Zebulon and Rabbinical Sources
Amplification.
1. Exile. Timeline.
2. The Division of the Tribes. Israel versus Judah.
3. Individuals from Dan and Zebulon in Judah.
4. Zebulon - seas and rivers. Rabbinical Sources.
5. Tribes of Zebulon.
6. Treasures of the Sea.Rabbinical Sources.
7. The Netherlands and Zebulon in Summary.
1. Exile. Timeline.
The LTTs were exiled after having separated from Judah.
Timeline of Jewish History by Mattis Kantor
https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/3915966/jewish/Timeline-of-Jewish-History.htm
Rabbinical Chronologies differ from conventional ones. There may not be any stringent obligation upon Jews to accept Rabbinical Chronology.
Nevertheless, in our opinion it should not be dismissed out of hand.
-869 2892 David became king of Israel in Jerusalem.
-837 2924 Solomon became king.
-797 2964 Rehoboam (son of Solomon) became king of Judah (982 BCE)
-797 2964 Jeroboam ben Nevat became king over Israel (982 BCE)
-574 3187 The first two of the Ten Tribes were exiled (ca. 725 BCE)
-566 3195 Another two of the Ten Tribes were exiled
-562 3199 Hezekiah became king of Judah
-556 3205 The last of the Ten Tribes were exiled
cf. Biblical literalist chronology (Wikipedia).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biblical_literalist_chronology
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2. The Division of the Tribes. Israel versus Judah.
Under Jeroboam 10 of the Tribes separated. Judah and Benjamin remained together in the Kingdom of Judah.
Later the Levites left the northern Kingdom and moved to Judah.
2-Chronicles (NASB) 11:
14 FOR THE LEVITES LEFT THEIR COMMON-LANDS AND THEIR POSSESSIONS AND CAME TO JUDAH AND JERUSALEM, FOR JEROBOAM AND HIS SONS HAD REJECTED THEM FROM SERVING AS PRIESTS TO THE LORD.
Other members of the LTTs also moved to Judah or escaped the Assyrians.
Nachmanides in the "Book of Redemption" quotes from the Midrash "Seder Olam" that ca. 20% of the Israelites who returned with Ezra and Nehemiah
were a mixed group from the LTTs.
Their names are not given, nor are their numbers expressly counted since their Tribal destiny was to be with the LTTs.
The Israelites after coming out of Egypt and proceeding to conquer the Land of Canaan were commanded to set up stones on Mount Eibal (near Schechem) and plaster them with lime and write on them words of Torah and then to set up an altar and make sacrifices. They were also told to have 6 of the Tribes stand on Mount Gerizim and the other 6 facing them on Mount Eibal.
Deuteronomy (TCT) 27:
1 AND MOSES AND THE ELDERS OF ISRAEL COMMANDED THE PEOPLE, SAYING, OBSERVE ALL OF THE COMMANDMENT THAT I COMMAND YOU THIS DAY.
2 AND IT WILL BE, ON THE DAY THAT YOU CROSS THE JORDAN TO THE LAND THE LORD, YOUR GOD, IS GIVING YOU, THAT YOU SHALL SET UP FOR YOURSELF HUGE STONES, AND PLASTER THEM WITH LIME.
3 WHEN YOU CROSS, YOU SHALL WRITE UPON THEM ALL THE WORDS OF THIS TORAH, IN ORDER THAT YOU MAY COME TO THE LAND WHICH THE LORD, YOUR GOD, IS GIVING YOU, A LAND FLOWING WITH MILK AND HONEY, AS THE LORD, GOD OF YOUR FOREFATHERS, HAS SPOKEN TO YOU.
4 AND IT WILL BE, WHEN YOU CROSS THE JORDAN, THAT YOU SHALL SET UP THESE STONES, [REGARDING] WHICH I COMMAND YOU THIS DAY ON MOUNT EBAL, AND YOU SHALL PLASTER THEM WITH LIME.
They came to the valley between Mount Gerizim and Mount Eibal.
