ORIGIN OF NATIONS Magazine

Exploring Mankind's Wonderful Origins and Diversity

INDEX

Editorial: Back to the Future
Frisians - Sons of Issachar! (part 4)
The Harp of David & The Harp of Ireland
Ashshur the Second Son of Shempages
In Brief
Letters from our Readers

Editorial: Back to the Future

Time has rushed by so incredibly quickly that it is difficult to believe that the preparation for another newsletter has come upon me. Even though it, and related work takes up so much of my time, it is a job worth doing and will, I am sure, bear much fruit in the future.

It is a real joy to receive so many encouraging letters, to see the fruits of ones labours and to serve so many people in this fashion.

This is also the first newsletter in which a new software package is utilised. As you can see, it is a much better and professional production than previous editions. The graphics and maps are a welcome addition to the presentation. Much more use will be made of maps and diagrams in future newsletters and in my various booklets and manuscripts.

Due to the costs involved with the software, I had to make the choice of either combining issues 4 & 5, or publishing a trimmer version on this occasion. The latter choice prevailed.

In the previous issue reference was made to the information now being made available on CD-ROMS. We, too, should utilise modern technology such as CD-ROMs to our advantage. With these enormous resources at hand, we would be in a position to resurrect a wonderful science to its full glory.

In the previous issue I mentioned Beyond the Sambatyon. The Myth of the Ten Lost Tribes CD. I have now been able to view it and recommend it for purchase. The cost would be approximately $50-60.00

It should be understood that this CD has reference to British-Israel Identity as one of several theories that is considered. Amongst the theories are the association of the Lemba tribe in South Africa, the Japanese, Mormon ideas etc with the Lost 10 Tribes. It is most interesting to learn about the other viewpoints, even if one does not agree. The CD is full of wonderful text that may be printed, interviews, background music, voice, maps, photographs and a picture gallery. A real must for any enthusiast. Please write to me if you have an interest in at all in procuring this item. Others on various national groups now available are One Tribe, 500 Nations and others dealing with the ancient world and Bible history.

It would be wonderful if some of the key, but sadly out-of-print material could be reproduced on CD. Hence the title of this editorial Back to the Future. Look at the amazing information no longer available today which, if compacted onto a CD, would be available to the public at large: Bible Research Handbook by the BIWF, The Lost Ten Tribes by Joseph Wild, European and other Race Origins by Professor HB Hannay, Israels Racial Origin and Migrations by Brig.-General WH Fasken plus many others.

Now imagine if we could then add maps, video, charts, voice and cross-referencing what a wonderful tool that would be and a fantastic witness. We could have a series of such CDs on all the nations of Genesis 10. It is important that we think of these opportunities for surely they will arise. And when they do we must grab hold of them with both hands. Let us all pray that God blesses us with such an opportunity so that we might go back to the future.

Frisians - Sons of Issachar! Chapter 4
Zebulun and Issachar - One people Now

In this, part 4 of the series on the Frisians, we are provided with more wonderful insights. The author, Mr Otten, may be contacted at: PO Box 612, 2800 AP Gouda, Holland.

In Jacob's prophetic blessing (Gen 49), Issachar is prophesied to become a servant and is therefore mentioned after Zebulun.

As mentioned before, all the tribes were accused of not having driven out the Canaanites (Jdg 1), with the omission of Issachar.

The lands of Zebulun and Issachar Concerning the several lists of the Israelite tribes in the Bible, The Companion Bible notes in Appendix 45,

"These [lists of the Twelve Tribes] vary according to the different objects with which they are given, and the different connections in which they stand, according to birth: mothers, encampment, numeration, blessing, geographical relation etc. All are worthy of attention and study."

How true! A lot can be learnt from the order in which the tribes are given. Issachar and Zebulun are always mentioned together, except on two occasions.

In sending out the twelve spies, the Issacharite Igal is mentioned as fourth and the Zebulunite Gaddiel as seventh (Num 13:7,10) spy. The second occasion in which the two tribes seem to be split up is when the twelve tribes blessed and cursed the people from Mount Gerizim and from Mount Ebal (Deut 27).

The six tribes to bless Israel were Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph and Benjamin. They were Leah's second, third, fourth and fifth sons, followed by Rachel's two sons, all mentioned in order of birth.

The six tribes to curse the people from Mount Ebal were Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan and Naphtali. First Leah's firstborn son Reuben, then the two sons of Zilpah, Gad and Asher - then in the middle of the four handmaiden tribes, Zebulun, sixth son of Leah - and finally Bilhah's sons, Dan and Naphtali.

Why this order? Why is Zebulun not mentioned after Reuben? Zebulun's place in the second six seems to be illogical at first sight, but if the two lists are numbered, it can be seen that both Zebulun and Issachar are fourth (four is the number of judgement). As the first list is mainly in order of importance and birth, Zebulun had to get fourth position in the second list to be opposite to Issachar. This becomes quite clear by lining up the two lists:

Combining the two lists by zigzagging from one to the other the order becomes, Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Gad, Asher, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Dan, Joseph, Benjamin and Naphtali. This is quite a normal order, except for Gad and Asher squeezed in among Leah's sons. It is as if they were put in there to keep both Issachar and Zebulun at fourth position in the two lists. Thus Issachar and Zebulun are always put together, with the one exception of the list of the twelve spies.

No other two tribes are mentioned together as often as these two. Even Ephraim and Manasseh are separated in at least three lists (Num 13, Jdg 5 and Rev 7). The reason why is quite obvious, Issachar and Zebulun were eventually to become one nation.

Issachar before Zebulun

Conclusions can also be drawn from the order in which Zebulun and Issachar are mentioned. Issachar is mentioned before Zebulun whenever the lists are according to birth, rank or spiritual dominance. Two examples of the latter, Issachar preceded Zebulun in bringing the offering for the dedication of the altar (Num 7) and Issachar was placed on Mount Gerizim, blessing the people rather than cursing them.

Zebulun before Issachar

Whenever Zebulun is mentioned before Issachar (five times) in the enumerations, it always concerns national and physical dominance. Jacob in blessing his children (Gen 49), first blessed Leah's six sons in the order of their birth. Issachar and Zebulun, however, were turned around. Like Ishmael and Isaac, Esau and Jacob and Manasseh and Ephraim had been turned around before them.

Within God's system the younger is often served by the elder. The ten elder brothers were to bow down before Joseph; Judah, the tribe with the scepter promise was the youngest of the first group of Leah's four sons (Issachar and Zebulun were born quite a bit later); King Saul, Israel's first king, came from Benjamin, the youngest son of Jacob; David was the youngest of his family and his elder brothers served him. God's principle, "and the elder shall serve the younger". (Gen 25:23) can be found throughout the Bible. Jesus Christ summed it up in Matthew 20:27-28,

"... but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister. And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant."

In Jacob's prophetic blessing (Gen 49), Issachar is prophesied to become a servant and is therefore mentioned after Zebulun. In Moses' blessing there is no separate blessing for Issachar at all, Issachar is included in Zebulun's blessing (Deut 33).

