The Link Between the Lost Tribes of Israel and the People of Wales: An Unexpected Discovery

 

It’s remarkable the kind of information one can come across when doing some research. Investigating one topic can, and in this case, lead to an unexpected area. One that I never even thought to question. I do not remember how I came to explore the possibility of King Arthur being a real historical figure. I do, however, recall in college taking an origin of medieval Britain class, and the professor stating that King Arthur was more than likely the son of a retired Roman soldier who held off Saxon invasions. My findings on King Arthur are for another time, but it was during this that I uncovered both primary and secondary sources attesting that the people of Wales belong to one of the lost ten tribes of Israel. 

From Assyrian Captivity to Troy and the British Isles 

This may sound preposterous, but it could be a possibility, and I believe the records make for a persuasive argument. Alan Wilson contends that some of the Israelites, to what capacity is unknown, were relocated to the city of Troy following the Assyrian captivity. 

“And the sovereign of Ashshur (Assyria) went through all the land, and went up to Shomeron (Samaria) and besieged it for three years. In the ninth year of Hoshĕa, the sovereign of Ashshur (Assyria) captured Shomeron (Samaria) and exiled Yisra’ĕl (Israel) to Ashshur (Assyria), and settled them in Ḥalaḥ and Ḥaḇor, the River of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.” (2 Kings 17:5-6)

Some researchers/ historians support the idea that it is likely that, following the fall of Troy, the occupants of the city fled to the Island of Britain. The man who led the refugees was none other than Brutus of Troy, who, according to legend, became the first King of Britain. It is from Brutus that the Island supposedly got its name, and is the reason why the people became known as Britons. Historian Bernard Jones, in his book The Discovery of Troy and its Lost History, details why he believes, among other things, that there is historical evidence that the British people, in part, are descendants of the Trojans. 

If it’s possible that a portion of the tribes of Israel was sent to Troy following their captivity, then it might be the case that some of them traveled with Brutus to Britain. Humor me, if you will, and let’s say they were because the following information leads me to believe there might be some validity to these claims. 

Early Conversion of the Celtics 

The people who lived in Wales before and after the Roman occupation of Britannia (Britain) were known as the Celts. You may be familiar with them, and I have spoken of them in my post “Pagan Holidays, Halloween.” It appears to be the case that the Celtics had a blended form of religion, utilizing Druidism and Biblical themes. 

“Welsh were Gnostic Christians from around 58 A.D.” (Wilson, Alan, and A. T. Blackett. Artorius Rex Discovered. Cardiff: King Arthur Research, 1986. Pg.8)

58 AD or CE is very early on and vastly sooner than the time of St. Augustine’s arrival, who is credited with converting the island to Catholicism. Wilson and Blackett’s statements are supported by the Old English Chronicles.

“Meanwhile these islands…received the beams of light…that is…Christ…at the latter part, as we know, of the reign of Tiberius Caesar.” (Giles, J. A. Six Old English Chronicles, of Which Two Are Now First Translated from the Monkish Latin Originals: Ethelwerd's Chronicle, Asser's Life of Alfred, Geoffrey of Monmouth's British History, Gildas, Nennius, and Richard of Cirencester. London: George Bell & Sons, 1882. Pg. 302)

Tiberius reigned from 14 CE to 37 CE, Yeshua was crucified in the year 33 CE.  That leaves just 5 years from the time of Yeshua’s ascension back into Heaven and the end of Tiberius’ reign. It is speculated that either Paul or Peter, if not both, went to Britain to spread the good news. That’s quite a journey and seems rather expedited as well. For Yeshua told his disciples to,

Yeshua sent these twelve out, having commanded them, saying, “Do not go into the way of the nations, and do not enter a city of the Shomeronim, but rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Yisra’ĕl (Israel).” (Matthew 10:5-6)

 They were first to go to where the lost sheep of the house of Israel were. This is a bit problematic, as no one knows if they belong to one of the lost ten tribes, at least not now. It could be, however, that the disciples knew of possible locations where the tribes could have been scattered, thus their reason to travel to the British Isles so soon.

The Hebraic Traditions followed by the Celtic Church 

According to historical records, the Celtic Church fervently resisted the Catholic Church’s attempts to convert the people. It appears the early Celtic Church had strong ties to Torah, which could be due to Peter and Paul teaching them the way.

