Ten Tribes Studies (11 August, 2014, 15 Av, 5774)
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Contents:
1. Alistair Williams: Proverbs 20:5 and Revealing the Identity of the Ten Tribes.
2. John Thornton: Hamas and the Philistines in Hebrew Nomenclature and the Bible
3. Bill Rasmussen:Â I want you to continue to publish information about Israel and Gaza.
4. Lyne Tracy: 2309. Very Good.
5. Ferguson Matthews: We are for the Jews and all Israel!
6. Candace Reagan: An Everlasting Covenant Between God and the Jews
7. Proverbs 20: 8-9 Need to Correct Ourselves as we can.
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1. Alistair Williams: Proverbs 20:5 and Revealing the Identity of the Ten Tribes.
From: Alistair Williams
Re: Brit-Am Now no. 2309. Ten Tribes Studies
#3. Proverbs 20:4-7 In Praise of Faith and Innocence
http://hebrewnations.com/articles/bible/proverbs/proverbs20.html
Shalom.
Perhaps proverbs 20 V 5 could be viewed another way with respect to your work.
The members of LTT gave their identity deeply buried within them. And it requires one with knowledge to draw aspects if their identity to the surface.
God's blessings be with you.
Alistair
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2. John Thornton: Hamas and the Philistines in Hebrew Nomenclature and the Bible
Re
Brit-Am Now no. 2309. Ten Tribes Studies
http://hebrewnations.com/features/now8/2309.html
#1. Prefers Less Politics!
Hi Yair
You and some of us appear to have stirred up a minor, but predictable, hornet's nest.
It appears nowadays that everything is PC, liberal-speak, revisionist and slanted. Doesn't matter whether you are talking gay rights, women's roles, global warming, evolution, crime and punishment or fiscal responsibility. Thus when we express (or just kinda' muse on) a particular view, we are denounced as [agenda-]phobic, misogynistic, remiss in paying our proper share of green taxes, scientifically-illiterate, unnecessarily judgemental, or impervious to the needs of the good old socialist, benefits culture. Thus there is the dichotomy between a) the rolled-off official line (courtesy of mainstream media bias, 'loaded' education, 'celeb-wisdom', religious apostasy, aka blind secularism, and the rest) and b) all other views, which are not mere heresy but worthy of the most virulent condemnation or worse.
As the old proverb goes 'if it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck and walks like a duck, it's probably a duck'. When I look at a circle and compare it with a square, the square is not 'circle-ish', nor indeed is the circle a kind of rounded square. A rounded square is yet another geometric shape called a 'squircle'. They each have a different mathematical basis of calculation for perimeter/circumference and area. Thus, in terms of this analogy, if the circle equates to a duck, then both the square and 'squircle' are geometrically, and definitely, non-duck -- though as to whether that is PC, is perhaps for another day.
You are a Jew and I am a Christian (sorry, but we're finally 'outed' now). We have had our differences of opinion in the past, and probably will have again. But one thing we probably both agree on is the general description of a duck. Isaiah (whether proto- or the real one) makes things rather clearer, but with a minor health-warning: "Woe to those saying to evil `good,' And to good `evil,' Putting darkness for light, and light for darkness, Putting bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter. Woe to the wise in their own eyes, And--before their own faces--intelligent!" (Isa 5:20-21). Oops.
Whatever the history, rationale, expectation or hope, enough Palestinians voted Hamas into power, knowing they had a dangerous anti-Israeli/Jewish agenda with a health warning of its own. I seem to recall that happening in another land once before, and that nation suffered an unparalleled catastrophe in time, and as a consequence. Of course history is all about in the past, as we all know Judaism, Christianity and Islam, peoples and nation states have no absolutely past -- the past was abolished in the 1970's.Â
Similarly chemistry, physics, biology, electronics, engineering, computers, gravity, astronomy, law, language, logic, religion, science, architecture and space travel have no rules or principles. There is no correct/incorrect, black/white, up/down, right/left/wrong in any of them. In fact if you apply the wrong, incorrect or illogical in any of these fields things will work just the same, if not better!
