Gems-2

No. 1 Selected Articles from Previous Brit-Am Now Postings

Gems of Brit-Am
Ten Tribes Revelation. Selected Articles and Notes from Past Issues of Brit-Am Now
Contents of Gems
No. 1 nos 1359 to 1350

Contents of Gems-2:

Gems of Brit-Am Now No.2 [1359-1350]
Contents:
1. Bo Ronn: Ancient Phoenicians in the Indian Ocean
2. Question on the Khazars, Simeon, and Manasseh
3. Who is "Moshiach ben Menashe"?
4. Edward Anderson: were there THREE separate Israelite Kingdoms?
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1. Bo Ronn: Ancient Phoenicians in the Indian Ocean
1359
#3. Bo Ronn: Ancient Phoenicians in the Indian Ocean
From: Bo Ronn <boronn@netmail.mu>

Good Day, Yair Davidiy and Brit-Am.
Below are some thoughts of a modern seafarer regarding the navigation skills of the Phoenicians / Israelis. I am not an expert in ancient navigation or history, but using only a seaman's practical mind.

Could it be that the seven pyramids found in Mauritius and elsewhere, were used by ancient mariners (Phoenicians) for updating their nautical, astronomical almanac and /or adjusting their navigational instruments?

A known location on land with a free horizon would be of good use for such an operation. I think they could measure and calculate at least rough latitude by observing the meridian passage of heavenly bodies, knowing the declinations.

Longitude would have been more difficult without any instrument measuring time accurately. Perhaps, they used some sort of hourglass (sand in a container sipping through a hole at a known rate) suspended on gimbals. If an hourglass is made zero at a known location a marine observer could find out whether the ship is on the same longitude or east or west of it. Sun's meridian passage would be at the same time on the same longitude and earlier to the east and later to the west. This would be very rough, but better than nothing.

Another method to find the longitude is by measuring the "lunar distance" (navigation.) Did the ancients know this method?

See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunar_distance_(navigation)

I have seen it written somewhere that the Phoenicians were notoriously secretive and closely guarded their findings. It has also been argued that the ancients were once aware of Antartica. As early as the 2nd century B.C. Posidonius (Gr. Philos.) was measuring depths of 1000 fathoms (1829 metres.)

After the East African coast had been explored down to southern Africa and approximate latitude could be determined by astronomical navigation, mariners could have sailed due south from the Horn of Africa and out to the open sea, thus leaving the East African coast line. The mariners would have known that as long as they do not sail beyond the latitude of southern Africa the East African Coast would always be to the west. Sailors prefer the high seas instead of coasting where a minor mistake can cause a disaster on a treacherous reef.

The first group of islands to encounter would have been the Seychelles with its large bank of shallow water. Further south they may have discovered the tiny islands of Agalega and Tromelin or perhaps the vast areas of Saya De Malha Bank and Nazareth Bank which includes Cargados Carajos Islands (St. Brandon) in its southern end. These banks have depths of less than 150 metres and in many regions about 30 metres or less. The shallowest places have depths of 8 metres. A seafarer would have perceived the shallow waters on the banks without soundings. I have been fishing for ten years on Saya De Malha and Nazareth Banks and my impression is that, long ago, parts of these banks were dry land. Perhaps, it was so, during the age of the Phoenicians.

Continuing sailing south the mountains of Reunion and Mauritius or the hills of Rodrigues would have been discovered from far, with high clouds hovering over the islands. Birds also give indication of land. All discoveries logged, each new voyage to the same destination would be easier.

See "wikipedia" or other sites for more information about the banks and islands.

The ancient mariners must have known by experience about the Monsoon Winds of North Indian Ocean and the South East Trade Winds of South Indian Ocean with the cyclone season during summer months. Surface currents in the Indian Ocean are mostly wind generated.

New discoveries in connection with the seven pyramids in Mauritius have been published, on 15 June 2009, in Histories & Mysteries with nice photos. Megalithic walls and hydraulic systems linked with Mauritius pyramids.
See: http://www.histories-mysteries.com/
Thank you, Brit-Am for good works and interesting information. It keeps the mind busy.
Shalom
Seafaring Goth / Bo Ingvar Ronn / Indian Ocean

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2. Question on the Khazars, Simeon, and Manasseh

1358
#2. Question on the Khazars, Simeon, and Manasseh
Yair,
In "The Khazars. Tribe 13" chapter Three you quote Jewish sources based on 1-Chronicles 4:38-42 that claim that the Bible describes elements from the Tribe of Simeon under the leadership of Princes from Manasseh going to Khazaria and becoming the Khazars.
I find this difficult to accept.
Apart from that however, your book is interesting and very detailed.
It makes a good case for the Khazars having been of Israelite origin.
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Brit-Am Reply:

This is what the sources say:

[1-Chronicles 4:38] THESE [from the Tribe of Simeon] MENTIONED BY THEIR NAMES WERE PRINCES IN THEIR FAMILIES: AND THE HOUSE OF THEIR FATHERS INCREASED GREATLY.

