Isaiah chs. 51 to 55 Isaiah
Chapters 56 to 60

Isaiah chs. 61 to 66 



Isaiah 56 to 60
We must keep the Sabbath and act righteously, doing justice and good deeds. The Oppressors of Judah will be shown the error of their ways. God will always be with HIS people even when they are not aware of it. The Lost Ten Tribes will be in the Isles of the Sea and the West. First Judah will return then the Ten Tribes in stages. The return will be by air travel.




The Book of Isaiah

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 Chapters 56 to 60 


A Brit-Am
Biblical Commentary




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Contents:
Summary of Individual Chapters

Chapters with Brit-Am Commentary

Feature Articles:
THE STAGES OF REDEMPTION in Isaiah and Hosea:
THE INGATHERING OF THE EXILES, THE LOST TEN TRIBES, AND THE BUILDING OF THE THIRD TEMPLE

Afghanistan and the Sons of Keturah

AMERICA AND KEDAR

TARSHISH and the US DOLLAR SIGN
(a) TARSHISH
ISRAELITE PRESENCE IN SPAIN, GAUL AND BRITAIN
The Dollar Sign and Israelite Heritage
(b) THE DOLLAR BILL, TARSHISH, AND THE TEN LOST TRIBES!
by Gunnar Jeremia Gishron

What Really is Tarshish?


Summary of Individual Chapters:
Chapter 56: We are called upon to do justice (56:1). The Sabbath must be kept (56:2). The stranger who joins themself to Israel (Isaiah 56:3 cf. Ezekiel 47:22) will be counted as one of Israel (Isaiah 56:4-7). Isaiah 56:8 refers to the Order of Redemption: First Judah will be ingathered, then those who remain from the Lost Ten Tribes will be brought back by stages. The leaders of Israel mislead us (56:9), and worry mainly about themselves (56:10-12).

Chapter 57: They also cause the righteousness to perish (57:1). They who are immoral in one direction will also be sinful in others. There is nothing romantic about evildoing (57:3). In ancient times Israelites killed children in human sacrifice. Nowadays we do the same through abortions (57:5). God will not keep quiet for ever nor overlook our transgressions for an eternity (57:6-11). Trust in God and you will be saved (57:13). They who endeavor to speak well to others, who radiate hope, good feelings, and a positive attitude will bring a blessing to the world and to themselves (57:19).

Chapter 58: Jacob always seeks God (58:2) but our ways of worship and behavior are not acceptable to the Almighty (58:3-5) since social justice is lacking. Charity begins at home (58:6-7). Do good and good will come unto you (58:8). The destroyed areas of ancient times will be rebuilt. If you merit to participate in this then you are especially blessed (58:12). The Sabbath must be dedicated to God. We must take pleasure in this holy day (58:13) which is part of the Israelite heritage (58:14).

Chapter 59: God wants us to be heard by Him but our iniquities prevent it (59:2). Our present society breeds sin and oppression (59:7). Do you realize that tolerance for homosexuality means allowing children and the weak to be coerced into a way of life they would not chose if given the choice? That most women who have abortions do not really want to do so? The "liberal" permissive society is one of tyranny and oppression. THE WAY OF PEACE THEY KNOW NOT (59:8). Israel is sinning and evil (59:9-15). God will send a savior who by force of arm will establish righteousness (59:16-17). The saviour will establish his rulership over the islands and take vengeance from the sinful (59:18). The Name of God will be feared by those in the West (59:19). A redeemer shall come to Zion (59:20) [which in some contexts can connote Joseph, Midrash Tanchuma] and they who repent in Jacob. God has made a covenant that HIS spirit will not depart from they who are chosen but always HIS word will be in their mouth and in the mouth of their seed for ever (59:21). Go with God and HE will be with you and with your children.

Chapter 60: The light of God will shine upon Judah and all those associated with her (60:1). Gentile leaders will come to Judah for instruction and enlightenment (60:3). "Captive" (Assimilated) Jews and Lost Israelites will return (60:4). The Lost Ten Tribes who were exiled to the Isles of the Sea (and other places) will return (60:5). The riches of the world will be brought unto you (60:5-7). The Exiles of Judah and of the Lost Ten Tribes will return by air travel (60:8). They will come back from the Islands and the Atlantic Ocean area (60:9). Other peoples will serve you willingly (60:10-11). Nations that will not serve you will be destroyed (60:12). The persecutors of the Jews shall repent. Their descendants shall request forgiveness and acknowledge the basic relative innocence and righteousness of the Jewish people (60:14-16). Great prosperity will prevail (60:17). Human nature will change. There will be no more violence (60:18). Through being righteous Israel shall merit to be blessed (60:21). If you are meritorious the Messianic Age will come sooner but if not there is a time-limit after which the End Times will come at all events (60:22).


Chapters with Brit-Am Commentary:
Isaiah 56 to 60
Chapter 56
[Isaiah 56:1] THUS SAITH THE LORD, KEEP YE JUDGMENT, AND DO JUSTICE: FOR MY SALVATION IS NEAR TO COME, AND MY RIGHTEOUSNESS TO BE REVEALED.

 [Isaiah 56:2] BLESSED IS THE MAN THAT DOETH THIS, AND THE SON OF MAN THAT LAYETH HOLD ON IT; THAT KEEPETH THE SABBATH FROM POLLUTING IT, AND KEEPETH HIS HAND FROM DOING ANY EVIL.             

 [Isaiah 56:3] NEITHER LET THE SON OF THE STRANGER, THAT HATH JOINED HIMSELF TO THE LORD, SPEAK, SAYING, THE LORD HATH UTTERLY SEPARATED ME FROM HIS PEOPLE: NEITHER LET THE EUNUCH SAY, BEHOLD, I AM A DRY TREE.
The stranger  who is not an Israelite but identifies with Israel will be rewarded with Israel.
[Ezekiel 47:21] SO SHALL YE DIVIDE THIS LAND UNTO YOU ACCORDING TO THE Tribes OF ISRAEL.                     
[Ezekiel 47:22] AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS, THAT YE SHALL DIVIDE IT BY LOT FOR AN INHERITANCE  UNTO YOU, AND TO THE STRANGERS THAT SOJOURN AMONG YOU, WHICH SHALL BEGET CHILDREN AMONG YOU: AND THEY SHALL BE UNTO YOU AS BORN IN THE COUNTRY AMONG THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL; THEY SHALL HAVE INHERITANCE WITH YOU AMONG THE Tribes OF ISRAEL.                     

