[Isaiah 49:1] LISTEN, O ISLES, UNTO ME; AND HEARKEN, YE PEOPLE, FROM FAR;
THE LORD HATH CALLED ME FROM THE WOMB; FROM THE BOWELS OF MY MOTHER HATH
HE MADE MENTION OF MY NAME.
[Isaiah 49:2] AND HE HATH MADE MY MOUTH LIKE A SHARP SWORD; IN THE
SHADOW OF HIS HAND HATH HE HID ME, AND MADE ME A POLISHED SHAFT; IN
HIS QUIVER HATH HE HID ME;
[Isaiah 49:3] AND SAID UNTO ME, THOU ART MY SERVANT, O ISRAEL, IN WHOM I WILL BE GLORIFIED.
The Prophet is personifying Israel, i.e. the “servant” is both the Prophet and Israel.
[Isaiah 49:4] THEN I SAID, I HAVE LABOURED IN VAIN, I HAVE SPENT MY
STRENGTH FOR NOUGHT, AND IN VAIN: YET SURELY MY JUDGMENT IS WITH THE LORD,
AND MY WORK WITH MY GOD.
Israel runs the course of history and at the end is uncertain of his acheivements.
[Isaiah 49:5] AND NOW, SAITH THE LORD THAT FORMED ME FROM THE WOMB
TO BE HIS SERVANT, TO BRING JACOB AGAIN TO HIM, THOUGH ISRAEL BE NOT
GATHERED, YET SHALL I BE GLORIOUS IN THE EYES OF THE LORD, AND MY GOD
SHALL BE MY STRENGTH.
Isaiah 49 no.2
[Isaiah 49:6] AND HE SAID, IT IS A LIGHT THING THAT THOU SHOULDEST BE MY
SERVANT TO RAISE UP THE TRIBES OF JACOB, AND TO RESTORE THE PRESERVED
OF ISRAEL: I WILL ALSO GIVE THEE FOR A LIGHT TO THE GENTILES, THAT
THOU MAYEST BE MY SALVATION UNTO THE END OF THE EARTH.
Adapted from “Ephraim” chapter four:
The prophet Isaiah addressed himself frequently to the Lost Ten Tribes of
Israel. One of his several addresses to the Ten Tribes is found in chapter
49:
"Isles" and "isles of the sea" meaning (as shown1) mainly
Isles in the Atlantic Ocean (Isles of Britain and coastlines of northwest
Europe and North America) are several times mentioned in Scripture in a context
recalling the Lost Tribes of Israel.
"The Tribes of Jacob" (recalled above in ISAIAH 49) remind
one that the flag of Britain is called the UNION JACK (i.e. union or covenant
of Jacob) and the nickname “YANKEE” for North American is derivable from
a Hebrew form of Jacob*d.
"A light to the Gentiles" is what the British descended
peoples and northwest European peoples comparatively speaking have been despite
frequent moral mistakes. On the whole these nations have been the best civilizing
influence the world has ever known and they still are ‑despite everything!
"End of the earth", or "ends of the earth" is a frequent
expression in the Prophets concerning the Lost Ten Tribes and nearly all
of these peoples dwell at the geographical extremities of Continental masses
when the Biblical view of the Holy Land of Israel as the center is taken
into account. The next verse in ISAIAH (49;7) has the nature of an aside
and refers to Judah:
Isaiah 49 no.3
JUDAH: THE LAWGIVER AND SUFFERING SERVANT
ISAIAH (ch.49;7) continues,
[Isaiah 49:7] THUS SAITH THE LORD, THE REDEEMER OF ISRAEL, AND HIS
HOLY ONE, TO HIM WHOM MAN DESPISETH, TO HIM WHOM THE NATION ABHORRETH,
TO A SERVANT OF RULERS, KINGS SHALL SEE AND ARISE, PRINCES ALSO SHALL WORSHIP,
BECAUSE OF THE LORD THAT IS FAITHFUL, AND THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL, AND
HE SHALL CHOOSE THEE.
This verse is arranged in the Hebrew (Masoretic Traditionally
‑scripted) Bible as a Paragraph in its own right having the equivalent significance
of parentheses.
The expression “TO HIM WHOM THE NATION ABHORRETH” in Hebrew “Mita-aev
goi” can be understoood to mean “He whom other peoples despise”, i.e. the
people of Judah as a whole from the historical perspective.
