The Prophecy of Deborah and Brit-Am Identifications
Contents:
1. Introduction.
2. Song of Deborah, Dan, and other Tribes.
3. Other Israelite Tribes and the Sea.
4. Dan and Bashan-Scandinavia.
5. Dan and the Sea in Ancient Times.
6. The Dispersion of Dan. Denmark and the Sea.
7. The Dispersion of Dan. Ireland.
8. The Dispersion of Dan. Devon.
9. Dan and the Sea.
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1. Introduction.
We find Dan associated with a "Living on Ships" (Judges 5:17). When comparing places and peoples identified with Dan, even if only in part, we find an above-average emphasis on sea-going. In some cases, e.g. Devon-Dannonia in the England, this was very pronounced. In the course of this short investigation we came across information of interest concerning other Tribes (apart from Dan) , and to Israel in general.
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2. Song of Deborah, Dan, and other Tribes.
The story of Deborah is found in the Biblical Book of Judges chapters 4 and 5. The Israelites were being oppressed by the Canaanite king Yavin (Javin) who reigned from Hatsor (Chatzor) in the Upper Galilee. The leader of his army was Sisera who was located in Charoshet Ha-Goyim which is believed to have been in the Lower Gailielle. The Canaanites had 900 chariots of iron by use of which they had tyrannized the Hebrews for 20 years. At that time Deborah was the leader of Israel. She was a prophetess and the wife of Lappidoth (Judges 4:4).
Judges (NIV) 4:
5 She held court under the Palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites went up to her to have their disputes decided.
Deborah sent to Barak son of Abinoam from Kadesh-Naphtali . She told him to take warriors from the Tribes of Naphtali and Zebulon and go to war against Sistera. The Canaanites were defeated at the Mountain of Tabor. The Kishon River had flooded and entrapped the chariots in its mud. Sisera fled and was killed while exhausted and sleeping by Yael the wife of Heber the Kenite. After the victory, Deborah sang a song celebrating the triumph (Judges ch. 5).
It appears that the Tribes of Zebulon and Naphtali had received reinforcements from Ephraim, Benjamin, and Machir of Manasseh. Other Tribes however were noted by their abstinence. Those mentioned are Reuben, Gilead, Dan, and Asher.
Judges (NIV) 5:
17 Gilead stayed beyond the Jordan. And Dan, why did he linger by the ships? Asher remained on the coast and stayed in his coves.
Alternate Translation by Yair from the Hebrew original:
Judges (YD) 5: 17 Gilead over the Jordan dwelt. As for Dan, why will he sojourn in ships? Asher settled on coasts of the sea and in its inlets will he dwell.
Gilead was east of the Jordan. The name Gilead refers to both a sub-section of Manasseh and a geographical area encompassing much of Reuben, Gad, and half-Manasseh.
Dan was preoccupied with his maritime activities. Asher, whose territory was further north, was also a sea-faring people. He is described as living in coves or inlets along the coast. Asher and Dan later moved to Ireland and Scandinavia. It has been suggested that the Tribe of Asher helped give rise to the Vikings. The term Viking is said to connote "Dweller of Inlets."
Since the expression in the Song of Deborah is in the future sense, "in its inlets will he dwell," this could be taken as a prediction indicating the future participation of Asher in the Viking Excursions.
Dan, Asher, and Naphtali were the Three Tribes of the Northern Section (Numbers ch.2) when the Israelties were encamped in the Wilderness. In History they are often found together.
Mikkel Stjernholm KRAGH in an article entitled "Sweden being the Tribe of Asher" under the heading, "Vikings in the Old Testament" points out that the word Viking is derived from the Nordic word "vik/vig" (vik in Swedish and Norwegian, vig in Danish), which means "inlet, creek," because the Vikings sailed out from inlets and fjords. The Vikings came mainly from Denmark and Norway with some input from Sweden.
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3. Other Israelite Tribes and the Sea.
Dan in the Song of Deborah was associated with ships.
In the Blessing of Jacob to the Tribes it is Zebulon who is recalled in connection with the sea (Genesis 49:13), and the Midrash says that the Standard of Zebulon bore the picture of a ship.