 [Isaiah 56:4] FOR THUS SAITH THE LORD UNTO THE EUNUCHS THAT KEEP MY SABBATHS, AND CHOOSE THE THINGS THAT PLEASE ME, AND TAKE HOLD OF MY COVENANT;

 [Isaiah 56:5] EVEN UNTO THEM WILL I GIVE IN MINE HOUSE AND WITHIN MY WALLS A PLACE AND A NAME BETTER THAN OF SONS AND OF DAUGHTERS: I WILL GIVE THEM AN EVERLASTING NAME, THAT SHALL NOT BE CUT  OFF.

 [Isaiah 56:6] ALSO THE SONS OF THE STRANGER, THAT JOIN THEMSELVES TO THE LORD, TO SERVE HIM, AND   TO LOVE THE NAME OF THE LORD, TO BE HIS SERVANTS, EVERY ONE THAT KEEPETH THE SABBATH FROM POLLUTING IT, AND TAKETH HOLD OF MY COVENANT;

 [Isaiah 56:7] EVEN THEM WILL I BRING TO MY HOLY MOUNTAIN, AND MAKE THEM JOYFUL IN MY HOUSE OF PRAYER: THEIR BURNT OFFERINGS AND THEIR SACRIFICES SHALL BE ACCEPTED UPON MINE ALTAR; FOR MINE  HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED AN HOUSE OF PRAYER FOR ALL PEOPLE.

 [Isaiah 56:8] THE LORD GOD, WHICH GATHERETH THE OUTCASTS OF ISRAEL SAITH, YET WILL I GATHER OTHERS  TO HIM, BESIDE THOSE THAT ARE GATHERED UNTO HIM.
This was understood to refer to the Order of Redemption: First Judah will be ingathered, then those who remain from the Lost Ten Tribes
And even that will be by stages.


THE STAGES OF REDEMPTION
in Isaiah and Hosea:
THE INGATHERING OF THE EXILES, THE LOST TEN TRIBES, AND THE BUILDING OF THE THIRD TEMPLE

Isaiah 56:8 is understood to refer to the Stages of Redmption

THE LORD GOD, WHICH GATHERETH THE OUTCASTS OF ISRAEL SAITH, YET WILL I GATHER OTHERS  TO HIM, BESIDE THOSE THAT ARE GATHERED UNTO HIM [Isaiah 56:8] .
First Judah will be ingathered, then those who remain from the Lost Ten Tribes
And even that will be by stages:
    The following extract is found in "Am Habonim Smaycha". The author was writing during the Holocaust and was quoting by memory  from the works of Rabbi Zvi Kalisher. Rabbi Kalisher  understands  the Prophets Isaiah and  Hosea as intimating that at first the Jews (Judah)  will return and prepare the land  so that it ultimately will be able to support a great community. Then part of the Lost Ten Tribes will return and together with the Jews build the Third Temple. Then the remainder and numerically greater part of the Lost Ten Tribes will also come back. The Messiah, son of Joseph appears and reigns in Jerusalem prior to and then together  with the Messiah son of David. The Great End-Time War of Gog and Magog follows at the conclusion of which the name of God is hallowed by all and all worship Him in unison with one tongue:

In "AM HABANIM SMAYCHA" it says: "S.79: I saw in the book "Drishat Tsion" [by Rabbi Zvi Kalisher] an inquiry concerning the words of Nachmanides ["Ramban"] on Isaiah 56;8:

    "THE LORD GOD WHICH GATHERETH THE OUTCASTS OF ISRAEL SAITH, YET WILL I GATHER OTHERS TO HIM, BESIDES THOSE THAT ARE GATHERED UNTO HIM (Isaiah 56:8).

    "This verse is explained: In the beginning will be gathered  many of the outcasts of Israel but not all of them. After the War of Gog and Magog  the above-quoted expression, "Yet will I gather others to him", be pertinent: This means that the Dispersed will once again be ingathered together with those who were gathered previously. This applies to those who were lost in the Land of Assyria (Isaiah 27;13) from the Lost Ten Tribes. They will be regathered.
    "If a great community of those who were lost in the Assyrian Exile would be ingathered right at the beginning, how could they have been brought to a wasted and desolate country? Without doubt they will have to  be preceded [by their brothers from Judah] in order that the land may bring forth bread. Afterwards all of them will be able to come to a country full of  the blessing of the Almighty..
    "The wilderness shall be a fruitful field" (cf. Isaiah 32:15), full of fields and vineyards restored by the hand of Israelites.

The Prophet Hosea says:
[HOSEA 6:1] COME, AND LET US RETURN UNTO THE LORD: FOR HE HATH TORN, AND HE WILL HEAL US; HE HATH SMITTEN, AND HE WILL BIND US UP.                     
[HOSEA 6:2] AFTER TWO DAYS WILL HE REVIVE US: IN THE THIRD DAY HE WILL RAISE US UP, AND WE SHALL LIVE  IN HIS SIGHT.   
 "IN THE THIRD DAY": Rashi: at the time of the Third Temple.              
[HOSEA 6:3] THEN SHALL WE KNOW, IF WE FOLLOW ON TO KNOW THE LORD: HIS GOING FORTH IS PREPARED AS THE MORNING; AND HE SHALL COME UNTO US AS THE RAIN, AS THE LATTER AND FORMER RAIN UNTO THE EARTH.
 [HOSEA 6:4] O EPHRAIM, WHAT SHALL I DO UNTO THEE? O JUDAH, WHAT SHALL I DO UNTO THEE?"..

 [HOSEA 6:10] I HAVE SEEN AN HORRIBLE THING IN THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL: THERE IS THE WHOREDOM OF EPHRAIM, ISRAEL IS DEFILED.                     
[HOSEA 6:11] ALSO, O JUDAH, HE HATH SET AN HARVEST FOR THEE, WHEN I RETURNED THE CAPTIVITY OF MY PEOPLE.                    
 