“Biblical Law began to be introduced into the civil realm. In 432 Patrick wrote Liber Ex Lege Moisi (Book of the Law of Moses), which was applied by local chieftains or kings throughout Ireland.” (The Origin of Common Law, in America’s Providential History by Mark Beliles & Stephen McDowell p.39-41)

Having been taught the true way to follow the Messiah, the Celtic people started to keep Torah as they sought to be imitators of Yeshua. 

“The shared elements include the keeping of the Saturday Sabbath, tithing, the definition of "first fruits'' and offerings, the establishment of walled precincts for the priestly/monastic families, inheritance of religious office, and fasting and dietary restrictions…Other scholarship suggests that Irish Churchmen of the seventh and eighth centuries actually considered themselves to be Priests and Levites, as defined under Old Testament law.” (Leslie Hardinge "The Celtic Church in Britain", London, 1972, quoted and summarised by Deborah K. E. Crawford, "St. Joseph In Britain: Reconsidering The Legends. Part 2", Folklore 105 (1994): 51-59)

“...the prominence of Hebrew features in Irish canon law collections (including Biblical cities of Refuge and Jubilee Years) together with Mosaic prohibitions on diet and injunctions on tithes...There was also a Hebrew treatment of the sanctuary ...and finally there were many Hebrew words occurring in cryptographic monastic Irish works such as Hisperica Famina.” (Mrs. Winthrop Palmer Boswell, "The Roots of Irish Monasticism", California, 1969.)

“Mosaic parallelisms found amongst early Celtic Christians include the prohibition of sex in the menstrual period and after birth, also ritual animal slaughter was kept, and usury was prohibited…Old Testament Biblical injunctions were generally regarded as binding... Members of the Celtic Church were suspected by the Roman Catholics of Judaizing and its members in Scotland were accused of really being Jews.” (Baigent, Leigh, & Lincoln. "The Messianic Legacy", 1986, 1987 U.K.) Though if the Celtics were part of the house of Israel, they would not be Jews but Hebrews, for further clarification check out “Israel and Judah”. 

An Intriguing Possibility 

If all of this is true, that some portions of the lost tribes were sent to Troy and then left with Brutus to settle the British Isles, that Peter and Paul traveled to the Isles because they knew some lost sheep from the house of Israel lived there, and following Peter and Paul’s visit the Celtic people remember who they were and started to follow Yeshua Messiah in Torah obedience. Then it does cause one to wonder why the official history is taught so differently from what actually happened. 

Acts Chapter 29

After reading that subheading, you might have opened up your Bible to discover that Acts stops at chapter 28 (unless you're using the Cepher version of the Bible). However, in recent years, a document was found containing the 29th chapter of Acts. Known as the Sonnini Manuscript, named after Charles Nicolas Sigisbert Sonnini de Manoncourt, a French nobleman and naturalist who was raised in Jesuit education. Acts 29 was found with his other writings detailing his journeys in Greece and the Ottoman Empire in modern-day Turkey, along with a document from the Sultan allowing Sonnini to travel in the Ottoman Empire. Sonnini’s copy of Acts 29 came from an ‘original’ Greek version of Acts 29 that was housed in the Archives at Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul). 

The major thing I want to go over, and why it applies to this article, is that Acts 29 details Paul’s journey to the British Isles to visit with the druids. These people, Paul claimed to be a member of the lost sheep of the House of Israel, corroborating the aforementioned sources.  

“And Paulos, full of the blessings of Mashiach, and abounding in the spirit, departed out of Rome, determining to go into Spain, for he had a long time proposed to journey thitherward, and was minded also to go from thence to Britain. For he had heard on Phoenicia that certain of the children Yisrael, about the time of the Assyrian captivity, had escaped by sea to "The Isles afar off" as spoken of by the Prophet (Esdras), and called by the Romans – Britain. And the Adonai commanded the Good News to be Proclaimed far hence to the Gentiles (nations), and to the Lost Sheep of the House of Yisrael.” (Acts 29:1-3)

 This is the exact mission Yeshua gave his disciples, and Paul, to go out to those who had been divorced, the House of Israel, and let them know that a way was made for redemption (Redeeming the Bride, Israel and Judah). And as this message spread across the land, even those of gentile birth would hear the good news, and so be given a chance to enter into covenant with Yah Elohim.    