The whole verse is a momentary aside and is referring to the Jews of
JUDAH who were despised and persecuted but in the END TIME will be rehabilitated
in the eyes of the nations and recompensed for the indignity they were forced
by others to suffer ultimately BECAUSE THEY REFUSED TO DENY THE ONE TRUE
GOD!
Other Passages in Scripture elaborate on this matter. We have discussed this elsewhere several times.
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 geo‑political
and economical level the Zionist‑Jewish re‑settlement 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 Midrashic‑explanation
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 half‑Menasseh,
exiled to three places. When they shall return so too will Reuben, Gad, and
half‑Menasseh return with them. How do we know all this?
~` ‑‑From the verse, "SAY TO THE PRISONERS GO FORTH" (ISAIAH 49;9):
Y*Y‑These are those exiled beyond the Sambation River.
"TO THEM THAT ARE IN DARKNESS, SHEW YOURSELVES" (ISAIAH 49;9):‑
Y*YThese 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):‑
Y*YThese are those who were exiled to Daphne of Antiochea.~'
A Geographical explanation showing the present‑day 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 Judeo‑Greek,
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 Cimmerian‑Gimri 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 post‑exilic 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 word‑root "‑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 Cimmerian‑descendants:
"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 Tribal‑Order 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 bull‑calf (Hebrew: "aegel") which they intended
to go before them in their wanderings (Exodus 32;1‑4). 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‑1 from the Tribe of Ephraim was the first king of northern Israel
after it broke away from the south. He set up a bull‑calf cult with golden
statues and cultic centers at Dan and in Beth‑el (2‑Kings 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 Beth‑el (Beth‑Aven) 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 Denmark‑Jutland, 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 "Brit‑Am" 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 Danish‑Norwegian 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.
Isaiah 49 no.5
It follows that in Biblical and Rabbinical tradition the
Lost Ten Tribes or at least a portion of them were associated with Darkness,
Clouds, and Concealment in general. Both linguistically and conceptually
these same attributes were attached to the Cimmerians and to those who emerged
from them. Proofs from other fields confirm that these same entities were
descended largely from Israel.
ISAIAH 46;28 "FEAR YOU NOT, JACOB MY SERVANT....FOR I
AM WITH YOU; FOR I WILL MAKE A FULL END OF ALL THE NATIONS WHITHER I HAVE
DRIVEN YOU: BUT I WILL NOT MAKE A FULL END OF YOU, BUT CORRECT YOU IN MEASURE:
YET I WILL NOT LEAVE YOU WHOLLY UNPUNISHED.
One of the places to which the Ten Tribes were exiled
was Habor (2-Kings 17;6) which lay by a River (modern Khabor in Iraq) of
the same name. For the ancient Sumerians of Mesopotamia, the "Hubur" (i.e.
Habor) had been a mythical river in the west over which the dead had to cross33.
Procopious (in the 500s CE) reported that fishermen on the North Gaulish
coast were traditionally exempt from taxation since they had the task of
rowing the souls of the dead across the Channel to Britain34. In Classical
Literature Britain was known as the "Isle of the Dead" and Saturn (Dis Pater,
the god of the dead) was said to rule there. On the Metaphysical level these
notions fit Britain being the Place of the Lost Ten Tribes who in some late
Jewish traditions had been taken away to an inaccesible place and their whereabouts
was a mystery.
The Celts believed in two worlds: This world and the "otherworld",
"A constant exchange of souls took place between the two
worlds: death in this world took a soul to the Otherworld; death in that
world brought a soul to this world"35.
These notions were appropriate for Israelites who had
been uprooted from one sphere of existence and artificially transplanted
into another, stranger, one.
Jewish and Biblical sources indicate that it will be difficult
for all of the Jews to accept the Lost Israelite Identity of their brothers
from the Ten Tribes who were exiled by the Assyrians. Even so, it is these
very sources that provide some of the most telling evidence. Despite everything
it will be Jews who will bring the Lost Ten tribes back. To some extent Jewish
notions complement those held by the Israelite Celts who were associated
with dolmens and other Megalithic monuments and these too reveal a linkage
between ancient Israel and the extremities of northwest Europe. Much of the
population of Britain is of Celtic origin. Even most of those who are considered
Anglo-Saxon are probably more Celtic than anything else.