Six Tribes stood on one mountain and six tribes on the other. The Levites were in the valley in between as well as on the Mount Gerizim with 5 other Tribes.
12 WHEN YOU CROSS THE JORDAN, THE FOLLOWING SHALL STAND UPON MOUNT GERIZIM TO BLESS THE PEOPLE:
SIMEON, LEVI, JUDAH, ISSACHAR, JOSEPH, AND BENJAMIN.
13 AND THE FOLLOWING SHALL STAND UPON MOUNT EBAL FOR THE CURSE:
REUBEN, GAD, ASHER, ZEBULUN, DAN, AND NAFTALI.
Later the Ten Tribes separated. Judah, and Benjamin remained. They were joined by Levi.
These collectively are referred to as simply "Judah." They were also joined by others who comprised ca. 20% of the total.
According to one opinion these mainly consisted of representativeness of all the Tribes but especially of those who had stood on Mount Gerizim.
i.e.
Standing on Mount Gerizim:
Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin.
Three of these, Judah, Levi, Benjamin were to belong to the Kingdom of Judah from the beginning.
The other three, Simeon, Issachar, and Joseph were to go to the Ten Tribes but a disproportionate number of them were to be in the 20% of the LTTs who joined Judah later.
Individuals from those on Mount Eibal (Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naftali) were also to be among the 20% but in lower numbers.
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3. Individuals from Dan and Zebulon in Judah.
At all events, members of all the 12 Tribes were to be found in Judah but only Judah, Benjamin, and Levi were to achieve their Tribes expression through this.
The Talmud (Pesachim 4;a) relates anecdotes concerning someone from Dan and another person from Zebulon.
The Jew from Dan was always seeking recourse to Legal Courts to resolve his difficulties and disagreements.
Concerning the one from Zebulon we hear:
The Talmud (Pesachim 4;a)
THERE WAS A MAN WHO WAS ALWAYS SAYING "ON THE SHORES OF THE SEA WILL I BUILD MY PALACE,"
i.e. "IF I WAS ABLE TO BUILD A PLACE I WOULD DO IT ON THE SHORES OF THE SEA" (RASHI).
THEY EXAMINED HIS FAMILY ORIGINS AND FOUND THAT HE CAME FROM ZEBULON, AS IT SAYS
"ZEBULON WILL DWELL ON THE SHORES OF THE SEA" (Genesis 49:13).
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4. Zebulon - seas and rivers.
From the above we see a predilection for the Rivers and the Sea as a characteristic mark of Zebulon.
Avraham Fishel MAEL, "Safer Shivtei Yisroel, " p.246 (5757):
# IT IS CLARIFIED THAT THE SONS OF ZERBULON LOVED THE SEA AND RIVERS AND STRIVED TO DWELL ALONGSIDE THE RIVERS."
Talmud Megillah 6:a
SAID ZEBULON UNTO GOD: TO MY BROTHER YOU GAVE COUNTRIES, TO ME YOU GAVE SEAS AND RIVERS."
Genesis (TCT) 49:
13 ZEBULUN WILL DWELL ON THE COAST OF THE SEAS; HE [WILL BE] AT THE HARBOR OF THE SHIPS, AND HIS BOUNDARY WILL BE AT ZIDON.
the coast of the seas - in Hebrew "Hof Yamim" literally "shores of the Seas."
The Tribe of Zebulon is the Netherlands or the Netherlands together with Belgium.
The Netherlands is located at the mouths of three major European rivers (Rhine, Maas or Meuse, and Scheldt). The Netherlands "is indeed low-lying and remarkably flat, with large expanses of lakes, rivers, and canals."
The area may be divided into two:
1. Low and flat lands in the west and north. This includes reclaimed polders (land separated by dykes) and river deltas. This make up about half of its surface area and is less than 1 metre (3.3 ft) above sea level, much of it actually below sea level.
As much as 20% of all the Netherlands land area has at some point in the past been reclaimed from the sea
2. Higher lands with minor hills in the east and south.
The sub-soil is sea-sand.
