The Israelite Tribe of Naphtali and Norwegians
Contents:
1. Norway as Naphtali.
2. Naftali -Fishing and Neft - Petroleum.
3. Naphtalite Huns and the Neuri
4. The Alacrity of Naphtali
5. Naphtali, Pacification, and Unification.
6. Naphtali (like Norway) is Progressive.
7. Naphtali and the Rights of Women.
8. Prominent Americans of Norwegian Descent.
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In our work "The Tribes" we identified Norway with the Tribe of Naphtali. Later additional information and new considerations led us to consider the possibility that we had been mistaken in part and that the Tribe of Asher dominated Norway. See: Asher as Norway.
Dan, Naphtali, and Gad were camped together in the north around the Tabernacle. These Tribes are identified as the Danes, Norwegians, and Gothic-Swedes. They were apparently intermixed to some degree so that the attributes of one are occasionally found in the other. See: Asher, Dan, and Naphtali
Nevertheless, we identify Naphtali primarily with Norway. This accords with the relative location of Naphthali regarding the Tribes and other considerations.
It also confirms with aspects of Na[phtali according to the sources, as shown below.
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2. Naftali -Fishing and Neft - Petroleum.
Fishing was very important in the history of Norway.
Here are extracts from a UN report:
# Throughout history, fishery has been a major industry in Norway. Norway's geographical characteristics, the long coastline together with climatic factors has made the country extremely well suited for this industry. Thus, Norway is a major European fishery nation, and has been for centuries. ...For centuries, fish products have been a major export from Norway... # Norwegian fishery was initially a coastal fishery. To a great extent, fishery was combined with small-scale farming. Vessels were small, activity was based on the seasonal migration of fish... the activity was limited to grounds near the coast. Since 1900, great structural changes have taken place. Vessels have increased in size, have been changed from open to sheltered boats and area of operation has expanded from coastal areas to the high seas. #
The territory of Naphtali in the Land of Israel was spread along the western shores of the Sea of Galilee. This is in effect a large fresh-water lake. It still supplies fishing and in the distant past was quite important in this respect.
The Norwegians were mostly spread along the coast. They combined fishing with farming on the coast. The Tribe of Naphtali in Israel had done the same.
Today, Petroleum is very important in the economy of Norway.
# The petroleum industry accounts for around a quarter of the country's gross domestic product (GDP). On a per-capita basis, Norway is the world's largest producer of oil and natural gas outside of the Middle East. #
The Name NAFTALI in Hebrew Lettering also spells NaFT-Eli meaning literally "The Petroleum [NeFT] of My God!
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3. Naphtalite Huns and the Neuri
The Naphtalite Huns were named after Naftali. They settled in Norway. They were also associated with the Danes. The Danite connection reflects the fact that Naphtali and Dan were full brothers the son of Bilhah maid-servant of Rachel. The Naphtalite Huns were also known as the White Huns. It is usually supposed that they were called Huns since at some stage or other in Central Asia they had been part of the Hunn Federation and may have arrived with the Huns when the later conquered Scandinavia. One of the sons however of Naphtali was GUNI and this was an alternate name for Hun. In Eastern Europe and the Caucasus area the sounds for "H" and "G" are interchanged, eg. Mahomet becomes Magomet, so Huni (Huns) became "Guni."
The name Norway is believed to be derived from the Neuri. These were a Scythian people from the Ten Tribes of Israel who settled in Scandinavia. The name "Neuri" comes from the Hebrew "Naar" meaning "youth." The Norwegians were related to as "youths" by their own rulers and by their neighbors. The Tribe of Naphtali had aspects of a "youth."
Fishel MAEL points out that Naftali is often listed in the Bible at the end.
In the Census in the Wilderness (Numbers 1:42).
In the arrangements of the Tribes around the Tabernacle (Numbers 2:29).
In the order of marching forward (Numbers 10:27).
