Spain and North America
We identify Tarshish with the Atlantic Ocean area in general including the British Isles, France, and related areas, and also North America. At one stage there was a region known as Tartessos in Greek, or "Tarsis" in Phoenician in southwest Spain. In Biblical terms "Tarshish" came to represent the Atlantic Ocean area. Taking Talmudic sources and commentary to them as a whole the overall picture is that Tarshish meant the North Atlantic area whereas the southern section of the Atlantic Ocean was more usually considered the Sea of Africa. Nevertheless, the terms were nterchangeable to some degree. The Isles of Britain could also be referred to as Afriki.
Isaiah (TCB) 60:
9 FOR THE ISLES WILL GATHER FOR ME, AND THE SHIPS OF TARSHISH [AS] IN THE BEGINNING, TO BRING YOUR SONS FROM AFAR, THEIR SILVER AND THEIR GOLD WITH THEM, IN THE NAME OF THE LORD YOUR GOD AND FOR THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL, FOR HE HAS GLORIFIED YOU.
IN THE BEGINNING Hebrew "barishonah" which could alternately mean "first of all.", cf. the KJV "THE SHIPS OF TARSHISH FIRST".
'THE SHIPS OF TARSHISH': Ships that plough the Atlantic Ocean bringing people back from America, Britain, and Western Europe.
The Assyrians claimed to control Tarsis in the far west of their domains. The exact position of Tarsis is still uncertain though a place somewhere on the west coast (more specifically the southwest coast) of Spain, near Gades (Cadiz) is usually accepted. In Classical (Greek and Roman) records there was an important center named "Tartessos" somewhere on the Spanish southwest coast. "Tartessos" is generally identified with the western Tarshish of Scripture. "Tarshish" (Hebrew), "Tarsis" (Phoenician), and "Tartessos" (Greek), and are all different ways of pronouncing the same name.
According to one opinion Tartessos once controlled most of Spain and Gaul Tartessos served as an emporium for goods from Gaul and Britain.
In Scripture and Talmudic sources TARSHISH is often linked with the "Isles of the Sea" (meaning Britain) and with the "Yam Okyanus" (i.e. Oceanic Sea) meaning the Atlantic Ocean. In some Talmudic accounts Tarshish is taken to refer to the Sea encompassing one third of the world. The Aramaic translation of Yehonathan translates "Tarshish" as "Sea." Rashi (the major Talmudic Commentator) says in one place that (the sea) Tarshish is called the Sea of Africa presumably meaning the Atlantic. Taking all the commentary together the overall picture is that Tarshish meant the North Atlantic area of the Sea whereas the southern section of the Atlantic Ocean was considered the Sea of Africa. Nevertheless, the two terms to a degree are inmterchangeable. Britian was in the Tarshish (Nortrh Atlatic) area but it still could be referred to as "Afriki".
In one of the Psalms, it says "The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents" (Psalm 72:10): The Aramaic Targum translates this expression to say, "The Kings of Tarsis and of the Isles in the Oceanic Sea shall bring offerings" and by Oceanic Sea (i.e."Yam Okyanus") it is generally the Atlantic Ocean is intended. This could therefore imply the Kings of Tarsis and of the British Isles.
Tarshish" is referred to in connection with the Messianic era and with the return of the exiled tribes of Israel:
Isaiah (TCB) 60:
8 WHO ARE THESE THAT FLY LIKE A CLOUD AND LIKE DOVES TO THEIR COTES?
9 FOR THE ISLES WILL GATHER FOR ME, AND THE SHIPS OF TARSHISH [AS] IN THE BEGINNING, TO BRING YOUR SONS FROM AFAR, THEIR SILVER AND THEIR GOLD WITH THEM, IN THE NAME OF THE LORD YOUR GOD AND FOR THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL, FOR HE HAS GLORIFIED YOU.
The above verse speaks of the exiled of Israel returning to the land of Israel by air (fly like a cloud and like doves, i.e. in aeroplanes) and by ship. The "Ships of Tarshish" means those plying the Atlantic Ocean ('Yam Okeanus') and it therefore follows that Tarshish was someplace on the Atlantic coast.
TARSHISH IN ANCIENT TIMES
Prior to the Assyrian exile, the Israelite Hebrews had had seafaring experience. They had co-operated with the Phoenicians, and had become familiar with "Tarshish". King Solomon had been partner to Hiram king of Phoenician Tyre in an enterprise that circumnavigated Africa and re-entered the Mediterranean after visiting Tarshish somewhere on the European Atlantic shores (1- Kings 9:26-27).