And so the Prophet Hosea predicted,

    "ALSO, JUDAH HAS SET A HARVEST FOR YOU, WHEN I RETURNED THE CAPTIVITY OF MY PEOPLE" (HOSEA 6:11)
[Note by Brit-Am: The verse is translated here literally in accordance to the context. The KJ renders this verse "Also, O Judah, he has  set a harvest for you, when I returned the captivity of my people" (Hosea 6;11) but Rav Kalisher correctly explains it to mean that Judah will have prepared a harvest [i.e. infrastructure] for the Ten Tribes who will return at a later date.]
 
    "[Commentators in the past found the above verse difficult to explain] but in my view it is easily understandable according to the context [since the preceding verses] speak of Ephraim who beyond doubt represents the Lost Ten Tribes throughout the relevant chapter.  Hosea [in this same chapter six] also says "in the third day he will raise us up" (Hosea 6:2) which according to Rashi is referring to the "Building of the Third Temple". After that the Prophet continues his exhortation and says, "O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee?" (Hosea 6:4) and continues in the same vein he had previously began [which was connected with the "third day" and interpreted as applying to Building the Third Temple]. The Prophet then says [Hosea 6:11], addressing himself to Ephraim, "Also, Judah has set a harvest for you, when I will have returned the captivity of my people" (i.e. of Ephraim). Prior to the coming of a great community, Judah [i.e. the Jews] will prepare a harvest [infrastructure] before you (Ephraim), after that there will be a great ingathering, and afterwards indubitably will come the [preliminary] Messiah, Son of Joseph, and rule in Jerusalem. Some time later, will arrive Gog [who will wage war against Israel and be defeated] and so the Name of the Almighty will be sanctified:

    "IN THAT DAY SHALL THERE BE ONE LORD, AND HIS NAME ONE" (Zechariah 14:9).

    "FOR THEN WILL I TURN TO THE PEOPLE A PURE LANGUAGE, THAT THEY MAY ALL CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD, TO SERVE HIM WITH ONE CONSENT" (Zephaniah 3:9).
 
(-Extracted from "Am Habonim Smaychah" p.280 ff.)
 
Suggested Conclusions from the Above Sources as Supplied by Israel Feld: (Israel Feld is the brother of Rabbi Avraham Feld. Israel Feld was probably the first person apart from Yair Davidiy to seriously realize the importance of the Brit-Am message.)

"Historically, it may be claimed that to a significant degree the initial arousal of the Jewish people to return and re-build the Jewish State of Israel was preceded by British thinkers. This is documented in such works as "The Vision Was There" by Franz Kobler, U.K., 1956. In this case part of the emotional arousal came from Ephraim and so fits an aspect of Ephraim [who will initiate an emotional arousal] noted by Rabbi Dessler ["Miktav me'Eliyahu"]. Ephraim in this case did provide part of the initial arousal and psychological "push" that was needed initially in setting the Zionist Enterprise on its feet and helping it along to some degree after that. Ephraim however did not go far enough or push hard enough in the way that was needed.

After the Six Days War the Jews may have been able to begin building the Temple and establishing a State based on Biblical principles. This did not happen partly because the Tribes of Joseph (Britain and North America, etc.) did not have a movement of their own working in that direction. They did not provide the psychological and material support for such a step. Both authorities quoted above suggest that Judah needs  the participation of the Lost Ten Tribes in building the Third Temple. "
      
"Prerequisites for re-building the Temple entail support for certain policies of the Israeli State that are connected with the country's survival and welfare as well as being Biblical injunctions. An example is Israel's control of the West Bank territories of Judah and Samaria. In practice, Israel is often limited in its possibility of action due to its dependence on overseas aid, its sensitivity to world opinion, and manipulation of the media inside and outside of Israel. Elements within Israel that America desires to strengthen receive direct and indirect material and other support. The groups and individuals that are encouraged in this way are not necessarily those that have the true interests of the Jewish people at heart."
"If there would be stronger outside support and identification from Bible-believers in the Western World, the Israeli public may well be enabled to further their own uniqueness and destiny and thus come closer to realizing Biblical ideals."    

Regarding the Future redemption, the Midrash (Yalkut Shimeoni on Song of Solomon 1:16) states:

    "..THE TEN Tribes WHO WERE EXILED BEYOND THE SAMBATION RIVER ARE THEY WHOM THE EXILED OF JUDAH AND BENJAMIN ARE DESTINED TO GO UNTO AND TO BRING THEM BACK IN ORDER TO MERIT WITH THEM THE DAYS OF THE MESSIAH AND LIFE IN THE WORLD-TO-COME, AS IT SAYS,

    "IN THOSE DAYS THE HOUSE OF JUDAH SHALL *GO UNTO* THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL, AND THEY SHALL COME TOGETHER OUT OF THE LAND OF THE NORTH TO THE LAND THAT I HAVE GIVEN FOR AN INHERITANCE UNTO THEIR FATHERS"   (Jeremiah 3:18).

*GO UNTO* in Hebrew Yelcu-al translated in the King James as "WALK WITH".

    The above passages are understood to mean that towards the End Times people from amongst Judah and Benjamin (i.e. the Jews) will go out and bring the Lost Ten Tribes back. In addition many of those amongst the Lost Ten Tribes who have began to realize the truth of Israelite Identity are descendants of Jews. Their ancestors frequently were those who were forced to change their religion (i.e. "Captive Jews") or for some other reason became lost amongst the nations. Brit-Am attempts to forge links both with the Captive Jews of Judah and with the Lost Ten Tribes of Ephraim.

We see from the above that Judah will prepare the way by establishing the infrastructure (Hosea 6:11) for the Ten Tribes who will follow after them (Isaiah 56:8). The Return will pass through several stages that involve both the initial participation of Ephraim encouraging Judah on the one had with Judah later going out to bring Ephraim back (Jeremiah 3:18) on the other.