While Hamas in Arabic means, 'enthusiasm', and is an acronym ... interestingly 'hamas' in Hebrew means 'violence', as in Gen 6:11: "The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence".Â
Now I don't know if this is just me with my overly curious and imaginative mentality, but in Zeph 2:5 we read: "Woe to the inhabitants of the seacoast, The nation of the Cherethites! The word of the LORD is against you, O Canaan, land of the Philistines: "I will destroy you; So there shall be no inhabitant.". In Ezek 25:15-16 we also read: "Thus says the Lord GOD: 'Because the Philistines dealt vengefully and took vengeance with a spiteful heart, to destroy because of the old hatred', therefore thus says the Lord GOD: "I will stretch out My hand against the Philistines, and I will cut off the Cherethites and destroy the remnant of the seacoast." Who are the 'Cherethites'? Probably a mixture of Phoenician/Philistine/Cretan population of the day. Do they have any connection to the modern Palestinians? Who knows? Is there a historian in the house?
But perhaps more interesting is the word 'Cherethites' itself. It is from the Hebrew Cheret (k'retim) which is derived from a root word meaning [cutting off and eliminating i.e.] 'executioners'. Now where did I just read that last week!
When Hamas are firing rockets out of bedroom windows and skylights, the living room, bedrooms, kitchen, toilet and loft (plus the folks home next door), rightly or wrongly, become a war zone and as such, a potential target. Of course maybe my pinpoint locations are out by some 10 metres. This has nothing and everything to do with plight of innocent children, but the way to restore peace is very simple -- stop doing it. Is it good parenting to let your child shout, scream, stamp its feet and smash ornaments in a pique of temper and then try to 'work toward another ceasefire' when he just smashed a vase during the last 'window'? Ridiculous? Or perhaps a tad too much 'duck' soup.
Just keep taking the tablets...:-)
Regards
John Thornton
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3. Bill Rasmussen:Â I want you to continue to publish information about Israel and Gaza.
Re
Brit-Am Now no. 2309. Ten Tribes Studies
http://hebrewnations.com/features/now8/2309.html
#1. Prefers Less Politics!
Shalom and blessings to you Yair: I read the comments by the gentleman "G" from Australia. He was somewhat critical of you when he said that you should tone down the politics and hostile commentaries. Well, I am of a totally different opinion on this. I want you to continue to publish information about Israel and Gaza. Isn't the role of all the tribes of Israel to protect and safeguard Israel and all of its interests? Hamas is an evil organization and they need to be exposed for who they are. I am absolutely livid with Hamas, the Palestinians, the UN, nations friendly to Hamas, President Obama and the mainstream media. When you publish information that may sound critical, you are really being a voice for us who have no way to express our anger. I highly encourage you to continue the JN postings as they keep all of us informed. At some point in time in the future, the tribes will be back in Israel and part of our responsibility will be to fight the
 enemies of Eretz Yisrael.
As for "G" and his lack of support for Brit Am, it shows his true heart. He should put his money where his mouth is. If he really believes in the mission of Brit Am he should be helping fund the research. Doing nothing while being critical of you tells me that he is a fair weather friend. Here when it benefits him, but gone when there is a need. Now that those of us who love Brit Am are supportive of you and all that you do. So, continue to publish whatever you believe HaShem is telling you to do. Shalom v'b'richot, Bill Rasmussen Am Yisrael Chai!
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4. Lyne Tracy: 2309. Very Good.
Dear Yair Davidiy
2309. Very Good.
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5. Ferguson Matthews: We are for the Jews and all Israel!
Re
Brit-Am Now no. 2309. Ten Tribes Studies
http://hebrewnations.com/features/now8/2309.html
#1. Prefers Less Politics!
Shalom Yair,
Thanks for your work.  Yes! to be less political is to be less biblical. I like your reply to G.Â
... we are for the Jews and all Israel!
Shavua Tov
Yochanan Ferguson Matthews (and family)
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6. Candace Reagan: An Everlasting Covenant Between God and the Jews
Re
Brit-Am Now no. 2309. Ten Tribes Studies
http://hebrewnations.com/features/now8/2309.html
#1. Prefers Less Politics!
Mr. Davidiy-
Wanted to send support for your "political posts". We are truly living in prophetic times and as Israelites and Covenant People we must STAND for the Covenant, the People, and the LAND. Obviously the Philistines and the entire Muslim world want to wipe ALL of us off the map- they won't just stop at the country of Israel. The Enemy is busy trying to destroy everything as you well know.
