Major Points from Articles by Bert Otten and Yair Davidiy identifying the Netherlands with Zebulon (9 December, 2013, 6 Tevet, 5774)
Yair Davidiy of Jerusalem, Israel, and Bert Otten of the Netherlands both wrote articles explaining why the Dutch are to be identified with Zebulon. Yair Davidiy, below, summarizes major points of both articles.
Duration: 15.01 minutes. To Read Text Please Scroll Down.
Contents:
Introduction
Seven Points Identifying the Dutch with Zebulon by Yair Davidiy.
Ten Points Identifying the Dutch with Zebulon by Bert Otten.
Conclusion
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Introduction
The northern Ten Tribes of Israel were exiled by the Assyrians. They lost consciousness of their ancestry.
They did however retain some degree of Tribal cohesion.
By various pathways the Lost Ten Tribes moved westwards. They came to settle in Western Europe.
One of the regions they settled in was that of the Netherlands.
On the whole the people of the Netherlands have historically met the criteria we use as to whether or not to determine if a nation derives from Israel or not.
Ephraimite Criteria
http://www.britam.org/criteria.html
We wrote an article showing that Israelites from the Tribe of Zebulon became predominant in the Netherlands,
See:
Zebulon- Netherlands
http://www.britam.org/zebulonNeth.html
Bert Otten also wrote an article with the same theme:
See:
Zebulun - Holland by Bert Otten,
A STUDY OF TEN PROPHETIC CLUES
http://www.britam.org/bert.html
Some of the points raise by Bert Otten overlap with our own.
Below we very briefly summarize the points raised by both Yair Davidiy and Bert Otten. For more details please go to the original articles.
In our own article and YouTube Clip,
# Zebulon - Netherlands by Yair Davidiy #
The Tribe of Zebulon was Dominant in the Netherlands as proven by Biblical and Secular Sources #
http://www.britam.org/zebulonNeth.html
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Seven Points Identifying the Dutch with Zebulon by Yair Davidiy.
We identify the Netherland with Zebulon due to the following:
(1) The symbol of Zebulon was ship. A ship was also traditionally the symbol of the Dutch who are a sea-faring people.
(2) It was prophesied that Zebulon would dwell on the Shores of the Sea.
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.
The Hebrew says "Hof-Yamim" meaning shores of the seas. The Dutch do literally dwell on the sea shores. Most of the Dutch live on reclaimed lands that were under the sea or that need protection from sea-flooding.
(3) The Book of Obadiah in the Bible according to Rabbinical explanations indicates that the Ten Tribes in general would be in the west in a region that encompasses the Netherlands.
(4) In Ancient Times there was a people called Sabalingoi (as noted by P. Senstius) to the north of the Netherlands. Sabalingoi means "People (goi) of Zebulon".
(5) Frisian (North Netherlands) legends indicate that they as well as the Angles and Saxons (who settled in England) were descended from the Lost Ten tribes.
(6) The sons of Zebulon were Yachlyal, Sered, and Elon. These names are similar to those of ethnic groups who were contributed to early settlement of the Netherlands.
(7) The Precious Stone of Zebulon was a diamond which has been important in Dutch History.
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Ten Points Identifying the Dutch with Zebulon by Bert Otten.
Bert Otten also shows that Zebulon settled in the Netherlands.
Zebulun - Holland by Bert Otten,
A STUDY OF TEN PROPHETIC CLUES
http://www.britam.org/bert.html
The reasons given by Bert Otten include:
(1) The name Zebulon connotes dwelling (Gen 30:19-20).
This reflects a characteristic of the Dutch People:
# The name Zebulun means to dwell or dwelling and this gives a clue for the population of the low countries. Home, homeliness, cosiness, intimate dwelling, it's all very important to the Dutch. The Dutch word 'gezelligheid' is hard to translate into other languages, 'cosiness' comes close. #
(2) Zebulon was to dwell on the sea-shore with ships anchoring along his coast (Gen 49:13). This describes the Netherlands.