Article adapted (with minor changes) from chapter ten  of  "Ephraim. The Gentile Children of Israel" by Yair Davidi


 
Isaiah ch.56 continues:
 [Isaiah 56:9] ALL YE BEASTS OF THE FIELD, COME TO DEVOUR, YEA, ALL YE BEASTS IN THE FOREST.
This is a different theme. The beasts of the field are the enemy.

 [Isaiah 56:10] HIS WATCHMEN ARE BLIND: THEY ARE ALL IGNORANT, THEY ARE ALL DUMB DOGS, THEY CANNOT BARK; SLEEPING, LYING DOWN, LOVING TO SLUMBER.
The leaders are all blind and given over to their lower impulses.

 [Isaiah 56:11] YEA, THEY ARE GREEDY DOGS WHICH CAN NEVER HAVE ENOUGH, AND THEY ARE SHEPHERDS THAT CANNOT UNDERSTAND: THEY ALL LOOK TO THEIR OWN WAY, EVERY ONE FOR HIS GAIN, FROM HIS QUARTER.
The leaders have failed in their duty.

 [Isaiah 56:12] COME YE, SAY THEY, I WILL FETCH WINE, AND WE WILL FILL OURSELVES WITH STRONG DRINK; AND TO MORROW SHALL BE AS THIS DAY, AND MUCH MORE ABUNDANT.
The leaders are drinking and indulging themselves and disregarding the impending calamity.
 
Chapter 57
[Isaiah 57:1] THE RIGHTEOUS PERISHETH, AND NO MAN LAYETH IT TO HEART: AND MERCIFUL MEN ARE TAKEN AWAY, NONE CONSIDERING THAT THE RIGHTEOUS IS TAKEN AWAY FROM THE EVIL TO COME.       
The above translation fits the Hebrew and the words of the Commentators.
The last expression  however, "THAT THE RIGHTEOUS IS TAKEN AWAY FROM THE EVIL TO COME" can also be translated from the Hebrew as saying that "the righteous is taken away due to evil".  It sometimes happens that righteous people suffer due to the sins of others.  In the case of this verse the first explanation seems to fit the context best, i.e. the righteous dies before his time (or does not have his time prolonged as he may otherwise have had) in order not to see the coming disasters.

 [Isaiah 57:2] HE SHALL ENTER INTO PEACE: THEY SHALL REST IN THEIR BEDS, EACH ONE WALKING IN HIS UPRIGHTNESS.                 
The righteous people who died before their time will rest in peace.
EACH ONE WALKING IN HIS UPRIGHTNESS: ["
holech nocakho"] also translateable as "moving onwards".

 [Isaiah 57:3] BUT DRAW NEAR HITHER, YE SONS OF THE SORCERESS, THE SEED OF THE ADULTERER AND THE WHORE.
People who engage in witchcraft are often also immoral in other ways.

 [Isaiah 57:4] AGAINST WHOM DO YE SPORT YOURSELVES? AGAINST WHOM MAKE YE A WIDE MOUTH, AND DRAW OUT THE TONGUE? ARE YE NOT CHILDREN OF TRANSGRESSION, A SEED OF FALSEHOOD.              

 [Isaiah 57:5] ENFLAMING YOURSELVES WITH IDOLS UNDER EVERY GREEN TREE, SLAYING THE CHILDREN IN THE VALLEYS UNDER THE CLIFTS OF THE ROCKS?
This is a reference to human sacrifice in ancient times. It is also referring to infanticide. The fruit of adulterous unions was the frequent victim of murder by their parents. Nowadays abortion is practiced. Abortion is also forbidden and should be forbidden and those who practice it punished.

 [Isaiah 57:6] AMONG THE SMOOTH STONES OF THE STREAM IS THY PORTION; THEY, THEY ARE THY LOT: EVEN TO THEM HAST THOU POURED A DRINK OFFERING, THOU HAST OFFERED A MEAT OFFERING. SHOULD I RECEIVE COMFORT IN THESE?
This is a reference to idolatrous practices.                  

 [Isaiah 57:7] UPON A LOFTY AND HIGH MOUNTAIN HAST THOU SET THY BED: EVEN THITHER WENTEST THOU UP TO OFFER SACRIFICE.                  

 [Isaiah 57:8] BEHIND THE DOORS ALSO AND THE POSTS HAST THOU SET UP THY REMEMBRANCE: FOR THOU HAST DISCOVERED THYSELF TO ANOTHER THAN ME, AND ART GONE UP; THOU HAST ENLARGED THY BED, AND MADE  THEE A COVENANT WITH THEM; THOU LOVEDST THEIR BED WHERE THOU SAWEST IT.                 
Israel is sometimes represented as the bride of  the God of Israel. When Israel commits idolatry it is as if she committed adultery and btrayed her husband!

 [Isaiah 57:9] AND THOU WENTEST TO THE KING WITH OINTMENT, AND DIDST INCREASE THY PERFUMES, AND DIDST SEND THY MESSENGERS FAR OFF, AND DIDST DEBASE THYSELF EVEN UNTO HELL.
"AND THOU WENTEST TO THE KING WITH OINTMENT": Also translateable as saying: "You sent a present to the king with oil".
"PERFUMES" [
rikuchaykh"] or "chemical concoctions".
"MESSENGERS" [Hebrew root: "
Tsir"] or "medicines, chemicals".
You bribed the king with oil, you increased your chemical activity, you sent your chemical products afar.
Is there a hint here to the present situation?

 [Isaiah 57:10] THOU ART WEARIED IN THE GREATNESS OF THY WAY; YET SAIDST THOU NOT, THERE IS NO HOPE: THOU HAST FOUND THE LIFE OF THINE HAND; THEREFORE THOU WAST NOT GRIEVED.
   THOU ART WEARIED: "Yagat" i.e. endeavored.

 [Isaiah 57:11] AND OF WHOM HAST THOU BEEN AFRAID OR FEARED, THAT THOU HAST LIED, AND HAST NOT REMEMBERED ME, NOR LAID IT TO THY HEART? HAVE NOT I HELD MY PEACE EVEN OF OLD, AND THOU FEAREST ME NOT?
You went in your ways and feared not God.

