The prophecies and statements in the Bible concerning the nation of Israel presents us with evidence that their identity would be lost as a result of being forcefully dispersed throughout all nations into slavery and then appropriated by another people (Deuteronomy 32:26, Jeremiah 17:4, Revelation 2:9,3:9). The Good Book tells us that God’s people will be in slavery, and discontinued from their heritage until Jesus makes his Second Coming and deliver’s them from Slavery. This information is not taught in schools and churches due to deception and the wicked agenda’s that are maintained in the political and spiritual realms.
Thus, it is necessary for those that have studied to show themselves approved to prove this truth to others because every person deserves to know the truth.
In identifying the true people of Israel, I am going to review a book called The Truth About Black Biblical Hebrew-Israelites (Jews) by Ella J. Hughley (1982). It was originally published as a pamphlet entitled “Basic Facts About Black Hebrew Israelites” in 1981. This book serves as the revised, more comprehensive version of that pamphlet and was released the following year due to its high demand. Following is a video and some archeological findings to compliment Hughley’s argument.
Hughley’s main arguments are as follows: 1) To prove that the original people of the Bible were a people of dark hue. 2) The Bible is the history book of the black Hebrew-Israelites who originally practiced the Judaic way of life. 3) The Caucasian Jews converted to Judaism much later over the centuries.
These arguments are utterly crucial due to a stream of interconnected moral, anthropological, theological, and epistemological reasons. Firstly, if recorded events of old can harmonize with various Old and New Testament Biblical events then it reveals the Bible’s veracity that many skeptics doubt. If this book can serve as a credible history book then it will be fair to say that many nations of the world could associate and trace their history to the Bible (which many do). This has several important uses. But specifically, it is important because from cover to cover, the reoccurring theme of the Biblical narrative is based upon the relationship between the Israelites and their God. Since this is the case, that means that any person or group of people that purports to be a bloodline Israelite and thus “chosen”, by logic should be able to defend their claim with thorough proof from the Bible.
This should be fairly easy due to the fact that the God of the Israelites said that he would put curses on the descendants of the Israelites for a “sign and for a wonder… forever.” (Deuteronomy 28:46). A sign is something that is used to identify something else. So anyone that is a bloodline Israelite should clearly be able to be identified. The very idea of a chosen people is a stumbling block for most, however most people do not challenge the fact that it is plausible. From times immemorial (beyond European rule), there has always been controversy over the issue of a chosen people.
The fact that this issue exists, means that it needs to be and can be solved. I believe that this Biblical method is not only essential but also simple and would appease the copious amounts of social and political contention regarding this issue. If the Israelites true identity can be excavated this way (along with existing literature and archeology findings) coupled with truly understanding the Biblical narrative then not only would it solve the mystery of the “lost tribes” but it could possibly quell the ethnocentrism that the so called Jew perpetuates. Thus, the idea of ethnic hierarchy would not exist (at least for these peoples) which could be an impetus for relative peace. Simultaneously, this unveiling could rid all minds of the inherited lies of pseudo-scientific justification for the mistreatment of the darker races as many people still cling to these views. When one examines the prophetic draconian curses that were to fall upon the descendants of Jacob (Israel) “forever” due to disobedience, it shows who is in control. If the Bible can be found true by way of accurately foretelling world events such as this (and others), it would give credence in dictating what deity is in control, and if mankind adheres to who is in control, then that would give no man preeminence over another.
Hughley does not mention this but she does explicitly allude to the Biblical prophecy that unveils the identity of true Israelites. Hughley states, “although the children of Israel were chosen to teach and be an example of good moral conduct to the peoples of the world, they were a rebellious nation. Their misconduct under Moses’ leadership is described in Biblical passages. Because of disobedience, God scattered the children of Israel throughout different parts of the world, as foretold in the prophecies of Holy Scripture” (p. 18). She later expounds on this “scattering” in the chapter, “Periods of captivity” whereby she explores the seemingly enigmatic yet stimulating prophecy of Israelite captivity starting in 722 B.C.E. by the Assyrians and culminating with the trans-Atlantic slave trade. These curses also involved the removal of the Israelites from the land of Canaan to the four corners of the earth. She and other scholars (Windsor: 1988, Israel: 2010, Farrar: 1996, and Williams: 1930) agree that this removal began in 70 AD when the Roman Emperor Titus besieged Jerusalem and over 1,000,000 Jews fled into North Africa to escape persecution.
Being displaced from their land, they eventually became more susceptible to being sold into slavery as “bondmen and bondwomen” by the Ishmaelite’s (Arabs) and later by their identical Hamitic counterparts to the Europeans or Gentiles. Hughley, explains that the descendants of these Israelites are supposed to be the head of all nations but due to their disobedience they are on the bottom rung of the societal ladder as a whole. She strongly urges the readers to peruse the 28th chapter of Deuteronomy to understand these curses and conditions of captivity that were to befall the descendants of the Israelites.
