THAT HATH MERCY ON THEM SHALL LEAD THEM, EVEN BY THE SPRINGS OF WATER SHALL HE GUIDE THEM.
[Isaiah 49:11] AND I WILL MAKE ALL MY MOUNTAINS A WAY, AND MY HIGHWAYS SHALL BE EXALTED.
[Isaiah 49:12] BEHOLD, THESE SHALL COME FROM FAR: AND, LO, THESE FROM THE NORTH AND FROM THE WEST; AND THESE FROM THE LAND OF SINIM.
THE MIDRASH CONCERNING THE THREE EXILES
Proof that the gist of the above chapter (ISAIAH 49) really is concerned with the Lost Ten Tribes or not, is obtainable from the Midrashicexplanation of the following verse (ISAIAH 49; 9):
"THAT THOU MAYEST SAY TO THE PRISONERS, GO FORTH; TO THEM THAT ARE IN DARKNESS, SHEW YOURSELVES. THEY SHALL FEED IN THE WAYS, AND THEIR PASTURES SHALL BE IN ALL HIGH PLACES" (ISAIAH 49;9).
The Midrash (Numbers Rabah 1;6, Eichah Rabah 2;9, Jerusalemi Sanhedrin ch.17, L.6,29) on these verses, comments:
~Rabbi Berachiah and Rabbi Chelbo in the name of Rabbi Shmuel bar Nachman said: To three places was Israel exiled, one to beyond the Sambation River, one to Daphneh of Antiochia, and one to where the Clouds came down and covered them; in the same way that they [i.e. the northern Israelites west of the Jordan River] were exiled to three places, so too were the Tribes [east of the Jordan River] of Reuben, Gad, and halfMenasseh, exiled to three places. When they shall return so too will Reuben, Gad, and halfMenasseh return with them. How do we know all this?
~` From the verse, "SAY TO THE PRISONERS GO FORTH" (ISAIAH
49;9): *These are those exiled beyond the Sambation River.
"TO THEM THAT ARE IN DARKNESS, SHEW YOURSELVES" (ISAIAH
49;9): *These are those whom the cloud descended upon and
covered.
"THEY SHALL FEED IN THE WAYS, AND IN ALL HIGH PLACES THEIR PASTURES" (ISAIAH 49;9): *These are those who were exiled to Daphne of Antiochea.~'
A Geographical explanation showing the presentday pertinence of this Midrash follows:
THE MIDRASH EXPLAINED:
The Midrash on Isaiah 49;9 described above said that the Ten Tribes were exiled to three places: Beyond the Sambation River; To within the Clouds of Darkness; and to Daphne of Antiochea.
The Sambation River has a name meaning in JudeoGreek, Ethiopic, and other dialects, "THE RIVER OF SABBATH"6. Its original application was probably to the Lower Zab River which is an eastern tributary of the Tigris River. In local dialects the River "Zab" was rendered as SABATUS7 or Zabitha8. In this region Ptolemy recorded the SAMBATAE people9 whose name is reminiscent of Sambation. Both "Sabatus" and "Sambat" could be attributed the same meaning as "Sabbath". Here (according to the Map of Ptolemy) was the city of "Gomara" of CimmerianGimri association. This city is located on the site of Sakkiz the Scythian capital. This was the region of Mannae whereto part of the exiled Israelites had been taken10. From this first area of SAMBATION the Israelite Scythians were to be forced northwards onto the South Russian Steppe lands.
The land of southern Russia into which the Scythians moved became known as Scythia. In Scythian times in early Greek settlements at the estuary of the Don River in Scythia the personal name "Sambation" has been recorded13. From Scythia the Scythians moved westwards into Europe and the British Isles. A remnant of the Scythians were the Khazars. During the Khazar domination, a city on the site of modern Kiev was called "Sambat"11. This in some opinions was the original Asgard where a portion of Scythian-Israelites settled before continuing northward to Scandinavia. The Don and Dneiper Rivers were both at some time or other nicknamed the "River of Sabbath"12. Abraham Polak in his important study of the Khazars says that early postexilic Jewish Writings referred to the Don River as the Sambation14. The name Sambation was understood to be another form of the term Sabbath. This enables us to equate the Don River with the Sambation.
From the Don River and the region north of it the Scyths had migrated north and westward partly reaching Scandinavia, which was originally, named Scathanavia15in their honor. Britain too in at least one Roman source was later considered a colony of Scythia.