In Numbers 34, ten leaders for the remaining ten tribes are appointed by Moses to help Joshua and Eleazar to assign the land. Zebulun is mentioned before Issachar. Another example of national dominance.
When Joshua was old, seven tribes had not yet received their inheritance, including Issachar and Zebulun. Joshua 18:10 reads,

"Joshua then cast lots for them in Shiloh in the presence of the Lord, and there he distributed the land to the Israelites according to their tribal divisions." (NIV).

Providence, not luck

Casting lots in Israel meant asking for divine intervention. It is important to realize that the order of events are not dictated here by the order of birth, importance or tradition, but by sheer divine intervention.

Three divine interventions can be noticed with respect to Zebulun and Issachar in the casting of the lots, 1. Zebulun's lot came up before Issachar's lot; 2. the two tribes were not separated in casting, Zebulun's lot came up third and Issachar's lot came up fourth; 3. their territories happened to border. All this was achieved by the casting of lots. It could easily have turned out differently, Joshua 18:19,

"... they left and went through the land. They wrote its description on a scroll, town by town, in seven parts, and returned to Joshua in the camp of Shiloh."

If either Zebulun or Issachar would have drawn the first, Benjamin's lot, or the second, Simeon's lot, then the two tribes would have been seperated. The seven areas had been described with all their towns and villages, hence the aforementioned divine intervention.

Zebulun & Issachar - landlocked

Noteworthy is also that for the sake of prophecy and for the sake of identifying the tribes in the endtime it would be better and more convincing, if neither tribe bordered the sea. The important sea, lakes, rivers and waters these two tribes were to live off in the final two millennia.

Time of the Judges

Judges 4 and 5 tell the account of Deborah and Barak. Judges 5:15 (RV) reads,

"And the princes of Issachar were with Deborah; as was Issachar, so was Barak."

Deborah may have been of the tribe of Issachar (or Zebulun). Fact is that Issachar is mentioned after Zebulun in verse 14. Zebulun precedes Issachar again in national dominance. In Deborah's song (Jdg 5), Zebulun is mentioned twice. In the prose account of the events (Jdg 4), Issachar is not mentioned at all. Quite likely because it is included in Zebulun!

Daberath & Tabor

Further proof of such an inclusion is found when forty-eight towns were assigned to the Levites. Four towns were ceded by Zebulun and four by Issachar. One of the latter four was Daberath (Jos 21:28). Daberath, however, lay in Zebulun's territory (Jos 19:12)! So the Issacharites ceded a Zebulunite town. In David's time a similar event happened (I Chron 6:77). At that time, Zebulun ceded the Issacharite town Tabor.

As mentioned before, all the tribes were accused of not having driven out the Canaanites (Jdg 1), with the omission of Issachar. A reason for this omission could be that they were included in Zebulun in Judges 1:30,

"Neither did Zebulun drive out the Canaanites ...".

The Issacharites, being a kind of Zebulunites with a kind of servant relationship to the proper Zebulunites (Deut 33), would not be held responsible in this line of reasoning.

Zebulun omitted

Long genealogies are given in the first book of Chronicles from Adam to the time of David and Solomon. I Chronicles 2:1-2 mentions the twelve sons of Israel. From I Chronicles 2:2 to I Chronicles 8:40 the genealogies and descendants are given of the twelve tribes.

This is the only list in which Zebulun is not mentioned at all. This is sometimes accounted for as follows: Zebulun had three sons, Sered, Elon and Jahleel, but no grandsons. These three sons only had daughters. Zebulun's granddaughters were given an inheritance in Israel like the daughters of the tribe of Manasseh received an inheritance among the sons (Jos 17:3-6).

Chronicles

Although Zebulun is not mentioned in I Chronicles 2-8, it is most likely included in Issachar in I Chronicles 7:5,

"The relatives who were fighting men belonging to all the clans of Issachar, as listed in their genealogy, were 87,000 in all."

To be able to appreciate this high figure of Issacharites (they were not even mentioned in Judges 1!), it should be noted that the highest number for a tribe had been 76,500 for Judah in Numbers 26. In I Chronicles 7:1-5 is the enormous total of 145,600 Issacharites, if all of the Issacharites mentioned in verse 2 (22,600), verse 3 (36,000) and verse 5 (87,000) are added up. These were all the able bodied men from twenty years and older, able and ready to defend Israel. Compare this with Reuben, Gad and half Manasseh (I Chron 5:18), who together put 44,760 men in the field, and also with the tribe of Benjamin, mentioned in I Chronicles 7:6-12, who could muster 59,434 men. It is very likely that the figure of 145,600 Issacharites contained all the Zebulunites as well. Traditionally they were both very populous tribes (Num 1 and 26).

Judah, Issachar & Zebulun

Judah, Issachar and Zebulun marched together under Judah's standard during the forty years in the desert. In Numbers 26 the three tribes numbered 201,300 men, about a third of the total of 601,730 men for all of Israel.
Although Zebulun is not mentioned in I Chronicles 2-8, it certainly is in I Chronicles 12:33. In I Chronicles 12, "the numbers of the men armed for battle who came to David at Hebron to hand over Saul's kingdom to him" are mentioned here.
Ephraim 20,800, Dan 28,600, Naphtali 38,000, Asher 40,000, Reuben, Gad and half Manasseh 120,000, and then the highest figure of all, Zebulun 50,000.
I Chronicles 12:32 and 33,

"men of Issachar, who understood the times and knew what Israel should do - 200 chiefs, with all their relatives under their command; men of Zebulun, experienced soldiers prepared for battle with every type of weapon, to help David with undivided loyalty - ['not of double heart'(KJV), not with Dutch courage!] 50,000;" (NIV)

Zebulun had the highest turnout of all the tribes. It is interesting to see what Josephus has to add to this, Antiquities of the Jews, VII, II, 2,

"... Out of the tribe of Issachar came 200 who foreknew what was to come hereafter, but of armed men 20,000. Of the tribe of Zebulun 50,000 chosen men. This was the only tribe that came universally in to David; ..."

House of Orange

This choice of Zebulun for the House of David is reflected in the loyalty and love of the Dutch to the House of Orange, which is of Davidic descent (through the English, Scottish and Irish kings). In sports the Dutch do not defend their national colours (red, white and blue) but they, play for Orange (voor Oranje spelen). Josephus records the amount of Issacharite soldiers, 20,000, which is not mentioned in I Chronicles 12 and he also accounts for the high Zebulunite number.

Combining I Chronicles 12:32-33 and the comments of Josephus with I Chronicles 7:1-5, it all seems to fit nicely. The remaining "brethren among all the families of Issachar" numbered 87,000, of which 50,000 Zebulunites and 37,000 Issacharites; the latter would also show that not all of the tribe of Issachar went over to join David at Hebron as the Zebulunites did.

One Nation

Zebulun and Issachar, continuously mentioned together, became very closely affiliated in the past and even more so now at present: the Hollanders and Frisians have amalgamated into one nation.

The Frisians have been spread out so much over the Low Countries and migration out of Friesland has been so great and constant, that it is no wonder that the whole nation of the Netherlands shows both strong Zebulunite as well as significant Issacharite characteristics. This does not mean of course that all Issacharites/Frisians are living in the Netherlands today.