The Israelites had been promised that their seed would possess THE GATE OF THEIR ENEMIES (Genesis 24:16), and "the gate of those which hate them" (Genesis 24:60).
This meant international thoroughfares and strategic points connected with the Sea. The British Empire and after them, the USA with its 100s of overseas bases, are the main ones to have fulfilled this promise.
Lord "Jackie" Fisher
Admiral Sir John ("Jackie") Fisher was one of the most prominent sailors in British history. He claimed in 1904 that, "Five keys lock up the world! Singapore, The Cape of Good Hope, Alexandria, Gibraltar, Dover." All these locations, of course, fell within British spheres of influence and control.
https://hebrewnations.com/articles/biblical-proof/fisherbases.html
The Israelite were promised that they would be in many waters (Numbers 24:7);
https://hebrewnations.com/articles/biblical-proof/geo/geowaters.html
They were to become seafarers (Isaiah 42:10),
https://hebrewnations.com/articles/biblical-proof/geo/geoseafarers.html
They were to live in the Isles of the Sea (Isaiah 11:11, 24:15, 42:4, 51:4-5, 60:9).
https://hebrewnations.com/articles/biblical-proof/geo/geowaters.html
These promises were made to all the Tribes. Initially the Promises were to be fulfilled mainly by the Ten Tribes. This was part of the Unique Task the Ten Tribes had to play in world history.
Out of the Ten Tribes it was the two Tribes of Joseph (Ephraim and Manasseh) that had to fulfill the primary role (1-Chronicles 5:1-2, Genesis 49:6).
See:
Genealogy of the Blessings
https://hebrewnations.com/articles/biblical-proof/genb.html
Since many of the Blessings involve Seafaring and Sea-Power we would expect that Tribes of Joseph to be prominent in this field and so (through the USA and UK) for much of their history they have been AND STILL ARE TODAY.
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4. Dan and Bashan-Scandinavia
Dan in the Blessing of Jacob is referred to as a Provider of Justice and a snake (viper) by the roadside biting the heel of the horse and causing its rider to fall backward (Genesis 49:17).
Moses refers to Dan as emerging from Bashan.
Deuteronomy (NIV) 33:
22 About Dan he said: 'Dan is a lion's cub, springing out of Bashan.'
Dan conventionally received territory around the area of Joffa (present-day Tel Aviv, still known today as "Gush Dan" i.e. the Area of Dan) and also in the Upper Galilee. The movement of a contingent from Dan to the Galilee is mentioned in Joshua ch. 19 where the conquest of a place named "Leshem" is recalled and it being re-named "Dan" in honor of their forefather.
Judges chapter 18 describes a group of the Danites as similarly moving to the north and conquering Laish and re-naming it "Dan" in honor of their forefather.
These two accounts are often assumed tob e referring to the one event. We have proven that Leshem and Laish were entirely different places.
See:
Dan and the Serpent Way. Dan in Northern Israel, Syria, Greece, and Elsewhere.
https://hebrewnations.com/articles/tribes/dan/dan-and-the-serpent-way.html
Laish was a province otherwise known as Luash. It was conquered and occupied by a people known as the Danim or Dananu meaning the Danes. We have proven elsewhere that they too were descended from Dan.
Luash-Liash is a geographical extension, a "leaping forward" from the area denoted as Bathan or Bashan.
The name Bashan in Aramaic was pronounced as "Bathan" and Ptolemy (ca. 100 CE) described the Bathan region as stretching far to the north all the way up to Turkey.
The Bashan was also known as Basil.
Pliny the Elder (24-79) refers (according to older versions) to Scandinavia as Scatanavia (Nat. 4.27; 37.11) implying "Land of the Scythes" and quotes Pytheas (330 BCE) as namng an immense island nearby "Basilia" (Pliny 4.27; 37.11). From the context is appears that Scatanavia and Basilia were actually one and the same and that the name Basilia was in honor of the Bashan much of which had been ruled over by the Tribes of Gad and Manasseh neighboring the Danes in the north.
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5. Dan and the Sea in Ancient Times.