“And they departed out of Spain, and Paulos and his company, finding a ship in Armorica sailing to Britain, they were therein, and passing along the south coast, they reached a port called Raphinus. Now, when it was voiced abroad that the apostle had landed on their coast, great multitudes of the inhabitants met him, and they treated Paulos courteously, and he entered in at the east gate of their city, and lodged in the house of an Hebrew and one of his own nation (tribe).”  (Acts 29:7-8)

Paul came from the tribe of Benjamin, which belongs to the House of Judah, informing us that both houses occupied land in Britain. Perhaps this is how Paul knew that some of the lost sheep of the House of Israel lived on the island? After delivering the message of the Kingdom, the druids came to speak with Paul face-to-face.

“And it shall come to pass that certain of the Druids came to Paulos privately, and showed by their rites and ceremonies that they were descended from Yehudim (from the tribe of Judah) which escaped from bondage in the land of Mitzrayim (Egypt), and the apostle believed these things, and he gave them the kiss of Shalom.” (Acts 29:13)

This makes the Druids distinct from those who arrived in Britain following Assyrian captivity, as the House of Judah was not taken by them, and the Druids point to leaving Egypt as their branching off moment. Are they the descendants of Zerah from the tribe of Judah who left the rest of Israel soon after the Exodus from Egypt? Is it possible that they moved to Greece, Troy, Gaul, before finally settling in Britannia? Whatever the case, they felt the need to prove to Paul that they were, in fact, from that line (tribe of Judah), and after witnessing their rites and ceremonies, Paul had concluded that they were telling the truth. 

All of this is rather exciting, as I feel there is something extremely important concerning the British Isles and Israel. It became the habitation for both Judah and Israel, and that’s not by coincidence, but why?  What mysteries are still waiting to be revealed? What piece(s) of history, long forgotten or hidden, are waiting to be (re)discovered?    

I hope this has sparked some interest in researching the matter for yourself. Continue to test all things, and may the Ruach Hakodesh lead you into all Truths.      

P.S.

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Zetetic Astrology: Uncovering the Truth about the Earth's Nature

 

Zetetic Astrology, written by Samuel Birley Rowbotham (AKA Parallax), who in life was an English inventor, writer, philosopher, and mathematician, is a scientific inquiry into the true nature of the earth and, by extension, the universe. He details his experiential process within 314 pages, spanning a wide variety of topics to include experiments that demonstrate the true form of standing water, thus proving the earth to be a plane, to investigating the cause of tides. 

Parallax spends the first section of the book covering his 15 experiments he conducted to prove the earth to be a plane. His attention to detail is exquisite and meticulous; the entirety of the procedure and the conclusion are easy to follow and logical flow. Aided by figures, the reader is given a visual image to help understand what is taking place and how the mathematics applies in the real world. Unlike many scientists of today, Parallax does not substitute complex mathematical formulas for empirical evidence. What can be seen with the eyes and the senses is greatly taken into account, with supporting math that is not too overly complicated. This allows the reader to be able to follow along and not get lost in jargon or abstract concepts. 

A true philosopher in every sense of the word, he defines his terms before he uses them and applies a strictly logical approach to his work. In chapter 1, Parallax, and throughout the book, explains his disgust over the scientific community’s fascination with theories over repeatable, observable experimentation. 

“None can doubt that by making special experiments, and collecting manifest and undeniable facts, arranging them in logical order, and observing what is natural and fairly deducible therefrom, the result must be more consistent and satisfactory than the contrary method of framing a theory…of which there is no direct and practical evidence…for the purpose of giving an apparent and plausible, but not necessarily truthful explanation of phenomena.” (Parallax, pg. 11)

Having read the entirety of the book, I must admit that Parallax’s style of writing is satisfying to read as it is informative. He spared no expense in his search for the truth, and it shows not only in his experiments but also in his examinations for the so-called “proofs” of earth’s rotundity (second half of the book). Both a gentleman and a scholar, he did not rely on the tactics of name-calling or belittling an idea, as the intelligentsia of today is so quick to do. Instead, he approached each objection with a high level of reasoning and rationale to rival the great philosophers of old. Parallax dedicated his life to this research, and while he was alive, he eagerly debated and presented his ideas. Here is a sample list of organizations that praised him for his research (the end of the book contains what exactly they had to say): Wilts Independent, Liverpool Mercury, Athlone Sentinel, Westmeath Independent, Preston Guardian, Leicester Chronicle, Norfolk Herald, Yarmouth Free Press, Cambridge Chronicle, Croydon Chronicle, Leicestershire Mercury, and South Mid-land Free Press. 