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4. The Alacrity of Naphtali
Naftali was noted for his alacrity (Midrash BaMidbar Rabah 14;11; Midrash HaGadol; Targum Yehonatan to Genesis 49:21).
Genesis 49:
21 Naphtali is a doe let loose; He utters beautiful words.
Naphtali was compared to a female deer (Hebrew: ayalah) which was distinguished by its quickness of movement and speed.
The symbol of Naphtali in Hebrew was an "ayalah" (Genesis 49:21) i.e. a female deer, i.e. a doe or hind.
The Commentators explain that the female deer is faster than the male one. The choice of a female was therefore to stress the gift of fleetness rather than to imply anything else. Nevertheless the simile was made and the implications fit the facts
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5. Naphtali, Pacification, and Unification
The name of Naphtali according to the Commentaries is derived from the word root PTL connoting combining different things together.
The task of Naphtali is to help unify and join the Tribes of Israel together.
The name Naphtali connotes both struggle and unification:
Genesis 30:
1 Now when Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister, and said to Jacob, 'Give me children, or else I die!'
2 And Jacob's anger was aroused against Rachel, and he said, 'Am I in the place of God, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?'
3 So she said, 'Here is my maid Bilhah; go in to her, and she will bear a child on my knees, that I also may have children by her.' 4 Then she gave him Bilhah her maid as wife, and Jacob went in to her. 5 And Bilhah conceived and bore Jacob a son. 6 Then Rachel said, 'God has judged my case; and He has also heard my voice and given me a son.' Therefore she called his name Dan. 7 And Rachel's maid Bilhah conceived again and bore Jacob a second son. 8 Then Rachel said, 'With great wrestlings I have wrestled with my sister, and indeed I have prevailed.' So she called his name Naphtali.
The name Naftali also connotes union since it comes from the word "Naftal" connoting twist around. A wrestler twists around his opponent in struggle but he also is unified with him.
Naphtali may help initiate the final reconciliation between Judah and Joseph.
A Midrash (quoted in the Commentary "Tsror Ha-Mor"): Leaders of Naphtali would send gifts of fruit to the rulers and through flattery and placation mollify the bad reports that had been received concerning themselves.
Naphtali (as explained by the Abarbanel) is a faithful emissary.
Genesis 49:21 'Naphtali is a deer let loose; He uses beautiful words.
Deuteronomy 33:
23 And of Naphtali he said:
'O Naphtali, satisfied with favor.
Abarbanel: Naphtali is sociable, He is "satisfied with favor" good with company and pleasing to all.
The beautiful words and his use of flattery are there to seek compromise and reconciliation.
Rabbi Nathan (main follower of Rabbi Nachman of Braslav) commenting on Naftali says:
"GOODLY WORDS" (Genesis 49:21, Hebrew: "Imri Shepher") connote words that improve the situation and lessen contention. This quality is connected to Royalty since the main point of Kingship is the judgment that emanates from it as it says "The king by judgment will establish the earth" (Proverbs 29).
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6. Naphtali (like Norway) is Progressive.
Genesis 49:21 'Naphtali is a deer let loose; He uses beautiful words.
The beautiful words, in Hebrew "imrei shefer" can also mean "words of improvement." "Shefer" also means to make better, to improve." Naphtali is progressive.
Norway maintains the Nordic welfare model with universal health care and a comprehensive social security system, and its values are rooted in egalitarian ideals. The Norwegian state has large ownership positions in key industrial sectors, having extensive reserves of petroleum, natural gas, minerals, lumber, seafood, and fresh water.
Wikipedia tells us:
# The country has the fourth-highest per-capita income in the world on the World Bank and IMF lists. ...Norway has had the highest Human Development Index ranking in the world since 2009, a position also held previously between 2001 and 2006; it also has the highest inequality-adjusted ranking per 2018. Norway ranked first on the World Happiness Report for 2017 and currently ranks first on the OECD Better Life Index, the Index of Public Integrity, the Freedom Index, and the Democracy Index. Norway also has one of the lowest crime rates in the world. #
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7. Naphtali and the Rights of Women
Genesis 49:21 NAPHTALI IS A HIND [FEMALE DEER] LET LOOSE: HE GIVETH GOODLY WORDS.