According to the Midrash the River Sambation bordered the area where the Lost Ten Tribes were to be found in.
The Midrash quoted above was based on the passage:
"THAT THOU MAY SAYEST...TO THEM THAT ARE IN DARKNESS, SHEW YOURSELVES" (ISAIAH 49;9):
REFERRING SAYS THE MIDRASH TO THOSE OF THE LOST TRIBES WHOM THE CLOUD CAME DOWN UPON AND COVERED. Another Midrash (Numbers Rabah 17;16) says that part of the exiled Israelites went to the "Mountains of Darkness" which is a related concept. The Mountains of Darkness were identified by Rashi (on Amos 4;3) with the Mountains of Mannae whereas others equated them with the nearby Caucasus. The Caucasus in the Talmud are nicknamed "The Mountains of Slug" (i.e. "The Mountains of Snow" as the Scythians referred to them*i), and identified as an area to which the Lost Ten Tribes were exiled (Talmud Sanhedrin 94a).
Now from those places to which the Lost Ten Tribes were exiled there emerged the Cimmerians, Scythians, and Gothic ethnic groups. There is much evidence that these peoples were either mainly Israelite or that at least Israelites were a significant element amongst them and that the bulk of Israelite exiles were to be found in their midst.
Like the third part of exiled Israelites in the Midrash, so too, were the Cimmerians in Classical Literature to be associated with Clouds, Mountains, or simply regions, of Darkness. A wordroot "comer" (reminiscent of "Cimmerian") in both Hebrew and Latin even connotes "darkness"!16 At one stage a portion of the Cimmerians were to be found in the Crimean Peninsula. At that time the climate was much wetter in the Crimean region than it is now and the area was apparently always cloudy. In Latin Literature there existed a phrase "Af tenebrae Cimmeriae" meaning "Cimmerian Darkness" and applied to the Crimea17.
The bulk of the Cimmerians via the Balkans entered Europe and moved westward. They are identified in general with the Celts. The name "Celt" has been interpreted as:
"Meaning hidden the word which gives us the Irish form `ceilt', i.e. concealment or secret, and the word which gives us the English word kilt". PETER BERRESFORD ELLIS, "The Celtic Empire," London, 1990, p.9.
The Scottii who from Scythia reached Ireland and from there went
to Scotland were counted as Celts. Their name ("Scotoi") in Greek was
understandable as meaning obscure or hidden19. In Britain and Brittany
(Gaul) lived a people called Ostrynimians by the Carthaginians and
Phoenicians and this name also is said to mean hidden20 from the
Hebrew root "sater". The god Saturn who allegedly reigned in the
British Isles too has a name derivable in Hebrew from the same root
("sater") and connoting the "hidden god". Pagan writers identified
Saturn with Israel. A portion of the Lost Tribes was understood to be
hidden by the Clouds of Darkness. We find indeed amongst the Celts
(especially those of Britain) terminology that relates them to the
associated concepts of "hidden", "clouds", and "darkness". This could
be dismissed as coincidental were it not for the fact that too
numerous other proofs from all fields point in the same direction.
Amongst the Celts, the Cimmerians are specially linkable with the Galatian section and even more especially with the Cimbri of Scandinavia and the Cymry of Britain. The Cimmerians have also been equated with the Western Celts on the whole.
The Orphic Argonautica (supposed ca.500 BCE) placed the Cimmerians far away in the north somewhere in the British Isles:
"Cimmerii who were hidden from the sun rising by the mountains of Ripaeus in Britain near the vicinity of Hades21..."
"....far away in the north on the way to the Iernian
[Ireland?] islands22.. ".
Homer (in the "Odyssey" 11;19) mentioned,
"The deep sea of Oceanos [i.e.The Atlantic Ocean] which is the World's boundary. There is the city of the Cimmerian people. Night is forever spread over these unhappy mortals".
It is generally agreed that both these above passages are placing Cimmerians in Britain and it was be noticed that both use expressions implying darkness or hiddenness.
Plutarch seems to have identified the Cimmerians with the Cimbri of Scandinavia and the North sea coast as did other Roman writers. Plutarch says of these Cimmeriandescendants:
"Part of them still inhabit the remotest regions upon the outer Ocean. These... live in a dark and woody region hardly penetrable by the sunbeams...their days and nights being equally continuous, they divide their year into one of Each..(Plutarch: "Caius Marius").