When tracing the thread of the past to uncover the present identity of these Semitic peoples, Hughley starts off with their phenotype. Hughley makes a noble attempt to prove that the original Biblical Israelites were of a dark hue. One of her statements being: “We know that that Abraham, was black because he was born in the city founded by the black Nimrod, the grandson of Ham (Gen. 10:8-10)” (pg.11). This is a good observation but Hughley does not conclusively prove that Abraham’s dependents are “black” on this point alone. How does this make them a dark skinned people? She made no reference to the fact that Nimrod was the son of Cush, which was commonly referred to Nubia, and that he (Cush) was the progenitor of the Ethiopians. Furthermore, Abraham’s Father was from the Land of Ur (Chaldea) and many Cushite-Chaldean tribes populated that land and had been found to be black. She did however, mention that Cush is the son of Ham and that the Harpers Bible dictionary states that Ham is the progenitor of the African races.
In 2013, Tudor Parfitt published a book entitled “Black Jews in Africa And The Americas”. Parfitt dedicates a chapter to the identity of Ham and his research reveals that Ham is the progenitor of the Egyptians, Ethiopians, Libyans, and Canaanites. Parfitt’s work shows the on going relevancy of this topic. Hughley proceeds to point out that Moses could not have passed for Pharaoh’s grandson in Egypt if he had not been black. Moreover, in Exodus 4:6,7 he was mistaken for an Egyptian, which proves that he had to be of a brown hue. Hughley should have mentioned that Jesus along with many other Israelites were also mistaken for Egyptians several times in the old and new testaments. This is a highly significant factor and is disturbing as to why the bulk of historians and educators refer to all black people as “Africans”. This idea of representation for the black populace is something that seriously needs to be addressed.
Now, if there were a conspiracy to obscure the identity of the true Israelites, it would make perfect sense why the Bible’s black history is not well known. Hughley did not mention this, but in the book of Psalm (Song) – composed by King David, who the God of Israel recognized as the apple of his eye and a prophet, – King David writes about a conspiracy that would completely distort the Israelites identity:
Psalm 83
King James Version (KJV)
1 Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God.
2 For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee have lifted up the head.
3 They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones.
4 They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.
5 For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee:
6 The tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; of Moab, and the Hagarenes;
It is important to note that at the top of this list of confederate nations on one accord to destroy the identity of the Israelites, we find the Edomites and the Ishmaelite’s. It is known by theologians and historians alike that Ishmaelite’s are the patriarchs of the modern day Arabs. But who are the Edomites? Surprisingly enough, the Edomites as Hughley points out are the one’s who have stolen the identity of the true Israelites (analyzed in more detail below). Moreover, and to no marvel, these two nations are the ones that currently occupy the land of Israel today. In verse 12 of the same Psalm, King David further informs us of the agenda of these conspirators as they said: “Let us take to ourselves the houses of God in possession.”
Hughley fails to highlight how the Israelites described themselves in the bible. Some descriptions include having, “black skin”, “hair like wool”, “bushy locks” and “feet the color of brass as if they burned in a furnace”. We should understand that regardless of what the Israelites looked like in the past, their identity needs to be revealed as the texts of the two largest religions in the world agree upon their importance (even if the practitioners of these religions do not). I have not read any accounts on this topic whereby this point is emphasized. The Quran states “O Children of Israel, remember my favor that I have bestowed upon you and that I preferred you over the worlds [i.e., people]” (Sura 2:40). This same sentiment of the Israelites being chosen, special, and important is seen in various other places in the Quran. Likewise when Jesus was on this earth he stated in the book of John that “Salvation is of the Jews”. Salvation or eternal life in Jesus’ kingdom on this earth is what true Christianity is based on. So keeping in mind the importance of the Israelites job, which gives way to the “signs” needed to specifically identify them, it should be apparent that their phenotypic marker is by default, important. This is the case with identifying any one in any specific manner, especially if these people are “lost”, “scattered”, and or “hidden” as the Bible suggests. Furthermore, no one deserves to be misrepresented in any way.
Another important aspect of Hughley’s work was her writings dedicated to how these “chosen people” can reclaim their religious heritage. By stating that the Bible is the history book of these people, she underscores that studying the bible is the only way to reclaim their religiosity. She writes, “It is important for people, both black and white, to know the truth about the original Biblical tribes and their way of life which all of the Biblical prophets taught and practiced. One reason why black people should know the truth about their religious heritage is because they lost their true religion when they were dispersed throughout different nations and sold into slavery in the early 1600’s, intermingled, and were forced to practice the religion of their slave masters, that is, Christianity.” (p.24). From an anthropological standpoint I am very much interested in the representation of the so-called “African-American” identity.
Since their arrival in the Americas they have been given copious amounts of appellations that do no justice in identifying a person. An example is the very term, “African-American” – How can these people realistically claim to be from two continents? Is there any other nation that permanently claims to be from two continents without clarification? Immigrant nations like the “Chinese-Americans” will be able to tell you where in China they are from. However, this is not the case with the majority of “African-Americans”. Africa is the largest continent, so one surely has to be definitive when laying claim to Africa. Furthermore, both “Africa” (Scipio Africanus) and “America” (Amerigo Vespucci) are just names of two Italians. The average European will not simply say I am from Europa. They will say from whence in Europe they are from. However, the “African-American” populace simply cannot mark where they are from. Even mitochondria DNA sampling has been proven to be unreliable and erratic when tracing ancestry. Thus scholars and historians know that these peoples were taken from different parts of Africa to the ports of The Gambia and so forth before embarkation for the New World.