The Danes (Dananu) ruled over Cilicia in southeast Turkey. At one stage their capital was Adana by Tarsis of Cilicia and their suzerainity reached as far north as Karatepe in Central Turkey.
Gaius Julius Solinus 200s CE said that before the rise of Assyria, Cilicia was one of the four great powers of Asia. Cilicia was the region from which the Dananu made their power effective. They conquered Greece at one stage as well as Cyprus and other areas. The name for Greece in Hebrew is Yavan.
Ezekeil 27: 19 speaks of Dan and Yavan together as trading in iron with the Phoenician city of Tyre.
Ezekiel (NKJV) 27:
19 Dan and Javan paid for your wares, traversing back and forth. Wrought iron, cassia, and cane were among your merchandise.
The Kingdom of the Dananu was known as Smal. It neighbored other Israelite areas such as Yadi from Judah.
These regions were all conquered by Assyria and their inhabitants taken into exile.
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6. The Dispersion of Dan. Denmark and the Sea.
The Tribe of Dan was part of the Lost Ten tribes. They all came together in various areas of Western Europe. We have shown how separate groups from specific Tribes all tended to eventually converge together and re-coalesce.
The Tribe of Dan was prominent in Scandinavia especially in what is now Denmark.
We also find contingents from Dan in Ireland and in parts of England.
Denmark is surrounded by water. Due to Climate Change and rising se-levels Denmark may face problems in the future.
See:
Future sea levels - Klimatilpasning
en.klimatilpasning.dk/knowledge/climate/futuresealevels/
Denmark is known for its Vikings who sailed the seas raiding the coasts of England, Scotland, and Ireland and together with Norwegians settling in those areas.
https://irland.um.dk/en/about-denmark
Denmark consists of the peninsula of Jutland. Danish shipowners deal with ca. 10% of world trade. ... 1,419 islands.... the largest and most densely populated are Zealand, on which the capital Copenhagen is situated, Funen, and the North Jutland Island. The North Sea borders Denmark's west coast, while the islands divide the Baltic from the sea area Kattegat. The Danish islands are thus on the sea lane from the Baltic Sea to the main oceans of the world - and at the same time on the trade route from the Nordic countries to central Europe.
The population is about 6 million. The sea has always been important for Denmark.
Historically Denmark established trading posts and attempts at colonies in North America, a
In the 1600s Denmark (which was then united with Norway) began to develop forts with trading posts in West Africa, and colonies in the Caribbean, and the Indian subcontinent. These efforts however petered out. The colonization efforts of Denmark usually involved close cooperation with the Netherlands.
At one stage the Dutch had colonies in Delaware and in what is now New York State. Individual Danes also served in the British Navy.
Danish ship-owners handle ca. 10% of world trade.
Danish shipping is the largest export industry of Denmark.
It accounts for ca. 20% of Danish exports.
See:
https://investindk.com/set-up-a-business/maritime
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7. The Dispersion of Dan. Ireland.
We identify Ireland primarily with the Tribe of Asher but Dan was also important as were other Tribes.
Dan made his presence felt in Ireland through the Tribe of Dana who ruled over Ireland at an early date. Later the Vikings from both Norway and Denmark were also important. The name Denmark in Danish is 'Danmark' meaning 'Border (or 'Region') of Dan.' Descendants of Dan were also to be found in the British Isles in Celtic times where we find the Rivers Don in the north, the settlement Danum (by the Parisi, as noted by Ptolemy) also in the north, Dannonia in Devon, and the Tribe of Dana in Ireland. Don was also given as an ancestor of the Irish and a female one of the Welsh. The names "Don" and "Dan" in Hebrew are interchangeable.
The Irish may not be popularly known as sailors but when one looks at their history and the figures sea-faring was quite important.
See:
Why did the Irish, still living on an island, never become a naval power like England?
https://www.quora.com/Why-did-the-Irish-still-living-on-an-island-never-become-a-naval-power-like-England/answer/Yair-Davidiy
In Ancient Times the Irish were a sea power. Niall Noigiallach or in English, Niall of the Nine Hostages, was an Irish king, the ancestor of the Ui Neill dynasties. He had a Naval Empire reaching to Scotland and Scandinavia. He was eventually killed on a sea raid to the English Channel.