On Mount Gerizim:
1. Simeon (Leah's 2nd son)
2. Levi (Leah's 3rd son)
3. Judah (Leah's 4th son)
4. Issachar (Leah's 5th son)
5. Joseph (Rachel's 1st son)
6. Benjamin (Rachel's 2nd son)

On Mount Ebal:
1. Reuben (Leah's 1st son)
2. Gad (Zilpah's 1st son)
3. Asher (Zilpah's 2nd son)
4. Zebulun (Leah's 6th son)
> 5. Dan (Bilhah's 1st son)
6. Naphtali (Bilhah's 2nd son)

The Harp of David & The Harp of Ireland

In 1982, when I began to study Suzanne Haik-Vantoura's The Music of the Bible Revealed, I decided to build two lyres (after ancient illustrations) to get a feel for how such ancient music was accompanied. In time I realized I needed something more to do the biblical chant justice: a professionally-made harp, preferably a Celtic harp (such as Haik-Vantoura's recordings used).

I'd learned some years earlier of the persistent traditional link between the Irish harp and the "harp of David". Haik-Vantoura's choice of modern instrument was not based on this link, but on sound quality — but the coincidence intrigued me all the same. In 1984 I bought a Walton Ballad Harp (a 22-string lap harp no longer made) and had it shipped all the way from Dublin. Having a Celtic harp led me quickly (via Sylvia Woods) to the Markwood King's Count 5 harp, Celtic harp music, the Folk Harp Journal, and to harping in general (classical, folk, traditional, sacred, early, ancient). In 1994 I had Glen Hill repair and upgrade my Walton harp, transforming it into a modern version of the nevel 'al-'alamot : the 12-string "alto" harp of biblical times.

Still, my curiosity about the link between "David's harp" and the Irish harp persisted — and still does. Much has been written about the Celtic harp, Celtic music, Celtic cultures and peoples — but almost never has it been in the light of who the Celts and later Northwest Europeans are, where they all came from, or why. One happy partial exception is the account of Leo Maguire of Walton's Musical Instruments:

"It is reasonable to assume that when the Celts first entered Europe from the Near East, they brought with them a fairly advanced type of harp. The harp had been in use, in one form or another, for many thousands of years before the warlike, romantic, poetic and musical Celts began the first of their many migrations over the European mainland or though the Mediterranean Sea. They, however, were destined to perfect their chosen instrument, to give it a mystic, almost religious significance in their culture."1

The musicological work Dialogo della Musica Antica by Vincenzio de Galilei (1581), familiar to many readers of the FHJ, has this interesting remark about the Italian harp:

"This most ancient instrument (commemorated Dante) was brought to us [Italians] from Ireland, where such are most excellently worked an in a great number; the inhabitants of the said island have made this their art during the many centuries they have lived there and, moreover, it is a special undertaking of the kingdom; and they paint and engrave it in their public and private buildings and on their hill; stating as their reason for so doing that they have descended from the Royal Prophet David."2

Until recently, I could learn little more about the connection between the harps of David and Ireland. Much has been written over several centuries about the historical and prophetic connection between the "Assyrian Captivity" of Israel (that is, the "Lost Ten Tribes" out of twelve or thirteen) and the ancestors of today's Northwest Europeans. Much of this writing, however, has been done by people with little or no knowledge of the Hebrew language or of true historical method, and is filled with false leads (or historical or even racial prejudices) that has led to the discrediting of the whole thesis.

Actually, the Israelite origins of the Northwest Europeans (including the peoples we call "Celts") was fairly common knowledge six centuries ago.3 Some early historical sources are explicit on this matter. The belief also seems to have been a common one (to one degree or another) among the American colonists. Thanks to a recent, detailed historical study by Yair Davidy,4 the works of E. Raymond Capt,5 and works by other authors — and to Suzanne Haik-Vantoura's work on the "biblical chant" — I can say a little more about the "harp of David" (which became the "harp of Tara", symbol of Ireland).

According to the Bible, God made certain irrevocable covenants with, and promises to, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and their descendants. Among these were detailed promises to the individual tribes of Israel. One of these was the promise of the "birthright" to Joseph and his two sons, Manasseh (to be a "great nation") and Ephraim "to be a "multitude" or "assembly of nations").6 Another was the promise of the "sceptre" (the kingly line) to Judah, then later to David and his family (which was to rule over Israel forever).7
The episode of Jacob and his "pillow-stone" is well-known (Genesis 28: 10-22). Here, for Jacob's benefit, God confirms and expands the promises already made to Abraham and Isaac. The Encyclopedia Brittanica (11th ed.) notes how Irish tradition links this "pillow-stone" with the "Lia-Fail":

"Inisfail, a poetical name for Ireland. It is derived from 'Faul' or 'Lia-Fail', the celebrated stone, identified in Irish legend with the stone on which the patriarch Jacob slept when he dreamed of the heavenly ladder. The Lia-fail was supposed to have been brought to Ireland by the Dedannans [the famous Tuatha de Danaan] and set up at Tara as the inauguration stone of the Irish kings ...Inisfail was the island of the Fail, the island whose monarchs were crowned at Tara on the sacred inauguration stone."8

Davidy, Capt and many others before them have noted the testimony of several ancient historians (such as Diodorus) linking the Tuatha de Danaan with Israel and the Exodus: a group of Israelites who became the Danaans of Greece before sailing to Ireland.9 Similar links were made anciently between Israel and the Milesians (who entered Ireland by way of Spain), the royal House of Troy (from whence came many ancient European royal houses), and the Irish royal house. These last two are apparently from the Jewish House of Zarah, not of Pharez (from whence came the House of David).

To sum up a great deal of prophecy, history, and tradition: the prophet Jeremiah was commissioned to "root up", then to "replant" "nations and kingdoms" (Jer. 1:10). This included the House of David, which was to be removed from Judah and replanted in "Israel" — that is, among the early colonists and later exiles of the Ten Tribes (cf. The Book of Ezekiel). After the Babylonians conquered Jerusalem, Jeremiah had charge of "the king's daughters", the last survivors of the family of Zedekiah, last king of Judah. He and these princesses were kidnapped and later brought to Egypt by fleeing Jews. After these Jews (and Egypt) were taken captive by the Babylonians, nothing more is told (in Scripture) of Jeremiah or the princesses — though God had promised that Jeremiah and Baruch would always have their lives "as a prize of war" and that a few Jews would escape this second captivity.

What happened to Jeremiah, Baruch and the king's daughters? Apparently, according to Irish tradition, Jeremiah (aka "Ollam Fodhla", "a patriarch, a saint, a prophet") and his scribe Baruch ("Simon Brug, Brach, Breack, Barech, Berach")brought to Ireland an "eastern king's daughter" named "Tea-Tephi" 10 (itself a very Hebraic "pet name": "my dear little toddler" [?], a portable stone called the "Lia-Fail" ("Stone of Destiny", said to be the stone Jacob anointed at Bethel), an "ark" (the famous "lost ark" of the covenant — are you listening, Indiana Jones?) and a harp: none other than the "harp of David". Here is what Capt tells us (remember, the "Lia Fail" was later taken to Scotland, then England as the "Stone of Scone"):

In the "Chronicles of Eri", by Milner, we find Eochaidh, the husband of Tea Tephi, associated with the Stone Lia Fail. The account is titled, "The Story of Lia Fail", and states: "In the early days it was carried about by priests on the march in the wilderness (hence the much-worn rings still attached to it, one on each end). Later it was borne by the sea from East to West, 'to the extremity of the world of the sun's going' (an expression used by the Romans to describe Britain). Its bearers had resolved, at starting, to 'move on the face of the waters, in search of their brethren'. Shipwrecked on the coast of Ireland, they yet came safe with Lia Fail ...Eochaidh 'sent a car for Lia Fail, and he himself was placed thereon'."