Herodotus (4.42,43) 484- 425 BCE, reported that Pharoah Neco who reigned shortly after King Solomon also sent Phoenician sailors to circumnavigate Africa and return via the Pillars of Hercules (i.e. Straits of Gibraltar). He likewise mentions the fact that this trip took three years (as did the ships of Tarshish and Solomon) to complete since he explains the sailors would make a camp on dry land and sow and reap a harvest before continuing.
The prophet Ezekiel listed Tarshish amongst the numerous places that were wont to trade with Tyre of the Phoenicians:
"TARSHISH WAS THY MERCHANT BY REASON OF THE MULTITUDE OF ALL KINDS OF RICHES; WITH SILVER, IRON, TIN, AND LEAD, THEY TRADED IN THY FAIRS" (Ezekiel 27:12).
It is well to note that tin and copper were essential in the production of Bronze and most tin was claimed to have originated in Britain. The Egyptian (Coptic) word for tin is "pithran" said to be derived from a mispronunciation of Britain. Tarshish is a name applied to a port "Tarsis" in Cilicia as well as to Tartessos in Spain and it has been claimed that sundry Phoenician trading posts also received the name. Regarding Tarsis of Cilicia (Anatolia) there are no rich deposits of iron, tin, and lead there. The Septuagent (in the 300s BCE) translated Tarshish as Carthage (in North Africa) but at the time the Septuagent was written the domain of Carthage included much of Spain. The name Tarshish has been found inscribed in stone in Sardinia wherein the Phoenicians also founded colonies but the relevant settlement (Nora) in Sardinia was founded by Phoenicians based on Spain and, by inference, may mean that the settlement was connected with "Tarshish" of Spain. In other words the concept of "Tarshish" as far as Scripture and the connection between Tyre, Israel, and Tarshish is concerned is referring to Spanish Tartessus or a connected post on the Atlantic Ocean.
The above points show that both the ancient Hebrews and the Phoenicians had association of trade and points of control in Tarshish and the Atlantic prior to the Assyrian exile. The Israelite involvement with Tarshish was connected to that of the Phoenicians and of joint Hebrew PHOENICIAN maritime enterprise.
ISRAELITE PRESENCE IN SPAIN, GAUL AND BRITAIN
1. The term "Iberi" means "HEBREW". This name or variations of it (e.g. Ebero) in Spain derived originally from the people driven out by the Carthaginians and North Africans. The original "Iberi" (or Hiberi) had from Spain passed into Gaul and the British Isles and the root "Eber" (or "Iber" or "Heber") is frequently found in the "Celtic" nomenclature of those areas. The overwhelming majority of places bearing the name IBER and its cognates are Celtic and the claim that everywhere the name is found was due to Celtic presence at some time or other is well defensible.ienus referring to Gades (on the southwest coast of Spain) said, "Here is the town of Gadir earlier known as Tartessus". In the region of Gades ceramics from the Middle East of the Late Bronze Age have been found, as well as ivory plaques similar to those of Megiddo in the Holy Land, also from the Late Bronze Age period.
4. Justin (44;3) said that,
"The Gallaecians..... took possession of those parts where New Carthage now stands and passing from thence to Gallaecia.." (i.e. to Northwest Spain).
New Carthage was on the southeast coast of Spain. -Gallaecia was on the northwest. Justin is recording a tradition of migration from the southeast of Spain to Gallaecia in the northwest. "Gallaecia" was named after the Galatae who settled in Gaul and the British Isles and according to Irish and Scottish mythology arrived via Spain. They called themselves "Hiberi" or "Iberi" and are so named on Ptolemy's Map of Britain. The appellation "Galatia" (whence is derived "Gallacea") was also rendered as Galadi which is the same as Galaad or Gilead the major clan amongst the Tribe of Manasseh and an important entity in its own right. 'GALATIA' is also the name given to the Celtic area of Northern Gaul often associated with the Belgae.
