“CO-INCIDENCES”? Linking Britain with Ancient Israel
Part Three
Waymarks of the Migrations
Northward and Westward
Jeremiah 31 v21 reads “Set thee up waymarks, make thee high heaps; Set thine heart towards the high way, even the way which thou wentest, O virgin of Israel”. As the descendants of Jacob-lsrael — under divine guidance — made their way towards the ‘Place’ which God had covenanted that he-would ‘appoint’ for them (2 Sam. 7:10), they left a great deal of evidence on the way of their passing. The migrations took place over centuries. About half of Judah’s progeny had already migrated before the Exodus; in fact some of Zarah’s family migrated before the children of Israel went into Egypt and some of Shelah’s family joined with Phoenician tradesand migrated to Ireland (Shelah was Judah’s son by his Canaanite wife). The main body of the migrations of course was after the captivity of the Northern Kingdom in Assyria. Nor should we forget that 200,000 Judahites were taken captive to Assyria when the invading Assyrians captured 46 cities of the Southern Kingdom of Judah as recorded by the Assyrian King Sennacherib on his inscribed prism in the British Museum. These Judahites were NEVER Jews.
Very many names with Israelite family name still remain along the path of the migrations: Dardanelles after Zarah’s son Darda, Saragossa (Spain) originally Zaragassa meaning stronghold of Zarah etc.etc. The Tribe of Dan were particularly given to naming their resting places after their progenitor, of whom Jacob’s death bed prophetic blessing (GEN.49:17) was “A serpent on the road is Dan” — he certainly left his trail! We have Danube, Danric Alps, D’neister, D’neiper, Danetz, Dan aster and so on, not forgetting DANMARK.
In the British Isles names with the prefix Dan, Don and Den are of Danite origin. Very early inhabitants of Ireland were the ‘TUATHA de DANAAN’ — The Tribe of Dan. From Spain came the sea-faring people the ‘Iberian Danaan’. Ancient maps of Ireland show place names such as Dan-sower (Dan’s resting place) and Dan- sobraise (Dan’s habitation). Is this all co-incidence?
The route from ancient Assyria to Ar-Sereth where there was a major staging area on the migrations, crosses the Caucasus mountains by a long and winding pass. This pass is known — to this day — by the locals, as the ‘pass of Israel’. An interesting (true) story of this is that after World War I, a British army officer Colonel Pearse R.E. and his companion were making this journey. When they entered the pass they were surprised when their guide told them that the Children of Israel passed this very same way and that it was still called ‘The Pass of Israel’. As a joke the Colonel asked the guide if he was an Israelite? To which he replied emphatically— “No, BUT YOU ARE”! Although Colonel Pearse was at that time a practising Christian he was totally ignorant of any connection between the British and Bible Israel. Subsequently he became chairman of the Streatham branch of BIWF and a well known lecturer on the subject!
A great number of archaelogical ‘waymarks’, ‘high heaps’ and Israel burial sites have been discovered over the years — in compliance with Jeremiah’s exhortation! Can all this be just co-incidence?
The Druids
Contrary to the propaganda assiduously perpetuated by the Church of Rome and others, there is very strong evidence that the Druids were highly cultured and were of Israelite origin. Their language had a basic similarity to Hebrew (syntax as well as vocabulary) and they NEVER opposed Christianity when it was brought to them. Caswell’s History of England states “Druidical rites and ceremonies were almost identical with Mosaic ritual”…also “the Chief (Arch) Druid and the Israelite High Priest were similarly arrayed — even to the Breast Plate of Judgement with the twelve stones representing the Tribes of Israel and the Holy Name on the headgear”. Charles Hulbert(AD 1825) in his Religions of Britain’ writes — “so near is the resemblance between the Druidical religion in Britain and the Patriarchal religion of the Hebrews that we would hesitate NOT to pronounce their origin the SAME”(our emphasis). This confirms Caswell. Coincidence?
The Apostolic Origin of the Church in Britain
It is well known and beyond dispute that Joseph of Arimathea regularily visited and traded in Britain. Especially he visited Cornwall for the tin trade and also South West England. Even until fairly recent times one of the tin mines bore the name ‘Levant Mine’ (The Levant was the area of Palastine-Lebanon). A very old traditional Cornish miners song went “Joseph was a tin man, we know for certain”. We also know for certain that Joseph of Arimathea came to Britain with the Apostle Philip and built the original wattle church at Glastonbury – the oldest church in Britain and probably the first Christian church built above ground in the world. The date is believed to be between AD 36 and AD 39 – before St. Peter ever set foot in Rome!