 [Isaiah 57:12] I WILL DECLARE THY RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND THY WORKS; FOR THEY SHALL NOT PROFIT THEE.
You did do good works and had good intentions BUT these were mixed with other things that should not have been. Your good deeds will not help you when you have to pay the bill for your other attributes.

 [Isaiah 57:13] WHEN THOU CRIEST, LET THY COMPANIES DELIVER THEE; BUT THE WIND SHALL CARRY THEM ALL  AWAY; VANITY SHALL TAKE THEM: BUT HE THAT PUTTETH HIS TRUST IN ME SHALL POSSESS THE LAND, AND SHALL INHERIT MY HOLY MOUNTAIN;                
Trust in God and you will be saved.

 [Isaiah 57:14] AND SHALL SAY, CAST YE UP, CAST YE UP, PREPARE THE WAY, TAKE UP THE STUMBLINGBLOCK OUT OF THE WAY OF MY PEOPLE.

 [Isaiah 57:15] FOR THUS SAITH THE HIGH AND LOFTY ONE THAT INHABITETH ETERNITY, WHOSE NAME IS HOLY; I  DWELL IN THE HIGH AND HOLY PLACE, WITH HIM ALSO THAT IS OF A CONTRITE AND HUMBLE SPIRIT, TO REVIVE THE SPIRIT OF THE HUMBLE, AND TO REVIVE THE HEART OF THE CONTRITE ONES.                

 [Isaiah 57:16] FOR I WILL NOT CONTEND FOR EVER, NEITHER WILL I BE ALWAYS WROTH: FOR THE SPIRIT SHOULD FAIL BEFORE ME, AND THE SOULS WHICH I HAVE MADE.
God will forgive. He will not always be angry with us.

 [Isaiah 57:17] FOR THE INIQUITY OF HIS COVETOUSNESS WAS I WROTH, AND SMOTE HIM: I HID ME, AND WAS WROTH, AND HE WENT ON FROWARDLY IN THE WAY OF HIS HEART.

 [Isaiah 57:18] I HAVE SEEN HIS WAYS, AND WILL HEAL HIM: I WILL LEAD HIM ALSO, AND RESTORE COMFORTS UNTO HIM AND TO HIS MOURNERS.

 [Isaiah 57:19] I CREATE THE FRUIT OF THE LIPS; PEACE, PEACE TO HIM THAT IS FAR OFF, AND TO HIM THAT IS NEAR, SAITH THE LORD; AND I WILL HEAL HIM.
"THE FRUIT OF THE LIPS": People who endeavor to speak well to others, who radiate hope, good feelings, and a positive attitude bring a blessing to the world and to themselves.
It happens that good people suffer. Sometimes they suffer because of their own sins, sometimes for other reasons. If they persist in doing good and believing in God in the end they will be rewarded and comforted.

 [Isaiah 57:20] BUT THE WICKED ARE LIKE THE TROUBLED SEA, WHEN IT CANNOT REST, WHOSE WATERS CAST UP MIRE AND DIRT.     

 [Isaiah 57:21] THERE IS NO PEACE, SAITH MY GOD, TO THE WICKED.         
Due to the Oslo agreements the Israelis gave guns to the Palestinians and allowed them to receive more arms from other sources. For some reason it was believed (or claimed) that the Palestinians would curb their own extremists.  Instead they all revealed themselves to be exremists. This was foreseen. It was obvious that things would turn out as they have done. The Palestinian ttrack record and declared intentions were there for all to see.
It would have been better if the "do-gooders" had have helped good people or at least stayed home.

 
Chapter 58
[Isaiah 58:1] CRY ALOUD, SPARE NOT, LIFT UP THY VOICE LIKE A TRUMPET, AND SHEW MY PEOPLE THEIR TRANSGRESSION, AND THE HOUSE OF JACOB THEIR SINS.
This is directed both to Israel and Judah.
                
 [Isaiah 58:2] YET THEY SEEK ME DAILY, AND DELIGHT TO KNOW MY WAYS, AS A NATION THAT DID RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND FORSOOK NOT THE ORDINANCE OF THEIR GOD: THEY ASK OF ME THE ORDINANCES OF JUSTICE; THEY TAKE DELIGHT IN APPROACHING TO GOD.
America was founded by people who believed in the Bible and the Bible is the essence of the aims of American civilization.

 [Isaiah 58:3] WHEREFORE HAVE WE FASTED, SAY THEY, AND THOU SEEST NOT? WHEREFORE HAVE WE AFFLICTED OUR SOUL, AND THOU TAKEST NO KNOWLEDGE? BEHOLD, IN THE DAY OF YOUR FAST YE FIND PLEASURE, AND EXACT ALL YOUR LABOURS. 

 [Isaiah 58:4] BEHOLD, YE FAST FOR STRIFE AND DEBATE, AND TO SMITE WITH THE FIST OF WICKEDNESS: YE SHALL NOT FAST AS YE DO THIS DAY, TO MAKE YOUR VOICE TO BE HEARD ON HIGH.             
A person should indeed prayer and fast (on occasion) and also do charity and help people. Avoid oppressing people whether members of your family, employees, friends, associates, or complete strangers. It does not hurt to be polite and considerate and even helpful to those in need of assistance. 

 [Isaiah 58:5] IS IT SUCH A FAST THAT I HAVE CHOSEN? A DAY FOR A MAN TO AFFLICT HIS SOUL? IS IT TO BOW DOWN HIS HEAD AS A BULRUSH, AND TO SPREAD SACKCLOTH AND ASHES UNDER HIM? WILT THOU CALL THIS A FAST, AND AN ACCEPTABLE DAY TO THE LORD?       

