Brit-Am Tribal Researches (6 December, 2012. 22 Kislev, 5773)
Contents:
1. Jay: Anecdote Concerning Dogsleds in Canada
2. Speculation. The Tribe of Asher, Nial of Ireland, and the USA.
3. Interesting Article on Issachar and Finland
1. Jay: Anecdote Concerning Dogsleds in Canada
From: J T
Re: BATR-9
#3. Cherie Koch: Norwegian Lars Monson and the Wolf Symbol of Benjamin.
Shalom Yair:
This message will probably not increase knowledge but is humorous.
In WWII a soldier requested an extended leave because his home was in
Calgary Alberta, Canada. First he requested an airplane from New York
to St. Louis. From St. Louis there was "only" a train to Montana,
possibly Great Falls. Canada was accessible from Great Falls to the
Canadian border by a horse drawn stage coach and from the US Canadian
border to Calgary it was by dogsled. Apparently, this petition for
extra leave was accepted, according to the story teller back in 1980.
Jay
2. Speculation. The Tribe of Asher, Nial of Ireland, and the USA.
Deuteronomy 33:
24 And of Asher he said:
'Asher is most blessed of sons;
Let him be favored by his brothers,
And let him dip his foot in oil.
25 Your sandals shall be iron and bronze;
As your days, so shall your strength be.
26 'There is no one like the God of Jeshurun,
Who rides the heavens to help you,
And in His excellency on the clouds.
27 The eternal God is your refuge,
And underneath are the everlasting arms;
He will thrust out the enemy from before you,
And will say, 'Destroy!'
28 Then Israel shall dwell in safety,
The fountain of Jacob alone,
In a land of grain and new wine;
His heavens shall also drop dew.
29 Happy are you, O Israel!
Who is like you, a people saved by the Lord,
The shield of your help
And the sword of your majesty!
Your enemies shall submit to you,
And you shall tread down their high places.'
The Commentators restrict the blessing of the Tribe of Asher to Deuteronomy 33:24-25. The rest of the passage (33:26-29) is considered like a winding-up of additional blessings and prophecies concerning the Israelite Tribes in general.
In our studies however we have suggested that these additional verses actually also apply to Asher or at the least since they follow on from verses expressly concerning Asher then they may be especially pertinent to Asher.
As shown in the verse quoted above, in continuation of the passage, following the blessing to Asher, the nation of Israel is referred to by the name Yeshurun ("Jeshurun").
Fishel Mael ("Sefer Ha-Shevatim") quotes from sources saying that the term "Jeshurun" (Deuteronomy 33:26) though being another name for the whole of Israel has an especial pertinence to the Tribe of Asher. This strengthens our claim.
In our study of Deuteronomy we commented on the blessings to Asher:
On Deuteronomy 33:24 we identified Asher with part of the Scottish and the northern English. Asher was also present in Scandinavia.
Later studies indicated a strong element from Asher in Ireland, from the Milesians who were also known as Scotti, Hiberi, and Gaeli.
On Deuteronomy 33:28 we noted that the expression FOUNTAIN OF JACOB in Hebrew is "Ayin Yaacob" which can also mean "the Eye of Jacob" perhaps referring to the All-Seeing Eye of Providence depicted on the US Great Seal? Yaacob is pronounced as Yankov and gave rise to the nickname "Yank". This would tie in with our finding many from Asher in the USA even though in principle Joseph and especially the Manasseh section is the dominating element.
On Deuteronomy 33:29 we saw a blessing of military prowess to all Israel (THE SWORD IS OF THY EXCELLENCY) but the Scotch, Scotch-Irish, and Irish have often been especially noticeable this field.
We also noticed this blessing indicating that the Israelites would force the non-Israelite peoples to conduct themselves "according to your will rather than their own".
Re Deuteronomy 33:25 Your sandals shall be iron and bronze; As your days, so shall your strength be.
Getting to that portion of the passage that specifically does refer to Asher (Deuteronomy 33:24-25) we explained the expression (33:25) "Your sandals shall be iron and bronze" to be also translatable as "iron and brass will be your safe-guards" or closing statements i.e. what you bargain and trade with.. This prophecy is applicable to the Lowland Scottish.
The Lowland Scottish in Britain and the Scots Irish in the USA were significant contributors towards the shipbuilding, railway, and other industrial enterprises based on the working of iron and brass.
We would add to the above suggestion "iron and brass will be your safe-guards" or closing statements i.e. what you bargain and trade with, that iron and brass (made into weapons) would be the safe-guards and link this to military prowess mentioned further on (33:29).
The word translated as "your sandals" (NKJV) or "your shoes" (KJV, and more accurate) is minaleca. It is from the root "nial" or Ne-A-L connoting closing up. Na-al means shoe. It also means "to lock up". When one gets dressed it may be suggested that putting on the shoes finishes up (locks in place) ones accroutement.
Anyway we have an article,
THE TRIBE OF ASHER IN IRELAND.
For this this article we used the sources:
Tribal Names: The Veniconesby Edward Dawson, 30 October 2010
Tribal Names: Linguistic Analysis and the Origin of Gwynedd by Edward Dawson
and notes by John D. MacClochlainn
Based on these articles and our own previous researches we related the Vandals (of Gothic association and also of Lowland Scotland), the Veneti (of Brittainy in France), the Gwynned (Galadini) of Wales, and the Feni of Northwest Ireland  all with the Tribe of Asher.
In Ireland we had the Milesians (Gaels) who ruled most of Ireland for about 800 years. They comprise about 30% of the Irish and, amongst them, about 2/3 of these are considered descendants of Nial.
[This is also confirmed by DNA studies for what they are worth.]
Different explanations have been given for the name Nial (Neal). One says it is from the Gaelic connoting "one of dark countenance"; another says it means someone of courage; OR
# Uncertain; possibly champion or cloud #.
We have another suggestion which ties in with the blessing to the Tribe of Asher.
In Hebrew NIAL implies # He who Locks Up # It is from the same root as # minaleca # in Deuteronomy 33:25 concerning the Tribe of Asher.
Is there a connection?
Were descendants of Nial to be the closing point-men for the Tribe of Asher?
Descendants of Nial are to be identified with the group otherwise known as Hiberi, Gaeli, Scotti, Milesians.
3. Interesting Article on Issachar and Finland
From: "T. Kupar"
Subject: The Identity of Finland
Shalom Yair.
Here is another study of Finland's identity. Here is a link to it as well:
The Identity of Finland by Raina Salomaa and Allan Reipas
Tapani K.