WHERE DID THE OTHER TRIBES OF ISRAEL MIGRATE TO?


In the church we have covered the history, in particular, of the descendants of the two sons of Joseph, Ephraim and Manasseh, from whom the British and American peoples descended. Where did the rest of the tribes of Israel migrate to?

In Genesis 49 there is recorded a long prophecy that describes the state of each of the tribes in the "latter days". More clues are given in a similar prophecy spoken by Moses in Deuteronomy 33.

Jacob's firstborn son to his first wife, Leah, was Reuben. Because he slept with Jacob's concubine, Bilhah (Genesis 35:22), he lost the birthright which was passed onto Joseph, the firstborn son of his second and favorite wife, Rachel. Which nation is descended from Reuben? The clues of Genesis 49 and the facts of history point to France.

In Yair Davidy's book "The Tribes” he writes: "In west Europe the Franks were divided into several groups of whom the main ones are assumed to have been the Ripuarian Franks, the Salian Franks and the Chatti or Hessians. The Ripuarian Franks were assumedly so-called by the Romans since they were first known to them on the banks of the Rhine (in Latin "ripe" means river-bank) The name is also given as Ribauri and this name in Hebrew is another form of REUBEN ... [the] Ripuarian Franks with Alamans also entered Gaul from the east of the Rhine where they had been centred in Westphalia. The name 'PHALIA' wherein the Franks had been sojourning is derived most likely from that of PHALUI, second son of Reuben (p 162-163)".

Jacob foretold that Reuben would be "unstable as water" (Genesis 49:4). This has been the case with the instability in French government since the French revolution, though it has been more stable in recent years. Just as Jacob's son, Reuben, had a weakness for sex, the French have been known for their "avant-garde" approach to sex. Jacob also referred to Reuben as "the excellency of dignity and the excellency of power" (Genesis 49:3). In the past, France was called "the queen of culture". This excellency can be seen in many of France's magnificent chateaus and palaces such as the Versailles. During the time of Napoleon, France also excelled in power.

The descendants of Reuben, at a subconscious level, have tried hard to take back the double-portion of the birthright blessings from Joseph. Just before the time that Ephraim and Manasseh would inherit the birthright the French controlled much of eastern Canada and the vast Mississippi Basin (Louisiana Territory). The French and Indian War (1754-1763) was a major turning point in the struggle for control of North America. The decisive battle was the British capture of the "impregnable" city of Quebec where the fighting was centered on the aptly named Plains of Abraham. Britain thereafter acquired the French territory of eastern Canada.

In 1803 Napoleon sold the vast Louisiana Territory (8.28 million acres of the world's richest and most fertile land) to the new nation of the United States in order to fund his war efforts to expand France's empire in Europe. This event is seen by some as a symbolic handing over of the birthright from Reuben to Joseph. Through the French support of the Americans in their War of Independence and the sale of the Louisiana Territory, France hoped to create a rival who would weaken England. They elevated one branch of the family of Joseph and then lost to the other branch on both sea and land when the British defeated them in the battles of Trafalgar and Waterloo.

The northern French (only 25% of the French including most of the upper class) are descended from the Ripuarian Franks (Reuben). The central and much of the southern French and the Walloons of south Belgium (40% of Belgians) are descended from Dodanim (Genesis 10:2-4) who was a son of Javan, the ancestor of the Spanish and the Greeks through his other sons.

After Reuben came Simeon and Levi. These sons were quite cruel and Jacob foretold that they would be scattered by God throughout Israel (Genesis 49:7). According to Yair Davidy, Simeon appears to be represented by Celtic tribes such as the Simeni on the east coast of Britain and the Semoni of Ireland and Wales. Some also are to be found in Scandinavia (The Tribes, p 219-220).

The tribe of Levi, from whom came Moses and Aaron, became the priestly tribe. Being the priestly tribe they had no tribal inheritance. They lived amongst the other tribes. Amongst the Jews of Israel and the United States we find many with names like Levi, Levy and . The Hebrew word for priest is "Kohen". Many with names such as Kohan, Kuhn and Cohen are of Levite descent. Many of the tribe of Levi are found in Wales and amongst the Cornish people of SW England.

Judah or the Jewish people are quite visible to the world today, due mainly to the fact that they have remained faithful to keeping the sign of God's people, the Sabbath (Exodus 31:16-17). Jacob foretold that his "hand shall be on the neck of your enemies" (Genesis 49:8). The military skill of the Jewish people of the modern state of Israel in resisting the attacks of their Arab neighbors has been quite remarkable. The Jews have always had a reputation for producing great intellects (eg. Einstein) as well as being skilful warriors. The Jews in the state of Israel and the Scottish (many of whom descend from Judah) have been known as great warriors and Scottish inventors have produced a great many inventions per capita than most nations. The Jews and Scots also share the common trait of being known for being shrewd financially.

In Zephaniah 2:1-2 there appears to be a reference to the return of the Jewish people to the land of Palestine that we have seen in recent decades. Jesus' prophecy of the abomination of desolation (Matthew 24:15) requires an Israelite presence in Palestine in the end time. A significant number of Jews migrated into Europe with the other tribes. The Jutes gave the name of Jutland to the Danish peninsula. Many Jews can also be found in Denmark, Scotland, south England, Northern Ireland as well as the United States.