 [Isaiah 58:6] IS NOT THIS THE FAST THAT I HAVE CHOSEN? TO LOOSE THE BANDS OF WICKEDNESS, TO UNDO THE HEAVY BURDENS, AND TO LET THE OPPRESSED GO FREE, AND THAT YE BREAK EVERY YOKE?               
In the USA according to reports are many prisoners.  Most are probably criminals and deserves to be incarcerated. Nevertheless a certain percentage have been unjustly imprisoned. This also happens (to a lesser degree) in Israel and throughout the world. To a certain degree it is inevitable. Nevertheless it is unjust and God wants us to do whatever we can when we can to prevent such happenings. Likewise people are in cults or employment situations in conditions of subjugation that are oppressive.  Drug addicts are similarly oppressed and exploited.  In some cases the people concerned may deserve what they get BUT this is not the attitude the Bible tells us to take.
 It is our duty to do what we can to help the victims concerned.
Brit-Am co-founder and veteran supporter Rabbi 
Avraham Feld of  the Maccabee Institute on numerous occasions risked his life to help people get out of oppressive situations.

 [Isaiah 58:7] IS IT NOT TO DEAL THY BREAD TO THE HUNGRY, AND THAT THOU BRING THE POOR THAT ARE CAST OUT TO THY HOUSE? WHEN THOU SEEST THE NAKED, THAT THOU COVER HIM; AND THAT THOU HIDE NOT THYSELF FROM THINE OWN FLESH?
I myself never really did much for anyone apart from research and writing BUT Brit-Am supporters from the Maccabee Institute such as Rabbi Avraham Feld and his brothers dedicate their lives and whole existence to assisting people. They literally do feed the hungry, house the homeless, clothe they who lack clothing, etc.  I met quite a few of the people who were so assisted. You may get some low-lifes among them but the majority are decent people who have fallen on hard times or have adjustment problems. If things were only a little different anyone of us could easily have been in their places.  God has blessed us so we should reciprocate when and how  we can.     
 THOU HIDE NOT THYSELF FROM
THINE OWN FLESH : Charity begins at home as they say. You have a duty to worry about your spouse, children, parents, etc.  - and yourself.

 [Isaiah 58:8] THEN SHALL THY LIGHT BREAK FORTH AS THE MORNING, AND THINE HEALTH SHALL SPRING FORTH SPEEDILY: AND THY RIGHTEOUSNESS SHALL GO BEFORE THEE; THE GLORY OF THE LORD SHALL BE THY REREWARD.
Do good and goood will come unto you.

 [Isaiah 58:9] THEN SHALT THOU CALL, AND THE LORD SHALL ANSWER; THOU SHALT CRY, AND HE SHALL SAY, HERE I AM. IF THOU TAKE AWAY FROM THE MIDST OF THEE THE YOKE, THE PUTTING FORTH OF THE FINGER, AND SPEAKING VANITY;
Do good and then when and if you ever need help from Above you will receive it.  People who dedicate their lives to the Almighty receive supernatural  intervention on their behalf when needed.

 [Isaiah 58:10] AND IF THOU DRAW OUT THY SOUL TO THE HUNGRY, AND SATISFY THE AFFLICTED SOUL; THEN SHALL THY LIGHT RISE IN OBSCURITY, AND THY DARKNESS BE AS THE NOON DAY:            
What goes round comes round.
Whatever you do you do to yourself.

 [Isaiah 58:11] AND THE LORD SHALL GUIDE THEE CONTINUALLY, AND SATISFY THY SOUL IN DROUGHT, AND MAKE FAT THY BONES: AND THOU SHALT BE LIKE A WATERED GARDEN, AND LIKE A SPRING OF WATER, WHOSE WATERS FAIL NOT.

 [Isaiah 58:12] AND THEY THAT SHALL BE OF THEE SHALL BUILD THE OLD WASTE PLACES: THOU SHALT RAISE UP THE FOUNDATIONS OF MANY GENERATIONS; AND THOU SHALT BE CALLED, THE REPAIRER OF THE BREACH, THE RESTORER OF PATHS TO DWELL IN.       
The destroyed areas  of ancient times will be rebuilt. If you merit to participate in this then you are especially blessed.
You should realize: Not everyone merits to do good deeds. When they come to your realm take hold of them.

 [Isaiah 58:13] IF THOU TURN AWAY THY FOOT FROM THE SABBATH, FROM DOING THY PLEASURE ON MY HOLY DAY; AND CALL THE SABBATH A DELIGHT, THE HOLY OF THE LORD, HONOURABLE; AND SHALT HONOUR HIM, NOT DOING THINE OWN WAYS, NOR FINDING THINE OWN PLEASURE, NOR SPEAKING THINE OWN WORDS:                   
The Sabbath must be kept. It must be dedicated to God. We must take pleasure in this holy day.
Jews keep the Sabbath according to the explanation of the commandments they have traditionally received.
In my personal opinion, non-Jews who wish to keep the Sabbath at this stage should do it in their own way. They should declare that they are keeping the Sabbath because they consider themselves to be of  Israelite origin.
By supporting Brit-Am consciousness of Israelite origin is enhanced.

 [Isaiah 58:14] THEN SHALT THOU DELIGHT THYSELF IN THE LORD; AND I WILL CAUSE THEE TO RIDE UPON THE HIGH PLACES OF THE EARTH, AND FEED THEE WITH THE HERITAGE OF JACOB THY FATHER: FOR THE MOUTH OF THE LORD HATH SPOKEN IT.
If you keep the Sabbath you will be mighty and receive the blessings of the forefather of Israel.  God has promised this to the Children of Israel who keep the Sabbath.
 
Chapter 59
[Isaiah 59:1] BEHOLD, THE LORD'S HAND IS NOT SHORTENED, THAT IT CANNOT SAVE; NEITHER HIS EAR  HEAVY, THAT IT CANNOT HEAR:          

 [Isaiah 59:2] BUT YOUR INIQUITIES HAVE SEPARATED BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR GOD, AND YOUR SINS HAVE HID HIS FACE FROM YOU, THAT HE WILL NOT HEAR.

 [Isaiah 59:3] FOR YOUR HANDS ARE DEFILED WITH BLOOD, AND YOUR FINGERS WITH INIQUITY; YOUR LIPS HAVE SPOKEN LIES, YOUR TONGUE HATH MUTTERED PERVERSENESS.
Perhaps as nations we should have been more involved in other nations? Maybe we should have taken control of the world to lessen oppression and tyranny? Maybe we should have done more in our own homeland?
Are the police and courts too tolerant of crime? People suffer because of this. Are we therefore also culpable? Pornography causes child abuse and suffering. Are we guilty because we do not do enough to prevent it?
The Educational System in many areas teaches lies and denial and wrong attitudes. Are we guilty?