The story of the Stone was then repeated by his order, "And Erimionn (Heremon) was seated on Lia Fail, and the crown was placed upon his head, and the mantle upon his shoulders, and all clapped and shouted." And the name of that place, from that day forward, was called "Tara" (spelled "Tamhra" in the Irish language). The fact that the story of the Stone was reeated by his...order suggests definitely that this Stone was of ancient origin and custom, quite possibly of the earliest Israelites.

Another version lists Tea Tephi as being the daughter and heir of King Zedekiah (Scota, her younger sister, having married in Spain), who accompanied Jeremiah to Ireland to meet and marry Eochaidh. In this version Tea was made Queen at her husband's coronation (by Jeremiah) on the Stone of Bethel. The name of the capital is said to have been changed from "Lothair" to "Tara" and the Harp of David became the national emblem.(11)

Granted, the Irish bards (revered only just less than their kings, just as were the priests, prophets and psalmists of Israel) were allowed to color their stories with invention (just as were the Jewish authors of extra-biblical literature). Yet the basic facts of the story had to remain unchanged (again, as among the Jews). It so happens that the "Stone of Scone" very closely matches (by chemical and mineralogical tests) samples of calcerous sandstone (12) found near the Dead Sea, (13)but not any type of stone found in the British Isles. (14) This is, of itself, presumptive proof of the veracity of the Irish traditions.(15)

Thus the "harp of David" (traditionally, buried with Tea Tephi at an unknown site) became a powerful symbol of Ireland, in the poetic, mystical, national and political senses. This "harp of Tara" — the inspiration for the harps on Irish flags and on the British royal arms, and directly or indirectly for the ancient and modern Celtic harps themselves — was originally not the khinnor (ten-stringed lyre) David usually played, but the nevel (twelve-stringed harp) which he also used (as did the Jerusalem Temple service).

Reasonably, the Irish had their own ancestral tradition of lyre- and harpmaking, brought in by themselves and no doubt by any ancient Phoenician traders that happened to come their way. (16) But the harp and lyre were no less sacred to the Israelites in Erets Yisrael than to their later "Celtic" (17) brethren; these instruments were called "instruments of the song of God" when used for psalm-singing under David's direction (1 Ch. 16:42, Hebrew). "David's harp", brought by Jeremiah, (18) was a natural symbol for the Irish (and later the English) royal houses and for Ireland itself.

There are interesting connections between early Celtic music (of the Celtic Church or even earlier) and various forms of music in the Middle East. What about a connection between ancient Irish music and that which David actually played? Or between Welsh, Scottish, English, Breton, Scandinavian, French, etc., music and that of ancient Israel — since all these peoples are largely descended from Israelite tribes with a syncretic national religion very similar to that of the later druids, for which fault (among others) northern Israel was exiled by the Assyrians?

We are handicapped by the lack of direct ancient sources for music in the British Isles and Israel (outside the Bible). However, we do have long-standing oral/aural traditions both in the Isles and among the Jews, a number of histories and historical relics of varying value, and now the "music of the Bible" deciphered by Haik-Vantoura's. This last art form gives us an interesting clue indeed: a modal system adapted to the tuning and playing techniques and instruments available to Celtic and Middle Eastern harpers and lyres. The biblical modal system combines the common diatomic and diatonic-chromatic "modes" of traditional Jewish and Celtic music into one coherent theoretical whole. Moreover, the harmonic structure of the Psalms' melodies is reminiscent of that of much later art and folk song in Europe, especially among the Northwest Europeans and North Italians. (19) Why is this? "Israel" (the Ten Tribes) and "Judah" (Judah, Benjamin, and most of Levi: the "Jews") were from early times distinct entities which increasingly went their separate ways, fulfilling separate destinies. It is only natural that Israel's sacred and secular music would take a different direction from Judah's. Even in biblical times, Israel seems to have preferred a more diatonic, "major" modality; Judah, a more chromatic, "minor" one.(20) All the same, there was, and would have remained, a relationship between the two peoples' music — one which seems to be borne out generally even today.

It is remarkable that those who write historical fiction based on the Celtic experience ignore the Israelite connection, so prominent in the traditions and early histories. (But then, Israel and Judah were continually condemned by the prophets for their syncretism, if not for being "more pagan than pagans" and happy to stay that way!) I plan (God willing) to correct that oversight one day, in a novel of my own (which will not neglect the role of "David's harp"). Watch this space!

Footnotes:

1. Irish Airs for the Harp, arrangements and introduction by Eamonn O'Gallagher, historical notes by Leo Maguire (Dublin: Walton's Musical Instrument Galleries, Ltd., 1968).

2. My thanks to Raymond F. McNair for this quote, as I do not have a copy of Galilei's work.

3. This knowledge has long been the special preserve of the "Sabbatarian" Churches of God, heirs of the first-century Hebrew-Christian Church. The early apostles preached not only to the Jews, but to the Ten Tribes. Cf. Herman L. Hoeh, "Where Did the Twelve Apostles Go?", published by the Worldwide Church of God, Pasadena, CA. 91123; and Dibar Apartian, "Les Pays de Langue Français Selon La Prophetie" (same address).

4.Yair Davidy, The Tribes (Russell-Davis Publishers, Hebron, Israel). Copies may be obtained by the author in Susia, Hebron Mountains, 90401, Israel.

5.His Jacob's Pillar describes the history of the British royal line and its ancestors, as well as of the famous "Stone of Scone" on which Irish, Scottish and English kings have been crowned. Missing Links Discovered in Assyrian Tablets gives interesting information on the captive Israelites as described in Assyrian and later records. These may be obtained from the author at Artisan Sales, P.O. Box 1497, Thousand Oaks, CA 91360. U.S.A.

6.Which are universally identified as the U.S. and the British Commonwealth, by those who believe in the historical paradigm I describe here. For more details, see the aforementioned historical works.

7.The British Royal House is Jewish, both from the House of David and (through intermarriage with other royal houses) the House of Zarah, distant great-uncle of David.

8.Cited by Capt, Jacob's Pillar, p.42.

9.Some biblical archeologists today reverse the truth; they claim that Dan (who "abode in ships", Judges 5:17) was a non-Israelite tribe that came from Greece!

10.Who is confused in Irish tradition with another Tea or Teah, the daughter of Ith, who lived considerably earlier."Tea-Tephi" would sufficiently distinguish Zedekiah daughter from this earlier Tea.

