Brit-Am Understandings
The expression "Brit-Am" appears in the Hebrew Bible twice.
Isaiah (NKJV) 42:
6 I, THE LORD, HAVE CALLED YOU IN RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND WILL HOLD YOUR HAND; I WILL KEEP YOU AND GIVE YOU AS A COVENANT TO THE PEOPLE (Hebrew: "BRIT-AM"), AS A LIGHT TO THE GENTILES.
Isaiah (NKJV) 49:
8 THUS SAYS THE LORD: IN AN ACCEPTABLE TIME I HAVE HEARD YOU, AND IN THE DAY OF SALVATION I HAVE HELPED YOU; I WILL PRESERVE YOU AND GIVE YOU AS A COVENANT TO THE PEOPLE (Hebrew: "BRIT-AM"), TO RESTORE THE EARTH, TO CAUSE THEM TO INHERIT THE DESOLATE HERITAGES.
In both cases the term "Covenant of the People" (Hebrew: "Brit-Am") refers to the Lost Ten Tribes in their places of Exile. "Brit-Am" may also be viewed as referring to Britain and America, as first suggested by our friend Cecil Davis of Blessed Memory.. These two nations, Britain and the USA, represent the nations of Joseph, Ephraim and Manasseh. They were to become the main protagonists through which the Prophecies about Israel would come to fruition. Rabbi Moshe David VALLI (1697- 1776) tells us that Joseph (representing the Ten Tribes) was lost and assimilated in order to redeem Mankind by elevating them from inside as a Gentile like them:
# It is a known matter that Israel [i.e. the Ten Tribes] did not descend into the Realms of Pollution other than for the Need to Clarify his Destiny. He needed to fulfill the will of God and reform the world through redirecting its forces. When this is done they shall return to their Source. There will be no need to remain in that situation any more. This is the meaning of, 'Ephraim shall say, 'What have I to do anymore with idols?'" (Hosea 14:8). #
On Isaiah 42:6 Valle says "I WILL KEEP YOU AND GIVE YOU AS A COVENANT TO THE GENTILES (Hebrew; "Brit-Am", i.e. Covenant of the PEOPLES) refers to the future Messiah "in order that the rectification of the world and of the Gentiles should be completed through him."
God has called Israel in righteousness to become a Brit-Am (Covenant of the People) and a Light to the Nations (42:6).
Isaiah 42:6 I THE LORD HAVE CALLED THEE IN RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND WILL HOLD THINE HAND, AND WILL KEEP THEE, AND GIVE THEE FOR A COVENANT OF THE PEOPLE, FOR A LIGHT OF THE GENTILES;
"A COVENANT OF THE PEOPLE" in Hebrew "Brit-Am." Israel will be a "Brit-Am." In the Middle Ages Britain sometimes referred to herself as "Britammia". The Welsh called themselves, "Bryth y Brithan", or Briths of Brithan. In Biblical Hebrew "brith" means "covenant."
The Malbim says that the term "Brit-Am" refers to Israel.
This is why we chose the name "Brit-Am" for our organization. "Brit-Am" represents the Lost Ten Tribes returning. Other reasons were that "Brit-Am" hints at Britain from whom many of those to whom we direct our message originate. Our friend Cecil Davis pointed out that "Brit-Am" can also be understand as a shortened way of saying "Britain and America".
'A LIGHT OF THE GENTILES' On the whole the LTTs have instructed and enlightened other nations.
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 (Brit-Am), 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 present 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):
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 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 Zabitha. In this region Ptolemy recorded the SAMBATAE people 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 taken, according to the Book of Amos (4:3 in the Hebrew and Aramaic). 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 recorded. 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". 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". Abraham Polak in his important study of the Khazars says that early post exilic Jewish Writings referred to the Don River as the Sambation. 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 Scathanavia in 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 Hades..."
"....far away in the north on the way to the Iernian [Ireland?] islands.. ".
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 Scandinavia.
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), which name was "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 Britain. 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 (Midrash Pesikta Rabati 32;10). We have proven elsewhere 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 Spain later moved to Ireland, Britain, and Gaul (France).
The Israelites will return "FROM THE NORTH AND FROM THE WEST", i.e. from areas to the northwest of the land of Israel.
They 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 may be 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. 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.
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.
Clarification.
Declaration of Yair Davidiy on behalf of Brit-Am/Hebrew Awareness.
The Jewish people are "Judah" according to the Bible and no-one can dispute it.
In addition to that there are "hundreds" of millions of others who are identified as non-Jews but who physically are descended from Israelites. They are the Lost Ten Tribes. They, or a large proportion of them, will eventually return to the Promised Land of Greater Israel and inherit their own territories alongside those of the Jews. The areas they presently live in (British Isles, parts of Western Europe, North America, etc.) will also in many cases be considered part of the Land of Israel.
Just for the record the Jews are dominated by the Tribes of Judah, Benjamin, and Levi, with representative minorities of all the other Tribes.
The Ten Tribes comprise the Tribes of Joseph (Ephraim and Manasseh), Reuben, Simeon, Issachar, Zebulon, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, along with some descendants of "Judah" and attached groups descended from Jethro and Moses. The Ten Tribes at the moment cannot prove on an individual basis to the satisfaction of themselves or of others who they are. In addition to that, Their membership in the Hebrew Family was temporarily suspended. For these reason they cannot return as individual Israelites but must wait to be led home as a group by an appointed leader such as the future Messiah son of Joseph descendant of Ephraim.
To our mind this is all quite simple and there is no reason why anybody should be mistaken about it.
An important aspect of knowing who the Ten Tribes and being able to prove it at some level is what Brit-Am has begun to provide.
That is not enough but it is a beginning. It is needed.
Like it or not, Brit-Am/Hebrew Awareness, is the MAJOR active body working in the right direction that has opened the doors, or had them opened, at least, for the present.
Brit-Am needs funds to function, to meet obligations for our own sakes and for that of Brit-Am, to do research, buy books, etc., when necessary, and so on.
Some people help us with money, others with information, research, others with well-wishes and expressions of identification, etc. It is all needed and it all helps.
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (aka Israel) were the forefathers of the Hebrew Tribes.
Jacob (aka Israel) Kept the Law of Tithing: Jacob linked his tithing to a Return to the House of his Father. We can do the same.
Genesis (NIV) 28:
18 Early the next morning Jacob took the stone he had placed under his head and set it up as a pillar and poured oil on top of it.
19 He called that place Bethel, though the city used to be called Luz.
20 Then Jacob made a vow, saying, "If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear
21 so that I return safely to my father's household, then the LORD will be my God
22 and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God's House, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth."
The God of Israel be with you all,
Yair Davidiy.
http://www.britam.org/contribute-Brit-Am.html
http://hebrewnations.com/contributions/offerings.html