However, the point is that whilst in Africa the bulk of men and women sold by the children of Ham were not “African”. If history repeats itself, then the four hundred year bondage of the Israelites in Egypt where they are said to have built the treasure cities of Ramses (including the pyramids), would once again be subject to Hamites. There is also a correlation with the fact that the vast amount of “African-Americans” made America a super power in the way that the Israelites helped made Egypt a super. Other titles are “Afro-American”, “Black”, “Negro”, and “Colored”. These descriptions of colors and Italian men do not do justice to a person’s identity. It is for this very reason that a true identity crisis has continually consumed the so-called “black” man in the Americas. When one looks at the continual self hate, black on black crime, lack of language, heritage, land, wealth, and identity, that plagues the “African-American” community on a wholesale level, it is safe to say that they are truly a “lost” people.
Concerning this lost of identity; two specific verses come to mind. When outlining more of the curses that the God of Israel said he would eventually put on the Israelites for disobedience (before they entered the promise land) he stated: “I said, I would scatter them into corners, I would make the remembrance of them to cease from among men” (Deuteronomy 32:26). He also said, “And thou shalt become an astonishment, a proverb, and a byword, among all nations whither the Lord shall lead thee.” (Deuteronomy 28:32). Not only do titles such as “Negro” and “Afro-American” represent bywords, but darkie, sambo, nigger, coon, blackie, porch monkey, spade nig, jungle bunny etc. represent bywords and proverbs. I would argue that the African-American has had more racial slurs attributed to them than any other ethnic group in time and space. If the bible is true, then these curses must fit one nation of people. If the majority of “African-American” peoples fit all of these curses, then the only solution in finding their true representation and reversing their condition of impotence is adhering to their God which put them in this position. Hughley makes this abundantly clear and I appreciate her ability to compact so much information in a short sixty-eight page book.
Hughley’s chapter “The White European Jews” was compelling and thought provoking as it aimed at answering questions such as: Who are the White European Jews? When did they convert to Judaism? Are the Jews a race? These questions are of utmost importance, especially when coming across the words of Jesus in the last book of the bible where he asserts, “I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich “spiritually”) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan (Revelations 2:9) – Emphasis added. Similarly in Revelations 3:9 he states, “Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.” Hughley writes, “Esau is the father of the white Edomites, also known as Idumeans, who, with other ethnic groups such as the Khazars (white Europeans/Caucasians) and others, make up modern Jewry as it is known today” (p. 35).
Hughley is not novel or alone in her findings. The Hungarian-British author and journalist, Arthur Koestler published a book entitled, “The Thirteenth Tribe” in 1976. Koestler argued that the Ashkenazi Jews are descendants of the Khazars rather than biblical Israelites. Hughley references Koestler in this chapter. In 2008, Israeli professor of History at Tel Aviv University, Shlomo Sand published “The Invention of the Jewish People”. Originally in Hebrew, his work (2008) asserted that people commonly known as Jewish, never really existed as a ‘nation-race’ with a biblical origin, but rather they consist of descendants from the medieval Eurasian state of Khazaria. He mentions how they adopted the customs known as Judaism today. The central and most contentious reasoning that Sand uses to support this Jewish trope is that the Jewish Exile in 70 AD as it is conventionally knows, did not occur. He challenges the status of Jewry as an exiled people. As Sand explains, “The ultra-paradigm of deportation was essential for the construction of a long-term memory wherein an exiled people-race could be described as the direct descendants of the former ‘people of the Bible.’”( p. 130). This again proves that Hughley’s work is still relevant as she juxtaposes the idea of the former versus the modern Jew. Hughley explores Genesis 10, commonly known as the “Table of Nations” and traces the lineage of the European Jews to Noah’s son, Japheth whose descendants are commonly referred to as “Gentiles” in the bible but by historians as the “Indo-European stock”.
Upon referring to various accounts of anthropologist to support the Khazar Jews’ association with Japheth, she then turns to explore the identity of Esau/Edom aka Idumeans. She does so primarily by expounding on the popular biblical narrative of Esau and Jacob. While pregnant, the God of Israel told their mother Rebekah that she had two separate nations in her womb and that the Elder would serve the younger. Jacob (the younger), ended up receiving the birthright which included his name being changed to Israel, inheriting the land of Canaan, and being commissioned as a holy nation of priests and kings to all kindred’s and tongues – Exodus 19:5-6. Hughley, like most theologians and writers on this topic erroneously infers that Jacob stole Esau’s birthright. She writes, “We also see in the scriptures where enmity commenced between the ‘nations’ (Esau and Jacob) when Jacob tricked Esau out of his birthright and stole his blessing.” (p .40)
However, I think this is a very critical and blatant misunderstanding. For one, it is very clear that enmity existed between these two brothers while they were in the womb (Genesis 25:22-23). More importantly, Jacob did not steal Esau’s birthright as it is explicitly recorded twice in the bible that Esau sold his birthright to Jacob in Genesis 25:31-33 and Hebrews 12:16. Nonetheless, this enmity has always existed between these two nations. By drawing upon the work of Josephus, W.G. Wells, other scholars, and various encyclopedias, Hughley conclusively reveals the enmity of these two nations in time and space. After presenting her tightly knit research she writes, “We can readily see how Esau (Edomites) is fighting to survive to break his (Jacob’s) yoke from off his neck. Their participation in the Roman-Jewish War of 66-70 C.E. gives evidence of this unending hostility between the two nations.