Unfortunately, you may have never heard of Parallax or his work, and this, I believe, is by design. The academics and the ruling elites are always seeking to cover up or hide away people or work that goes against the narrative. You know this to be true and have probably witnessed this for yourself, especially in recent years. If you are genuinely interested in what Parallax wrote and want to dip into one of the most fascinating minds of the 19th century, then consider picking up a copy. I thoroughly enjoyed it and highly recommend it! 

Remember to test all things, and may the Ruach guide you in your studies. 

 P.S.

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Is Astrology a Sin According to the Torah?

 

I was recently asked if astrology was bad, and while the answer may seem obvious to more seasoned followers of Yeshua, those still growing are still in the process of learning the Torah. When responding to young ones in the faith, and this can apply to both physically young and those who have just started to walk in the way of the Messiah, it is best to answer the question truthfully, humbly, and with evidence. To answer the question, we must first understand what astrology is, and according to Britannica, it is:

“Astrology, a type of divination that involves the forecasting of earthly and human events through the observation and interpretation of the fixed stars, the Sun, the Moon, and the planets. Devotees believe that an understanding of the influence of the planets and stars on earthly affairs allows them to both predict and affect the destinies of individuals, groups, and nations.” (Britannica, Astrology) 

The most common way this is done today is with horoscopes, where you look up for astrological sign and read what your daily fortune is. This practice is very popular in the world, with practically every culture having its own variant of it, if not the same one. So, it’s easy to see for the young ones that something so commonplace can be sin, and make no mistake, divination is a sin.

“Do not eat meat with the blood. Do not practice divination or magic.” (Leviticus 19:26)

“Let no one be found among you who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices divination, or a user of magic, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. “For whoever does these is an abomination to יהוה, and because of these abominations יהוה your Elohim drives them out from before you.” (Deuteronomy 18:10-12) 

Seeking the stars to provide insight into the future or for reasons of mysticism is an abomination to Elohim and is not something we should be doing. This is different than looking to the stars for navigation or using the sun and moon to tell the time. 

“And Elohim said, “Let lights come to be in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be for signs and appointed times, and for days and years.” (Genesis 1:14)

I hope this has helped, and continue to test all things, to include this, and may the Ruach Hakodesh lead you into all Truth.

P.S.

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The Inspiring Story of Hanukkah Uncovering the Details from 2 Maccabees

 

Last year, during the time of Hanukkah, I covered the events that led to the creation of the festival of dedication (Hanukkah). The details gathered from 1 Maccabees provided us with an overall view of what transpired: the Greeks invading Jerusalem, the plundering and ransacking of the Temple, the slaughtering of the House of Judah, the Maccabean rebellion that pushed out the Greek army, and the rededication of the Temple that became known as the festival of Hanukkah. This post will cover some of the finer details mentioned in 2 Maccabees, which are as inspirational as they are tear-jerking. As I stated in “The Story of Hanukkah”, many see a connection between what the Greeks did to Judah and what will occur during the time of the great tribulation. So, as you read on, take to heart the courage our ancestors showed in the face of death and how they honored Elohim until the end. 

The Greeks Outlaw the Torah

“Not long after that, the king sent an elderly Athenian to force the Jews to abandon their religion and the customs of their ancestors. He was also to defile their Temple by dedicating it to the Olympian god Zeus.” (2 Maccabees 6:1-2) 

“The oppression was harsh and almost intolerable. Gentiles filled the Temple with drinking parties and all sorts of immorality. They even had intercourse with prostitutes there. Forbidden objects were brought into the Temple, and the altar was covered with detestable sacrifices prohibited by our Torah. It was impossible to observe the Sabbath, to celebrate any of the traditional festivals, or even so much as to admit to being a Jew. Each month when the king's birthday was celebrated, the Jews were compelled by brute force to eat the intestines of sacrificial animals. Then, during the festival in honor of the wine god Dionysus, they were required to wear ivy wreaths on their heads and march in procession. On the advice of Ptolemy, the neighboring Greek cities were also instructed to require Jews to eat the sacrifices; they were told to put to death every Jew who refused to adopt the Greek way of life. It was easy to see that hard times were ahead. For example, two women were arrested for having their babies circumcised. They were paraded around the city with their babies hung from their breasts; then they were thrown down from the city wall. On another occasion, Philip was told that some Jews had gathered in a nearby cave to observe the Sabbath in secret. Philip attacked and burned them all alive. They had such respect for the Sabbath that they would not fight to defend themselves.” (2 Maccabees 6:3-11)

The punishment for keeping Torah was death, and while many Jews acquiesced to the demands of the Greeks to preserve their lives, a great number also remained obedient unto death. If we are ever faced with such atrocities, we must remember what Master Yeshua said. 