THE RED AND WHITE ROSE OF ISRAELITE ENGLAND.
The Zohar makes additional remarks of significance concerning
the Northwest European identity with Israel and amongst other matters speaks
of a rose of alternate red and white petals which symbolizes Israel:
In the beginning of the "Zohar" it says:
"`As the rose*g among the thorns, so is my love among
the maidens' (Song of Solomon 2;2): What is the rose: ‑ It is the Assemblage
of Israel, the Community of Israel. For there is a rose (above) and a rose
(below). Just as the rose which is among the thorns has red and white, so
does the Assemblage of Israel have justice and mercy. Just as a rose has
thirteen petals, so does the Assemblage [Hebrew: "Knesset"] of Israel have
thirteen measures of compassion encompassing it on all sides.
"...Five strong leaves surround the rose...”
In ENGLAND BETWEEN THE YEARS 1450‑1485 there occurred
a series of civil‑wars, known as "Wars of the Roses" between the rival Houses
of York and Lancaster. Each side was represented by a rose, York by a white
rose, and Lancaster by a red one. At the end of the struggle a partly‑Welsh
adventurer named Henry Tudor became king. Henry claimed to unify in his person
the two rival sides. He chose as his symbol a rose with both red and white
petals (i.e. a large white rose with a smaller red rose overlayed on it)
and with five green leaves around it. Paintings from Elizabethan times show
that there then existed in England a real breed of rose that looked like
this. This rose, unbeknown to Henry, was (says the above-quoted Zohar) the
symbol of Israel. Henceforth the red‑and‑white petalled "Tudor Rose" became
the symbol of the English monarchs and therefore of England itself. It still
is an official symbol of Britainª. The Tudor Rose admittedly has only
ten petals whereas the "Rose of Israel" described in the Zohar has thirteen
but then England being dominated by the tribe of Ephraim represents only
ten out of the original thirteen Israelite Tribes*h.
Henry Tudor was a great man: He came from a Ruling House
legendarily connected with King Arthur and he may have been descended (as
some believe) from King David. "He has been called the Solomon of England"
(M‑C p.5). He asserted the independence of England from Europe. The history
of modern England as an outwardly‑looking independently minded great nation
begins with him. His reign marks the beginning of that period in which the
blessings promised to the seed of Israel would be realized in the British
and British‑descended peoples! Under the Tudor monarchs, Newfoundland (in
Canada) was first settled laying the basis for the "Anglo-Saxon" (i.e. of
British-descent) colonization of North America and of the British Empire.
The Tudor monarchs broke away from the Roman Church causing a re-orientation
of British thought towards the Bible. They also defeated the Spaniards who
at that time were the Pre-eminent world power. The Spaniards had sent a vast
fleet of immense manned boats to invade England but were beaten due to the
English seamens' courage and inspiration and several miraculous changes of
the wind and weather. The very elements seemed to fight on the English side.
It may be said that Divine Providence became more evident in the Tudor Period.
The U.S.A. Congress in 1986 chose the rose as the national flower of the USA.
In the precincts of the HOLY TEMPLE in Jerusalem before
its destruction there was a special rose garden situated between the present
Western ("Wailing") Wall and the actual Temple (i.e. Holy of Holies, Mishna
Middot ch.1). The Presence of God never left the Western Wall. This wall
is only a remnant of the wall that surrounded the whole Temple complex. The
Temple complex is on the Temple Mount, which must be re-sanctified. The Temple
should be re-built.
Some sources of Jewish Rabbinical thought say that in
order for the Third Temple to be rebuilt the participation of the Lost Ten
Tribes is necessary©. The rose garden will have to be re-planted.
We have seen how the Midrash relates this section of ISAIAH to the Lost Ten
Tribes. Our brief sketch of ISAIAH 49 and its Ten Tribes' message is to be
resumed.
"THEY SHALL NOT HUNGER NOR THIRST; NEITHER SHALL THE HEAT
NOR THE SUN SMITE THEM: FOR HE THAT HATH MERCY UPON THEM SHALL LEAD THEM,
EVEN BY THE SPRINGS OF WATER SHALL HE GUIDE THEM.
