| Joshua - Highlights - 1
Some Highlights of the Book of Joshua from a Brit-Am Viewpoint Moses was from the Tribe of Levi and Joshua from Ephraim. Most of Levi eventually moved to Judah. The combination of Moses and Joshua therefore is connected to the future re-union of Judah and Israel (Ephraim) from the Lost Ten Tribes (1:1-2). The Land was to be divided unto all the Tribes of Israel. Every Tribe to receive its own portion and every clan within the Tribe its own place and every family its section (1:6). If you keep the Torah you will prosper and be successful in every direction you turn (1:7). Reuben, Gad, and half-Manasseh received the area east of the Jordan. According to the Malbim all the area east of the Jordan was originally meant to be divided up amongst all the 12 tribes together with the area west of the Jordan. The 2 and a half tribes however chose to take all the region east of the Jordan and forgo their share to the west of it. This area east of the Jordan was divided several times amongst the Tribes and as it expanded some sections of the other tribes (from west of the Jordan) also settled there. Evidence of Israelite Tribes settling along the banks of the Euphrates is provided from the Maps of Ptolemy (and from other sources) as briefly explained in The Tribes (Joshua 1:12). 12 tribes of Israel: Each tribe has its own special qualities unique to its self. We need a unity of all the tribes to realize the full potential of the Israelite people. Each one of us has a role in this world that only we can exactly fulfill. We each must do as well as we can in accordance to our own situation and capabilities (4:4). There were actually 13 tribes but always only 12 were counted: Either Ephraim and Menasseh were counted as the one tribe of Joseph or Levi was not counted since it was the priestly tribe and had other tasks OR Simeon was subsumed under Judah. (4:5). <<WHAT MEAN YE BY THESE STONES?>>: Archaeology is important. The trail of megalithic dolmen monuments proves the Israelite origins of western people. See Ephraim . This is a very important point and one which we hope to dedicate more to in the future (4:6, 21). << YE MIGHT FEAR THE LORD YOUR GOD FOR EVER>>: It is important to fear God. We sometimes get carried away and forget whom we are responsible for and who we are responsible to and before WHO we will have to give an accounting. We should also remember those moments when God has helped us and made HIS presence felt to us and to all of Israel. (4:24). (7:9) <<WHAT WILT THOU DO UNTO THY GREAT NAME?>>: Defeat would also be a desecration of the name of God in the eyes of the whole world. Even now when something bad happens to the Jews in Israel the name of God is desecrated. The calamities may be caused by sin but nevertheless in the eyes of others The Jews are still considered representative of God. The same applies, surprisingly enough, on another level to the USA. The USA in the eyes of others is considered a religious country. By religious I mean honoring God in the Israelite sense. America and even Britain in a way are also considered as the equivalent of Israelites in the eyes of the heathen. This is a strange phenomenon but it can be sensed. How Brit-Am functions and to what degree it succeeds may have implications on how people view the whole subject of Israelite Identity. We are in need of all of you. We have a true good message that deserves to succeed and needs to made known for the good of others and of ourselves. Each one of you should realize that in a way he/she has a stake in us and should endeavor however possible to strengthen yourselves and us. In some way we are all part of one entity. Nothing is by chance. <<A GREAT HEAP OF STONES>>: The Israelites were accustomed to regularly erect stone heaps and monuments. They continued to do in their places of exile, as explained in Ephraim . Usually however these monuments were erected to commemorate important positive events or future messages. (7:26) [Joshua 10:25] AND JOSHUA SAID UNTO THEM, FEAR NOT, NOR BE DISMAYED, BE STRONG AND OF GOOD COURAGE: FOR THUS SHALL THE LORD DO TO ALL YOUR ENEMIES AGAINST WHOM YE FIGHT. Sometimes when you have defeated your enemies you must make examples of them, pursue after them and destroy them. The Talmud says, Anyone who is merciful to the cruel will end up being cruel to the merciful. [Joshua 11:20] FOR IT WAS OF THE LORD TO HARDEN THEIR HEARTS, THAT THEY SHOULD COME AGAINST ISRAEL IN BATTLE, THAT HE MIGHT DESTROY THEM UTTERLY, AND THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE NO FAVOUR, BUT THAT HE MIGHT DESTROY THEM, AS THE LORD COMMANDED MOSES. Maybe this is why the Arabs and Palestinians and others cannot make peace with the Jews? Maybe their evil nature is pushing them in the path of their own destruction. The question remains how long will the Jews go on letting themselves be victimized and only retaliating in a limited fashion whenever innocent citizens of Israel are killed? How long should one hold back when a dog with rabies keeps coming for you and biting you no matter how