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5. Tribes of Zebulon.
Genesis (TCT) 46:
14 AND THE SONS OF ZEBULUN WERE SERED, ELON, AND JAHLEEL.
Tribes in the Netherlands (Ptolemy):
Sabalingoi (Peoples of Zebulon), Suardinoi, Holland, Chali.
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6. Treasures of the Sea.
Deuteronomy (TCT) 33:
18 AND TO ZEBULUN HE SAID: "REJOICE, ZEBULUN, IN YOUR DEPARTURE, AND ISSACHAR, IN YOUR TENTS. :
19 THEY WILL CALL PEOPLES TO THE MOUNTAIN; THERE, THEY WILL OFFER UP RIGHTEOUS SACRIFICES. FOR THEY WILL BE NOURISHED BY THE ABUNDANCE OF THE SEAS, AND BY THE TREASURES HIDDEN IN THE SAND." :
Talmud Megillah 6:a
WAS NOT KITRON IN THE TRIBAL TERRITORY OF ZEBULUN, AS IT IS WRITTEN: NEITHER DID ZEBULUN DRIVE OUT THE INHABITANTS OF KITRON, NOR THE INHABITANTS OF NAHALOL (Judges 1:30)? AND THE TRIBE OF ZEBULUN WAS RESENTFUL OF ITS PORTION, AS IT IS STATED: ZEBULUN WAS A PEOPLE THAT JEOPARDIZED THEIR LIVES TO THE DEATH (Judges 5:18). WHAT IS THE REASON FOR THEIR RESENTFULNESS? BECAUSE NAPHTALI WAS ON THE HIGH PLACES OF THE FIELD (Judges 5:18). THE VERSE SHOULD BE INTERPRETED AS FOLLOWS: ZEBULUN SAID BEFORE THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE: MASTER OF THE UNIVERSE! TO MY BROTHERS, THE TRIBES WHOSE TERRITORY IS ADJACENT TO MINE, YOU GAVE FIELDS AND VINEYARDS, WHEREAS TO ME YOU GAVE MOUNTAINS AND HILLS; TO MY BROTHERS YOU GAVE LANDS, WHEREAS TO ME YOU GAVE SEAS AND RIVERS. GOD SAID BACK TO HIM: NEVERTHELESS, ALL WILL NEED YOU DUE TO THE 'CHILAZON,' THE SMALL SEA CREATURE RESIDING IN YOUR TERRITORY THAT IS THE SOURCE OF THE DYE USED IN THE RITUAL FRINGES [TZITZIT]. AS IT IS STATED IN MOSES BLESSING TO ZEBULUN: THEY SHALL CALL THE PEOPLE TO THE MOUNTAIN: THERE THEY SHALL SACRIFICE OFFERINGS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS; FOR THEY SHALL SUCK OF THE ABUNDANCE OF THE SEAS, AND OF THE HIDDEN TREASURES OF THE SAND (DEUTERONOMY 33:19). RAV YOSEF TEACHES ABOUT THIS: TREASURES; THIS IS REFERRING TO THE CHILAZON, WHICH IS FOUND IN THE WATERS OF ZEBULUN. HIDDEN; THIS IS REFERRING TO THE TARIT, A TYPE OF SARDINE, WHICH IS ALSO FOUND IN ZEBULUNS COASTAL WATERS.
SAND; THIS IS REFERRING TO THE SAND FROM WHICH WHITE GLASS IS MADE.
ZEBULUN SAID TO HIM: ALL OF THESE RESOURCES ARE INDEED FOUND IN MY TERRITORY, BUT MASTER OF THE UNIVERSE, WHO WILL INFORM ME IF OTHERS TAKE THEM WITHOUT PERMISSION?
HE SAID TO THE TRIBE OF ZEBULUN: THERE THEY SHALL SACRIFICE OFFERINGS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. THIS SHALL BE A SIGN FOR YOU THAT ANYONE WHO TAKES THESE ITEMS FROM YOU WITHOUT MAKING PAYMENT WILL NOT PROSPER AT ALL IN HIS BUSINESS.