# Before the great land reclamations started, half of the country was close to the sea. There is an abundance of place names with 'aan Zee' (on-Sea), 'zand' (sand) and 'duinen' (dunes)...
Half the country is built on reclaimed land. If there were no dunes and no dykes, half the country would be submerged #
(3) Zebulon was to be a haven for ships
# This can only be fulfilled by Zebulun as a lost tribe, as Zebulun was a landlocked tribe in Canaan....
# There are many ports in the low-countries. Rotterdam was the biggest port of the world for 50 years and still is the biggest port of Europe. #
(4) Zebulon was to be a travelling People. This fits the Dutch.
At the time of the Republic of the Seven United Provinces (1581-1795) there were many Dutch explorers. For a list of Dutch explorers see: http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lijst_van_Nederlandse_ontdekkingsreizigers
Many parts of the East and West Indies, Spitsbergen, Australia and New Zealand (Zealand is a Dutch province) were discovered by the Dutch. The Dutch settled in New Amsterdam (New York), Surinam, the West Indies, the Cape and the Dutch Indies. Many Dutch place names can be found.
The VOC, Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie, the Dutch East India Company, had many ships built and organized many trips to the far east.
The Netherlands is a transport land, a transit land. Rotterdam is the hub of Europe, and Amsterdam is an important port too. Transport from Rotterdam to the hinterland occurs not just by inland navigation, but by rail and by trucks too. The Dutch like to travel, the NL (Netherlands) on the number plates of trucks, coaches and tourist cars can be found all over Europe. The Dutch are caravan lovers.
The Boers of South-Africa are mainly of Dutch stock and they had their 'Great Trek' (1830-1850) from the Cape towards what later was to become Natal, Orange Freestate and Transvaal, in an effort to escape the influence of the English.
(5) Zebulun, would suck of the abundance of the seas
" for they [Zebulun and Issachar, Holland and Friesland] shall suck of the ABUNDANCE of the SEAS " (Deut 33:19).
The phrase abundance of the seas concerns many items over the past centuries: herring fishing, fishing in general, whaling, the harvesting of shrimps, mussels and oysters, trade coming by sea, dredging vessels, making of dykes, canals and ports, Holland-America line, Dutch merchant fleet in the 20th century, naval wars, shipbuilding, etc. Our riches came from the sea and by sea!
... Frisians and Dutch have been coastal peoples for centuries.
It goes without saying that the abundance of the seas also refers to all the fertile reclaimed land from the sea in the Netherlands. About half the country is below sea-level.
(6) Zebulun, would suck of the treasures hid in the sands
"for they [Zebulun and Issachar, Holland and Friesland] shall suck of the TREASURES hid in the SAND" (Deut 33:19).
Gravel and sand themselves are treasures as well. The Netherlands is situated in the delta of Rhine, Meuse and Scheldt. Below many parts of the Netherlands are huge layers of sand and gravel. Especially along the Meuse are many sand deeps and gravel deeps, lakes which have come into existence by dredging the layers of sand and gravel.
Holland is the biggest flower and bulb exporter in the world. Behind the sand dunes there are 'geestgronden'. These 'geestgronden' exist of sand from the dunes, mixed with clay. This mixture is very useful for the growing of bulbs. So even our tulip fields are linked to the abundance of the sea and treasures hid in the sand, as the North Sea brought both the clay and the sand.
Gas and oil are formed in former seas and can be defined as 'treasures hid in the sand'.
Another example of Zebulun and Issachar sucking the treasures hid in the sand, deep in the sandstone of former seas.
(7) Zebulun was to be a compassionate people.
According to the writer of the pseudo-Apocryphic The Testament of Zebulun, Zebulon was to be compassionate. The Dutch are such and give much in foreign aid, etc.
(8) The Stone of Zebulon was a diamond.
And the second row shall be an emerald [Judah], a sapphire [Issachar], and a DIAMOND [Zebulun] (Exodus 28:15-18).
Amsterdam has been a diamond city for 400 years. For 400 years Amsterdam was the most important diamond city in the world, but not anymore. Amsterdam retains first position in direct sales of diamonds to customers though. Famous diamonds like the Koh-I-Noor and the Star of the South were cut in Amsterdam (at Coster Diamonds).