Hughley provides a great deal of historic sources when explicating the gradual process of how the Edomites (and European Jews) converted to what is known as Judaism, occupied the land of Israel, and eventually became known as the biblical Israelites. For the Edomites, this process started as early as the 6th century B.C.E. as a result of forced migration by the hands of the Nabateans (who are reported a Northern Arabian tribe). They were driven out of their own land commonly known as Idumea and inhabited Southern Judea during the Israelite captivity under the Babylonians. This was the beginning of their identity theft. A whole process was yet to unfold. Quoting The New Standard Jewish Encyclopedia Hughley writes, “The Edomites were conquered by John Hyracanus who forcibly converted them to Judaism at the end of the second century B.C.E., and from then on they constituted a part of the Jewish people.” (p.46).
Drawing on the record of Flavius Josephus’ The Great Roman Jewish War: 70 A.D., she informs us that Hasmonean leader, John Hyracanus conquered the entire land of Edom “and undertook the forced conversion of its inhabitants to Judaism”. This is when the Edomites became a section of the Jewish people. Josephus also points out that the tyrannical king Herod was in fact an Edomite who was appointed king of Judea by the Romans in 40 B.C.E. and by 6 B.C.E., “Edom became part of the Roman province of Judea” (p. 43-44). In 70 A.D., they assisted the Romans to help Emperor Titus besiege Jerusalem, and as a result many Israelites were crucified, starved, and to escape persecution almost all of the Jews fled into North Africa. Once this took place, the Edomites whose land was also occupied, were able to completely inhabit the land of Israel. It is also interesting to note (which Hughley and other scholars do not) that after 70 A.D., Idumea/Edom no longer existed on any maps. The Edomites were prophesied to steal the heritage and take over the land of Israel in the book of Obadiah, which was written in the 6th century B.C.E. Hughley does not mention this clear-cut prophecy and I think it would have assisted her argument. As for the Khazar’s conversion Hughley states, “The Khazars (white Europeans/Japhetic in origins) converted to Judaism in 740 A.D. These groups, along with many other ethnic groups, make up modern Jewery. Although the black Hebrew-Israelites are the real descendants of ancient Israel, this truth is not known by many and it is the world’s best kept secret.”
Conclusion
Overall, this book is relevant due to what it reveals and what scholars, and researchers are constantly realizing about Semitic and Hamitic history. Although short, it serves as supplemental literature to the bodies of work that have been and are currently being published on this matter. This is important in order to thwart the mass confusion that still currently surrounds the conditions and identity crisis of the so-called Negro as well as the enigma of the “lost” tribes of Israel. More scholars on this topic need to research into the history of the purporting Jews (Edomites + Europeans) to see if their history can associate with all the prophetic curses as well as the phenotypic description of biblical Israelites.
According to The Bible, these curses not only included a massive exodus by way of “ship” into all the corners of the earth and a loss of identity, but it also included wholesale poverty, being “hanged on trees”, “hidden in prison houses” and other specific curses, that are to remain on the children of Israel until the second advent of Jesus Christ. Hughley did not do a comparison of this nature, but if it was done, I think it would suffice as a surefire way to prove who are indeed the Israelites. Anthropologically and ethnologically speaking this would be the greatest re-write of history yet.
Watch New Perspectives on Israelite Identity:
About this Video:
To compliment Hughley’s argument of “African-Americans” and other dark skinned peoples being the true Israelites, I created this video presentation. This presentation entertains a paradigm shift, a notion that the people commonly known as Jews after 70 AD, are not biblical Israelites. It is a short (11 minute) interdisciplinary survey of information used to explore the statements that Jesus, King of the Jews, made in both the second, and third chapters of Revelations, which boldly and unequivocally states that there are a group of people purporting to be the tribe of Judah (Jews), when they are not. It looks at perspectives from Israelite groups, Hitler, ex-President Ahmadinejad, Professor Shlomo Sand, and surveys archeological findings that I took in the British Museum along with some findings which are listed below. I added all of the sources and music which is used in this visual presentation.
IMAGES OF THE TRUE ISRAELITES
According to the Torah, Israelites were forbidden to create images of themselves (ref. Ex.20:4). However, neither the Egyptians nor the Assyrians had such restrictions. Both of these nations have picture archives of the True Israelites.
Israelites: Slaves of the Egyptians – approx. 1440 B.C.E.
HEBREW BRICK MAKERS
“And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in mortar and in brick…” (ref. Exo.1:14)
HEBREW WATER BOY
CLOSE-UP OF HEBREW WATER BOY
As slaves of the Egyptians, child labor was common among the Israelites. The boy shown above is about 15 years old. Unlike Egyptian boys, this Hebrew will eventually grow a full beard.
YOUNG HEBREWS GATHERING GRAPES
…and in all manner of service in the field: all their service, wherein they made them serve, was with rigor.” (ref. Exo.1:14)
These Israelite children are about 10 years old. They worked in the fields of the Egyptians, as their parents labored in the brick pits. Their days off depended on which of the many Egyptian deities their master worshipped.
Hebrews entering Egypt – approx. 1877 B.C.E.