"AND I WILL MAKE ALL MY MOUNTAINS A WAY, AND MY HIGHWAYS SHALL BE EXALTED (ISAIAH 49;10‑11)..
The above two verses could be understood to suggest
that the exiled Israelites would be led to an area not lacking in food‑supply
nor in water, moderately cold and wet, a place of rivers and springs, and
that possibly their migratory path would follow the heights of a mountain
range. To some degree this was true of part of the Celts who via the Carpathian
and Alpine Mountain Ranges penetrated Europe. The climate and described conditions
fit those of north and northwest Europe. The bulk of the Lost Ten Tribes
were re‑settled north of Assyria ‑a good portion of them in the Caucasus
area and the above verses are also applicable to that region. From the Caucasus
they were destined to advance into Europe.
AUSTRALIA
"BEHOLD THESE SHALL COME FROM FAR: AND, LO,
THESE FROM THE NORTH AND FROM THE WEST; AND THESE FROM THE LAND OF SINIM"
(ISAIAH 49; 12).
Regarding the above verse the following points are of interest:
YOne Midrashic source (Tanchuma, Genesis, VaYatzay b: cf. Lev.Rabah 29;2)
implies that those exiled "AFAR" or in a "faraway land" means those who were
exiled to Gaul (i.e. France) (Gallia) and its neighbours.
“FROM FAR: AND, LO, THESE FROM THE NORTH AND FROM THE WEST” : “from distant
places such as Spain” (Pesikta rabati 32;10). In “Lost Israelite Identity”
we proved how part of the Israelite Exiles were taken overseas in ships by
Phoenicians acting as agents for the Assyrians.
They were settled in Spain and probably also in Gaul and Britain. At all
events those in Those in Spain later moved to Ireland, Britain, and Gaul
(France).
YThe Israelites will return ‑"FROM THE NORTH AND FROM THE WEST", i.e. from areas to the northwest of the land of Israel.
YThey will also return "FROM THE LAND OF SINIM". This means (says Rashi and
the Aramaic transliteration of Yehonathan) "From the Land of the South".
According to the Latin Vulgate translation the intention is that they will
return "From Australia" (or "Australis"): "Australia" is a Latin translation
for "the land of the south". Sinim is an an Ancient Hebrew and Phoenician
term for Australia. The Phoenicians sailed to every corner of the globe.
They circumnavigated Africa and Britain. They also reached Scandinavia and
the Americas. The Phoenician script was introduced to Indonesia from before
600 BCE. The Ancient Egyptians, Phoenicians, and Hebrews had knowledge of
Australia.
AUSTRALIA BEFORE
CAPTAIN COOK?
Professor Barry Fell of Harvard University maintains that Egyptian voyages
into the Pacific touched upon New Zealand during the Ptolemaic period around
238 BC. Numerous finds in Australia and New Zealand indicate that these islands
had been visited by the Ancient Egyptians, Phoenicians, and Israelites.
The Egyptians referred to the southernmost known area of land as “sin-wur”
(Jurgen p.29). This corresponds to the Land of “Sinim” meaning Australia.
There are reports of Egyptian and Phoenician remains being found in Australia.
Some of these may be forgeries or simply mistaken conclusion made by over-enthusiastic
and under-trained amateurs. The same may be said concerning similar findings
in North America.
EVEN SO, in both cases the impression is that some of the reports are genuine and for our purposes this is enough.
Paul White (Ancient Egypt ~ Link with Australia, 1996) reports numerous findings
confirming contacts between the Ancient World and Australia. For example:
In Toowoomba (Queensland, Australia): A group of seventeen granite stones
were found with Phoenician inscriptions. One had been translated to read,
"Guard the shrine of Yahweh’s message" and "Gods of Gods". Another inscription
reads, "This is a place of worship of Ra" and "Assemble here to worship the
sun." (Ra was the Egyptian sun god) Source: Maggie’s Farm No.37 1988.
[This could indicate either a combined Egyptian-Israelite expedition or just
Northern Israelites. Excavations of Samaria do show the adoption of Egyptian
culture. The Phoenician dialect of Ancient Hebrew was used by some Israelites.]