A.W. Whatmore also noted the linkage in Classical works of the Cimmerians with the Dark in the Caucasus, in Crimea, in Britain, and in Scandinavia23. So closely associated were the Cimmerians with darkness that a people in Italy, near Lake Arverno, who lived by robbery and dwelt in dark caves, were also named Cimmerians24.
Denmark was settled at one stage by the Cimbri descendants of the Cimmerians and then later by the Danes from the Israelite Tribe of Dan.
This overlapping of Cimbri with the Danes of Dan is interesting. A Midrash commented on the TribalOrder of Marching forward in the Wilderness when the ancient Israelites had escaped from Egypt yet still had not been allowed to enter the Promised Land. The Midrash infers that this positioning was indicative of future developments. The Position of Dan, says the Midrash (Numbers Rabah 2), "was in the north, whence darkness comes".
The Cimbri, claimed Plutarch, in their migrations carried a metal bull with them25. The Cimbri in Scandinavia are known to have had a bull cult of Mediterranean origin26. The Israelites in the Wilderness were punished for making a golden bullcalf (Hebrew: "aegel") which they intended to go before them in their wanderings (Exodus 32;14). Excavations in the area of northern Israel have unearthed metallic statuettes of bulls that are dated to the period of Israelite occupation prior to their exile27. King Jeroboam from the Tribe of Ephraim was the first king of northern Israel after it broke away from the south. He set up a bullcalf cult with golden statues and cultic centers at Dan and in Bethel (2Kings 12;28-29). These golden statues, according to one source, were later smashed. They may have been exchanged for metallic ones. Sargon, the Assyrian king after defeating northern Israel said, "I counted the gods on whom they trusted as spoil"28. The statue at Bethel (BethAven) was captured by the Assyrians and "carried unto Assyria" (Hosea 10;6). The Cimbri practice of carrying a metallic bull with them may have been a carryover from their North Israelite paganism.
The Cimbri were later to be found throughout Scandinavia29
especially in DenmarkJutland, which Procopius ("Gothic Wars 2.1.7)
referred to as "Brittania" whereas the isle of Britain (home of the
British Cymry) he called "Brittia". Part of the Cimbri reached Holland
in their wanderings and there too the presence of a tribe of "Bretons"
was reported (Pliny N.H.4;17)30. ISAIAH (ch.49) placed the Lost
Israelites in "Isles of the Sea" and said they would establish a
"BritAm" i.e. A People's Covenant or Commonwealth.
Whatmore ("Insulae Britannicae", 1913) showed that in Classical
Literature the Islands of Britain were considered the edge of the
world, the last section of Scythia, and associated with Cimmerian
darkness. The same characteristics were ascribed to Scandinavia and
then later Scandinavian writers said the same things about North
America wherein Viking Scandinavians attempted to settle!
Leif Ericson in the 1100s CE visited the coasts of North America and an effort at colonization was made. A Chronicle of the event gave the names Helluland, Markland, and Vinland to the countries visited. Whatmore equated "Markland" with North America31. After drawing parallels between the DanishNorwegian word "merke" and the Russian "mrak", he said that the name "Markland" (given to North America) signified DARKNESS.
The Scandinavian Chronicler was continuing the Classical tradition and Whatmore concludes that "Markland" (i.e. the name given to North America),
"is quite as likely an echo of the dark Kimmerian world"32.
Another word for "dark" in Hebrew is Kedar. "Kedar" was a son of Ishmael (Genesis 25;13). Part of the sons of Kedar assimilated amongst the Arabs, others became the Kidarites who were once important in Central Asia. as We explained above how descendants of Kedar also reached North America and intermarried with the Red Indians.
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From: Yair Davidi To: heb_roots_chr@hebroots.org Subject: VeZot HaBrocah? s.1
[Deuteronomy 33:4] MOSES COMMANDED US A LAW, EVEN THE INHERITANCE OF THE CONGREGATION OF JACOB.
"INHERITANCE OF THE CONGREGATION OF JACOB":
The Law is the inheritance of all Israel. The Lost Ten Tribes are temporarily absolved from the law and on the individual level are considered as Gentiles but in the future they will return, receive affirmation of their Israelite identity, and re-accept the Law.