FIRST HALF OF CARAVAN SCENE
SECOND HALF OF CARAVAN SCENE
Notice the design of the clothing. Unlike the Hebrews, the Egyptians basically wore plain white linen.
HEBREW MEN
Historically speaking, these Hebrews would eventually become the rulers of Egypt. Then, they would become the slaves of Egypt. Approx. 1870 B.C.E., Yoseph, son of Israel, became the most powerful man in Egypt, second only to Pharaoh himself (ref. Gen.41:39-45). This introduced the Hyksos period in Egyptian history.
HEBREW WOMEN IN WOOLEN GARMENTS
Hebrew women wear very colorful clothing. Most shepherd garments are made from the wool of their sheep. The wool is dyed various colors, spun into yarn, and woven into highly innovative, distinctive, and decorative patterns. Notice that no two women are wearing the same pattern.
Hebrew women are considered very beautiful to look upon. The Egyptians actually created “make-up” to make themselves look as pretty as Hebrew women look naturally; with their vibrant eyes and luscious lips.
THE RACES OF MAN HAVE NOT CHANGED
NORTHERN HAMITES
The biblical name of Egypt is “Mizraim”. They are a Hamitic people (ref. Gen.10:6). Their immediate family of nations include the Libyans, the Carthaginians, and the Philistines (ref. Gen.10:13).
The Egyptians considered themselves to be better than the other races of men. In fact, they would not even sit down to eat at the same table with a Hebrew (ref. Gen.43:32).
SOUTHERN HAMITES
The first rulers of the human race, after the Flood, were from the family of Ham (ref. Gen.10:9-11). Nimrod, son of Cush, looked like the figures above. After the Great Confusion (ref. Gen.11:7-8), the sons of Cush established what came to be known as the Nubian Kingdoms of ancient Africa. The nations of Phut, and Sheba are also considered southern Hamitic people.
SHEMITES
The Israelite Exodus from Egypt devastated the economy of the Egyptian empire, as well as it’s military might. As their primary work force, the Israelites had provided cheap labor for the Egyptians for many, many years.
And, because of the plagues and disasters associated with the Exodus, the Egyptians also lost faith in their deities. To the Egyptians, the most perplexing Shemites were the Children of Israel.
YAPHET (EUROPEANS)
These people were the last to be given rulership of the earth. They represent the dominions of the Persians, the Greeks, the Romans, the Turks, the Spanish, and the English. The Germans, the Russians, and the French are also nations of Yaphetic people.
As you see, they all have tattoos on their arms and legs. They also wear elaborate clothing and unusual stuff in their hair.
CLOSE-UP OF HEBREW FIGURE
Fringes! Also known as “gedeleem”, the Israelites were commanded to wear them on the boarders of their outer garments (ref. Num.15:37-41 and Deut.22:12).
BEDOUIN CAPTIVE
For years, European historians have attempted to obscure the true identity of the ancient Hebrews with names like “bedouin” and “berber”. The image of this captive was found in the funeral temple of Ramesses III. He is obviously a very important Hebrew sheik, probably Midianite. His hair is in the unmistakable ancient Hebrew style: LOCKS.
CLOSE-UP OF BEDOUIN CAPTIVE
Originally, Hebrews were of a “high-yellow” complexion. This changed drastically for the Israelites during their 400 year sojourn in Egypt.
CAPTIVES OF RAMESSES II
Just before the Israelite Exodus, the Egyptian Empire was at the height of it’s imperial conquests. Approx. 1500 b.c.e., their dominion stretched from the land of the Hittites in the north, to the land of Kush in the south. The Hebrew nations of Midian, Medan, Kedar, Moab, Edom and Ammon were all under tribute to Egypt.
CLOSE-UP OF RAMESSES II CAPTIVES
The captive in the center is definitely a Hebrew. Notice his hair is also in “locks”. The captive on the left is Hamitic, probably Libyan; and the captive on the right is also Hebrew, probably of Kedar.
Israelites: Captives of the Assyrians
From the palace of Sennacherib, approx. 680 b.c.e. (ref. 2kings 18:13-14).
KINKY-HAIRED ISRAELITE CAPTIVES
CLOSE-UP OF ISRAELITE CAPTIVES
Who can mistake these Israelites for any people other than us, the descendants of the slaves brought to America. These people are not “White”, and certainly not “Native Americans” (i.e. “Indians”).
ISRAELITES GOING INTO EXILE
“Therefore, son of man, prepare for yourself an exile’s baggage, and go into exile by day in their sight…” (ref. Ezek.12:3)
The Assyrians conquered and relocated the Israelites of the Northern Kingdom into what is now known as Iraq, Iran, and Kuwait. Those Israelites who escaped the Assyrians fled south into the lands of Judah, and into Egypt.
CLOSE-UP OF ISRAELITE EXILES
DEAD AND CAPTIVE ISRAELITES
The 28th chapter of Deuteronomy warned the Israelites of what would happen to them if they broke their covenant with the Almighty. The Israelites did break their covenant, and eventually the full curse of the Almighty fell upon them.