often you hit him? [Joshua 13:5] AND THE LAND OF THE GIBLITES, AND ALL LEBANON, TOWARD THE SUNRISING, FROM BAALGAD UNDER MOUNT HERMON UNTO THE ENTERING INTO HAMATH. <<INTO HAMATH>>: Hamath is often identified with a city by that name to the north of Syria but actually in Biblical terms it referred more often to a geographical region. All of Syria is part of the Promised Land and must be inherited by Israelites. Each one of us must become more aware of his/her Hebrew inheritance, Israelite destiny, and inborn duties. Assist Brit-Am to the best of your ability. [Joshua 13:7] NOW THEREFORE DIVIDE THIS LAND FOR AN INHERITANCE UNTO THE NINE TRIBES, AND THE HALF TRIBE OF MANASSEH, <<HALF TRIBE OF MANASSEH>>: Manasseh was divided into two sections: one east of the Jordan and one to the west. Both sections are usually treated individually and regarded as effectively almost each as separate tribes in their own right. We have found parallels tot his situation in the distribution of the descendants of Manasseh as we briefly pointed out in our book, Joseph . <<A Recurring Pattern of Settlement In Biblical times the Tribe of Menasseh had been divided. Half was on the west side of the jordan River and the other half on the eastern side. The Jordan River divided the two halves. Later until they moved to America they were again divided one half being in the British Isles and the other half over the water on the Continent. Those in Continental Europe (Germany, etc) largely evacuated the area and moved to North America. The greatest proportion moved from Britain to America. Many however still remained in Britain even though Britain is dominated by Ephraim. The two halves were once again divided by an expanse of water this time the division being the expanse between Britain and the USA. The sub-group of Gilead had always been a leading element in Menasseh. Part of Gilead (like Menasseh in general) had been east of the Jordan River and part to the west. Until they moved from North Britain to America Gilead too had been divided by an expanse of water. Part had been in the Borderlands between North England and Scotland and part had been over the water in Ulster of Northern Ireland. We thus see a recurring pattern of settlement repeating itself. >> The Ancient Israelites intermixed with others and so have their descendants. Even though we realize that we each probably are of Hebrew descent we must recognize the possibility that other elements also may form part of our inherited constitution. Whatever we are we should accept it and endeavor to make the best of it. Every human attribute can be used for good or for bad and we should try for the good. (13:13). [Joshua 13:30] AND THEIR COAST WAS FROM MAHANAIM, ALL BASHAN, ALL THE KINGDOM OF OG KING OF BASHAN, AND ALL THE TOWNS OF JAIR, WHICH ARE IN BASHAN, THREESCORE CITIES: <<ALL THE TOWNS OF JAIR>>: Jair is Yair . Yair is mentioned here and there in the Bible in different contexts usually in association with the Townships of Yair east of the Jordan. Some of these descriptions about Yair appear to contradict each other. There are different approaches to the subject of Yair. The opinion we are inclined to adopt at present is that there were at least two famous leaders NAMED Yair. Both of them founded or headed a group of settlements named Townships of Yair : One group was a bit to the northeast of the Sea of Galilee and the other group was much further to the north. The second hero named deliberately modeled his actions after the first one. Yair in the Middle East was also rendered Iar . This was also the name of an ancestral hero in Scotland and Ireland as we have discussed elsewhere. The name Iar in Scotland later became Ian which in turn became confused with the name John . Iar as a name is also linked to Ing which was the name of an ancestral hero amongst the Scandinavians and early Anglo-Saxons. Joshua - Highlights -2 <<IF SO BE THE LORD WILL BE WITH ME, THEN I SHALL BE ABLE TO DRIVE THEM OUT, AS THE LORD SAID>>: God had promised him. He had merited it. We felt the ability in himself to carry it through. He had the backing of his whole tribe. Caleb was prepared to go ahead but he allowed for the possibility of failure, of some lack of merit that might cause the promise not to be kept in his lifetime. We can all learn from this. We have to do the best we can while being aware that at our level of understanding nothing is necessarily certain. (14:12) The name Caleb in Hebrew can be pronounced as Kalev. We have traced descendants of Caleb to the Chalybes to Northern Syria and later of Northwest Spain. A researcher known as Ricardo Lopez Crespo(and also as Arrano Beltza and other names) reports that: The Finns claim their ancestors to have been the Kalevas of Kalevala, their initial dwelling place. 