11.Capt, Jacob's Pillar, p.32. This Irish king was apparently himself of the Jewish House of Zarah, whose hand had been bound at birth with a scarlet thread marking his rights as firstborn — from whence came the "Red Branch" of Ulster. The Ulster arms still bear a red hand on a white Star of David, all superimposed on a cross and with a royal crown overhead. "Tara" seems to come from Tamar ("palm tree", symbol of beauty and exaltation), a feminine name famous in David's family.

12.Oddly enough, the normal rock found near Bethel is limestone! Jacob slept in what was probably a defunct "high place" near the city, which might explain the use of special imported rock — if the "stone of Scone" is in fact "Jacob's pillow-stone" which he set up and anointed as a "pillar". To make matters even more interesting, the usual site identified as Bethel — near modern Beitin — is quite probably wrong. Anyone want to poke around Bireh, the alternate site, for an outcrop of purplish, calcerous sandstone?

13.These tests confirm the Stone of Scone and these samples were in origin "very close in time and space", according to the official test report. Capt informed me of this privately, after the publication of the above-mentioned books (he was not then aware of the test results).

14.Irish, Scottish and English kings down to the present (all directly interrelated by marriage) have been crowned on this stone. One would think this fact, and the Davidic ancestry of the Royal Houses, would have been sufficient to unite the English, Scottish, Welsh and Irish symbolically and politically under the British Crown. It seems too bad that unity had to be imposed by force and suppression!

15.Which is not to deny the confusions rife within them: e.g., Jeremiah's "Lia-Fail" with a standing pillar still extant at Tara (itself having mystical legends surrounding it), and the description of Tea Tephi as a "daughter of Pharoah" (which, given King Zedekiah's relations with Egypt, a possible alliance via marriage, and the later sojourn of the "king's daughters" in Egypt, may be close to the truth.

16.Israel and Phoenicia, by the way, allied to form a "worldwide" trading network from the time of Solomon onward. It is mentioned again and again in the Old Testament, directly or indirectly.

17.Often the invading Israelo-Celts (in at least two waves, after 1400 and after 700 B.C.) are confused with a much earlier native culture in the Isles, as are the later waves of Cimmerians, Saxons, Jutes, etc. — likewise Israelite — with other peoples who came with them out of captivity or invaded Europe from Asia.

18.Ireland boasts two sites for Jeremiah's grave — the Middle East, none. One of the Irish sites — the one not far from Tara — is probably (contrary to Capt) the cairn of Eochaidh, who was himself later called "Ollam Fodhla" and died "in his own house at Teamhair (Tara)". The other site, known (says Capt) since time immemorial as "Jeremiah's Tomb", is a rock-hewn tomb — by that fact alone more consistent with the practice of Jeremiah's Judah — in a cemetery on Devonish Island, in Lough Erne.

19.Was a particular "tonality" passed down, or (more likely) rediscovered to the natural "ethos" of the British and other Northwest European peoples? Was "Greensleeves", say (which sounds very "Davidic", in comparison to his Psalms), written by a distant descendent of David? Who can say?

20. Though in saying so, one risks overgeneralization of the evidence from biblical chant, which after all was written mostly by Jews. However, David's Ps. 122 — written from the viewpoint of Northern Israelite pilgrims to Jerusalem — and other Psalms associated with the Ten Tribes, plus the Song of Songs and other texts, give interesting hints about this.

ASHSHUR THE SECOND SON OF SHEM

Publishers Information

The inexorable rise of Germany - our leaders could know if they were able to track the Assyrians and Hittites out of the Near East and into Europe. They would then take the necessary precautions.

his article examines some of the roots of Assyrian iniquity. This is important because in future the terrifying Assyrian beast is going to rise again. Ashshur was the second son of Shem (Genesis 10:22). At the birth of his second son, Shem thought that he was greatly blessed by God, so he called his son Ashshur. In Hebrew Ashshur means blessed, fortunate, happy, upright. In Aramaic Ashshur means blessed, strong. Shem the God fearing one would have diligently instructed Ashshur in the ways of God. Later Ashshur rejected God and served Satan instead. The influence of Nimrod no doubt would have played a part in this. For example Nimrod was known to be a mighty hunter. Many of the much later descendants of Ashshur in imitation of Nimrod became some of the most fanatical hunters of lions the Middle East had ever known.

THE WORLD AFTER THE FLOOD

Ashshur was the father of the Assyrian people. In the Bible, readers frequently see the term Assyria. Whenever one sees Assyria in the Bible, the Hebrew text behind this translation reads Ashshur. The Hebrew term Ashshur occurs about 150 times in the Hebrew Old Testament. For most of these occurrences, Ashshur is translated Assyria. In some of these occurrences Ashshur is transliterated as Asshur. Ashshur is both the name of a person and a nation. Ashshur was also the name of city.

After the flood, the only 8 survivors of the worldwide flood and their descendants went to the land of Shinar and settled there (Gen 11:2). 'The whole earth was of one language and of one speech' (Gen 11:1). At some time Cush begat Nimrod. Nimrod became a mighty hunter before the LORD: wherefore it is said, Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the LORD' (Gen 10:8,9). Later 'they' the people 'said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for mortar. And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the earth' (Gen 11: 3-4). Here the people including Nimrod said 'let us build us a city and a tower'. At this time Nimrod was NOT a dictator ruling over the earth's people as had been commonly suggested. There is no suggestion of this in scripture. The post-flood people decided to build a city and a tower to avoid being scattered over the face of the whole earth. This constituted rebellion against God's command for the people to be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth (Gen 9:1). God wanted the people to multiply and fill the whole with lots of people. The people did not want to fulfil God's desire by letting themselves be scattered over the whole earth. Babylon became the centre of the post-flood rebellion against God. 'And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech. So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city. Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth' (Gen 11:5-9). The people including Nimrod were scattered away from Babel. Babel and Babylon are the same place. At some later time the cities Babel, Erech, Accad and Calneh became the beginning of Nimrod's kingdom (Gen 10:10). Genesis 10:10 is the first place in the Bible where the term 'kingdom' is mentioned. The kingdom of Nimrod was the first post-flood kingdom. Nimrod was its king. A kingdom must have a king and a king must have a kingdom. Nimrod was the first post-flood king. The descendants of Nimrod later became known as Sumerians in secular history. There were also other various descendants of Nimrod who migrated to other places. Nimrod was the first of the seven human kings that had fallen (see Rev 17:10).

ASHSHUR - FOUNDER OF A GREAT AND POWERFUL NATION

The second human king was Ashshur the second son of Shem. Ashshur with his descendants left the land of Shinar in Southern Mesopotamia and built a number of cities in the north. Out of that land went forth Asshur, and builded Nineveh, and the city Rehoboth, and Calah, And Resen between Nineveh and Calah: the same is a great city (Genesis 10: 11-12 KJV). It was Ashshur not Nimrod that founded the Ashshur nation in Northern Mesopotamia (see Appendix A). A better Hebrew translation is given as follows. Out of that land Ashshur went forth and built Nineveh and broad pathways of city and Calah and Resen between Nineveh and Calah: that is the great city (Genesis 10: 11, 12 My Hebrew translation). The phrase that is the great city in verse 11 was referring to the word city in verse 12. All the four things that Ashshur built were considered as part of one city. You could call this city the Nineveh complex. Ashshur first built Nineveh a sub-city. After he had finished Nineveh he built broad pathways or roads outside Nineveh to various destinations. One of these pathways would have went to the future site of Calah. Then Ashshur built Calah a sub-city about 35 kilometres south of Nineveh. No other place mentioned in Genesis 10 was called a great city. This presupposes that there was a power shift from the southern plain of Shinar dominated by Nimrod to the newly created Ashshur state dominated by Ashshur himself. The place Resen mentioned in verse 12 in Hebrew literally means bridle.