Any self proclaimed Christian that says they love the Bible and God yet go against the Covenant People have a few issues. ... ? If the "church" doesn't support Israel and thinks the Palestinians have a right to the Land and hate the Jews, they are calling G-d a liar and throwing His promises and our inheritance in His face. He promised this Land to ISRAEL, he chose ISRAEL as His precious people, Jerusalem is the apple of his eye. Zech. 2:8 For The Lord of Hosts has sent me on a glorious mission to the nations that plundered you, and this is what he says: Anyone who injures you injures the very pupil of my eye. I don't know about you, but if someone pokes you in the eye it hurts!
For anyone that doesn't know what the Bible says about ISRAEL inhabiting the Land:
About Israel, He says, "The land, moreover, shall not be sold permanently, for the land is Mine: for you are but aliens and sojourners with Me" (Leviticus 25:23).
The Land of Canaan, renamed Israel by the Lord, was given by God to Abraham and his descendants as an everlasting possession. In Genesis 12:7a, we read: "The Lord appeared to Abram and said, 'To your descendants I will give this land.'"
In Genesis 13:15, He repeated His promise when He said, "for all the land which you see, I will give it to you and to your descendants forever." He said the same thing in Genesis 15:18, "To your descendants I have given this land."
Genesis 17:7-8 states: "And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your descendants after you. And I will give to you and to your descendants after you, the land of your sojourning, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God."
Jeremiah 31:35-36 declares: "This is what the Lord says, 'He who appoints the sun to shine by day, Who decrees the moon and stars to shine by night, Who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar -- the Lord Almighty is His Name; Only if these ordinances vanish from My sight,' declares the Lord, 'will the descendants of Israel ever cease to be a nation before Me.'"
Abraham himself considered Ishmael as a possible descendant to whom God would give this land. In Genesis 17:18, Abraham said to God, "Oh that Ishmael might live before Thee." But God's answer was, and is, very clear. In Genesis 17:19, God answered Abraham, "No, but Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; and I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him."
God promised to bless Ishmael and to make him a great nation: "And as for Ishmael, I have heard you: I will surely bless him; I will make him fruitful and will greatly increase his numbers. He will be the father of twelve rulers, and I will make him into a great nation" (Genesis 17:20). However, the bloodline of the covenant promise concerning the Land would go through Isaac, not Ishmael.
After Sarah died, Abraham had six more sons by Keturah, as well as others by his concubines, who are ancestors of many of the Arab peoples today. However, the covenant of the Land was not for them: "Now Abraham gave all he had to Isaac; but to the sons of his concubines, Abraham gave gifts while he was still living and sent them away from his son Isaac eastward, to the land of the east" (Genesis 25:5-6). Note that Abraham even sent these sons away from the Land of Canaan.
Jacob received the birthright from his father, Isaac. In Genesis 28:4, Isaac said to Jacob: "May He (God) also give you the blessing of Abraham, to you and to your descendants with you: that you may possess the land of your sojourning, which God gave to Abraham."
But it wasn't simply the words of his father Isaac that guided the future of Jacob. It was a direct revelation from God Himself that convinced Jacob of his destiny. The Lord God revealed to Jacob His message about this land. In Genesis 28:13-15, we read:
"I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie, I will give it to you and to your descendants. Your descendants shall also be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread out to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south; and in you and in your descendants shall all the families of the earth be blessed. And behold, I am with you, and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you."
According to Genesis 36:6-9, Esau took his descendants and all his possessions and went to another land away from his brother Jacob. Esau lived in the hill country of Seir. The Bible tells us that Esau is Edom. It specifically tells us that the descendants of Esau are the Edomites, and Israel was not their land. The book of Obadiah is a proclamation of doom upon the sons of Esau (Edom) for their constant persecution of the descendants of Jacob (Israel): "Because of the violence against your brother Jacob, you will be covered with shame; you will be destroyed forever" (Obadiah 1:10).
In Deuteronomy 1:8, we read: "See, I have placed the land before you; go in and possess the land which the Lord swore to give to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to them and their descendants after them." On the east side of the Jordan River as the Israelites were about to enter into the Promised land, the Lord said to Joshua: "Moses My servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan river into the land I am about to give to them -- to the Israelites. I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. Your territory will extend from the desert and from Lebanon to the great river, the Euphrates - all the Hittite country -- and to the Great Sea on the west. Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them" (Joshua 1:2-4,6).
Joshua then told his people with these words: "This is how you will know that the living God is among you, and that He will certainly drive out before you the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites and Jebusites"(Joshua 3:10). He then told them how the Lord would part the flood waters of the Jordan River so they could cross over to the other side. This is what happened and then the people knew that God was with them, and they conquered the land, region by region, starting with Jericho.