'Khalups' is the singular of Khalubes "Kaleva is the ancient ancestor of all Finns. The book about Kaleva's descendants is the "Kalevala" or "Land of Kaleva". Kaleva's [people] were called Kalevalanders, Kalevalaiset, or Suomalaiset. Kaleva is known in [Russian] as Golova, in Estonian as Kalev or Kalevi, in proto-Baltic as Kalevijas, [and] in Lithuanian as Kalvis..." Hardened copper (bronze) is often given mention in the "Kalevala" which Elias Lænnrot compiled. An important character of the poem is the skilled smith Ilmarinen, "one of those who forged the 'lids of heaven' when the world was created" <28>. Also We in Brit-Am have traced the Finns of Finland to Issachar, Gad, and Simeon with Issachar predominating. The characteristics of the Finns are also those attributed to Issachar. Nevertheless, perhaps an element from Judah (via Caleb, Kalev) is also present? It is indeed interesting that their legendary ancestor has a name that is the same as the name Caleb pronounced in Hebrew. Several modern authorities believe that originally the Finns were a small number of people (about two thousand?) who entered Finland around 100 CE and just increased and multiplied until hey reached their present numbers. This opinion is doubtful for several reasons but it does emphasize an important possibility pertinent to Brit-Am researches: Even if only a small number of people survive a national disaster under the right conditions they can still multiply exceedingly over historically relatively short periods of time and come to constitute entire nations Caleb (Kalev) of Judah received areas in the south of Judah that intermerged and to a degree overlapped those of Simeon. Later sections of Simeon separated themselves. Due to an original overlapping and intermerging it may be that a section of Simeon became identified with Caleb of Judah? Similarly the name Goth is a Hebrew form of pronouncing Gad and the tribe of Gad was predominant amongst the Goths. We also however find elements that are otherwise identifiable with Reuben, Asher, and others described in the sources as Gothicdue to association and alliance with the Goths of Gad. (15:13) Cities of Ephraim amongst Manasseh. Note it may have been that physically in the end more of Ephraim actually dwelt amongst Manasseh than elsewhere nevertheless The characteristics of the group in that area were determined by Manasseh. The same applies today. (17:9). Joshua 19 We saw how first Judah received his inheritance, then the Tribes of Joseph, then the other tribes the account of which has began. So too, it appears will the final deliverance and inheritance be: First Judah will return which has happened partially in our own day, then the Tribes of Joseph beginning with a portion of Manasseh probably of Gilead, then the other tribes. Simeon was within Judah. Later Simeon separated himself. Much of Simeon also reached Manasseh. At all events Scripture emphasizes the connection of Simeon to Judah. The Khazars who converted and returned to Judah had a tradition that they were from Simeon and Manasseh. The Khazar connection to Simeon is stressed. Midrash Ten Exiles: <<It happened that Mar Yaacov son of Eliezer traveled in the land of Khuzaria, and he saw there the tribe of Simeon, and he said: Woe to us that saw the fulfillment of what is written: AND I WILL SCATTER YOU AMONG THE HEATHEN(Leviticus 26:33). And when later he saw a Khuzari who converted to Judaism he quoted, AND YET FOR ALL THAT, WHEN THEY BE IN THE LAND OF THEIR ENEMIES, I WILL NOT CAST THEM AWAY(Leviticus 26:44)>> Yehudah Kiel (Daat Mikra, Sefer Yehoshua) quotes from Elyahu of Vilna regarding the blessing of Jacob to Simeon and Levi: <<I WILL DIVIDE THEM IN JACOB, AND SCATTER THEM IN ISRAEL>> (Genesis 49:7). Simeon was to be divided in Jacoband Levi scattered throughout Israel. M. Ziedel sees a hint to Judah in the name Jacob and in the Bible Jacob often seems to represent Judah, e.g. [Psalms 114:1] WHEN ISRAEL WENT OUT OF EGYPT, THE HOUSE OF JACOB FROM A PEOPLE OF STRANGE LANGUAGE; [Psalms 114:2] JUDAH WAS HIS SANCTUARY, AND ISRAEL HIS DOMINION. In the example above we see the terms Judah and Jacobas interchangeable. On the other hand this would not necessarily be the case in every verse where Jacobis mentioned. It is however a point worth keeping in mind. (19:1) After the Israelite Tribes were exiled by the Assyrians these Tribes were re-settled in different areas of the Assyrian Empire. Many groups from the Israelite Tribes retained their original Tribal Identity. They usually federated with other Israelite entities and are identifiable as part of the Scythian forces. Most of the Israelites were due to be pushed northwards as part of the Scythian hosts though some groups retained a presence for some time in the Iranian area. In Scythia one group identified by its neighbors as Israelite called itself Nephtali. The Nephtali were also referred to as Cadussi. This people had first been recorded close to Mannae southwest of the Caspian Sea. The area was one of the major regions to which Northern Israelites had been transported by the Assyrians. The Apocryphal Book of Tobias mentions Israelite exiles from the Tribe of Nephtali in Ecbatana and Rages of Media both of which adjoined the Cadussii area & The Book of Tobias (Tobit) thus testifies to the presence of Israelite Exiles from the Tribe of Naphtali in the Cadussi