“Then יהושע said to His taught ones, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his stake, and follow Me. “For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake shall find it. “For what is a man profited if he gains all the world, and loses his own life? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his life? For the Son of Adam is going to come in the esteem of His Father with His messengers, and then He shall reward each according to his works.” (Matthew 16:24-27) 

It is better to die being obedient than it is to live in disobedience. 

“I beg you not to become discouraged as you read about the terrible things that happened. Consider that this was YHWH’s way of punishing his people, not of destroying them. In fact, it is a sign of kindness to punish a person immediately for his sins, rather than to wait a long time. YHWH does not treat us as he does other nations: he waits patiently until they have become deeply involved in sin before he punishes them, but he punishes us before we have sinned too much. So YHWH is always merciful to us, his own people. Although he punishes us with disasters, he never abandons us. I have made these few observations by way of reminder. We will now get on with the story.” (2 Maccabees 6:12-17) 

The House of Judah was being punished for the transgression they had committed before the Greeks arrived. The author of 2 Maccabees points out that YHWH punishes his children promptly instead of allowing them to wallow in sin until utter destruction befalls them. This is in agreement with the rest of the scriptures.

“Thus, you shall know in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so יהוה your Elohim disciplines you,” therefore you shall guard the commands of יהוה your Elohim, to walk in His ways and to fear Him.” (Deuteronomy 8:5-6)

“My son, do not despise the discipline of יהוה, And do not loathe His reproof; For whom יהוה loves He reproves, As a father the son whom he delights in.” (Proverbs 3:11-12)

The following account shows us how important it is to stand up for Yah, not only for ourselves but for those watching around us. 

Death Before Dishonor 

“There was an elderly and highly respected teacher of the Torah by the name of Eleazar, whose mouth was being forced open to make him eat pork. But he preferred an honorable death rather than a life of disgrace. So he spit out the meat and went willingly to the place of torture, showing how people should have courage to refuse unclean food, even if it costs them their lives. Those in charge of the sacrifice had been friends of Eleazar for a long time, and because of this friendship they told him privately to bring meat that was lawful for him to eat. He need only pretend to eat the pork, they said, and in this way he would not be put to death. But Eleazar made a decision worthy of his gray hair and advanced age. All his life he had lived in perfect obedience to YHWH’s holy Torah, so he replied, Kill me, here and now. Such deception is not worthy of a man of my years. Many young people would think that I had denied my faith after I was ninety years old. If I pretended to eat this meat, just to live a little while longer, it would bring shame and disgrace on me and lead many young people astray. For the present I might be able to escape what you could do to me, but whether I live or die, I cannot escape Almighty Elohim. If I die bravely now, it will show that I deserved my long life. It will also set a good example of the way young people should be willing and glad to die for our sacred and respected Torah. As soon as he said these things, he went off to be tortured, and the very people who had treated him kindly a few minutes before, now turned against him, because they thought he had spoken like a madman. When they had beaten him almost to the point of death, he groaned and said, YHWH possesses all holy knowledge. He knows I could have escaped these terrible sufferings and death, yet he also knows that I gladly suffer these things, because I fear him. So Eleazar died. But his courageous death was remembered as a glorious example, not only by young people, but by the entire nation as well.” (2 Maccabees 6:18-31) 

Truly an inspiring example from Eleazar and the next passage will be as emotional as it is rousing.