CLOSE-UP OF DEAD ISRAELITES
ISRAELITE KING JEHU IN SUBMISSION
This is the only known image of an Israelite king. Jehu, king of the northern Israelites, is shown bowing down to
Shalmanesar, king of the Assyrians, approx. 682 b.c.e. (ref.2Kings 17:3)
CLOSE-UP OF ISRAELITE KING JEHU
ISRAELITES UNDER BABYLONIAN CONTROL
EXILED ISRAELITE MUSICIANS
This relief is from Nineveh, approx. 678 b.c.e. Israelites were always noted for their musical talents. They improved on and created many of the musical instruments used today. These include wind instruments, string instruments, and all types of percussive instruments (ref. Psalm 150).
CLOSE-UP OF HEBREW MUSICIANS
Dreadlocked Israelite musicians have existed for thousands of years. Even today, many Israelite musicians associate hair with music, pride, and power. Many of the original hip-hop artists believed their hair was supposed to be in locks. This also stands true for the majority of Reggae musicians. The Law Covenant forbid both the shaving off of the beard, and the balding of the head (ref. Lev. 19:27). Samson’s legendary hair was in the form of seven huge locks (ref. Judges 16:13).
IMAGES OF OTHER SHEMITES
ARABS ON CAMELS BATTLE ASSYRIANS
According to the Torah, Ishmael is the son of Abraham by his Egyptian wife, Hagar (ref. Gen. 16:1-4). Ishmael was prophesized to be a “wild ass of a man” (ref. Gen. 16:11-12). Abraham’s third wife, Keturah, bore him six sons. These six sons, along with Ishmael became known as the Arabs.
The prophet Mohammed, founder of the religion of Islam, is from one of these Arabic families.
Approx. 678 b.c.e., the Arabs were also conquered by the Assyrians.
From approx. 680 c.e., to today, their religion of Islam has had a great effect upon the earth’s population. Presently, the number of people who practice some form of Islam outnumber those who practice some form of Christianity. Still, the religion of Abraham is at the root of Islam, Christianity, and Judaism.
Under the banner of Islam, Arabic influence dominated the Middle East for 600 years, and reached into Spain, China, and Africa.
Approx. 1280 c.e., the Ottoman Turks began to take over the Islamic Empire.
CLOSE-UP OF ARAB CAMELMAN
Before the Ottoman Turk invasion of Arabia, the Arabs looked almost identical to their Israelite cousins. Notice the beard, the locks, the nose, and the eyes.
The Ottoman Turks are a Yaphetic (i.e. “White”) people. The Arabs of today look so European because of Turkish-Arab race mixing.
ELAMITE SOLDIER
The Elamites rose to power early in post-Flood history (ref. Gen. 14:1)
The Elamites are from the seed of Shem (ref. Gen. 10:22), while the Medes are from the seed of Yaphet
(ref. Gen. 10:2 – “Madai”).
Approx. 600 b.c.e., these two nations merged to become the people known as the Persians. The Persian Empire ruled the earth for about 300 years.
CLOSE-UP OF ELAMITE SOLDIER
The present day caste system of India is a direct result of the ancient merger of Madai and Elam (ref. Dan. 11:1).
Established approx. 2,500 years ago, India’s caste system is based on skin color. The very light skinned descendants of Madai are far more privileged than the very dark skinned descendants of Elam.
ISRAELITES OF THE AFRICAN DISPERSION
NATIVE OF SONGO AND HUNTER OF T’CHIBOCO
Both Songo and T’chiboco are located in present day Angola. Early 18th century European explorers into the interior of Africa used guides from these Shemitic African people. Because of their Shemitic ancestry, they remained separate from Hamitic Africans.
Although these Shemitic Africans controlled Africa for thousands of years, they are presently losing all their political power. Their decline began approx. 400 years ago with the initiation of the Atlantic Slave Trade.
One graphic example of this Shemitic vs. Hamitic rivalry is presently being played out in modern day Liberia. Another led to the fall of the Hebrew government of Haile Selassie I in Ethiopia, between 1970 and 1980.
MUTA OF T’CHIBOCO AND WOMAN OF CANGOMBE
Also from present day Angola, these are Shemitic Africans. The Israelite Hebrew slaves brought to America are related to these same people; all being Shemitic Africans.
The Israelites, while dispersed throughout Africa, were first enslaved by Hamitic Africans, who sold them to the Arabs. These Ottomanized Arabs served as middlemen between the Hamitic enslavers and the European American buyers.
This slave trade fulfilled a curse pronounced on the Israelites, by the Almighty, some 3,300 years earlier (ref. Deut. Chap. 28).
NATIVE OF BAILUNDO AND WOMAN OF LUIMBE
Most of the descendants of America’s slaves know little or nothing about their Shemitic African ancestry. They believe their non-Hamitic features come from being mixed with Native American Indians. Because, unlike Hamitic people, Israelites have oval faces, and large vibrant eyes (as opposed to the smaller, shallower eyes of Hamitic people). And Israelites come in a variety of skin tones; from high yellow to dark brown.
Israelites have “better” hair than Hamitic Africans, and it grows much longer. But, Israelite hair will naturally begin to “lock” at a certain length; approx. 2 inches. Hamites grow little or no facial hair, while Israelites grow a tremendous amount of facial hair. Even some Israelite women are able to grow a mustache, and sometimes even a beard. Israelites are forbidden to shave off the hair on their head and face (ref. Lev. 19:27).
The Ashanti people of West Africa are definitely Hebrew Africans; as are the Fulani, and elements of the Yoruba people.
