Research Sources from Brit-Am Now nos. 1201-1235
Contents:
1. Paul D Pruitt: Hyksos of Egypt were Israelites
2. Orjan Svensson: Some Hebrew Roots of Ancient Scandinavian Mythology
3. Minoans (Crete-Philistines) in Germany
4. Dean Smallwood: Future Borders of Israel Compared to those of the USA
5. Surname Frequency WorldWide
6. Andrea Waitschulies: 10% of German men have Jewish ancestry
7. Different Personality Traits in Different US States
8. Kevin Benefield: The Welsh and an Interesting Connection to Levi
9. Shiboleth and Siboleth and a Modern Linguistic Comparison with English
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1. Paul D Pruitt: Hyksos of Egypt were Israelites
Brit-Am Now no. 1210
2. Paul D Pruitt: Hyksos of Egypt were Israelites
http://www.britam.org/now/1210Now.html#Paul
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2. Orjan Svensson: Some Hebrew Roots of Ancient Scandinavian Mythology
Brit-Am Now no. 1214
5. Orjan Svensson: Some Hebrew Roots of Ancient Scandinavian Mythology
http://www.britam.org/now/1214Now.html#Orjan
Extracts:
Scandinavian Mythical Names With Hebrew Meaning and Scandinavian Legends of Hebrew Root :
In Scandinavian mythology the goddess Freja had a daughter who was very beautiful and whose name was Hnoss. Hnoss means treasure. Maybe therefore Hnoss is related to Kaf-Nun-Samech ["CeNeS" meaning "gather in", or "gather together", "accumulate"] and Gimel-Nun-Zayin ["GeNaZ" store away] . GNaZIM has been translated into treasures in Esther 3:9 and in Esther 4:7.
[This is very feasible since the "H" and "G" sounds are frequently switched in different parts of Europe. Even today, for instance, names such as "Hitler" are pronounced as "Gitler" by the Ukrainains. Also the Northern peoples for a period lost the sound "z" and used "s". The Hebrew "GeNaZ" or "Gnoss" could therefore quite easily be rendered as "Hnoss" by the early Scandinavians.].
[Another important god-hero was named Balder son of Odin].
It is officially recognized that the name Balder probably is a reminiscence of the West Semitic Baal.
Further Burr, whose name means "son", was believed to be the father of Odin.
The old word BURR is believed to be related to the word BARA which among other things meant "to give BIRTH" or "to beget". Likewise in Hebrew we have "BaRA" which not only means "to create" but also means "to beget", and the Passive (NIPHAL) form of this verb means "to be BORN" in Eze. 21:35; 28:13; Ps. 104:30. The Hebrew root BRA is the source of the Hebrew and Aramaic word BaR (son).
According to the myths Odin owned two ravens named Hugin and Munin. These names are apparently related to the Icelandic words HUGUR and MUNUR which mean "mind" and "difference" respectively. Analogously in Hebrew we have HeGeH and MaNaH meaning "thought" and "to separate" respectively. A Swedish word that is related to HUGUR is HAG which means "thought" or "mind".
Odin belonged to that section of the gods known as "Aesir". In "The Tribes" the Aesir are identified with the Israelite Tribe of of Asher.
Mimir, also known as Mim, was considered to be the wisest of the gods of the tribe of Aesir. Apart from that he was also believed to be a water spirit. (Consult for example Encyclopedia Britannica vol. 8, p. 146, 1995 edition.) The name of Mimir is believed to mean the purling, murmuring or rippling one. According to one story Mimir resided by a well that was known as the well of Mimir or Mim. This makes me consider the possibility that the name of Mimir may have come from the Hebrew word MaiM [spelt "mim"] since this word means water in Hebrew.
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3. Minoans (Crete-Philistines) in Germany
Brit-Am Now no. 1217
2. Minoans (Crete-Philistines) in Germany
http://www.britam.org/now/1217Now.html#Minoans
http://dienekes.blogspot.com/2008/08/minoans-in-germany.html
Quotes from:
German-language articles.