"Races of Mankind. Their Origin and Migration," by Calvin Kephart, NY, 1960, p.318:
With the advent of Niall Niogiallach, who reigned during 379-405, the supremacy of the overking at Tara became firmly established. He engaged in many sea-raiding expeditions and directed incursions of mixed bands of Scots and Pictavians (Cruithney) from Ireland into Britain. He also established Scottish colonies in South Wales, Cornwall, Devon, and Somerset, and in Argyllshire....
In earlier times the Irish were known as fishermen and pirates. Following the English Conquest these professions were neglected. Irish History came to reflect that of Britain. The British had a navy. Irishmen served in it, identified with it, benefited from it. The British Navy was also the Irish one. Britain was a Naval Power and therefore so was Ireland. At the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805 the British Navy under Nelson defeated the French Navy of Napoleon. More than 25% of the British seamen came from Ireland, mostly from the south. Even after independence numerous Irishmen crossed the seas to serve under Union Jack. About 10,000 Irishmen served in the Royal Navy during World War Two!
See: 'In the Ranks of Death: The Irish in the Second World War,' by Richard Doherty.
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8. The Dispersion of Dan. The West Country and Devon.
Map above Adapted from: https://www.theocelot.co.uk/why-does-a-west-country-accent-sound-remarkably-similar-to-a-lot-of-american-dialects
Devon is a county in South West England. It derives its name from Dumnonia. This is a form of the name for Dan and in ancient times the region was referred to as Dannonia.
The present populations today is about 1,200,000. In the past the Domnoni (Dans) of Devon ruled over neighboring Cornwall but the two places are quite different. The River Tamar divides Devon from Cornwall.
We have become increasingly skeptical about the value of DNA studies but in some short-term respects they are reliable.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devon
A genetic study carried out by the University of Oxford & University College London discovered separate genetic groups in Cornwall and Devon, not only were there differences on either side of the Tamar, with a division almost exactly along the modern county boundary dating back to the 6th Century but also between Devon and the rest of Southern England, and similarities with the modern northern France, including Brittany. This suggests the Anglo-Saxon migration into Devon was limited rather than a mass movement of people.
Devon had a relatively small population. It was part of England. The role of Devon in English Maritime History is much greater than its relative population size would indicate. Devon and Cornwall (to its west) and neighboring areas are often referred to as the "West Country."
Arthur Herman ("To Rule the Waves. How the British navy Shaped the Modern World," Great Britain, 2004) deals at some length with the importance of seamen from the West Country, and especially Devon, in the Naval History of Britain.
# The West Country bred a distinctive kind of mariner... They were inured tot he dangers the sea offered and resourceful... independent intelligence... West Country sailors were notably clannish and suspicious of strangers... a distinct maritime culture... is own values, its own outlook on life, and even its own language... pillagers... the Spanish ambassador dubbed them "savages."
# Yet it was out of this rough, undisciplined, but fearless and resourceful population that the Elizabethan Ages would finds its greatest sailors.... John Hawkins, Francis drake, Walter Raleighn, Humphrey Gilbert, and John Davis, explorer of the Northwest Passage, were all from Devon. They were also related to one another by blood or marriage. Cornwall produced many great families of sailors... Even in the nineteenth century Devonshire supplied the Navy with more officers than any other county in England... when the battle cruiser HMS Repulse arrived in Singapore in 1941, it was known as "Guzzship," because so many of her crew were "Guzzlers" or West Country men - so called for their love of Devonshire cream and Cornish pastries. #
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9. Dan and the Sea.
The Prophetess Deborah described Dan as living in ships. or about to do so since the future tense of the verb is employed (Judges 5:17). Descendants of Dan, like other Israelites, were to be found in "many waters" (Numbers 24:7). Beginning from the Ancient Dananu to the Danes of Denmark, to the inhabitants of Ireland, and the West Country of Britain especially Devon we found a close association between descendants of Dan and the Sea.