[Deuteronomy 33:7] AND THIS IS THE BLESSING OF JUDAH: AND HE SAID, HEAR, LORD, THE VOICE OF JUDAH, AND BRING HIM UNTO HIS PEOPLE: LET HIS HANDS BE SUFFICIENT FOR HIM; AND BE THOU AN HELP TO HIM FROM HIS ENEMIES.
"JUDAH" represents the present-day Jews. Other tribes prominent amongst the Jews include Simeon, Levi, and Benjamin all of which are considered in this study. "HEAR, LORD, THE VOICE OF JUDAH" according to tradition this is referring to Simeon who is NOT mentioned expressly in the blessings of this portion. Throughout the Bible a quorum of twelve tribes is maintained though actually there were 13 tribes. The quorum is maintained by either subsuming Simeon with Judah, or leaving out Levi who was scattered throughout the other tribes, or counting Ephraim and Menasseh as one tribe of Joseph.
"BRING HIM UNTO HIS PEOPLE" Judah needs to be reconciliated with the Lost Ten Tribes.
[Deuteronomy 33:8] AND OF LEVI HE SAID, LET THY THUMMIM AND THY URIM BE WITH THY HOLY ONE, WHOM THOU DIDST PROVE AT MASSAH, AND WITH WHOM THOU DIDST STRIVE AT THE WATERS OF MERIBAH;
"LEVI" is primarily amongst the present-day Jews. Both Judah and Levi are linked strongly with the Law and both are to be found mainly amongst the Jewish people. Small offshoots of Levi were also to be found elsewhere, e.g. in Northern Italy and according to many amongst the Welsh.
[Deuteronomy 33:9] WHO SAID UNTO HIS FATHER AND TO HIS MOTHER, I HAVE NOT SEEN HIM; NEITHER DID HE ACKNOWLEDGE HIS BRETHREN, NOR KNEW HIS OWN CHILDREN: FOR THEY HAVE OBSERVED THY WORD, AND KEPT THY COVENANT.
[Deuteronomy 33:10] THEY SHALL TEACH JACOB THY JUDGMENTS, AND ISRAEL THY LAW: THEY SHALL PUT INCENSE BEFORE THEE, AND WHOLE BURNT SACRIFICE UPON THINE ALTAR.
"ISRAEL THY LAW" the Lost Ten Tribes at some stage will learn the Law anew. Perhaps descendants of Levi will be prominent in the teaching that this will involve.
[Isaiah 66:18] FOR I KNOW THEIR WORKS AND THEIR THOUGHTS: IT SHALL COME, THAT I WILL GATHER ALL NATIONS AND TONGUES; AND THEY SHALL COME, AND SEE MY GLORY.
[Isaiah 66:19] AND I WILL SET A SIGN AMONG THEM, AND I WILL SEND THOSE THAT ESCAPE OF THEM UNTO THE NATIONS, TO TARSHISH, PUL, AND LUD, THAT DRAW THE BOW, TO TUBAL, AND JAVAN, TO THE ISLES AFAR OFF, THAT HAVE NOT HEARD MY FAME, NEITHER HAVE SEEN MY GLORY; AND THEY SHALL DECLARE MY GLORY AMONG THE GENTILES.
Isaiah is referring to the exiled who were scattered out of Judah or to the Lost Ten Tribes or to some future scattering of Israelites.
This may be seen from the context of the verses that precede this one and those that follow. "TO TARSHISH", originally Spain, and probably also Gaul and Britain. Later applied to Atlantic area in general including North America. "PUL", some say Poland and the Ukraine. If so, the reference is to Judah many of whom dwelt in those areas for a very long time and on the whole suffered greatly there whilst reaching a high stage of religious and spiritual development at times. "AND LUD", - Lydia in Anatolia (present day Turkey) but one Irish account traces their ancestors to Lydia. "THAT DRAW THE BOW", "Moshkei-keshet" identified by some with the Scythians. Red Indians? "TO TUBAL", oringinally an area north of Syria, also identified with areas in Russia and with Spain. The Abarbanel says that Tubal here means England but I fail to see his reasoning or the source he uses. "AND JAVAN", Yavan is Greece but descendants of Yavan were also to be found elsewhere. Craig White (based on ancient traditionsand other sources) identified the people of southern France as descendants of Yavan. "TO THE ISLES AFAR OFF", The British Isles?