[1-Chronicles 4:39] AND THEY WENT TO THE ENTRANCE OF GEDOR, EVEN UNTO THE EAST SIDE OF THE VALLEY, TO SEEK PASTURE FOR THEIR FLOCKS.

[1-Chronicles 4:40] AND THEY FOUND FAT PASTURE AND GOOD, AND THE LAND WAS WIDE, AND QUIET, AND PEACEABLE; FOR THEY OF HAM HAD DWELT THERE OF OLD.

[1-Chronicles 4:41- AND THESE WRITTEN BY NAME CAME IN THE DAYS OF HEZEKIAH KING OF JUDAH, AND SMOTE THEIR TENTS, AND THE HABITATIONS THAT WERE FOUND THERE, AND DESTROYED THEM UTTERLY UNTO THIS DAY, AND DWELT IN THEIR ROOMS: BECAUSE THERE WAS PASTURE THERE FOR THEIR FLOCKS.

[1-Chronicles 4:42] AND SOME OF THEM, EVEN OF THE SONS OF SIMEON, FIVE HUNDRED MEN, WENT TO MOUNT SEIR, HAVING FOR THEIR CAPTAINS PELATIAH, AND NEARIAH, AND REPHAIAH, AND UZZIEL, THE SONS OF ISHI.

[1-Chronicles 4:43] AND THEY SMOTE THE REST OF THE AMALEKITES THAT WERE ESCAPED, AND DWELT THERE UNTO THIS DAY.

Talmud (Baba Batra 123,b) Ishi was of the Children of Manasseh as it says,
AND THESE WERE THE HEADS OF THE HOUSE OF THEIR FATHERS [of Manassseh] , EVEN EPHER, AND ISHI [1-Chronicles 5:24].

The Book of Chronicles in the verses above, in effect tells us that there were two major movements of Simeon. One movement was to the Plains of Gedor formerly possessed by Hamites. The second movement was initiated by 500 men under the sons of Ishi. The second movement was a continuation of the first. It involved "THE SONS OF ISHI": According to the Talmud (Baba Batra 123, 300-500 CE) "the sons of Ishi" were descended from Ishi who is listed later (1-Chronicles 5:23-26)?amongst the Princes of half Manasseh east of the Jordan who were taken into Exile by the Assyrians. The men of Simeon led by the sons of Ishi went northward. They had placed themselves under the leadership of the sons of Ishi who were a Princely Family of the half-tribe of Manasseh. The father of this family was listed amongst the Princes of Manasseh who in the exile of the Northern Israelites were taken to "HALAH, AND HABOR, AND HARA, AND TO THE RIVER GOZAN" [1-Chronicles 5:26]. Rabbinical Tradition linked this movement of Manasseh-led Simeonites to the foundation of the Khazar nation.

[1-Chronicles 5:23] AND THE CHILDREN OF THE HALF TRIBE OF MANASSEH DWELT IN THE LAND: THEY INCREASED FROM BASHAN UNTO BAALHERMON AND SENIR, AND UNTO MOUNT HERMON.
[1-Chronicles 5:24] AND THESE WERE THE HEADS OF THE HOUSE OF THEIR FATHERS, EVEN EPHER, AND ISHI, AND ELIEL, AND AZRIEL, AND JEREMIAH, AND HODAVIAH, AND JAHDIEL, MIGHTY MEN OF VALOUR, FAMOUS MEN, AND HEADS OF THE HOUSE OF THEIR FATHERS.
[1-Chronicles 5:25] AND THEY TRANSGRESSED AGAINST THE GOD OF THEIR FATHERS, AND WENT A WHORING AFTER THE GODS OF THE PEOPLE OF THE LAND, WHOM GOD DESTROYED BEFORE THEM.
[1-Chronicles 5:26] AND THE GOD OF ISRAEL STIRRED UP THE SPIRIT OF PUL KING OF ASSYRIA, AND THE SPIRIT OF TILGATHPILNESER KING OF ASSYRIA, AND HE CARRIED THEM AWAY, EVEN THE REUBENITES, AND THE GADITES, AND THE HALF TRIBE OF MANASSEH, AND BROUGHT THEM UNTO HALAH, AND HABOR, AND HARA, AND TO THE RIVER GOZAN, UNTO THIS DAY.

