| Various traditions no.11 by Yair
Davidiy THE JUDAH TOUCH
The Prophet Joel condemned the major Phoenician cities of Tyre and Sidon for having sold Judaeans to the Greeks: "Yea, and what have you to do with me, Tyre, and Sidon, and all the coasts of Palestine?... "Because you have taken my silver and gold... The children also of Judah and the children of Jerusalem have you sold unto the Greeks, that you might remove them far from your border" (Joel 3;4 6). Even so, revenge was destined to be taken: "When I have bent Judah for me, filled the bow with Ephraim, and raised up your sons, O Zion, against your sons, O Greece, and made you as the sword of a mighty man" (Zechariah 9;13). What exact events the above verses are referring to is unclear. Nevertheless, the Irish sources do state that a portion of their ancestors had been captives in Greece and had freed themselves. They also refer to possible Judean origins, in part. THE RED HAND OF ULSTER
In addition to the descent from Jair, discussed previously (Jair though
born to Segub son of Hezron son of Pharez of Judah was actually counted with
Menasseh), Calcol son of Zerah son of Judah was also recalled. (1551-1623)
stated that Calcol of Judah sailed from Egypt to Spain (where the city of
Zaragossa was named after Zerah), and then on to Ireland where he founded
Ulladh. "Ulladh" (i.e. Ulster) has actually a name similar (in some types
of Hebrew pronunciation) to that of ELADAH of Ephraim (1-Chronicles 7;20).
Zerah was the brother of Pharez and both were born to Judah (son of Israel)
from Tamar. In Celtic Southwest Britain Ptolemy recorded the Tamarus River.
There was also a Tamarus River in northwest Spain. Zerah and Pharez were twins.
The manner of their birth is described in the Bible. [Genesis 38:27] AND IT CAME TO PASS IN THE TIME OF HER TRAVAIL, THAT, BEHOLD, TWINS WERE IN HER WOMB. [Genesis 38:28] AND IT CAME TO PASS, WHEN SHE TRAVAILED, THAT THE ONE PUT OUT HIS HAND: AND THE MIDWIFE TOOK AND BOUND UPON HIS HAND A SCARLET THREAD, SAYING, THIS CAME OUT FIRST. [Genesis 38:29] AND IT CAME TO PASS, AS HE DREW BACK HIS HAND, THAT, BEHOLD, HIS BROTHER CAME OUT: AND SHE SAID, HOW HAST THOU BROKEN FORTH? THIS BREACH BE UPON THEE: THEREFORE HIS NAME WAS CALLED PHAREZ. [Genesis 38:30] AND AFTERWARD CAME OUT HIS BROTHER, THAT HAD THE SCARLET THREAD UPON HIS HAND: AND HIS NAME WAS CALLED ZARAH. The present day official symbol of Northern Ireland (Ulster) is a scarlet hand superimposed upon the Star of David which universally is taken as representing the Tribe of Judah and appears upon the flag of the modern State of Israel. The Star of David has twelve junction-points and shows how the Tribes of Israel were encamped around the Tabernacle when they came out of Egypt. The red hand has been interpreted to represent Zarah of Judah father of Calcol who according to the legend quoted above sailed to Ireland and founded Uladh (i.e. Ulster). Bennett states that, "the ancient and traditional emblem of Ulster was and still is a Red Hand circled by a Scarlet Cord". "Three of Ulster's six counties, as well as the towns of Bangor and Dungannon, have the Red Hand as part of their official emblems" . From Ireland, the Scots migrated to Scotland, and the Red Hand, says Bennett: "appears in the Arms of several of the old families and in those of at least fourteen of the Clan Chiefs: Davidson, MacBain, MacNeil, MacNaughton, MacPherson, MacGillivray, MacDonald of Sleat, Clanranald, and Shaw of Rothiemurchus". Traditions Index Home |