Dolmens and the Bible

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"Dolmens and the Bible" 
Dolmens and Megalithic Monuments originated in Ancient Israel. Jeremiah 31:21 says that the Lost Ten Tribes will construct a trail of Megalithic Monuments from Israel to their places of exile and evidence of this path will enable them to return. Such a trail exists! It is the Trail of the Dolmens from the Middle East to the West.

Duration: 6.48 minutes. To Read Text Please Scroll Down!

 

Dolmens and the Bible

Biblical Locations of the Lost Ten Tribes
Scriptural Proof  
The Joseph Aspect  
  by Yair Davidiy 

Maps Showing the Distribution of Dolmens and Related Megaliths

Note the Progression from the Land of Israel Outwards and Especially Westwards and to the North

Map of Megalithic Distribution in Western Europe.
Dates Given are Mistaken

Dolmen

Jeremiah (31:21) refers to dolmens which are large stones set table fashion over others and often covered by large piles of rocks and stone. The dolmens and other related stone monuments form a connecting link between Israel, Britain, West France, and Scandinavia. More dolmens (over 5000!) have been found in Denmark than in any other country. On the other hand the oldest dolmens are believed to be those of Israel. More than 20,000 megalithic monuments of all types (including dolmens) have been found in the Land of Israel especially on the eastern "Jordanian" side since for various reasons those on the west were destroyed by local inhabitants. The verse in effects links dolmens  with Ephraim.

Hofman (Olam HaTanach): # The Prophet calls upon the Exiles to indicate with special signs their pathway into Exile, in order that they may quickly return to the land by the path they went in. This method of marking a pathway is practiced unto this day & How would they know to find the way in Biblical Times? How would they describe the way of journey or the border line? It appears that in Biblical times to was accepted practice to make note of prominent features #

Abarbanel: # The prophet therefore spoke concerning the Kingdom of Israel [of the Ten Tribes] SET THEE UP WAYMARKS saying that when you g into Exile make signs by the routes and waymarks like piles of rocks [i.e. cairns] or stone monuments [Hebrew: Matzavah, i.e. dolmen] so that you may set your heart to the route and remember in order that you may return in the way you went in, return to your city. #

The WAYMARKS the Prophet is referring to were megalithic monuments. These monuments we believe were set up by Israelites and we have some proof for this belief. Even however if the monuments in question were not set up by Israelites but had existed previously the fact remains that they happened to all lie along the path of Israelite migration westward. It is this fact that Jeremiah is telling the Israelites (i.e. he is telling us) to take note of.

The word translated above as "WAYMARKS" in the original Hebrew is "Tzionim" which strictly speaking means "signs" but in spoken Hebrew is usually used to denote a stone erection marking a grave or event.
The most literal explanation of this verse amongst the Classical Authoritative Rabbinical Commentators is that given by the Radak" (Rabbi David Kimchi, 1157-1236) of Narbonne, France. The Radak says:

 "SET YOURSELF UP WAYMARKS" (Jeremiah 31): This was directed to the Community of Israel, that in the generation when they would be exiled they should set up waymarks [i.e. "tsionim"] such as PILED-UP STONES OR STONE MONUMENTS. The purpose of these monuments was to mark the paths [of migration for the sake of future recognition]. The meaning was to say that even though you will be exiled, hope is not lost and you are still destined to return to these your cities. "MAKE YOURSELF HIGH HEAPS" [Hebrew: "tamrurim"]. The same message is repeated though the wording is changed since both "tamrurim" [i.e. "high heaps"] and "tsionim" (i.e. "waymarks") connote elevated-height [from the root "tamar"]...