area. Later we have evidence of a people to the north in Scythia who were known as Naphtalites also being referred to as Cadussi or Kadussi. They received this name (as an alternative to Naphtali) after Kadeshwhich had been the major city of Naphtali in the Land of Israel. (Joshua 20:7) The bottom line is that you must love and serve God and keep the commandments. The Lost Ten Tribes are not bound by the commandments in the strict sense at present but nevertheless they are called on to keep them. Keeping the commandmentsfor the Lost Ten Tribes AT PRESENT could possibly be fulfilled by learning about them and doing deeds consistent with them.. From what I have heard in nearly every Christian denomination in the west there exist groups and tendencies towards returning to the Hebrewroots. Even so the ultimate goal should be to achieve unity with Judah and mainstream Observance as may be seen in continuation of this chapter. This is our opinion but no-one is in a hurry. Before anything can even be considered in any direction The right knowledge must be spread. The truth of Brit-Am must go out. It does not necessarily ever have to be universally accepted but it should go much further than it has done till now. We are not the only ones who are responsible for this. The fact that this truth speaks to you means that you too in some way have been called to help in this regard. (22:5) Judah and Simeon between them gave nine cities. Only one of these cities was actually within the territory of Simeon the rest were in Judah. The Commentator Malbim explains out of the eight cities remaining in Judah that were given to Levi three of them actually belonged to Simeon. The inheritance of Simeon was divided into two parts: one part in the south was more or less distinct from Judah and the other section consisted of cities scattered through southern Judah. When the northern Tribes split away the southern section of Simeon appears to have given its allegiance to the Northern Kingdom. Simeon is counted amongst the Lost Ten Tribes. Archaeological evidence has revealed inscriptions in the southern Simeon area dedicated to Yahweh of Samariawho is depicted like an Egyptian god proving the Bibles account of the Ten tribes having followed pagan customs and attributed to the God of Israel pagan concepts.(21:16) The Tribes of Reuben and Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh received their inheritances east of the Jordan in the lands stretching from the Jordan to the Euphrates River (1-Chronicles 5:9) in present-day Iraq. They left their women and children and part of their menfolk in encampments while a large contingent of warriors went of to assist the other tribes in conquering the land. According to verses in the Book of Chronicles and tradition they returned to their lands just as their children (who had now grown up) were being attacked by Arab hordes. They recognized their children (as distinct from those who were attacking them) by calling on the Almighty. This legend is very similar to legends concerning the Scythians as recorded by Herodotus and the Gothic historian Jordanes. (22:4) Rabbi Yigal Ariel wrote a work in Hebrew (Oz VeAnavah= Strength and Humility) concerning the Books of Joshua and Judges. He compares the situation above with that of the American Civil War which was fought over the rights of part of the American nation to secede from the Union. Note the place-name Shilohand its role in both situations. One of our subscribers (Robert Graves?) pointed out that in the American Civil War The place of the battle was known as Shilohto one side and Manasses(i.e. Manasseh) to the other. Shiloh and Manasses being both place names in the region. In our work Josephwe even pointed out that the Southern USA was dominated by descendants of the Galatae from Gilead of Israel east of the Jordan River. In Josephwe quoted a source that from the descendants of the Tribe of Manasseh east of the Jordan would come the first group out of the Lost Ten Tribes to return. These people are today to be found mainly in the so-called Bible Beltof the USA. This is the region that today is most supportive of the State of Israel. It is also the area (together with California) where Brit-Am has been the best received. (22:12) <<SO JOSHUA MADE A COVENANT>>: The people renewed the covenant. Such events took place several times in the era of Moses and the prophets. Renewing of the covenant is parallel to conversion. In the Last days Judah and Israel(the Ten Tribes) will each in their own way renew the covenant. Judah needs the Ten Tribes to realize its own potential and the Ten Tribes need Judah whether they like it or not (24:25). <<THIS STONE SHALL BE A WITNESS UNTO US>>: It was a megalithic monument. One of the characteristics of the Ancient Israelites was the frequent erection of megalithic monuments. Jeremiah (31:21) commanded us to use the trail of megalithic monuments from the Land of Israel to the west as a proof of Israelite ancestry and migratory paths concerning the Lost Ten Tribes (24:27). GO TO HOME PAGE GO TO JOSHUA INDEX |