ASHANTI AMBASSADORS – 1881 c.e.
The Ashanti claim they are the dispersed descendants of the biblical inhabitants of Ashan
(ref. Josh. 19:7 & 2Ch. 6:59).
Although the Ashanti have picked up many Hamitic customs, their Israelite customs are equally practiced. Among these Israelite practices are:
- – Slavery for debt (ref. Exo. 25:39)
B. – Purification ceremony after childbirth (ref. Lev. 12:1-5)
C. – Menstrual seclusion (ref. Lev. 16:19-24)
D. – Belief in ONE Supreme Almighty Power (ref. Exo. 20:3)
E. – Extreme reverence for the Holy Name (ref. Exo. 20:7)
CLOSE-UP OF ASHANTI PRIEST
Notice his head cover, and especially his breastplate necklace.
The breastplate contains twelve jewels, set three across, in four horizontal rows. This is exactly according to the Breastplate made for the High Priest of Israel (ref. Exo. 28:15-27).
And, although any Israelite may wear a head cover; Israelite Priests “must” wear head covers (a.k.a. bonnets) when on duty (ref. Exo. 28:40 & Exo. 39:28).
THE ATLANTIC SLAVE TRADE
Of the more than 600 million Africans enslaved and shipped across the Atlantic Ocean, relatively few actually came to the United States. Many of these rich plantation owners were Masons, and they wanted only one type of slave: Hebrew. They believed, and rightly so, that having Hebrew slaves would guarantee their success.
They well understood the “Curse of the Ancient Israelites.”
NOTABLE ISRAELITES OF AMERICA
PROPHET WILLIAM S. CROWDY
William S. Crowdy was born a slave in Maryland in the year 1847. A year later (1848 c.e.), notable English explorers into Africa reported discovering “African Jews”!
William S. Crowdy was emancipated at age 18. He served in the Union army during the Civil War. After the war, he traveled west to Okalahoma, where he bought a farm. Upon learning to read and write, his human experience, along with world events and his ability to read the Bible, led him to believe that the slaves of America were actually the true Children of Israel. Eventually he married and raised a family in Kansas City, Missouri. But, over the years his reasoning about the Bible and his people haunted him. Finally, at age 46, he began telling others by preaching on the streets of Kansas City.
Three years later, he was living and preaching in Chicago. There, he was ordained a “Bishop” by a few of the ministers he had commissioned to teach. In the year 1896, his organization became incorporated as “The Church of God and the Saints of Christ”. Although founded during the times of “Jim Crow”, his church was integrated, and most of the incorporating members were White.
Bishop Crowdy died in 1908, at the age of 61. After his death, his church divided along racial lines. The White faction is presently a global Christian assembly in competition with the Jehovah’s Witness conglomerate. The Black faction became increasingly more and more “jewish”. It is presently viewed as on of the largest Israelite congregations, having a number of “Temples” throughout the United States.
RABBI WENTWORTH A. MATTHEW
Wentworth A. Matthew was 16 years old when William S. Crowdy died. At age 27, he founded the Commandment Keepers Congregation in Harlem, New York. Over the next 50 years, many of the Master Teachers (i.e. Rabbi) he trained went on to establish synagogues of their own throughout the United States and the Caribbean. Rabbi Matthew was also a close associate of Rabbi Arnold J. Ford. At the age of 81, Rabbi Matthew died in 1973.
RABBI ARNOLD JOSIAH FORD
From about 1913, until 1928, Josiah Ford served as Marcus Garvey’s Musical Director. After the collapse of the Garvey Movement, Josiah Ford founded the Beth B’nai Abraham Congregation. During the 1920’s, both he and Wentworth Matthew learned of the Black Jews of Ethiopia – known as the Falasha – and began to identify with them. The multitude of Rabbi Ford’s congregation was absorbed by Rabbi Matthew’s when financial problems ended Rabbi Ford’s operation during the 1930’s. His headwrap is exactly like that presently worn by B’nai Zaqen.
BEN AMMI ————————— & —————- YAHWEH BEN YAHWEH
During the late 1960’s Ben Ammi Carter and Shaleah Ben Israel successfully drew large numbers of Black Nationalists, from in and around Chicago, into their “Original Hebrew Israelite Nation”. By 1971, over 300 members had migrated to the land of Israel. Currently, they occupy two villages in southern Israel. Now known as the Kingdom of Yah (KOY), they have a number of operations throughout the United States.
During the 1970’s, Yahweh Ben Yahweh, (born Hulon Mitchell, Jr.) founded the “Nation of Yahweh”. He taught his followers that the true Lost Tribe of Judah is the Black people in America and the Caribbean. But, because he also said he was the son of the Most High, some of his over zealous followers actually murdered and decapitated a member of his organization, who openly opposed this teaching. Eventually, this caused Yahweh ben Yahweh to be convicted on Conspiracy to Commit Murder charges in 1991.
MODERN DAY FALASHA
The term “Falasha” actually means “stranger”, and is applied by Hamites to those Israelites who occupy their lands. Centered mainly in Ethiopia, the Falasha were discovered by European explorers in 1848. The Falasha call themselves Beta Israel. They practiced the Laws of the Torah according to their understanding. Numbering approx. 45,000 persons, their elemental composition is from a number of Israelite tribes – especially the tribes of Dan, Judah, Naphtali, Simeon, and Benjamin.