Bearing in mind that according to the previous verse (31;20) Jeremiah is addressing himself to Ephraim, the verse in Jeremiah 31:21 may therefore be understood to say:

The mode of expression employed by the Prophet should be understood differently from that used by Moses. When Moses gave a commandment it had to be obeyed. When the prophets issue an order concerning future action it means they are predicting what will happen. They are telling us what must be learned from this action. Jeremiah is saying that (for whatever reason) the exiled Israelites will have stone monuments set up. Through these monuments Jeremiah predicts that it will be possible in the future to learn of the Israelite paths of migration away from the Land of Israel.  Once this is learned it will serve as a means by which they may be persuaded to return. The inferred commandment to the exiles to erect "Tsionim" is therefore applicable to the dolmens and other so called "Stone Age" ("Megalithic") monuments. Many of these monuments date from the Bronze and Iron Age periods. They are mentioned in the Bible as being set up by the Hebrew Patriarchs and Judges as well as by others.

The ancient Israelites were always familiar with bronze and iron utensils but it should be noted that in some cases the use of stone only was enforced. An altar had to be erected of whole unhewn stones (Exodus 20;22); "An altar of whole stones over which no man hath lift up any iron" (Joshua 8;31). Joshua was commanded to circumcise Israelites born in the wilderness with "knives of flint" (Joshua 5;2-3). The Hebrew has "Charvoth Tsurim" which the KJ imprecisely translates as "sharp knives". "Tsur" means flint or sharp stone.
Dolmens and related monuments are found in the Land of Israel, in Jordan, in the Caucasus, in Spain, Brittany (France), Britain, and Scandinavia.

There are several types of dolmens and examples have also been reported from Ethiopia, Japan and India. Eastern dolmens are somewhat different from those of Israel and the west. Even so in India the dolmens are linked with legends of green-eyed Vikings and with the Lost Ten Tribes. The type of dolmen found in the area of ancient Israel (on both sides of the Jordan River) is the same as that found in Western Europe:

 "The megalithic dolmens found in the Golan and Galilee are table like structures composed of two vertical basalt blocks roofed by large rock slabs. A heap of stones usually covered the dolmens, creating a tumulus. Such structures are known in Transjordan from the Chalcolithic period, but in the Golan and Galilee they definitely date to EB [i.e. Early Bronze] IV /MB [Middle Bronze] I...These dolmens recall similar megalithic burial structures known throughout Europe in the Bronze Age, but the significance of this resemblance is unclear". A. MAZAR, Archaeology of the Land of the Bible, U.S.A. 1990,  p.160.

The conventional dating applied in Europe to dolmens and the like is too early. Most Megaltihic monuments in Western Europe were erected in the Late Bronze or Early Iron Age after the Israelites had been exiled. People of Israelite origin erected them! In archaeological and historical studies of Western Europe dolmens are associated with the Celtic Druids. Wherever Celts and Druids were found together, so too, were there dolmens.

 Iron age artifacts are frequently found together with or in the vicinity of dolmens. Iron was largely introduced to Europe after 700 BCE with the coming of the Celts. Some of the Israelite groups used bronze tools, some reverted to stone-age ones (as did the Dutch Boers in South Africa in the 1700s), but on the whole the migrating Israelites may be associated with iron.

Through Dolmens a good case may be made for tracing the migrations of the Lost Ten Tribes to Western Europe. The quoted verse of Jeremiah may well be understood in this sense.

 The word "Tamrurim" used by Jeremiah (translated here as "high heaps") in Modern Hebrew is the word used for "Traffic sign" or "wayfare indicator". WAYMARKS, as noted, equal dolmens. The verse (Jeremiah 31;12) may therefore in the Hebrew be understood further as saying:

"Establish waymarks [i.e. "Tsionim" =dolmens] for yourself, set up for yourself high-heaps [i.e. cairns, "Tamrurim" = wayfare markers]: put your heart [i.e. pay attention] to the pathways you went by and return, O virgin of Israel, come back to these cities of yours.