“On another occasion a Jewish mother and her seven sons were arrested. The king was having them beaten to force them to eat pork. Then one of the young men said, “What do you hope to gain by doing this? We would rather die than abandon the traditions of our ancestors.” This made the king so furious that he gave orders for huge pans and kettles to be heated red hot, and it was done immediately. Then he told his men to cut off the tongue of the one who had spoken and to scalp him and chop off his hands and feet, while his mother and six brothers looked on. After the young man had been reduced to a helpless mass of breathing flesh, the king gave orders for him to be carried over and thrown into one of the pans. As a cloud of smoke streamed up from the pan, the brothers and their mother encouraged one another to die bravely, saying, “YHWH Elohim is looking on and understands our suffering. Moses made this clear when he wrote a song condemning those who had abandoned YHWH. He said, YHWH will have mercy on those who serve him.” After the first brother had died in this way, the soldiers started amusing themselves with the second one by tearing the hair and skin from his head. Then they asked him, “Now will you eat this pork, or do you want us to chop off your hands and feet one by one?” He replied in his native language, “I will never eat it!” So the soldiers tortured him, just as they had the first one, but with his dying breath he cried out to the king, “You butcher! You may kill us, but the King of the universe will raise us from the dead and give us eternal life, because we have obeyed his Torah.” The soldiers began entertaining themselves with the third brother. When he was ordered to stick out his tongue, he quickly did so. Then he bravely held out his hands and courageously said, “Elohim gave these to me. But His Torah mean more to me than my hands, and I know Elohim will give them back to me again.” The king and those with him were amazed at his courage and at his willingness to suffer. After he had died, the soldiers tortured the fourth one in the same cruel way, but his final words were, “I am glad to die at your hands, because we have the assurance that Elohim will raise us from death. But there will be no resurrection to life for you, Antiochus!” When the soldiers took the fifth boy and began torturing him, he looked the king squarely in the eye and said, “You have the power to do whatever you want with us, even though you also are mortal. But do not think that Elohim has abandoned our people. Just wait. Elohim will use his great power to torture you and your descendants.” Then the soldiers took the sixth boy, and just before he died he said, “Make no mistake. We are suffering what we deserve, because we have sinned against our Elohim. That's why all these terrible things are happening to us. But don't think for a minute that you will avoid being punished for fighting against Elohim.” The mother was the most amazing one of them all, and she deserves a special place in our memory. Although she saw her seven sons die in a single day, she endured it with great courage because she trusted in YHWH. She combined womanly emotion with manly courage and spoke words of encouragement to each of her sons in their native language. “I do not know how your life began in my womb, she would say, I was not the one who gave you life and breath and put together each part of your body. It was Elohim who did it, Elohim who created the universe, the human race, and all that exists. He is merciful and he will give you back life and breath again, because you love his Torah more than you love yourself.” Antiochus was sure that the mother was making fun of him, so he did his best to convince her youngest son to abandon the traditions of his ancestors. He promised not only to make the boy rich and famous, but to place him in a position of authority and to give him the title ‘Friend of the King’. But the boy paid no attention to him, so Antiochus tried to persuade the boy's mother to talk him into saving his life, and after much persuasion she agreed to do so. Leaning over her son, she fooled the cruel tyrant by saying in her native language, “My son, have pity on me. Remember that I carried you in my womb for nine months and nursed you for three years. I have taken care of you and looked after all your needs up to the present day. So I urge you, my child, to look at the sky and the earth. Consider everything you see there, and realize that Elohim made it all from nothing, just as he made the human race. Don't be afraid of this butcher. Give up your life willingly and prove yourself worthy of your brothers, so that by Elohim's mercy I may receive you back with them at the resurrection.” Before she could finish speaking, the boy said, “King Antiochus, what are you waiting for? I refuse to obey your orders. I only obey the commands in the Torah which Moses gave to our ancestors. You have thought up all kinds of cruel things to do to our people, but you won't escape the punishment that Elohim has in store for you. It is true that our living Elohim is angry with us and is making us suffer because of our sins, in order to correct and discipline us. But this will last only a short while, for we are still his servants, and he will forgive us. But you are the cruelest and most disgusting thing that ever lived. So don't fool yourself with illusions of greatness while you punish Elohim's people. There is no way for you to escape punishment at the hands of the almighty and all-seeing Elohim. My brothers suffered briefly because of our faithfulness to Elohim's covenant, but now they have entered eternal life. But you will fall under Elohim's judgment and be punished as you deserve for your arrogance. I now give up my body and my life for the Torah of our ancestors, just as my brothers did. But I also beg Elohim to show mercy to his people quickly and to torture you until you are forced to acknowledge that he alone is Elohim. May my brothers and I be the last to suffer the anger of Almighty Elohim, which he has justly brought upon our entire nation.” These words of ridicule made Antiochus so furious that he had the boy tortured even more cruelly than his brothers. And so the boy died, with absolute trust in YHWH, never unfaithful for a minute. Last of all, the mother was put to death.” (2 Maccabees 7:1-41) 

Better to Die for Obedience than to Live in Disobedience  

Wow, what a heart-reaching account of a family standing up for Yah and His Torah. To think they would lose their life instead of eating pork, and yet billions of people proclaim to love Elohim while stuffing their faces with pork. The Torah is not a burden; if it were, these people would not have endured the torture they did to honor it. This Hanukkah and the ones that follow, remember what those who came before us went through, and if that time comes, let us prove worthy of remembrance as well. 