Rotterdam in Holland is the world's busiest port. Moses blessed Zebulon: that he should "Suck of the abundance of the seas and of treasures hid in the sands" (Deuteronomy 33:19). Today both South Africa and Holland are on the seashores and a good portion of the earlier diamond wealth of South Africa was found in the "sands". Another important element in the population of both Holland and South Africa is a portion of Naphtali of whom it was said: "Possess thou the west and the south" (Deuteronomy 33:23); - being the west of England (settled by Vikings from Norway) as well as both Holland and Norway. The South meant both South Africa and New Zealand. South Africa was settled by British and Dutch, French Huguenots, and Germans and New Zealand by British of a particular type. There was an overlap of peoples between Scandinavia and the Netherlands. Zebulon, though dominant in Holland, is also represented by "Halland" of the southwest coast of Sweden, and by Hallin in Norway which names come from that of Elon, son of Zebulon, as does the name for Holland itself.
The FRISIANS are a people now concentrated in Northern Holland but once spread all along the coast from Scandinavia through Holland, Belgium, and into France. The Angles and Saxons before they, together with other northern peoples, invaded Britain in the 450s CE had sojourned (at least in part) for about 200 years in Holland especially in Frisia. Some of the Jutes had also been in Frisia. The Byzantine historian, Procopius (Gothic War vii; 20) said that the Frisians were an important element amongst the invaders of Britain.
The name of the Frisians is traceable to Peres son of Gilead of Manasseh but the actual inhabitants of present-day Frisia and Holland are identifiable on the whole more with Zebulon
The Exile of Zebulon and Naphtali may have been easier than that of the other tribes and may have involved maritime transportation.
Isaiah 8 (CTC Tanakh Chabad):
23 FOR THERE IS NO WEARINESS TO THE ONE WHO OPPRESSES HER; LIKE THE FIRST TIME, HE DEALT MILDLY, [EXILING ONLY] THE LAND OF ZEBULUN AND THE LAND OF NAPHTALI, AND THE LAST ONE HE DEALT HARSHLY, THE WAY OF THE SEA, AND THE OTHER SIDE OF THE JORDAN, THE ATTRACTION OF THE NATIONS.
The Tribe of Zebulon in the Land of Israel was occupied in the Purple Dye industry, in the making of White glass, and in Fishing (Midrash BaMidbar Rabah 13; 16). The Purple Dye was produced from a sea mollusk by a complicated chemical process and the dye then applied to textiles in a manner that also required expertise. Modern Holland is prominent in both the Chemical and Textile Industries and also in Metallurgy. The production of white glass uses what are considered metallurgical principles. Fishing also is important in the present day Dutch economy in which at least one quarter of the inhabited land has been reclaimed from the sea and another quarter or more is somehow dependent on protection from inundation:
"Zebulon shall dwell on the sea-shores and his shore will be a haven for ships" (Gen.49:13). Rotterdam in Holland is the biggest port in Europe and perhaps the busiest in the world. The Dutch people do dwell on the sea-shores and they are the only people who do.
The association of Zebulon with glass also brings to silicon and Dutch photolithography.
Silicon is widely regarded as the predominant semiconductor material due to its versatile applications in various electrical devices such as transistors, solar cells, integrated circuits, and others. They are also used in whiteware ceramics such as porcelain, and in traditional silicate-based sodalime glass and many other specialty glasses.
The small portion of very highly purified elemental silicon used in semiconductor electronics (<15%) is essential to the transistors and integrated circuit chips used in most modern technology such as smartphones and other computers.
Glass containing silica was manufactured by the Egyptians since at least 1500 BC, as well as by the ancient Phoenicians.
Sodalime glass, containing around 70% silica, accounts for around 90% of modern manufactured glass.
Most computer chips are manufactured by Taiwan but the machines that makes the machines that Taiwan uses is made by ASDML in the Netherlands.