The reality of conflict over the land of Israel is nothing new and in no way indicates that God is not with the Jewish people concerning the land issue today. I have heard Christians say that Israel today could not be part of God's plan, because there is so much war and strife that it can't be of God. However, since when has it been any different? All through the Older Testament, nations rose up to fight against the Jewish people, the descendants of Abraham, in the Land of Israel. From the moment Joshua brought the Children of Israel into the Promised Land, it was a fight to possess the Land. King David was seemingly at constant war with his neighbors, the Philistines. Why should it be surprising that conflict is still happening today? The enemies of God have always fought against His plans.
The prophet Zechariah makes it quite clear that at the end of days, God Himself will make Jerusalem a stumbling block for the nations and will judge them by whether or not they understand and support God's plans for Jerusalem and Israel. If they do, they will be blessed; if they don't, they will be destroyed: "I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that sends all the surrounding peoples reeling. Judah will be besieged as well as Jerusalem. On that day, when all the nations of the earth are gathered against her, I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock for all the nations. All who try to move it will injure themselves. On that day, I will set out to destroy all the nations that attack Jerusalem" (Zechariah 12:1-2,9).
The prophet Isaiah spoke of God's plan to bring His people back to Israel, saying: "He will raise a banner for the nations and gather the exiles of Israel, He will assemble the scattered people of Judah from the four quarters of the earth" (Isaiah 11:12).
When the Jews began to return from the nations of the world at the end of the last century, the land was barren and sparsely inhabited. In the 1860s, the author, Mark Twain, traveled in what was then a backward region of the Ottoman Turkish Empire, called Palestine and described the land, thusly: "Nowhere in all the waste around was there a foot of shade." He called the land a "blistering, naked, treeless land." Of the Galilee, he said, "There is no dew, nor flowers, nor birds, nor trees. There is a plain and an unshaded lake, and beyond them some barren mountains." His summary of Palestine: "Of all the lands there are for dismal scenery, I think Palestine must be the prince. The hills are barren, they are dull of color, they are unpicturesque in shape. It is a hopeless, dreary, heartbroken land."
This description matches the Ezekiel's prophecy of the "barren mountains of Israel" in Ezekiel 36:1-7. However, Ezekiel goes on to say, "But you, O mountains of Israel, will produce branches and fruit for My people Israel, for they will soon come home. I am concerned for you and will look on you with favor; you will be plowed and sown, and I will multiply the number of people upon you, even the whole house of Israel. The towns will be inhabited and the ruins rebuilt. I will increase the number of men and animals upon you, and they will be fruitful and become numerous. I will settle people on you as in the past and will make you prosper more than before. Then, you will know that I am the Lord. I will cause people, My people Israel, to walk upon you. They will possess you, and you will be their inheritance; you will never again deprive them of their children" (Ezekiel 36: 8-12).
Truly, the return of the Jews from over 100 nations of the world is a modern-day miracle. Large waves of immigrants began to come in the 1880s. Since those early days, the deserts have been reforested, the rocky fields made fertile, the swamps drained and planted, the ancient terraces rebuilt, and the ruined cities of old re-established. Israel is now a nation of over six million people that is a food exporting nation that boasts high levels of literacy, health, education and welfare, high technology and agricultural development.
Candace
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7. Proverbs 20: 8-9 Need to Correct Ourselves as we can.
http://hebrewnations.com/articles/bible/proverbs/proverbs20.html
Proverbs 20:
8 A king who sits on the throne of judgement
  winnows all evil with his eyes.
The word translated above as "winnows" is mazarey which more correctly means spread out though it may also have a secondary meaning of winnowing.
The King mentioned here is understand to mean the Almighty judging the world.
God sees everything.
9 Who can say, 'I have made my heart clean;
  I am pure from my sin'?
This verse could also be rendered as:
Who can say I have cleansed my heart, I am purified from my sins.
This is also more logical. Not many would seriously think themselves to have always done the right thing.
We do however tend to assume that whatever bad we may have done in the past is behinds us and that we will not be judged because of it.
This brings us back to the previous verse (20:8): Evil being spread out and judged means that what we have done in the past and what we are now in the eyes of the Almighty
is still in the here and now. For God there is no past and present in our sense.
We must keep our eyes and hearts open and correct ourselves as we can.