A large ironstone slab (in Rex Gilroy’s Museum) at Tamworth NSW bears
a Phoenician inscription that reads: "Ships sail from this land under the
protection of Yahweh to Dan." British museum scientists discovered that from
1000 BC onwards eucalyptus resin was employed in the embalming of the dead
in Egypt. Eucalyptus was only found in Australia and New Guinea at that time.
The ancient tomb of a woman that contained eucalyptus resin was uncovered
in February 1964 in the Jordan Valley.
Additional evidence was reported by Marilyn Pye from Australia:
<<RE: “Egyptian artifacts found in Australia. The most important
being 2 Egyptian scarab beetles. These scarabs are inscribed with the names
of an unknown Egyptian Pharaoh. One was found in 1911, the other was found
in the1960s. The first one has the royal cartouche, the name inside..Usi
men ma re...beneath the cartouche is the golden symbol...either side has
2 truth feathers and above the cartouche is an unusual Horus symbol. This
was found in 1911 in a remote part of Australia buried 6 feet under. The
other scarab was found in the 1960s near a river in North West Australia.
This scarab has 2 cartouche names, one looks like Ramesses AriHotep...the
other reads Usi ma ra setepnra. 2 golden symbols are beneath the cartouches,
above them is a winged disk, and 2 other symbols…These are just 2 of the
Egyptian artifacts found in Oz.
<<The second scarab was authenticated by an expert in South Australia
although I have no idea where it is now. Regarding the pottery sherds...others
have been found....some in central oz in the 1960s by a prospector...Monash
University said they were ancient Semitic....similar pottery sherds have
been reported in Arnhem land, i say similar because I have not seen them,
an aboriginal friend said they were the same as the ones in my photos....he
has also seen more sherds on the other side of the river to where mine were
found....I did not find them. They were found in 1984 inland from where I
do some digging....if they had been found on my diggings i would have been
over the moon, they were found in sand. The river has changed course but
about 3000 years ago it would have run close to where the sherds were found.
I did find the Egyptian Horus at the diggings in 1992, Shalom, Marilyn
When Isaiah referred to the Land of Sinim he intended the Continent of Australia.
Australia was destined to be an area from which part of the Lost Tribes will
return in the Messianic Era. We are therefore justified on this point alone
in searching for the rest of the Lost Ten Tribes in areas whose inhabitants
are kinfolk of the people of Australia.
Isaiah 49 no.7
THE JEWS CONSOLED
ISAIAH now turns his attention again directly towards the Jews from the Tribe of Judah.
[Isaiah 49:13] SING FOR JOY, O HEAVENS, AND EXULT, O EARTH; BREAK FORTH,
O MOUNTAINS, INTO SINGING! FOR THE LORD HAS COMFORTED HIS PEOPLE, AND WILL
HAVE COMPASSION ON HIS AFFLICTED.
God will have compassion on those of his people who were
afflicted. He will comfort Judah.
[Isaiah 49:14] BUT ZION SAID, "THE LORD HAS FORSAKEN ME, MY LORD HAS FORGOTTEN ME."
Zion stands for Judah and the Jews and for Jerusalem. Jerusalem was the capital
of all Israel at first and later of the remnant of Judah. Zion and Jerusalem
in Scripture are usually synonymous with Judah.
[Isaiah 49:15] "CAN A WOMAN FORGET HER SUCKING CHILD, THAT SHE SHOULD HAVE
NO COMPASSION ON THE SON OF HER WOMB? EVEN THESE MAY FORGET, YET I WILL NOT
FORGET YOU.
Due to persecutions and oppression the Jews often could
have felt as if they had been abandoned. God says it is not so.
[Isaiah 49:16] BEHOLD, I HAVE GRAVEN YOU ON THE PALMS OF MY HANDS; YOUR WALLS ARE CONTINUALLY BEFORE ME.
Assisting the Jews and assisting the Zionist aims of rebuilding the Land
of Israel embodies the will of God.
[Isaiah 49:17] YOUR BUILDERS OUTSTRIP YOUR DESTROYERS, AND THOSE WHO LAID YOU WASTE GO FORTH FROM YOU.