 [Isaiah 59:4] NONE CALLETH FOR JUSTICE, NOR ANY PLEADETH FOR TRUTH: THEY TRUST IN VANITY, AND SPEAK LIES; THEY CONCEIVE MISCHIEF, AND BRING FORTH INIQUITY.
Employees are often exploited. Women and the weak are often taken advantage of.
It also works the other way: In some cases women are too assertive and men feel emasculated.
Communal leaders sometimes try and make peace by placating the stronger side rather than helping the side that is correct.

 [Isaiah 59:5] THEY HATCH COCKATRICE' EGGS, AND WEAVE THE SPIDER'S WEB: HE THAT EATETH OF THEIR EGGS DIETH, AND THAT WHICH IS CRUSHED BREAKETH OUT INTO A VIPER.

 [Isaiah 59:6] THEIR WEBS SHALL NOT BECOME GARMENTS, NEITHER SHALL THEY COVER THEMSELVES WITH THEIR WORKS: THEIR WORKS ARE WORKS OF INIQUITY, AND THE ACT OF VIOLENCE IS IN THEIR HANDS.

 [Isaiah 59:7] THEIR FEET RUN TO EVIL, AND THEY MAKE HASTE TO SHED INNOCENT BLOOD: THEIR THOUGHTS ARE THOUGHTS OF INIQUITY; WASTING AND DESTRUCTION ARE IN THEIR PATHS.             
Abortions destroy innocent live.
Orphans and the destitute are not really taken proper care of nor always given the opportunity to make their own way in life with self-respect and dignity.
A lot of movies glorify violence.

 [Isaiah 59:8] THE WAY OF PEACE THEY KNOW NOT; AND THERE IS NO JUDGMENT IN THEIR GOINGS: THEY HAVE MADE THEM CROOKED PATHS: WHOSOEVER GOETH THEREIN SHALL NOT KNOW PEACE.             

 [Isaiah 59:9] THEREFORE IS JUDGMENT FAR FROM US, NEITHER DOTH JUSTICE OVERTAKE US: WE WAIT FOR LIGHT, BUT BEHOLD OBSCURITY; FOR BRIGHTNESS, BUT WE WALK IN DARKNESS.

 [Isaiah 59:10] WE GROPE FOR THE WALL LIKE THE BLIND, AND WE GROPE AS IF WE HAD NO EYES: WE STUMBLE AT NOON DAY AS IN THE NIGHT; WE ARE IN DESOLATE PLACES AS DEAD MEN.               

 [Isaiah 59:11] WE ROAR ALL LIKE BEARS, AND MOURN SORE LIKE DOVES: WE LOOK FOR JUDGMENT, BUT THERE IS NONE; FOR SALVATION, BUT IT IS FAR OFF FROM US.

 [Isaiah 59:12] FOR OUR TRANSGRESSIONS ARE MULTIPLIED BEFORE THEE, AND OUR SINS TESTIFY AGAINST US: FOR  OUR TRANSGRESSIONS ARE WITH US; AND AS FOR OUR INIQUITIES, WE KNOW THEM;                   

 [Isaiah 59:13] IN TRANSGRESSING AND LYING AGAINST THE LORD, AND DEPARTING AWAY FROM OUR GOD, SPEAKING OPPRESSION AND REVOLT, CONCEIVING AND UTTERING FROM THE HEART WORDS OF FALSEHOOD.

 [Isaiah 59:14] AND JUDGMENT IS TURNED AWAY BACKWARD, AND JUSTICE STANDETH AFAR OFF: FOR TRUTH IS FALLEN IN THE STREET, AND EQUITY CANNOT ENTER.

 [Isaiah 59:15] YEA, TRUTH FAILETH; AND HE THAT DEPARTETH FROM EVIL MAKETH HIMSELF A PREY: AND THE LORD SAW IT, AND IT DISPLEASED HIM THAT THERE WAS NO JUDGMENT.
Good people get taken advantage of in some circumstances. People are sometimes pressured to lie and even cheat.

 [Isaiah 59:16] AND HE SAW THAT THERE WAS NO MAN, AND WONDERED THAT THERE WAS NO INTERCESSOR: THEREFORE HIS ARM BROUGHT SALVATION UNTO HIM; AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, IT SUSTAINED HIM. 
It used to be accepted behavior in Anglo-Saxon cultures that a person intervenes to protect others and to prevent injustice.  It was taken for granted that one did what one could when one could and even when one could not, i.e. even at the expense of personal risk and discomfort.
Nowadays this is not the case.
People are influenced by the example of others and by their surroundings. When the surroundings are not supportive of correct behavior people are less inclined to act as they should.

 [Isaiah 59:17] FOR HE PUT ON RIGHTEOUSNESS AS A BREASTPLATE, AND AN HELMET OF SALVATION UPON HIS HEAD; AND HE PUT ON THE GARMENTS OF VENGEANCE FOR CLOTHING, AND WAS CLAD WITH ZEAL AS A CLOAK.

 [Isaiah 59:18] ACCORDING TO THEIR DEEDS, ACCORDINGLY HE WILL REPAY, FURY TO HIS ADVERSARIES, RECOMPENCE TO HIS ENEMIES; TO THE ISLANDS HE WILL REPAY RECOMPENCE.
"TO THE ISLANDS": "Islands" usually refers to Israelites.  We have apparently been found lacking.

 [Isaiah 59:19] SO SHALL THEY FEAR THE NAME OF THE LORD FROM THE WEST, AND HIS GLORY FROM THE  RISING OF THE SUN. WHEN THE ENEMY SHALL COME IN LIKE A FLOOD, THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD SHALL LIFT UP A STANDARD AGAINST HIM.
There will be redemption.
"THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD": This implies that we will do what we should after receiving inspiration from above.

 [Isaiah 59:20] AND THE REDEEMER SHALL COME TO ZION, AND UNTO THEM THAT TURN FROM TRANSGRESSION IN JACOB, SAITH THE LORD.
  "THE REDEEMER": This is the Messiah. I understand this to represent a National Leader who will go to war against the enemies.