There is a link between diamonds and Dutch speaking areas. Of course many diamonds were found in the BoerRepublics of South Africa (near Kimberley of Orange Free State). Diamonds follow the trail of the tribe of Zebulun.
(9) Zebulon was to be known for writers, and bookprinting.
[From Deborah's Song] ' and out of Zebulun they that HANDLE THE PEN OF THE WRITER' (Judges 5:14b)
Greek Sepuagint: 'and from Zabulon came they that draw with the scribe's pen of record' (Judges 5:14b, LXXE).
Holland is a very literate country and everything having to do with books, reading, writing, printing, publishing, cartography, Bible Societies, literacy, speaking foreign languages, can be seen as fulfilments of this clue.
(10) Zebulon was associated with Judah.
And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, Every man of the children of Israel shall pitch by his own standard 'far off about the tabernacle of the congregation shall they pitch. And on the east side, shall they of the standard of the camp of JUDAH pitch. And those that do pitch next unto him shall be the tribe of ISSACHAR Then the tribe of ZEBULUN All that were numbered in the camp of JUDAH were 186,400, throughout their armies. These shall first set forth (Numbers 2:1-9).
There is a bond between Judah, Issachar and Zebulun. They are the three youngest sons of Leah.
The three tribes camped for 40 years in brotherly fashion in the camp of Judah (Num 9:1-9).
Holland became independent in 1581 and over the past 430 years Jews have lived in relative peace among the Dutch, as long as we were independent.
When the Dutch queen Beatrix visited the Knesset (1995), prime minister Rabin spoke of the 'love story between Holland and Israel'. His speech can be read on http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Foreign+Relations/Israels+Foreign+Relations+since+1947/1995-1996/Address+in+the+Knesset+by+Prime+Minister+Rabin+in.htm
In addition to the points adduced above by Yair Davidiy and Bert Otten additional evidence exists proving the Israelite origins of many of the Dutch and confirming their affiliation with the Israelite Tribes of Zebulon.
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Conclusion:
Both of the above authors show that Zebulon is to be identified with the Dutch.
Both mention the points to dwell on the sea-shores, be a haven for ships, and the importance of diamonds.
Two of the points made by Yair Davidiy were Legends of Israelite Origin and the Book of Obadiah. These concern Israelite origins in general rather than specific Tribal Origins from Zebulon.
This leaves us concerning Zebulon being equated with the Netherlands 3 points from Yair:
The symbol of Zebulon and the Dutch being a ship.
The Sabalingoi i.e. "People (goi) of Zebulon" having been in the north.
The sons of Zebulon (Yachlyal, Sered, and Elon) giving their names to peoples who settled in the Netherlands.
and points from Bert:
(1) The name Zebulon connotes dwelling (Gen 30:19-20) and this reflecting a characteristic of the Dutch People.
(2) Zebulon was to dwell on the sea-shore with ships anchoring along his coast
(3) Zebulon was to be a haven for ships, Dutch ports, and Rotterdam having been the most important port in the world and today in Europe.
(4) Zebulon was to be a travelling People. This fits the Dutch.
(5) Zebulun, would suck of the abundance of the seas. Fishing and ship-building.
(6) Zebulun, would suck of the treasures hid in the sands. Dutch agriculture, oil and gas resources.
(7) Zebulun was to be a compassionate people. This fits the Dutch.
(9) Zebulon was to be known for writers, and bookprinting. This also fits the Dutch.
(10) Zebulon was associated with Judah. The Dutch have helped the Jews and benefited from a Jewish presence.
Individually but even more as taken together, Yair Davidiy and Bert Otten present a very convincing case for identifying the Netherlands as Israelite and as pertaining to the Tribe of Zebulon.
See also:
The Order of Encampment in the Wilderness and its Historical Significance
http://www.britam.org/encampment.html
Judah, Issachar and Zebulon
http://www.britam.org/encampment.html#Judah