ASSYRIAN CRUELTY

Over a thousand years later some Assyrian kings mentioned that they bridled the lips of some captives. This practice involved piercing the lower lip of a victim and putting a hook or a ring right through it. Then a rope or a cord was attached to the hook or ring. Sometimes captives with their lips bridled were pulled through the streets of Nineveh to celebrate an Assyrian triumph. This degrading practice was very cruel in the way it was carried out. Ashurbanipal the last great Assyrian king was even more cruel. In his inscriptions he said that he pierced the jaw of a captured Arabian king with a dagger and put a rope through it. He then said that he put a dog chain on him and made him guard a dog kennel. Ashurbanipal said that he was ordered to do this by the god Ashshur the chief god of the Assyrians and by the god Ninlil Ashshurs consort (p130 Forbes). One wonders what evil did Ashshur do in Resen. So far the place Resen (Heb. bridle) has never been found by archaeologists. It would appear that the ancient Assyrians inherited their cruel practices from Ashshur their ancestor. The later Assyrian kings often with great pride boasted about the cruelties they inflicted on their victims in their personal inscriptions. Many Ancient Assyrians sadistically enjoyed torturing and killing people in abundance. Assyrian art was full of idolatry, militarism, mass deportations and brutality. There was more killing, murder, death, brutality, sadism and beastiality displayed in Assyrian art than in any other ancient art found in the Middle East.

AMAZING LIGHT THROWN UPON THE ASSYRIANS IN THE BOOK OF EZEKIEL

More Information about Ashshur is to be found in Ezekiel 31.

hinneh ashshuwr erez ballevanown (Hebrew text of Ez 31: 3a transcribed in English letters)
behold ashshur a cedar in the Lebanon (literal Hebrew translation)

Most English translations do not translate Ez 31:3 correctly. Ashshur the second son of Shem became a great cedar in the Lebanon. The phrase the lebanon was referring to the dense forests that once existed all over the Middle East before land degradation set in. Ancient Assyria would have been once soon after the flood well forested. The passage Ezekiel 31:2-18 compares the person Pharaoh the king of Egypt with the person Ashshur. In comparing apples with apples and oranges with oranges Pharaoh, the person the king of Egypt is compared with Ashshur the person the ruler of the first Assyrian empire. Just as the person Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon was called a tree (Dan 4:20-22) Ashshur the person was called a cedar in Ezekiel 31: 3-18. Ashshur became an exalted cedar. The waters made him great (Ez 31:4a (comp Rev 17:1, 9, 15)). The deep made him grow tall (Ez 31:4b). The Hebrew word for the deep is tehom. In the Septuagint Greek translation the Hebrew word tehom is translated by the Greek word Abussos. In the New Testament the Greek word Abussos is translated as the deep or the bottomless pit (see Rom 10:6, 7; Rev 17:8, 11:7). It was said in Sennacheribs personal inscriptions that the god Ashshur grew abundantly in the Abyss (p149 Luckenbill 1924, p288-290 The Assyrian Dict. Vol. 17 Pt. 1, p185 Parpola). In the same tablet Ashshur was called the king of heaven and earth (p149 Luckenbill 1924)(SUCH BLASPHEMY !!!).

Behold Ashshur a cedar in the Lebanon (Ez 31: 3a). The waters made him great, the set him up on high with her rivers running round about his plants, and sent out her little rivers unto all the trees of the field. Therefore his height was exalted above all the trees of the field, and his boughs were multiplied, and his branches became long because of the multitude of waters, when he shot forth. All the fowls of heaven made their nests in his boughs, and under his branches did all the beasts of the field bring forth their young, and under his shadow dwelt all great nations (Ez 31:4-6). Ashshur became the most powerful person on the earth. Yes more powerful than Nimrod. He was higher than all the trees of the field. All great nations dwelt under his shadow. This would have included Egypt, Aram, Nimrodia, Elam etc. Thus was he fair in his greatness, in the length of his branches: for his root was by great waters. The cedars in the garden of God could not hide him: the fir trees were not like his boughs, and the chesnut trees were not like his branches; nor any tree in the garden of God was like unto him in his beauty. I have made him fair by the multitude of his branches: so that all the trees of Eden, that were in the garden of God, envied him (Ez 31: 7-9).

Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD: Because thou hast lifted up thyself in height, and he hath shot up his top among the thick boughs, and his heart is lifted up in his height; I have therefore delivered him into the hand of the mighty one of the heathen; he shall surely deal with him: I have driven him out for his wickedness. And strangers, the terrible of the nations, have cut him off, and have left him; upon the mountains and in all the valleys his branches are fallen and boughs are broken by all the rivers of the land; and all the people of the earth are gone down from his shadow, and have left him. Upon his ruin shall all the fowls of the heaven remain, and all the beasts of the field shall be upon his branches: To the end that none of all the trees by the waters exalt themselves for their height, neither shoot up their top among the thick boughs, neither their trees stand up in their height, all that drink water: for they are all delivered unto death, to the nether parts of the earth, in the midst of the children of men, with them that go down to the pit (Ez 31: 10-14). God judged Ashshur for his wickedness.

Thus saith the Lord GOD; In the day when he went down to the grave I caused a mourning: I covered the deep for him, and I restrained the floods thereof, and the great waters were stayed: and I caused Lebanon to mourn for him, and all the trees of the field fainted for him. I made the nations to shake at the sound of his fall, when I cast him down to hell with them that descend into the pit: and all the trees of Eden, the choice and best of Lebanon, all that drink water, shall be comforted in the nether parts of the earth. They also went down into hell with him unto them that be slain with the sword; and they that were his arm, that dwelt under his shadow in the midst of the heathen (Ez 31: 15-17). God cast wicked Ashshur down into hell. Ashshur is the second of the seven great kings to fall (Ez 31:16, Rev 17:10). This all happened not that long after the flood.

After Ashshurs fall his descendants worshipped his image. In the Old Assyrian period the Assyrian rulers called themselves regents of the god Ashshur. They did not call themselves kings. In their theology Ashshur was the true king. The capital city was Ashshur. In this city the image of Ashshur was held.