In 1927 archaeologists found Joseph’s tomb stone with the inscription I came to the Britons after I buried Christ. I taught, I rest.” Everyone knows the ‘legend’ of the Glastonbury Thorn, which blooms at Christmas time, and is believed to have grown from Joseph’s Staff’ There is, however, a strong belief that it was in fact Christ’s staff which Joseph had kept and planted, and not his own. By Hebrew tradition a man’s staff was a family heir-loom, to be passed on from father to Eldest Son; and Joseph’s own son Josephes was with him, to whom he would have been honour bound to bequeath his own staff.
Who has not heard of The Holy Grail which Joseph brought with him? It was Joseph of Arimathea who provided the “upper room” of his town house for the Last Supper, and also the simple wooden cup for the wine, which he lovingly preserved and safe-guarded as his most hallowed possession.
After having to be taken from Glastonbury to Strata Florida in Wales to escape the depredations of Henry VIII, this Sacred Cup was entrusted to the Powells of Nanteos, who have safe-guarded it ever since. Traditions which have persisted and which have been as firmly believed as these, have seldom been found to be groundless!
There are authentic records that almost all (if not ALL) the Apostles visited and taught in Britain. Eusebius, regarded as the father of early church history states “The Apostles passed beyond the ocean to the Isles called the Britannic Isles” and Dorotheus, Bishop of Tyre wrote that Simon Zelotes and Aristobolus visited Britain and that Aristobolus (mentioned in Romans 16 v10) was chosen and consecrated by St. Paul as the first Bishop in Britain. There is a strong tradition that St. Paul came to Britain and actually preached on Ludgate Hill where St. Paul’s cathedral stands today.
The Roman church’s own eminent historian, Cardinal Baronius, Vatican librarian, discovered documents which he quotes in his ‘Ecclesiastical Annals’, listing thirteen companions of Joseph of Arimathea, who accompanied him to Britain. This fascinating list includes the Bethany sisters and their maid Marcella and brother Lazarus.
Why should these disciples – and dearest friends of Jesus – have travelled all the way to Britain – of all places! Braving the seas as well? Is this just co-incidence? Could it be that they were obeying Christ’s pressing instructions to them…. “Go ye rather to the lost sheep of THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL”. They would know full well that a goodly proportion of lost’ Israel were right here in these ‘Isles of the North and West – the place appointed by God where HE covenanted that HE would PLANT His People Israel (2 Sam.7:10)
A further question might be asked – WHY did the gospel come here to B so very soon after the crucifixion… i.e. as soon as possibly three years and not more than six years after these momentous events?
Jerusalem 1917
The year 1917 marks the termination of the punishment period of Seven Times of chastisement ordered by the Lord for their sins for Judah and Jerusalem. (LEV. 26). Incredibly almost, Jerusalem WAS freed from gentile domination having been under the Ottoman Empire for centuries, in that very year- 1917. Is it co-incidence that 1917 in our Christian calendar IS 1335 in the Moslem calendar, and that Daniel 12 says “Blessed is he that waiteth and cometh to the thousand, three hundred and five and thirty days”! (1335). A prophetic ‘day’ = a year. Is it a co-incidence that Jerusalem was taken without a single shot being fired by General Allenby’s force of British, Australian and New Zealand units – i.e. forces of Britain and her daughter nations – an ‘Israel’ force! Is it co-incidence that the Arabs called Allenby’Allah-en-nebi’ which means Prophet of Allah/God?
Is it coincidence that the deciding factor which made the Turks abandon Jerusalem without a fight was the sight of the Royal Flying Corps flying over Jerusalem. Compare Is.31 v.5… “As birds flying, so will the Lord of Hosts defend Jerusalem, defending He will deliver it, and passing over HE will preserve it”. This was the Lord’s promise and it was fulfilled to the letter. Is it co-incidence that this same squadron (14 SQN RFC) who flew over Jerusalem during those momentous days subsequently adopted as their motto “I Spread My Wings and Keep My Promise”?
Still More Co-incidences
Ancient Ireland. Abraham’s chief forebear was Heber or Eber – hebrew Y’B’R – from which the name HEBREW or HEBERITES is derived, thus Eberi, Orlberi and ultimately Hebrides. In the ancient’Leabhar Gadhala’ or Book of Conquests it is recorded that ‘IBERI’ or Iberians were among the very early settlers in Ireland, and they named the country HIBERNIA. Thus Abraham’s family HEBER – Y’B’R (there were no vowels in hebrew) spread it tentacles to ‘The Isles’.