Interview: Rungholt
http://www.geo.de/GEO/import_nicht_zugeordnet/4669.html
Bronzezeit
Kretas Hochkultur im Watt
http://www.focus.de/wissen/wissenschaft/tid-9454/bronzezeit-kretas-hochkultur-im-watt_aid_265424.html
Finds attributed to Peter Duerr in North Friesland in 1992.
Could not understand the text, seemed to be claimed that Minoans were in Northwest Germany based on pottery finds and Linear-A script.
We have mentioned similar finds previously.
"Brit-Am Now"-895
http://britam.org/now/895Now.html
#1. Philistines, Crete, Israelites, and Northern Europe
Minoans are associated with Crete but also with the Philistines.
Gaza was also know as Minoa.
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4. Dean Smallwood: Future Borders of Israel Compared to those of the USA
"Brit-Am Now"-1218
2. Dean Smallwood:
Future Borders of Israel Compared to those of the USA
http://www.britam.org/now/1218Now.html#Dean
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5. Surname Frequency WorldWide
"Brit-Am Now"-1218
http://www.britam.org/now/1223Now.html#Check
3. Check Your Surname Frequency WorldWide
The URL below is quite useful and interesting.
It came to our attention on the Origin of Nations list.
Below is (a) a BBC article about the site followed by (b) the URL to the site itself.
The site gives numbers of surnames found by Frequency Per Million
(a) Website Maps Surnames Worldwide
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7588968.stm
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6. Andrea Waitschulies: 10% of German men have Jewish ancestry
"Brit-Am Now"-1231
3. Andrea Waitschulies: 10% of German men have Jewish ancestry
http://www.britam.org/now/1231Now.html#Andrea
Yair,
10% of German men have Jewish ancestry and 45% are of Celtic origin acc. to a recent genetic study.
The study according to the pie-chart you sent classified:
5% Phoenician
10% Jews
25% Vikings and Scythians
15% Vikings and Scythians
45% Celts
This is all based on DNA. It would need to be supplemented by family name studies that correspond with the DNA markers to be scientifically useful. Otherwise it is too speculative.
Nevertheless it may be for the good that more people in Germany become aware of the fact that they may have some Jewish ancestry.
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7. Different Personality Traits in Different US States
"Brit-Am Now"-1233
3. New Study: Different Personality Traits in Different US States!
http://www.britam.org/now/1233Now.html#Study
The United States of Mind
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122211987961064719.html#articleTabs%3Darticle
By STEPHANIE SIMON
Extracts:
... Amiable states, like Minnesota, tend to be lower in crime. Dutiful states -- an eclectic bunch that includes New Mexico, North Carolina and Utah -- produce a disproportionate share of mathematicians. States that rank high in openness to new ideas are quite creative, as measured by per-capita patent production. But they're also high-crime and a bit aloof. Apparently, Californians don't much like socializing, the research suggests.
As for high-anxiety states, that group includes not just Type A New York and New Jersey, but also states stressed by poverty, such as West Virginia and Mississippi. As a group, these neurotic states tend to have higher rates of heart disease and lower life expectancy.
... there are more than a few surprises. The flinty pragmatists of New England? They're not as dutiful as they may seem, ranking at the bottom of the "conscientious" scale. High scores for openness to new ideas strongly correlates to liberal social values and Democratic voting habits. But three of the top ten "open" states -- Nevada, Colorado and Virginia -- traditionally vote Republican in presidential politics. (All three are prime battlegrounds this election.)
And what of the unexpected finding that North Dakota is the most outgoing state in the union? ... The trait is defined in part by strong social networks and tight community bonds, which are characteristic of small towns across the Great Plains. (Though not, apparently, small towns in New England, which ranks quite low on the extraversion scale.)
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8. Kevin Benefield: The Welsh and an Interesting Connection to Levi
"Brit-Am Now"-1233
1. Kevin Benefield: The Welsh and an Interesting Connection to Levi
http://www.britam.org/now/1234Now.html#Kevin
Extracts:
The Patron saint of Wales is St. David - Dafydd in Welsh - which I believe points back to King David, himself.
When David composed many of the Psalms, the Levite, ASAPH, was frequently associated.