The KJ has translated Isaiah 49;17 above according to the simple meaning
that the oppressors and destroyers of Judah will depart. Actually, the Hebrew
original can also be understood to say that the destroyers of Judah came
out from them themselves‑ and so the verse is often traditionally understood
and quoted. Instead of “THOSE WHO LAID YOU WASTE GO FORTH FROM YOU” it can
be translated to say “THOSE WHO LAID YOU WASTE CAME FORTH FROM YOU”. The
enemies of the Jewish people have often found friends and allies amongst
the Jews themselves. Every nation has its traitors only the Jews historically
were always more vulnerable to treacherous influences since they lacked their
own kingdom. Also their real self-interest was often not sufficiently clear-cut
even to themselves and wherever they turned enemies surrounded them. Negative
influences from outside were much greater.
Even so vengeance will be taken against those who oppressed
the Jews and many peoples who had wronged them will be ashamed of themselves:
The exiles of Judah and descendants of Jewish captives shall return to Judah.
[Isaiah 49:18] LIFT UP THINE EYES ROUND ABOUT, AND BEHOLD: ALL THESE
GATHER THEMSELVES TOGETHER, AND COME TO THEE. AS I LIVE, SAITH THE
LORD, THOU SHALT SURELY CLOTHE THEE WITH THEM ALL, AS WITH AN ORNAMENT, AND
BIND THEM ON THEE, AS A BRIDE DOETH.
Newcomers and those who were “lost” will be ingathered.
[Isaiah 49:19] FOR THY WASTE AND THY DESOLATE PLACES, AND THE LAND
OF THY DESTRUCTION, SHALL EVEN NOW BE TOO NARROW BY REASON OF THE INHABITANTS,
AND THEY THAT SWALLOWED THEE UP SHALL BE FAR AWAY.
There will be so many people that at first it will feel as if there is not enough room for all of them.
[Isaiah 49:20] THE CHILDREN BORN IN THE TIME OF YOUR BEREAVEMENT WILL YET
SAY IN YOUR EARS: THE PLACE IS TOO NARROW FOR ME; MAKE ROOM FOR ME TO DWELL
IN.
Isaiah 49 no.8
ISAIAH AND THE RETURN OF THE LOST TEN TRIBES
The Lost Ten Tribes will also return. The Jews of Judah will meet the return of the Lost Ten Tribes with mixed reactions:
[Isaiah 49:21] THEN SHALT THOU SAY IN THINE HEART, WHO HATH BEGOTTEN
ME THESE, SEEING I HAVE LOST MY CHILDREN, AND AM DESOLATE, A CAPTIVE, AND
REMOVING TO AND FRO? AND WHO HATH BROUGHT UP THESE? BEHOLD, I WAS LEFT ALONE;
THESE, WHERE HAD THEY BEEN?
ISAIAH (49;21) DESCRIBES HOW THE JEWISH PEOPLE UPON SEEING MASSES OF
LOST ISRAELITES RETURNING TO THE HOLY LAND WILL HAVE A SERIOUS QUESTION:
"THEN SHALT THOU SAY IN THY HEART, WHO HATH BEGOTTEN ME
THESE, SEEING I HAVE LOST MY CHILDREN, AND AM DESOLATE, A CAPTIVE, AND REMOVING
TO AND FRO? AND WHO HATH BROUGHT UP THESE? BEHOLD, I WAS LEFT ALONE; THESE
WHERE HAD THEY BEEN?" (ISAIAH 49;21)
In other words, the Jews will ask where were all those now identified as
Israel when the Jews needed help and were alone? According to the Midrash
(Pesikta Rabati 32;10) this reaction of the Jews will take place WHEN THEY
SEE THE THREE EXILES OF THE LOST TEN TRIBES RETURNING!
On the one hand those few people among the Gentiles who
have helped the Jews have more often than not belonged to the Lost Ten Tribes.
On the other hand these nations were powerful and rich ones and they could
have done much more to help than they did. There were times even when the
Lost Ten Tribes had acted as the adversaries of Judah.
A reflection on this future conundrum is provided by a
passage in the Zohar.
"The Zohar" is a collection of writings mainly purporting
to transcribe the ethical and mystical teachings of certain Talmudic sages
of the 2nd century CE. Some modern scholars now claim it was written in Spain
in the 1270s CE when it was first revealed. This claim is either mistaken
or a some re-writing of much older material did take place. Previously "The
Zohar" was thought by savants to be the culmination over many decades, even
centuries, of a continuous editing process of mystical works. ‑The present
general orthodox view is that it was written close to the events it purports
to describe, i.e. around the 100s CE. The Zohar certainly does reflect ancient
traditions and insights of a primordial nature.