And, the Ark of the Covenant is believed to still be protected by true Israelite Levites in some mountain stronghold in Ethiopia.
FALASHA ISRAELITE TEENAGER AND MAN
ELDERLY FALASHA ISRAELITES
GROUP OF FALASHA PROTESTERS IN ISRAEL
Since their “discovery” in 1848, Beta Israel (i.e. the Falasha) have been subject to various European masters. Many were immediatly converted into Christians. During the 1930’s, Ethiopia was the last independant African nation. Every other nation in Africa had been colonized by some European power. Then, in 1938, Ethiopia was invaded and conquored by Italy, under the facist rule of Mussolini. During the Cold War period (1948-1985), the United States restored the government of Haile Selassie I, and established missle bases in Ethiopia. After the withdrawal of U.S. forces in the late 1960’s, Communist influence over the Hamitic population in the region forced the Hebrews out of power. Historically, Israelites had ruled Ethiopia from the times of King Solomon until the end of Haile Selassie’s government. During the 1990’s the Jewish State of Israel airlifted thousands of Falasha out of Africa into Israel under an operation codenamed “Operation Moses”
FALASHA BOY AND YOUNG WOMAN
MODERN DAY HEBREWS OF THE MIDDLE EAST
These images of Hebrews still in and around the land of Israel, remind us that the true Israelites have not changed much in appearance over the last 4,000 years. The plowman of Nablus looks almost exactly like Gad ben Gad of Philadelphia. The shepherd of Jordan looks almost exactly like Israel ben Israel of Baltimore.
SHEPHERD OF JORDAN
STREET SINGER OF YEMEN
This street singer of Yemen (minus the paint) looks exactly like a sister you see everyday in any major city of the United States.
PICTURE CREDITS
“VIEWS OF THE BIBLICAL WORLD” (VOL.3)
International Publishing Co. Ltd. Jerusalem – 1960
p.110 … Dead Israelites
p.167 … Israelite Exiles
“GENESIS – WORLD OF MYTHS AND PATRIARCHS”
by Ada Feyerick
New York University Press – 1996
p.76-77 … (4) races of Man
p.190-191 … Hebrew Caravan
“THE OXFORD HISTORY OF THE BIBLICAL WORLD”
Edited by Michael D. Coogan
Oxford university Press – 1998
New York and Oxford
p.89 … Hebrew Brick Makers
p.322.8 … Kinky haired Captives of the Assyrians
“EGYPT – 400 YEARS OF ART”
by Jaromir Malek
Phaidon Press Limited – 2003
London and New York
p.253 … Bedouin Captive
“EVERYDAY LIFE IN BIBLICAL TIMES”
National Geographic Society – 1967
p.34-35 … Modern Day Hebrews of the Middle East
p.131 … Hebrew Water Boy
p.141 … Young Hebrews Gathering Grapes
p.284 … Elamite Soldier
“COLLINS ATLAS OF THE BIBLE”
Edited by James B. Pritchard
Borders Press/HarperCollins Publishers – 2003
Ann Arbor, Michigan
p.49 … Captives of Ramesses II
“6,000 YEARS OF THE BIBLE”
by G.S.Wegener
Harpers and Row Publishers – 1963
New York and Evanston
p.36-37 … Arabs on Camels Battle Assyrians
p.74 … Israelite King Hoshea
“THE ILLUSTRATED LIBRARY OF THE WORLD AND IT’S PEOPLE”
Vol – Israel and Turkey
Greystone Press – 1966 and 1968
New York
p.94 … Exiled Israelite Musicians
“HEBREWISMS OF WEST AFRICA”
by Joseph J. Williams, S.J.
Biblo and Tannen Publishers
p.82 … Ashanti Ambassadors
www.churchofgod1896.org/founder.html
…image of William S. Crowdy
“THE JERUSALEM CHRONICAL”
Vol.9 – No.2
p.3 … image of Rabbi Arnold J. Ford
“THE JERUSALEM CHRONICAL”
Vol.12 – No.3
p.2 … image of Yahweh ben Yahweh
p.3 … image of Ben Ammi
“DREAD NEWS”
First Publication of the Baltimore Dread Society
September 1993
p.1 … Native of Songo and Hunter of T’chiboco
p.2 … Muta of T’chiboco and woman of Cangombe
p.3 … Native of Bailundo and woman of Luimbe
References
Farrar, Moses, 1996, The Deceiving of the Black Race: Greatest Story ‘Never’ Told
Hughley, J. Ella, 1982, The Truth About Black Biblical Hebrew-Israelites (Jews: the Worlds Best Kept Secret)
Israel, Elisha, 2010, Into Egypt Again With Ships: A Message To The Forgotten Israelites
Koestler, Arthur, 1976, The Thirteenth Tribe
Sand, Shlomo, 2008, The Invention of the Jewish People
Williams, J. Joseph, 1930, Hebrewisms of West Africa
Windsor, R. Rudolph, 1988, From Babylon to Timbuktu: A History of the Ancient Black Races Including the Black Hebrews
Bible:
The Holy Bible, King James Version. New York: American Bible Society: 1999; biblegateway.com, 2000
Quran:
Ouran, Sahih International Translation. Madinah, K.S.A,
Joshua Lette
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