Ammianus Marcellinus (15;19) said that the Tartessians were Dorians who followed after the Gauls an ancient Hercules and inhabited those places beside the Ocean. Bochartus using Greek and Latin sources demonstrates that the Dorians led by Hercules who migrated to Gades and Tartessus were descendants of a legendary "Dorus and Phoenicius" i.e. of Dorians and Phoenicians. He traces them to DOR in Israel and says that originally they were identified as Galicians (i.e. Galatians) Additional proof that the Dorians (of Tarshish) were actually Israelites from the province of DOR belonging to the Tribe of Manasseh is found in the Geography of Ptolemy. Ptolemy records the "MENESTHEI PORTUS", i.e. the PORT OF THE TRIBE OF MENASSEH in the region of the Turdulorum just to the east of GADES off the southwest coast of Spain! The "Port of the Tribe of Menasseh" is linked with Tartessus and with the Dorians who were also of Menasseh and arrived with the "Phoenicians" at least some of whom were also Israelite.
5. In southern Spain the remains of a wall and monumental stone buildings dating from the 700s BCE (i.e. shortly after the exile) to the 600s BCE have been found. The constructions were built of dressed stone (ashlar) in a particular style whose closest parallels are to be found in the Israelite buildings at Samaria and at Ramat Rachel (near Jerusalem) of Judea. The place was abandoned by about 550 BCE which date was that of Carthaginian and North African incursions into Spain.
Metal produced in Baetica (in southeast Spain) was called "Samarian metal" (Pliny N.H.) after Samaria in Israel.
10. TARSHISH in Scripture is the name of a son of Javan (Genesis 10;4) which indicates Greek connections. TARSHISH is also the name of a grandson of Benjamin (1-Chronicles 7;10) and often a seemingly coincidental identity or similarity of name in the Bible presages some form of future connexion.
13. Irish and Scottish Celtic legends state that their ancestors, the Hiberi, came from the Middle East via Gallaecia in Spain. It seems to be generally accepted by most authorities that they were in Spain and their nomenclature, customs, and traditions confirm their Israelite ancestry.
The relevant myths said that the forefathers of the Irish and Scottish came from the Middle East. They said that they had moved to Spain and dwelt there for some time before leaving for Ireland and the British Isles.
The Scottish Declaration of Independence (1320 c.e.) declared that:
"...We know...and from the chronicles and books of the ancients gather, that among other illustrious nations, ours to wit, the nation of the Scots, has been distinguished by many honours; which passing from the greater Scythia through the Mediterranean Sea and Pillars of Hercules and sojourning in Spain among the most savage tribes through a long course of time, could nowhere be subjugated by any people however barbarous; and coming thence one thousand two hundred years after the outgoing of the people of Israel, they, by many victories and infinite toil, acquired for themselves the possessions in the West which they now hold...".
Roberts, in "The Brut or The Chronicles of the Kings of Briton": (Date unknown but claimed to be "one of the oldest histories in the English language":)
"He Bartholome the chief of the 30 ships had his name from a river of Spain called Eirinnal, on the banks of which they had lived. This chief related to the king the whole of their adventures, from the time they had arrived from Israel (Palestine) their original country, and the manner and circumstances in which their ancestors dwelt in a retired part of Spain, near Eirnia, from whence the Spaniards drove them to sea to seek another abode."
"They `were called Barclenses', had been driven from Spain, and were roving on the seas to find a place of settlement...
"Gwrgan(r)t....directed them ...to go to Ireland, which at that time lay waste and uninhabited.
Note that it is stated expressly above that they came originally from "Israel (Palestine) their original country". Irish and Scottish traditions recorded waves of invaders two of the most important were the Dana and the Goidels (Gaels) or Milesians. The Sons of Dana who also migrated to Ireland and Britain are in another account traced to Lebanon. Nearly every legend concerning the Gaels ("Milesians") says that their ancestors had been in Egypt at the time of the Exodus and somehow or other had been linked in the eyes of the Egyptians with the Children of Israel. After leaving Egypt (the legends say) the Hiberi (also known as "Gaels", "Goidhels", and "Milesians") had sojourned in Spain and after being driven into the northwest of that country had sailed for Ireland. The legendary accounts therefore conform to the conclusions drawn above.
The US Dollar Sign and Tarshish.
From AN ARTICLE BY GUNNAR JEREMIAH GISHRON. The dollar sign is derived from a representation of the Pillars of Hercules meaning the Straits of Gibraltar meaning in ancient terminology of Tarshish.
The Dollar sign is the equivalent of a hieroglph rerpesenting the USA.
We see from the above that Tarshish meant an area of the west, at one stage associated with Spain but also applying to the west and the Atlantic Ocean in general. From this direction (Britain and America in the Atlatnic) in the End times there will return a major porton of the Lost Ten Tribes.