Most Orthodox Jews who study "The Zohar" consider
it to be inspired. It contains observations of value for the understanding
of Scripture and also concerning the LOST TEN TRIBES. The Zohar (Breishit,
VaYechi, 88m, Sulam edition) comments on the expression “WHO HATH BEGOTTEN
ME THESE” in the verse we are here concerned with (ISAIAH 49;21). The Zohar
notes an emphasis in the question on the Hebrew word "EYLEH" i.e. "these"':
The verse says: "THEN SHALT THOU SAY IN THY HEART, WHO
HATH BEGOTTEN ME THESE, SEEING I HAVE LOST MY CHILDREN, AND AM DESOLATE,
A CAPTIVE, AND REMOVING TO AND FRO? AND WHO HATH BROUGHT UP THESE? BEHOLD,
I WAS LEFT ALONE; THESE WHERE HAD THEY BEEN?" (ISAIAH 49;21)
The Zohar emphasizes the emphasis on the expression these:
"WHO HATH BEGOTTEN ME THESE.....? AND WHO HATH BROUGHT UP THESE...THESE,
WHERE HAD THEY BEEN?"
The Zohar then refers back to the time when the Patriarch
Israel was about to die and his son Joseph had brought his grandsons, Ephraim
and Menasseh, to him to receive a final blessing.
"WHEN ISRAEL SAW JOSEPH'S SONS, HE SAID, WHO ARE THESE?" (Genesis 48;8).
[Said Rabbi Yehudah bar Shalom, "And why did he did he
not recognize them?" Had he not been familiar with them?... "And
now he asks, Who are these?"..."But rather he must have foreseen [through
Divine Inspiration] Jeroboam son of Nebat and Ahab son of Omri [both future
kings of the northern separated Ten-Tribes of Israel] who would arise from
Ephraim and worship idolatry" Midrash Tanchuma, VaYichi,6.]
The Zohar relates:
"Rabbi Abba began to explain [the above question of the
Patriarch Israel, "Who are these?"] by relating it to [the verse in ISAIAH
49;21] "then shalt thou say in thy heart: `Who hath begotten me these?':
What does this verse imply?
-That the Heavenly Patriarch Israel foresaw the Children
of Israel assembling before him in the future: `In that day the LORD shall
set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people which
shall be left [FROM ASSYRIA, AND FROM MITSRAYIM, AND FROM PATHROS, AND FROM
CUSH, AND] FROM ELAM, AND FROM HAMATH, AND FROM THE ISLES OF THE SEA" (ISAIAH
11;11).
The above place names are those to where the Lost Ten
Tribes were taken or went shortly after their Exile. Isaiah continues to
speak of the ingathering of the Lost Tribes as well as that of Judah and
of reconciliation between the Lost Tribes and Judah:
[Isaiah 11:12] HE WILL RAISE AN ENSIGN FOR THE NATIONS, AND WILL ASSEMBLE
THE OUTCASTS OF ISRAEL, AND GATHER THE DISPERSED OF JUDAH FROM THE FOUR CORNERS
OF THE EARTH.
[Isaiah 11:13] THE JEALOUSY OF EPHRAIM SHALL DEPART, AND THOSE WHO HARASS
JUDAH SHALL BE CUT OFF; EPHRAIM SHALL NOT BE JEALOUS OF JUDAH, AND JUDAH
SHALL NOT HARASS EPHRAIM.
The question concerning “these” therefore refers to the Lost Ten Tribes (Ephraim) in the End Times.
The Zohar goes on to explain Isaiah 49;21, the question `WHO HATH BEGOTTEN ME THESE?'
"And they shall assemble together and be mutitudinous;
the Divine Presence [i.e. Heavenly Israel] will wonder and ask, `Where did
you all come from?'
`And is it not possible that there exists amongst you someone blemished,
of foreign seed?' "They will answer, `We are all your sons. There is no foreigner
amongst us'.
"And they will divide off from each other. The foreign
non‑Israelite element will voluntarily separate from them, and they [i.e.
the returning Israelites] will be circumcised, and convert, and these converts
will return with [and to] Israel, and they shall be one."