P.S.

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Uncovering the Truth Behind the Mistranslation of Jacob as James in the Bible

 

It comes as a surprise, I know I was certainly shocked, to learn that the Book of James is really the Book of Jacob. I should have caught on sooner than I did, as I use the Scripture Research Institute 2009 version of the Bible. They have the book in English as James, but Hebrew as Ya’aqob, which is properly translated as Jacob. Wherever “James” is mentioned in the Brit Hadasha (New Testament), it is always rendered in Hebrew as Ya’aqob.

His Name is Spelt Ya’aqob

“Is this not the son of the carpenter? Is not His mother called Miryam? And His brothers Ya‛aqoḇ (Jacob) and Yosĕph (Joseph) and Shim‛on (Simeon) and Yehuḏah (Jude)?” (Matthew 13:55) 

Jacob, the one who would become Israel, is spelled the same.

“And afterward his brother came out, with his hand holding on to Ěsaw’s heel, so his name was called Ya‛aqoḇ (Jacob). And Yitsḥaq (Isaac) was sixty years old when she bore them.” (Genesis 25:26)

So why is Jacob, the brother of Yeshua, inaccurately translated as James? It seems to start with John Wycliffe when he translated the New Testament in 1380. Wycliffe was an English philosopher/ theologian and one of the forerunners of the Protestant Reformation. Some have speculated that the change in Jacob’s name was to create distance from the Christian Church and all things Hebraic. Something my website has covered quite a bit of in my “Torah Related” tab. Others have theorized that Jacob was translated to James to satisfy King James I, or at least he did not wish to fix the error; this King James also being the one who authorized the King James Bible. Either way, the mistranslation is acknowledged among top scholars in the Christian Church and Biblical Historians, yet there has been no push for correction, that I am aware of. 

Discovering errors made in translations is always disheartening, for we want to have an infallible source to study Elohim’s Word. Man, however, is fallible and capable of making mistakes or even purposely making changes to push an agenda. From Yeshua, YHWH, and Jacob, what other names have been changed? Many may object and say it does not matter so long as we know who we are talking about, but names mean something in the context of the Bible. 

Names Have Meanings 

“And the man called his wife’s name Ḥawwah (Eve), because she became the mother of all living.” (Genesis 3:20)

“And no longer is your name called Aḇram, but your name shall be Aḇraham, because I shall make you a father of many nations.” (Genesis 17:5) 

“And Ya‛aqoḇ (Jacob) was left alone. And a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. And when He saw that He did not overcome him, He touched the socket of his hip. And the socket of Ya‛aqoḇ’s (Jacob’s) hip was dislocated as He wrestled with him. And He said, “Let Me go, for the day breaks.” But he said, “I am not letting You go until You have blessed me!” So He asked him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Ya‛aqoḇ (Jacob).” And He said, “Your name is no longer called Ya‛aqoḇ (Jacob), but Yisra’ĕl (Israel), because you have striven with Elohim and with men, and have overcome.” (Genesis 32:24-28)

“These are the names of the men whom Mosheh (Moses) sent to spy out the land. And Mosheh called Hoshĕa (Hosea) the son of Nun, Yehoshua (Joshua).” (Numbers 13:16) Joshua means “YHWH is salvation,” and it was Joshua who led the Hebrews into the promised land. 

“And she shall give birth to a Son, and you shall call His Name יהושע for He shall save His people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21) Yeshua’s name means “salvation”. 

These are but a few examples of names that mean something in scripture, and I encourage everyone to research what every name in the Bible means. A translation is one thing; at least in this manner, the meaning of the name can usually be preserved. However, this is lost when a name is completely changed. Continue to test all things, including this, and may the Ruach Hakodesh lead you into all truth. 

P.S.

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