"Zebulun shall dwell by the haven of the sea. He shall become a haven for ships" (Genesis 49:13). This prophecy finds its fulfillment in the nation of Holland or the Netherlands. Rotterdam, at the mouth of the Rhine, is the world's busiest port. In the 17th Century, Holland was one of the great sea and colonial powers of Europe.

Zebulun is also described as obtaining abundance and wealth from the seas and the hidden treasures of the sands (Deuteronomy 33:19). The Dutch are well-known for building dykes and reclaiming land for the use of farming. Much of the Afrikaan population of South Africa are of Dutch descent. South Africa is known for the great wealth obtained from their diamond mines and Holland for its diamond cutting industry. "The name ZEBULON was recalled in Zabulistan of east Iran (Afghanistan) and in the Sabalingoi which people were originally in southern Jutland and from there moved into Dutch Frisia and other parts of Holland" (The Tribes, p.330).

Dan was described as "a serpent by the way" (Genesis 49:17) or a serpent's trail. They had a custom of naming places after their tribal ancestor Dan (Joshua 19:47, Judges 18:11-12). They left their mark on Europe as they migrated across it. We see this in the names of many of Europe's important rivers such as the Don, Dneiper, Dniester, Dardanelles and the Danube.

Keating's History of Ireland traces the Tuatha de Danaan (literally "the tribe of Dan") from Greece to Ireland and Scandinavia. Both ScanDINavia and SweDEN bear the name of Dan. The name of Dan occurs frequently in Ireland in place names such as Donegal, Danslaugh, Dungarvan, Dundalk, Dungloe, Dunsmore as well as the popular Irish song "Danny Boy".

Dan migrated to Ireland and, along with people descended from the Jutes (Judah), form the bulk of the nation of Denmark (DAN-mark). "Dan shall be a serpent by the way, a viper by the path, that bites the horse's heels, so that its rider shall fall backward" (Genesis 49:17) Jacob also said that Dan would be a judge over his own people (Genesis 49:18). Ireland has been like a serpent biting at the heels to England. Ireland achieved self-government from British rule via a terrorist campaign against representatives of the British government. A coiled snake is also the symbol of the Irish Republican Army (the I.R.A.).

Asher was to be characterised by qualities such as we see in Belgium today. "Bread from Asher shall be rich and he shall yield royal dainties" (Genesis 49:20). Belgium has been long recognised for her cakes and pastries as well as her lace, porcelain and tapestries which have graced the halls of kings. Both Belgium and Luxembourg are especially blessed above many of the other nations of NW Europe with a high standard of living. "Let Asher be blessed with children; let him be acceptable to his brethren, and let him dip his foot in oil" (Deuteronomy 33:24). Oil was a symbol of prosperity. The northern Belgians (60% of Belgium) who speak Flemish (dialect of Dutch) are of Israelite stock and have prospered more than the Walloons of the south.

Gad is a Hebrew word meaning "troop" which is a good description of Switzerland where every man is mobilized for defense. The French speaking Swiss (descended from the Burgundians) appear to be descended from the tribe of Gad. "Blessed is he who enlarges Gad" (Deuteronomy. 33:20). The Swiss nation, per capita, is the richest nation in Europe.

Jacob also said that "a troop shall tramp upon him: but he shall triumph at last" (Genesis 49:19). The Swiss broke away from the Holy Roman Empire around 1300 and have retained their independence for most of the time since. "He provided the first part for himself, because a lawgiver's portion was reserved there. He came with the heads of the people” (Deuteronomy 49:21). To Gad come "the heads of the peoples”. Geneva has been known as a place where heads of government meet for peace talks.

The identities of Isaachar, Naphtali and Benjamin are a little more obscure. Isaachar appears to be the western Finns. (The eastern Finns, as well as the Finnish language, are related to the Estonians and Hungarians who descend from Shem's son Aram (Genesis 10:22)) "Issachar is a strong ass couching down between two burdens. [He] bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a servant unto tribute" (Genesis 49:14-15, KJV). Finland has long been caught between the stronger, competing nations of Sweden and Russia and for some of the past century was under tribute to both Russia and Germany.

Naphtali appears to be Sweden who descend from the Suiones. The Amplified Bible renders Genesis 49:21 as "Naphtali is a hind let loose which yields lovely fawns". Sweden is known for its sexually open lifestyle and blond, Swedish women have had a reputation for their great beauty. Naphtali also "gives goodly words" (Genesis 49:21, KJV). From Sweden come the Nobel prizes.

"Benjamin is a ravenous . In the morning he shall devour the prey, and at night he shall divide the spoil (Genesis 49:27). This is a very good description of the Vikings who pillaged Northern Europe. The Vikings came mostly from Norway who, along with the Danes, make up most of the population of Iceland. Just as Benjamin was the smallest tribe, so too, are the Norwegians amongst the other Israelite nations of Northwest Europe.