Some understand the above verse in a partly figurative sense but taken literally according to the Radak (Kimchi) it means that a trail of megalithic monuments should be traceable along the paths of migration as indeed it is. Megalithic Monuments begin in the land of Israel on both sides of the Jordan. They have offshoots of uncertain nature into Asia but exact reproductions are fund in the Caucasus, in Bulgaria, in Spain, West France, the Netherlands, Scandinavia, Britain, and Ireland. They describe two main migratory paths from Israel to Western Europe. These paths show us how the Lost Ten Tribes left their land and where they went to. Jeremiah the Prophet transmits the command of God telling us to take heed of the paths we went in, the monuments we set up, and the way leading back to the cities of our forefathers in the Land of Israel.

Abarbanel on this verse says it refers to the Ten Tribes who at first would be weak like a woman but later would gain strength like a man and overcome the Gentiles.

Radak: # A WOMAN SHALL COMPASS A MAN: It is the way of the world that a man goes after and hangs around a woman, as the Sages said: Someone who has lost something seeks after what he is lacking. Here the female goes after and around the man, that is the Children of Israel will repent and return to their God who will redeem them #.

The expression A WOMAN SHALL COMPASS A MAN is considered an allegory to the Children of Israel attempting to return to God, as if Israel is symbolized by a female wooing her man who is the God of Israel. For the last few years I have been studying the Book of Jeremiah in a weekly class given by Rabbi Mordecai Machles in Jerusalem. Rabbi Machles has pointed out that today it is becoming acceptable for a female to initiate courtship with a male. In the past this was unthinkable. Rabbi Machles suggests that this development is connected with the expression in Jeremiah, A WOMAN SHALL COMPASS A MAN, and that this is a sign that the prophecies of Jeremiah are about to be fulfilled.

A WOMAN SHALL COMPASS A MAN: In Hebrew it can be said to mean that a woman shall surround a man. The Rabbis said (Talmud, Yebamot 62) that a person should get married. Every one without a wife dwells without happiness; without blessing, without goodness etc. In Israel they said, without Torah, without a wall [to protect him from temptation] as it says, A WOMAN SHALL COMPASS A MAN.

On a symbolic level this verse has been applied to the Lost Ten Tribes who will initiate an approach to Judah to which Judah will reply. Brit-Am serves as a connecting link between Judah and Joseph. If you agree with the goals of Brit-Am send us an offering to enable us to go forward.

We repeat:
The exhortation in Jeremiah:

This refers specifically to the so-called megalithic monuments such as dolmens BUT in general it also means that those who have been called out of the Lost Ten Tribes and have become aware of Brit-Am truth are commanded to support historical research (including archaeological reports, etc) that confirm this truth. These too, are waymarks that must be set up as evidence.

Megalithic Monuments Describe Migratory Pathers:

Extract from:
Philip Coppens:"Casting Stones"
http://www.philipcoppens.com/megaliths.html
An important clue is that even though Brittany is well-known for its tremendous concentration of megalithic monuments, it is in the far less known region east of Paris, around the city of Sens, that the largest concentration can be found. As the area is largely urban and industrial and not a holiday destination like Brittany, few people are however aware of this fact. One person who did become intrigued by these stones was the Belgian historian Marcel Mestdagh. His area of expertise were the Viking invasions. He noted that the invasion pattern in western Europe seemed to follow a particular feature of the landscape that other researchers had been unable to identify. Mestdagh believed that this pattern had to do with the distribution of megaliths across the landscape. Furthermore, he noted that this pattern seemed to focus in on Sens, which was unique from a Viking perspective in the sense that the town was besieged, rather than sacked as all other towns. Aware that megaliths were often used by later people as border stones, Mestdagh wondered whether they might actually be markers along the roads. Since then, other researchers have come to the conclusion that many megalithic monuments were indeed situated along ancient roads. If the megaliths marked roads and noting that the Vikings found a Europe that was largely rural, not urbanised, could it be that they followed this system, eventually ending up in Sens? If so, then it meant that all roads seemed to lead to Sens which made sense, as, having the largest concentration of megaliths, it might thus be the capital. Furthermore, Sens was close to Paris, which in later years would become the capital of France.

 See Also:

The Astronomical Factor
Go to:
http://www.britam.org/Proof/Attributes/roleDolmen.html
and Scroll Down.