In other words the Zohar says that the returning Israelites
will be renew the Covenant and be re-united with Israel meaning (in terms
of the Zohar) with the Jewish people. In Biblical terms Israel can mean all
of the 12 tribes together or it can mean the Lost Tribes (“Israel”) as distinct
from “Judah” or it can stand for the Jews and Judah alone. In religious terms
“Israel” can mean those of Israel who did not lose their identity meaning
Judah. In this case members of the Lost Ten Tribes will be rejoined to the
spiritual reality of Israel represented by the Jews of Judah.
The Zohar states above that the non‑Israelites will have
to be separated out from the real returning descendants of Israelites. The
non-Israelites referred to in this case are of a specific type that never
really wanted to belong to Israel anyway. They belong to the "mixed multitude".
The real and proper attitude that will hold towards the non‑Israelite stranger
(who previously of his own volition had joined himself to Israel) will be
to accept him as a full-fledged citizen as stated in the Book of Ezekiel:
Ezekiel (ch.47) spoke of the future apportionment of the
Promised Land amongst the Twelve Tribes of Israel in the Messianic era. The
area spoken of includes modern‑day Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, and Israel, and
additional parts of neighboring lands. This final re‑division of the land
takes place after certain physical‑geographical and climatic changes occur.
Ezekiel also speaks of apportioning The Land to "The strangers [i.e. non‑Israelites]
that sojourn amongst you": The strangers who identify with you will be counted
as the same as you. "So shall ye divide this land among you according to
the tribes of Israel" (Ezekiel 47;21).
"AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS, THAT YE SHALL DIVIDE IT BY
LOT FOR AN INHERITANCE UNTO YOU, AND TO THE STRANGERS THAT SOJOURN AMONG
YOU, WHICH SHALL BEGET CHILDREN AMONG YOU; AND THEY SHALL BE UNTO YOU AS
BORN IN THE COUNTRY AMONG THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL.
"AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS, THAT IN WHAT TRIBE THE STRANGER
SOJOURNETH, THERE SHALL YE GIVE HIM HIS INHERITANCE.."
(Ezekiel 47;22‑23).
Isaiah 49
Isaiah 49 no.9
[Isaiah 49:22] THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD, BEHOLD, I WILL LIFT UP MINE HAND
TO THE GENTILES, AND SET UP MY STANDARD TO THE PEOPLE: AND THEY SHALL BRING
THY SONS IN THEIR ARMS, AND THY DAUGHTERS SHALL BE CARRIED UPON
THEIR SHOULDERS.
THE RECOMPENSMENT OF JUDAH
The rest of Isaiah chapter 49 speaks of how God will restore
the Jewish people, and vastly multiply their numbers. They shall be honored
by rulers of the world, and see their oppressors punished. Those who oppressed
the Jews had in effect denied the existence of the LORD God of Israel (v.49;26).
[Isaiah 49:23] AND KINGS SHALL BE THY NURSING FATHERS, AND THEIR QUEENS
THY NURSING MOTHERS: THEY SHALL BOW DOWN TO THEE WITH THEIR FACE TOWARD
THE EARTH, AND LICK UP THE DUST OF THY FEET; AND THOU SHALT KNOW THAT I AM
THE LORD: FOR THEY SHALL NOT BE ASHAMED THAT WAIT FOR ME.
[Isaiah 49:24] SHALL THE PREY BE TAKEN FROM THE MIGHTY, OR THE LAWFUL CAPTIVE DELIVERED?
[Isaiah 49:25] BUT THUS SAITH THE LORD, EVEN THE CAPTIVES OF THE MIGHTY
SHALL BE TAKEN AWAY, AND THE PREY OF THE TERRIBLE SHALL BE DELIVERED:
FOR I WILL CONTEND WITH HIM THAT CONTENDETH WITH THEE, AND I WILL SAVE THY
CHILDREN.
[Isaiah 49:26] AND I WILL FEED THEM THAT OPPRESS THEE WITH THEIR OWN
FLESH; AND THEY SHALL BE DRUNKEN WITH THEIR OWN BLOOD, AS WITH SWEET WINE:
AND ALL FLESH SHALL KNOW THAT I THE LORD AM THY SAVIOUR AND THY REDEEMER,
THE MIGHTY ONE OF JACOB.
CHAPTER FIFTY
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