As of November 2024, ASML was the fourth most valuable company in Europe, and the second most valued European tech company, with a market capitalization of about US$264 billion
'The problem that SMIC (China) is in now, the dilemma, is the U.S. government has put them on the entity list,' he said. 'But the bigger picture is that SMIC has been cut off, at least for the moment, from acquiring the really cutting-edge equipment it needs from ASML, which is a Dutch company.'
ASML makes the so-called extreme ultraviolet lithography equipment that's used to produce the most advanced chips such as those manufactured by TSMC and Samsung. Reuters reported last year that the Trump administration pressured the Netherlands government to stop the sale of the machine to SMIC.
ASML produces the photolithography machines used in the production of computer chips. In these machines, patterns are optically imaged onto a silicon wafer that is covered with a film of light-sensitive material (photoresist). This procedure is repeated dozens of times on a single wafer. The photoresist is then further processed to create the actual electronic circuits on the silicon. The optical imaging that ASML's machines deal with is used in the fabrication of nearly all integrated circuits and, as of 2011, ASML had 67 percent of the worldwide sales of lithography machines.[8]
EUV lithography is a critical technology used to create the smallest and most complex chip designs. ASML holds a near-monopoly in the EUV market, with no significant direct competitors. The company's machines are capable of etching patterns as small as 8 nanometers, a remarkable achievement given that human hair is approximately 80,000 nanometers thick.[14]
In January 2024, the Dutch government placed further restrictions on the shipment of some advanced chip-making equipment to China.[49]On 6 September 2024, the Dutch government tightened export controls on certain ASML chipmaking equipment, aligning its policy with U.S. restrictions to limit China's access to advanced technology amid safety and geopolitical concerns.
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7. The Netherlands and Zebulon in Summary.
This to our mind would be a reference to the British Isles and associated peoples.
A Talmudic source (Talmud Sanhedrin 94) says the Lost Ten Tribes were exiled to Afriki.
Francis Wilford (1761-1822) based on Ancient Greek sources says that the term "Afriki" could also have been applied to the West Atlantic shoreline including the British Isles and Western Europe.
Each of the Tribes had its own Individual Characteristics. These are described in Biblical and Rabbinical Sources.
For instance concerning Zebulon it was prophesied.
Genesis 49:
13 ZEBULUN SHALL SETTLE AT THE SHORE OF THE SEA;
HE SHALL BE A HAVEN FOR SHIPS,
AND HIS BORDER SHALL BE AT SIDON.
Moses blessed Zebulon: that he should:
"SUCK OF THE ABUNDANCE OF THE SEAS AND OF TREASURES HID IN THE SANDS" (Deuteronomy 33:19).
The HEBREW original may be preferably translated as "dwell on the SHORES of the Sea" ("be-Hof-yamim"). The only nation in the world whose population is known for dwelling extensively on reclaimed sea-land, literally, "ON THE SHORES OF THE SEA", is Holland. This description applies in some way or other to up to two-thirds of the Dutch people. The area of the Netherlands had been populated by peoples from Frisia who moved in and reclaimed the area from the sea. Among these peoples Ptolemy (100s CE) recorded a group named "Sabalingoi" whose name means "People of Zebulon".
The border of Zebulon was to be at Sidon.
In ancient times the area of northwest Germany was settled by Phoneticians from Sidon in what is now Lebanon.
They gave rise to a sea-going Phoenician type civilization that in the Middle Ages became known as the 'Hanseatic League.'
It included the cities of Hamburg, Bremen, and Lubeck.
In this region had once dwelt the 'Cannenfates' whose name implies "League of Canaanites." So too the settlement of Caudinge ("Sauding"?) gave rise to Hamburg and had probably been named after "Sidon."
Other names in the area also recall Sidon.
Theo Vennemann studied the presence of Phoenicians (derived from Sidon) and Carthaginians (of Phoenician origin) in this area.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theo_Vennemann
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Continued at Zebulon Contined.