At the time I visited North Wales, I was fascinated by the widespread occurrence of ASAPH, there. For instance, north of Denbigh is the religious-center town, St. Asaph
( Llanelwy ).
I have been one of those who has leaned towards a Levitical presence in Wales, principally over the well-known ability of Welshmen to sing 'a capella', and note perfect. This is not easy to do by anyone, but they have this reputation, uniquely. Their famous Eisteddfod gatherings are formal occasions for a lot of singing! Some singers of extraordinary voice have been Welshborn - Harry Secombe ( from the '60s, who also had a comedic side to him ), Tom Jones and Charlotte Church.
The Welsh also bucked religious trends at times ( either Catholic or Protestant ) and "went their own way", as if they sensed these religious systems did not return us to the true God.
Given that Simeon and Levi share similar characteristics, and worked in unison for a time, this seems to add further to a likely Levitical representation in Wales. ( The Welsh have shown a fearlessness and ferocity in battle. )
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9. Shiboleth and Siboleth and a Modern Linguistic Comparison with English
"Brit-Am Now"-1235
3. Shiboleth and Siboleth and a Modern Linguistic Comparison with English
http://www.britam.org/now/1235Now.html#Shiboleth
Extracts:
In the Book of Judges it tells us that Jephtha (Hebrew: "Yiftach") was a Gileadite from the Tribe of Manasseh.
The Ammonites were oppressing the Israelties so he lead members of his Tribe against them and defeated them.
The Tribe of Ephraim considered itself the leading Tribe. They claimed that Jephtha had arrogated a right to independent action that challenged the leadership status of Ephraim.
http://britam.org/judges/judges11.html
http://britam.org/judges/judges12.html
The Ephraimites went to war against Jephtha who beat them.
Ephraimites fleeing from the battlefield wished to cross the Jordan River to safety.
The Gileadites of Jephtha had seized the ford where crossing was possible.
When an Israelite wished to cross they asked if he was Ephraimite.
If he said "No", he was requested to say the word "Shiboleth" which means ear of corn.
According to how the word was pronounced it was possible to determine whether the person was an Ephraimite or not...
[Judges 12:6] THEN SAID THEY UNTO HIM, SAY NOW SHIBBOLETH: AND HE SAID SIBBOLETH: FOR HE COULD NOT FRAME TO PRONOUNCE IT RIGHT. THEN THEY TOOK HIM, AND SLEW HIM AT THE PASSAGES OF JORDAN: AND THERE FELL AT THAT TIME OF THE EPHRAIMITES FORTY AND TWO THOUSAND.
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Shibboleths and Traitors, or,
Death and Expulsion as Categories of Historical Phonetics
http://blog.oup.com/2008/09/shibboleths_phonetics_death/
by Anatoly Liberman
Extracts:
(a) From the article:
The consonant rendered by the letter s has more than one variant. For example, the oldest Indo-European s seems to have been some kind of sh (and our sh, opposed to it, did not exist). The s of Modern Icelandic is still closer to sh than to s. S has a tendency to become sh in some positions. Thus, Engl. slay and smear correspond to German schlagen "to strike" and schmieren. The vulgar Norwegian pronunciation of Oslo is approximately Ooshlu. German words spelled with sp- and st- are pronounced with shp- and sht-: compare Engl. spy, steal versus Germ. Spion, stehlen (shp-, sht-). So perhaps the first consonant of the Gileadites was like Icelandic s, whereas the Ephraimites had a sound resembling Modern Engl. s. Specialists have weighed this and a few other options, but the best-case scenario has not been found.
(b) From Reactions to the Article
Dear Professor Liberman,
Pertinent to your wonderful article, may I mention a story that I heard from my Dutch friend. According to him, the name of a Dutch town Scheveningen was used as a shibboleth during World War II, to identify German spies. These would pronounce the initial "Sch" differently from Dutch native-speakers.
For details, please see:
McNamara, Tim. "21st century shibboleth: language tests, identity and intergroup conflict". Language Policy 2005 (4): 351?370. Springer Netherlands. 2005.