Ireland’s connections with the Tribe of Dan are unmistakable. The TUATHA DE DANAAN were also early settlers from their migrations and the ship which arrived in Carrickfergus carrying the ancient Hebrew prophet, the Hebrew princess and their sacred stone and chest was recorded in the Annals of Clonmacnoise as being a ship of the ‘Iberian Danaan’.
This venerable Hebrew prophet was called by the Irish ‘Ollam Fodhla’ and a very strong and persistant tradition identifies him as Jeremiah. We know that Jeremiah had charge of Zedekiah’s daughter and heir – the ‘Princess Royal’ of Israel-Judah. To this day tourist guides point out Jeremiah’s burial place on Devenish Island, Lough Erne near Enniskillen.
This Hebrew princess was the eldest daughter of Zedekiah, king of the two tribed southern kingdom of Judah and the last reigning king of David’s royal line —until he was taken captive to Babylon after all his male heirs had been slaughtered (Jer.39:6-7). Thus Zedekiah’s eldest daughter would become the legal heir to David’s throne and the succession of David’s royal line became vested in her. Is it not a remarkable coincidence that she was saved from the slaughter and taken, with the prophet Jeremiah, first to Egypt and then to ‘The Isles’ — Ireland— the ‘place’ appointed by God where she would be ‘planted’ to found a dynasty of David’s royal line and perpetuate the royal throne?
Is it not a further remarkable co-incidence that she should marry into the royal line of Ireland which traced its descent from Calcol, son of Zarah- -Judah — twin brother of Pharez-Judah from whom David was descended and thus Zedekiah and his daughter also? Consequently in this very important marriage the two lines of Judah, Pharez and Zarah, between whom there was a ‘breach’, were united, ensuring that David’s throne and his royal line endure for ever…just as promised by God in His Covenant (2 Sam.7:16; Ps.89:3-4/27-37). This throne and royal line HAVE endured indeed right down to our own Queen Elizabeth II— and the’ Sceptre’ has not departed from Judah.* (See Note below)
Is it co-incidence also that under the guidance of ‘Ollam Fodhla’ or Jeremiah, Baal worship was eradicated from Ireland and a code of worship of One God instituted — almost identical to that of Israel? With this also came a code of laws almost identical with the laws and commandments (“The Isles shall wait for His Law” Is.42:4). This is historical fact, so we may wonder from where did they get this code of Israel worship and law if not direct from the source!
As previously mentioned Judah’s younger son by his Canaanite wife was Shelah. He and his descendants migrated before the Exodus in company with Phoenician traders. They travelled to ‘the Isles’ (Ulster) and it is recorded that they settled in Ireland which they called ‘Er’s land after Shelah’s eldest son ‘Er’…Er’sIand, or Erin — or Erie (Eire?) Is it co- incidence too that the ancient language was Erse? Perhaps this is the origin of the common Irish name Sheilah or Sheilagh. I Chron.4 v21 records that Shelah’s descendants as being workers in ‘fine linen’ — also pottery, plants and hedges! Ireland has always been noted for it’s fine linen and what about Irish pottery?
Note: The account given here concerning Zedekiah’s daughter is that which is generally accepted. However recent research suggests that the Princess was not Tea or Tea Tephi as previously thought, but SCOTA, Zedekiah’s eldest daughter. In accordance with royal Egyptian custom this princess had, on coming to Egypt with Jeremiah, been adopted by Pharoah Hofra as HIS daughter. This explains why she was thought to be an Egyptian princess when she arrived in Ireland. Research suggests that Eochaidh — Heremon of all Ireland, was Scota’s son and not her husband, and that Eochaidh married Tea, daughter of Lughaidh. Lughaidh was grandson of Breogan who was Eochaidh’s great grandfather also — thus they were all descended from Calcol, son of Zarah-Judah, and were all ‘Judahites’.
The important point is that whatever the relationship of the Irish King to the Princess of David’s Royal Line, whether son or husband, whether Scota or Tea, makes absolutely no difference to the succession and transference of the Davidic (Pharez-Judah) line to Eochaidh’s dynasty. In either case this would be accomplished and the Royal Line and Royal Throne of David were planted in the appointed place.
It is also important to note that Num. 27 requires a female heir to marry within her own Tribe in order to pass on her inheritance. This was done when the Princess, a descendant of Judah’s son Pharez married into the Irish Royal dynasty which was descended from Judah’s son Zarah. Both parties were Judahites — and the Sceptre did not depart from Judah!
[to be continued]