Naphtali was compared to a FEMALE DEER i.e. a doe, or hind. According to Midrash each of the Tribes had its own animal symbol. Only some of the equations are known to us, e.g. Judah a lion; Dan a snake, and./or a lion; Ephraim a bull; Manasseh - a unicorn; Benjamin -a wolf; Naphtali - a female deer; Gad possibly a goat; Issachar a donkey; Reuben - possibly a rooster.
Naphtali was likened to a female doe and is the only Tribe whose animal is feminine. This may reflect on their Tribal Character.
The Norwegians gave rise to the Vikings who were formidable warriors and are often justifiably depicted as true "macho" types.
Nevertheless the Norwegians are aware of their "feminine" side. [We are not making judgmental comment on this, just noting the fact].
We identify Naphtali with groups that obtained a dominating influence in Norway. Norway is part of Scandinavia where women in general enjoy more privileges than elsewhere.
Norway is considered to possibly be the most advanced country in the world as far as womens rights are concerned.
# Since the 1980s, Norway's changing governments have always been almost 50 per cent women. #
Norway also endeavors to promote the rights of women rights in developing countries.
Iceland is associated with Norway, and in Iceland the feminist situation is even more progressive.
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8. Prominent Americans of Norwegian Descent.
It is also worth considering descendants of Norwegians overseas.
At the simple level, the British and their descendants represent Ephraim while the USA is Manasseh.
From another point of view the USA possibly has more descendants of Ephraim than of Manasseh and in some ways represents much of Joseph and of Israel.
Representatives and communities from all the Israelite Tribes are to be found within North America.
Two prominent representatives of Norwegi\an descendants in the USA are mentioned below:
Norman Borlaug (1914-2009) was the grandson of Norwegian ancestors. He was an American agronomist who led initiatives worldwide that contributed to extensive increases in agricultural production termed the Green Revolution. Borlaug was awarded multiple honors for his work, including the Nobel Peace Prize, the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal.
The Green Revolution is credited with savng over a billion people worldwide from starvation. The US government and US NGOs funded research improving plants, and agricultural practices worldwide especially in developing countries. Borlaugh who was a Lutheran born in Wisconsin, USA, contributed greatly to these efforts.
Henry Martin "Scoop" Jackson (1912 - 1983) was an American lawyer and politician who served as a U.S. Representative (1941-1953) and U.S. Senator (1953-1983) from the State of Washington. A Cold War liberal and anti-Communist Democrat, Jackson supported higher military spending and a hard line against the Soviet Union, while also supporting social welfare programs, civil rights, and labor unions. Both his parents were Norwegian.
# Jackson, who accompanied American troops at the liberation of Buchenwald, was an ardent Zionist, advocating the creation of a Jewish homeland, then tirelessly defending it. #
# He wrote the 1974 amendment named after him: Jackson-Vanik, which blocked trade benefits to countries that denied their people the right to emigrate. The amendment was intended to pressure the Soviet Union to allow Soviet Jews to emigrate to Israel. #
# Less well-known was another Jackson amendment in 1970, authorizing President Nixon to sell Israel F-4 Phantom II fighter jets on terms that amounted to a grant. These aircraft were essential to Israel throughout the 1970s, when the Soviet Union was supplying advanced aircraft and missiles to Israel's enemies. #
# When Arab armies attacked Israel in the Yom Kippur War of 1973, Jackson mobilized fellow Congressional leaders to demand the urgent resupply of weapons to Israel. From the Arab invasion to Israel's victory, Jackson worked around the clock to ensure that Israeli forces would have the material, diplomatic and political support necessary for victory. ... Without Jackson's intervention, the weapons, which enabled Israel to turn the tide, might well have arrived too late. #Source: "Henry M. 'Scoop' Jackson (1912-1983)," JNS Article.