THE RISE OF SARGON THE GREAT

Meanwhile southern Mesopotamia was ruled by the Nimrodian Sumerians who spoke Sumerian. Later a man called Sargon arose. He was a less favoured son of the Assyrian ruler Ikunum. Not much is known of his mothers background. Sargon became prominent in Akkad. In battle Sargon defeated a Sumerian called Lugal Zaggesi the king of Erech. This was the beginning of the decline of Nimrodian Sumerian power in Mesopotamia. Eventually the Nimrodian Sumerians were to be completely supplanted by Shemitic peoples. Sargon the king of Akkad then went on to conquer much of the Middle East including Mesopotamia, Elam, parts of western Asia Minor and possibly even Egypt. He founded the Sargonide Akkadian dynasty. He worshipped a variety of gods. On one seal found in Turkey was found this inscription divine Sargon regent of the god Ashshur son of Ikunum regent of the god Ashshur (p46 Grayson 1987). This was one of Sargons personal seals. The name Sargon means legitimate king. He and his descendants ruled a large empire from Akkad. After this dynastys fall Assyria was ruled by Amorite rulers who came from the west. Shamsi-Adad an Amorite made Assyria into a very significant kingdom. Afterwards the Hurrian Mitanni annexed Assyria. For quite a while Assyria was a vassal kingdom. After Ashshur-ubalit the king of Assyria threw off the Mitannian yoke, Assyria became a great kingdom. The rise and the fall of the later Assyrian empire is another story.

The fall of Ashshur has a great lesson for us all. Those who are wicked will receive Gods certain judgement. Hebrews 10:31 says, It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. People everywhere must repent from their sin and turn to God the father through his son Jesus Christ.

APPENDIX A: IT WAS ASHSHUR THAT WENT FORTH

Asshur the second son of Shem went forth out of the land of Shinar and built Nineveh, Rehoboth, Calah and Resen (Gen 10:11, 12 KJV). In this case the King James Version gives the correct translation ('Out of that land went forth Asshur..'). A number of other translations incorrectly translate the first phrase of Genesis 10:11 like this; 'Out of that land he [ie Nimrod] went forth to Assyria'. But there is no Hebrew preposition el which means 'to' in the Hebrew text behind this phrase. Neither is there a Hebrew suffix ah which means to suffixed to the Hebrew proper noun 'ashshuwr in the original Hebrew of Genesis 10:11a. In Isaiah 19:23 however the suffix ah is actually suffixed to the Hebrew word 'ashshuwr with the result that Is 19:23a correctly reads In that day shall there shall be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria. Furthermore neither does the Hebrew verb for 'went forth' in Gen 10:11a mean 'went forth to'. Hebrew tradition like in the book of Jasher 10:32 and the Septuagint Greek translation of the Old Testament both agree with the King James Version translation of Gen 10:11a. A number of modern Jewish translations also agree. So the rendering 'Out of that land went forth Asshur' of Gen 10:11a is the CORRECT TRANSLATION. See the English transcription of the Hebrew words of Genesis 10: 11, 12 accompanied by the English translations below.

min haarets hahiw yatsa ashshuwr wayyiven eth niyneweh

from that land Ashshur went forth and built Nineveh

weeth rehovoth iyr weeth kalah
and wide streets of city and Kalah
weeth - resen beyn niyneweh uwveyn kalah hiw haiyr haggedholah
and Resen between Nineveh and between Kalah, she the city the great one

Note: in Hebrew the noun subject of a sentence very frequently occurs just after the verb rather than before.

REFERENCES

The Assyrian Dictionary; Oriental Institute, Chicago, 1989
Forbes, C.; Documents of the Assyrian Empire (1115 - 612 B.C.); The Australian Institute of Archaeology, Melbourne, 1986
Grayson, A Kirk; Assyrian Rulers of the Third and Second Millennia BC (To 1115 BC); University of Toronto Press, Canada 1987
Grayson, A Kirk; Assyrian Rulers of the Early First Millenium BC: I ( 1114 - 859 BC ); University of Toronto Press, Canada 1991
Luckenbill, Daniel David; Ancient Records of Assyria and Babylonia, Volume II; University of Chicago Press, 1927
Parpola, Simo; The Assyrian Tree of Life: Tracing the Origins of Jewish Monotheism and Greek Philosophy, Journal of Near Eastern Studies; University of Chicago Press, Vol 52 No. 2 January 1993

IN BRIEF

JAPAN'S GROWING MIGHT by Richard Luke

The recent 50th World War 2 anniversary celebrations put the spotlight on Japans militaristic nature and reluctance to apologise.
Though Britain has received an apology for wartime atrocities and crimes, Japan refuses to fully apologise to Australia. This intransigent stand has its roots in Japans Biblical origins - a nation that has always desired to forge into a great nation.

Japans ancestor was Tarshish, a son of Javan - one of Japheths seven sons from whom are descended many goyim (or gentile) nations. The term goyim is translated heathen 148 times in the Authorised Version of the Bible. It implies nothing concerning religion, meaning simply, nations or non-Israelites or foreigner. On occasion it may refer to Israel.

And as we shall see in the coming years, Tarshish will be a highly antagonistic foreigner of Gods Israelitish nations!

Keep in mind that we are talking about the descendants of Tarshish who settled in a far easterly location from the Mesopotamian region - the cradle of civilization - and are known as the Eastern Tarshish (for proof see the booklet The Central French, Northern Italians, Spanish and Japanese).
Most commentators believe Western Tarshish to be Tartessus, located on the coast of south-western Spain (see Jonah 1:3). Here dwells the European descendants of Tarshish. But what of the Tarshish that dwelt in Asia Minor? What became of them?

It is my belief that they became the Japanese. Prophecy indicates that the Japanese will become a great warrior people in the end time: see the prophecies in Ezek 27:5; Is 66:19b; 60; 8-10. It is clear that Japan will be allied to a German-led United Europe.

The Japanese are a very gifted people. They may use these talents for good or evil - it is up to them to make the right choice.

I am grateful to Yair Davidy for providing an extract from a book Israelites und Hyksos by Martin Gemol, Leipzig, 1913. Following is a rough paraphrase from the German: Germany is likened to Gomer in the Midrash ... Medieval Arab authors say that the Assyrians are from the same source as the Germans ... Barhebraeus wrote that The Germanikah are a people in Mosel (Nineveh) who came from Persia ... Arab tradition have the Germanikah as Assyrians (pages 88-90).

Readers may be interested to know that I have been able to gather a lot more information on the subject, particularly identifying the Hittites of Anatolia with the northern Germans. All of this will be incorporated in the next edition of Who Are The Germans?

In the first century famous Jewish historian Josephus wrote the following concerning the descendants of Cush:

Some, indeed of its names are utterly vanished away; others of them being changed, and another sound given them, are hardly to be discovered; yet a few there are which have kept their denominations entire: for of the four sons of Ham, time has not at all hurt the name of Chus, for the Ethiopians, over whom he reigned, are even at this day, both by themselves, and by all men in Asia, called Cushites ( Antiquities 1:6:2).

Indeed, the nations and tribes of East Africa, southern India and other far-flung peoples descend from Cush. All of this and more will be explored in forthcoming material.

People sometimes ask why are there 70 names mentioned in this mysterious chapter of the Bible?

This number represents perfect spiritual order (EW Bullinger, Number in Scripture, page 270). It indicates that all of the worlds nations are listed in the table. If you were to read the account in Numbers 29:12-34, you will see that the Israelites sacrificed 70 bullocks at the Feast of tabernacles on entering the Promised Land (type of the Kingdom). The Jews later wondered why 70 bullocks were sacrificed and they searched the scriptures to find out why - and so must we!