So far the Khazars are not mentioned but Simeon being lead by Princes from Manasseh are.
Later (but still very early) sources identify these Simeonites and Princes from Manasseh as the Khazars.
We tend to think that the interpretation given to these verses is a correct one.
However even if it is not it still shows that a tradition linking the Khazars with Simeon and Manasseh existed from the earliest sources we have. The Khazars themselves believed in it!
We have additional evidence showing that Simeon and Manasseh were amongst the Khazar people.
Whether or not the verses in 1-Chronicles do really refer to the Khazars is a secondary consideration as far as "The Khazars. Tribe 13" is concerned. The main point is that such a tradition existed and this tradition reinforces other evidence.
See:
"The Khazars. Tribe 13" p.74
##Whether these 500 really did found the Khazar nation or not is largely irrelevant. The point is that Khazar traditions, early Jewish reports, and the writings of their Gentile neighbors all recall the belief that the Khazars were descended from Israelites Tribes with Manasseh and Simeon usually being mentioned.##
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3. Who is "Moshiach ben Menashe"?
1355

#2. Amnon Goldberg: Who is "Moshiach ben Menashe"?
From: thaxted@netvision.net.il

Question:

The Midrash Rabba Bamidbar 14:1 (Naso), talks about Moshiach ben David, Moshiach ben Efrayim and Eliyahu.

On the verse "Gilead is mine and Menashe is Mine" (Tehillim 60), the Midrash says that this is referring to the "Moshiach who will spring from the Bnei Menashe".

Who is this "Moshiach ben Menashe"?


Brit-Am Answer:
See:
"Brit-Am Now"-66
http://britam.org/now/now66.html
In this issue the Midrash you are referring to is quoted by David Sykes.
We also quote it in our reply to him:

Midrash (Numbers) Naso 14;1:
##... "GILEAD IS MINE, AND MANASSEH IS MINE; EPHRAIM ALSO IS THE STRENGTH OF MINE HEAD; JUDAH IS MY LAWGIVER" [Psalms 60:7].
"GILEAD IS MINE", this is Eliyahu who dwelt in Gilead.
"MANASSEH IS MINE", this is the Messiah who comes from the descendants of Manassah as it says, ["GIVE EAR, O SHEPHERD OF ISRAEL, THOU THAT LEADEST JOSEPH LIKE A FLOCK; THOU THAT DWELLEST BETWEEN THE CHERUBIMS, SHINE FORTH.] "BEFORE EPHRAIM AND BENJAMIN AND MANASSEH STIR UP THY STRENGTH, AND COME AND SAVE US" [Psalms 80:1-2].
"EPHRAIM ALSO IS THE STRENGTH OF MINE HEAD;" [Psalms 60:7]. This is the Annoited One [Messiah] for War who comes from Ephraim as it says, "HIS GLORY IS LIKE THE FIRSTLING OF HIS BULLOCK" [Deuteronomy 33:17]. JUDAH IS MY LAWGIVER" [Psalms 60:7]. This is the Final Deliverer (Redeemer) who comes from the descendants of David. ##

A Midrash is usually a saying or interpretation by one of the Sages of the Talmud not quoted in the Talmud.
Midrashim are based on Biblical verses but usually do not correspond with the literal meaning of Scripture.
They may have symbolic or mystical meaning. They are not necessarily to be taken literally and may well contradict each other.
Belief in Midrshim is not obligatory since they do not involve legal halachic decisions.
The Midrash says there will be four Moshichim or Messiahs.
By "Moshiach" (also pronounced "Mashiah") may be understood four anointed leaders.
Elijah
Messiah son of Manasseh
Messiah son of Ephraim
Messiah son of David

Other sources speak of Messiah son of David and Messiah son of Joseph.
Most sources say that Messiah son of Joseph will come from Ephraim but at least one says Manasseh.
There will also be a future leader from Dan.

In Jewish Teaching only believe in a future Messiah son of David is necessary.
May we live and see or God willing our children and their children may.

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4. Edward Anderson: were there THREE separate Israelite Kingdoms?
1354

#1. Edward Anderson: were there THREE separate Israelite Kingdoms?
edward anderson <ea12345678@yahoo.com> wrote:

Dear Yair,
I would like to respond to the article by David Jackson, from Keller, Texas.
It was brought to my attention by reading the works of Edwin R. Thiele-The Mysterious Numbers of the Hebrew Kings-which can still be gotten from Barnes and Noble Book store, that Israel was indeed in a civil war among themselves after king Zimri died. Omri ruled over one part of Israel while Tibni reigned over the other part. One was king of Israel while the other was king over Ephraim. We have the statement of Hosea to verify this time period:
Hosea 5:5- And the pride of Israel doth testify to his face therefore shall Israel "AND" Ephraim fall in THEIR iniquity; Judah shall fall with THEM!!!!!!
As can be seen by a very careful reading of this verse that ISRAEL and EPHRAIM are TWO separate entities at this juncture. I would highly recomend the work of Thiele as it explains a lot of things that scholars for centuries have gotten very wrong in the Biblical understanding. I myself would have stayed ignorant of all of this and a lot more if I had not read Thiele's work. I would appreciate it if you could pass this info on to Mr. Keller for his own edification so that next time he could pass Truth on to other people instead of misinformation or uninformed opinions.

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