[Isaiah 66:20] AND THEY SHALL BRING ALL YOUR BRETHREN FOR AN OFFERING UNTO THE LORD OUT OF ALL NATIONS UPON HORSES, AND IN CHARIOTS, AND IN LITTERS, AND UPON MULES, AND UPON SWIFT BEASTS, TO MY HOLY MOUNTAIN JERUSALEM, SAITH THE LORD, AS THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL BRING AN OFFERING IN A CLEAN VESSEL INTO THE HOUSE OF THE LORD.
Descendants of Priests and Levites to be taken from amongst the Gentiles and Re-Instated in the Last Days:
[Isaiah 66:21] AND I WILL ALSO TAKE OF THEM FOR PRIESTS AND FOR LEVITES, SAITH THE LORD.
Abarbanel (1437-1509):
From those childen of Israel who will be brought from distant lands, who were immersed among the Gentiles and intermixed with them. From these Israelites will also be taken individuals for Priests and Levites. These will be they who [oringinally] came from Priestly and Levitical families. It will not matter if they had once been sold as slaves and against their will had become Gentiles. How will it be known what family they came from? Doubtless it will be through Divine Inspiration as predicted by Malachi:
"AND HE SHALL SIT AS A REFINER AND PURIFIER OF SILVER: AND HE SHALL PURIFY THE SONS OF LEVI, AND PURGE THEM AS GOLD AND SILVER, THAT THEY MAY OFFER UNTO THE LORD AN OFFERING IN RIGHTEOUSNESS. "THEN SHALL THE OFFERING OF JUDAH AND JERUSALEM BE PLEASANT UNTO THE LORD, AS IN THE DAYS OF OLD, AND AS IN FORMER YEARS" : [Malachi 3:3-4].
Note the Talmud also says:
"Said Rabbi Hama Bar Hanina: When God decides to let it be known who belongs to which Tribe, he clarifies firstly who belongs to the Tribe of Levi, as it says, "And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi..." ([Malachi 3;3); (Talmud, Kiddushin 70;a).
Maimonides (1135-1204) says:
"In the days of the Messianic King: When his kingdom shall be settled and all of Israel gather unto him, he shall then give the Tribal-genealogy of each one. He shall do this through Divine inspiration. As it says, HE SHALL SIT AS A REFINER AND PURIFIER ([Malachi 3:3). He will purify the Tribe of Levi first....as it says, '...till there be stood up a priest with Urim and with Thumim' (Ezra 2;63)...He gives the genealogy of Israel only concerning which tribe each one belongs to.." (Maimonides, Mishneh Torah, The Laws of Kings, ch. 12, no.3).
Rashi (1040-1105):
"AND I WILL ALSO TAKE OF THEM FOR PRIESTS" [Isaiah 66:21]:
He will take from the peoples who bring them [i.e. the Children of Israel] back and from those [Israelites] who are brought back as Priests and Levites. At present these have been forcibly assimilated amongst the Gentiles. Before me [i.e. God] it is clear those amongst them who are Priests and Levites. I will separate them out and they will serve before me, says God. Where did God first speak of this? "THE SECRET THINGS BELONG UNTO THE LORD OUR GOD" [Deuteronomy 29:29]
This is what is explained in the Midrash on Psalms.
Note: These sources are speaking from the orientation of Judah. The British and Americans were responsible in some degree for enabling the return of Jews to the land of Israel. They were the ones who can be described as "Gentiles" who brought "Israel" (i.e. the Jews in this case) back and from them too will Priests and Levites be chosen out.
[Isaiah 66:22] FOR AS THE NEW HEAVENS AND THE NEW EARTH, WHICH I WILL MAKE, SHALL REMAIN BEFORE ME, SAITH THE LORD, SO SHALL YOUR SEED AND YOUR NAME REMAIN.
Israel and Judah will always exist and continue onward.
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NOTE FROM EDDIE:
Yair Davidi is an ORTHODOX JEW who lives in Jerusalem, Israel and is the founder of "Brit-Am" (in Hebrew: Covenant of the people). Brit-Am seeks to spread awareness of the restoration and reunification of Ephraim / Joseph and Judah in the end of days.
The Brit-Am website is located at:
http://www.geocities.com/hiberi
For a subscription of four issues of BRIT-AM send $36 (8 issues for $65, 12 issues for $90) to: Yair Davidy POB 595 Jerusalem 91004 Israel.
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