Offering a bullock was no ordinary sacrifice. The sacrifice of a young bull was required for the forgiveness of sin of the nation of Israel. In contrast, the average citizen merely needed to offer a goat, lamb or dove. Thus a bull represents a nation, and these 70 bulls represented the various nations of Genesis 10. Noah had 3 sons plus 67 grandsons and great grandsons etc. As a result of their search of the scriptures, the Jews found the answer. This is described in the Talmud: To what do these seventy bullocks correspond? To seventy nations ( Sukkah 55b). A footnote reads: Seventy is the traditional number of Gentile nations, and the seventy bullocks are offered to make atonement for them. When the Kingdom of God is set up on earth, all the nations will be washed clean and their sins forgiven and be able to begin afresh, reconciled to their Creator.

Here we have another item from History Research Projects in the ongoing series on the modern-day identity of the nations of Genesis 10.

In this book we discover where the Chinese, south-east Asians, Pacific Islanders and American Indians originate. What truth is there to Magogs descendants settling in the Far East? What became of the sons of Tiras? They seem to have disappeared from the Near East soon after the Flood. What relationship was there between Tiras, the Minoans and American Indians? Do the Pacific Islanders descend from a son of Cush and how did they manage to find their way into the Pacific? This book should be available in November. The estimated cost is $9.50.

Will there arise a national European socialist empire? Will the Europeans adopt a form of European Nazism? Already sinister signs are beginning to appear of a slow, but sure rise of Germany to European pre-eminence. Already Germany is the economic and financial leader of all Europe. Will that be translated into political, foreign policy and military muscle over the next few years and decades?

Note the following quote from Suddeutche Zeitung, Munich, 10th May 1995: Russia actually has no reason to celebrate [VE Day] ... there remains the bitter realization that Russia has lost one of the most decisive battles of this century, the Cold War. It was won by Germans ...

In close association to this is the fact that Germany is being forced to get more and more involved in the shocking civil war in the Balkans. Note the following: The Croat war machine that stormed [blitzkrieg!] the Krajina Serb capital of Knin in just 30 hours last week did not rise from a Balkan mist. In spite of the UN arms embargo, it has been honed into a formidable force equipped to fight high-intensity warfare ... cash, weapons and military training have been supplied by sympathetic emigres in the United States and Germany (Sydney Morning Herald, 8th August, 1995).

The article continues Fiercely nationalist elements in the Croatian military believe they are Europes front line against Balkan chaos - drugs, crime and Muslim fundamentalism. There is a long tradition. Croat legionnaires were the Hapsburgs shock troops against Italian revolutionaries and the wartime puppet state did the Nazis dirty work against Serb partisans ... Croatian agents ... have been on a billion-dollar spree, spiriting large quantities of former East German weapons across its borders.

LETTERS FROM OUR READERS

Following are some letters and notes from our readers. We are sure that they will be of interest to you. We look forward to all mail sent to us, and, I can assure you, every item is read and suggestions carefully considered. So please write to us with your suggestions and comments.

Reprinting of articles permitted

Letter:
Dear Sir,

I wish you success with your new periodical Origins of Nations. The Editorial committee has no objections to you reprinting any of the articles which have appeared in the Covenant Report.
Yours sincerely
Barry E Clark
Vice President
for Editorial Committee
New Zealand

Comment:
Thank you so much for your kindness. As and when I have space, I shall endeavour to reprint certain of your articles. I consider your publication to be one of the best British-Israel publications I have seen. Due acknowledgement will be given to the source of the material.

Disagrees with article

Letter:

Dear Sir,
I refer to Australia and Sinim: Some Thoughts by Richard Luke November 1994.
While agreeing generally with the article, I would like to make the following observations,
1. Australia is identified as Sinim - or Land of the south in Hebrew I find unconvincing, as this could more likely refer to such nations as South Africa ...
2. A country that will go into captivity at the hands of the gentiles. While there is no doubt that nationally Australia deserves this punishment, it is not necessarily the action that our Great God will take ... [the correspondent then lists 4 reasons why he feels such a captivity will not occur].
A few moments thought soon reveals that since the various tribes moved into England, as God planted them, there has never been a foreign nation set foot on British soil, and that includes Australia, in anger ... Will punishment come before Jesus Christ returns to establish his Kingdom? Well consider these verses, If you do not obey the Lord yor God, ... the alien who lives among you will rise above you higher and higher , and you will sink lower and lower. He will lend to you, but you will not lend to him. He will be the head and you will be the tail (Deut 28:15-43).
Charles J Orr
South Australia

Comment:
Sir, we graciously and humbly heed your opinion and understand your point of view. Mr Luke's article reflects a school of thought which believes that a warning should be trumpeted to the House of Israel in these times. Some label it the captivity doctrine, while others call it the Ezekiel Message. In effect, this school of thought feels that if the descendants of Joseph do not repent, God will send them into captivity in far away lands to learn a terrible lesson that they will never forget. Whether or not our peoples will find themselves in slavery and abject horrors remains to be debated. Thankyou very much for your contribution. Please do write to us again at any time.

Observations on Who are the Germans?

Letter:

I am pleased to acknowledge the revamp of Who are the Germans? ... first accept my commendation for a research job well done and your giant effort of referencing your work ... [the writer then proceeds to draw my attention to certain areas where the work may be fine-tuned. As the letter is almost 3 pages, it cannot be reprinted here].
I have little debate with you over your references to Hittite and Assyrian peoples settled as Deutschers in modern-day Deutschland, but it would be better to describe them as residents of Deutschland and not as Germany if for no other reason than to void confusion in what you are attempting as a prophetic enterprise ... you have done a superb job in bringing together a complex and obscure subject, and thereby contributed extensively to the addition of knowledge.
Regards for success,
Don Sisson, Secretary
Ogham Historical Society
Queensland

Comment:
Your advice to me has been heeded and all suggestions will be taken on board at the time of the next revamp. Thankyou also for your kind words.

Gratitude for information on the origins of the Eastern Europeans

Letter:

I felt I should write to you ... it means so much to me that I will have the chance to learn more about the Eastern Europeans and their history, because ... I am Ukrainian myself ... it will help me with Bible Study at home, and what to expect the things which are coming soon ... I thankyou for your kind service.
All the best
Peter Piliszko
New South Wales

Comment:

It is always wonderful to receive such warm and sincere words in writing. I can assure everyone that this is a labor of love - I make no profit out of this effort. It is done out of a drive to serve and spread the word. It is a genuine effort to help others who seek after this sort of knowledge. In fact, I do not have a single volunteer to assist. To date, I am the only person who organises History Research Projects and Origins of Nations newsletter. Eventually, I expect that others may assist me as they are able.

Publisher's Note:

Articles and advertisements are welcome, but nothing that is inflammatory, overly political, doctrinal or extreme will be considered. This is simply a vehicle to espouse the modern identity of ancient peoples listed in Genesis 10 & 49. The views expressed in any article are those of the authors and not necessarily that of the publisher or editor. All articles remain the copyright ©property of the authors or History Research Projects

Advertising is available at the rate of 20c per word or group of numbers (including the address). The editor reserves the right to edit any advertisement. Flyers are also welcomed at the rate of $20.00 if they are provided; or the cost of printing plus $30.00 if Origins of Nations is sent a hard copy for printing.