 [Isaiah 59:21] AS FOR ME, THIS IS MY COVENANT WITH THEM, SAITH THE LORD; MY SPIRIT THAT IS UPON THEE, AND MY WORDS WHICH I HAVE PUT IN THY MOUTH, SHALL NOT DEPART OUT OF THY MOUTH, NOR OUT OF  THE MOUTH OF THY SEED, NOR OUT OF THE MOUTH OF THY SEED'S SEED, SAITH THE LORD, FROM  HENCEFORTH AND FOR EVER.
This is a covenant. God will always be with the seed of Israel. We are descended from Israelites. God will be close to us when we turn to him. We must return and accept upon ourselves the yoke of heaven and acknowledge our heritage and duty.

Chapter 60
[Isaiah 60:1] ARISE, SHINE; FOR THY LIGHT IS COME, AND THE GLORY OF THE LORD IS RISEN UPON THEE.
This is  a very important chapter. It starts off from the point of view of Judah.  The light of God will shine upon Judah and all those associated with her.

 [Isaiah 60:2] FOR, BEHOLD, THE DARKNESS SHALL COVER THE EARTH, AND GROSS DARKNESS THE PEOPLE: BUT THE LORD SHALL ARISE UPON THEE, AND HIS GLORY SHALL BE SEEN UPON THEE.        
 DARKNESS: Perhaps the intent is a lack of knowledge, OR the effect of some global calamity?   

 [Isaiah 60:3] AND THE GENTILES SHALL COME TO THY LIGHT, AND KINGS TO THE BRIGHTNESS OF THY RISING.
"GENTILES" in Hebrew "goyim" meaning literally "peoples" perhaps Israelites. "KINGS" can be a general term for national leaders. They will come for instruction and enlightenment.

 [Isaiah 60:4] LIFT UP THINE EYES ROUND ABOUT, AND SEE: ALL THEY GATHER THEMSELVES TOGETHER, THEY COME TO THEE: THY SONS SHALL COME FROM FAR, AND THY DAUGHTERS SHALL BE NURSED AT THY SIDE.
"Sons" and "daughters" returning can also refer to Captive Jews and Lost Israelites.

 [Isaiah 60:5] THEN THOU SHALT SEE, AND FLOW TOGETHER, AND THINE HEART SHALL FEAR, AND BE ENLARGED; BECAUSE THE ABUNDANCE OF THE SEA SHALL BE CONVERTED UNTO THEE, THE FORCES OF THE GENTILES SHALL COME UNTO THEE.             
"  THEN THOU SHALT SEE," You will see they who return.
 "AND FLOW TOGETHER" in Hebrew from the root "
nahar" which can also be translated as "shine forth".
You will be afraid and overwhelmed at the awesomeness of the events that occur.
"THE ABUNDANCE OF THE SEA SHALL BE CONVERTED UNTO THEE": Commentary of Amos
Chacham [Datt Mikra]: <<Numerous people from over the sea will come unto you. These are the Exiles of Israel who were exiled to the Isles of the Sea (cf. Isaiah 11;11 Isaiah 43;5-6).>> The verse Amos Chacham refers to concern the Lost Ten Tribes who were exiled by the Assyrians. In other words the Lost Ten Tribes who were exiled to the Isles of the Sea (and other places) will return unto you.
Cf. AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS IN THAT DAY, THAT THE LORD SHALL SET HIS HAND AGAIN THE  SECOND TIME TO RECOVER THE REMNANT OF HIS PEOPLE, WHICH SHALL BE LEFT, FROM ASSYRIA, AND FROM  EGYPT, AND FROM
PATHROS, AND FROM CUSH, AND FROM ELAM, AND FROM SHINAR, AND FROM HAMATH, AND FROM THE ISLANDS OF THE SEA [Isaiah 11:11] 
AND HE SHALL SET UP AN ENSIGN FOR THE NATIONS, AND SHALL ASSEMBLE THE OUTCASTS OF ISRAEL, AND GATHER TOGETHER THE DISPERSED OF JUDAH FROM THE FOUR CORNERS OF THE EARTH  [Isaiah 11:12]  
THE ENVY ALSO OF EPHRAIM SHALL DEPART, AND THE ADVERSARIES OF JUDAH SHALL BE CUT OFF: EPHRAIM SHALL NOT ENVY JUDAH, AND JUDAH SHALL NOT VEX EPHRAIM [Isaiah 11:13]  

 
FEAR NOT: FOR I AM WITH THEE: I WILL BRING THY SEED FROM THE EAST, AND GATHER THEE FROM   THE WEST; [Isaiah 43:5]
I WILL SAY TO THE NORTH, GIVE UP; AND TO THE SOUTH, KEEP NOT BACK: BRING MY SONS FROM FAR, AND MY DAUGHTERS FROM THE ENDS OF THE EARTH; [Isaiah 43:6].


"THE FORCES OF THE GENTILES SHALL COME UNTO THEE"
the word translated as "forces" is Hail and it can also mean "might" or "riches", i.e. the forces and/or the might and/or the riches of the peoples will come unto you.
Incidentally this word "hail" (or "
chayil") can also mean soldier. In spoken Hebrew the word can mean either "soldier" or strength. In Old English you have word "hale" meaning strength (e.g. the expression: "hale and hearty"). This word "hale" in Old English was also sometimes spelt as "hail" (like the Hebrew) and also could be used to mean a warrior or soldier, just like the Hebrew.
THE ENDS OF THE EARTH ": Geographic extremities, a term frequently used concerning the Lost Ten Tribes. Britain, North Europe, Scandinavia, North America, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, are all literally "at the ends of the earth" when the Land of Israel (in Biblical terms) is considered the center.
Isaiah ch.60 continues:

 [Isaiah 60:6] THE MULTITUDE OF CAMELS SHALL COVER THEE, THE DROMEDARIES OF MIDIAN AND EPHAH; ALL  THEY FROM SHEBA SHALL COME: THEY SHALL BRING GOLD AND INCENSE; AND THEY SHALL SHEW FORTH THE PRAISES OF THE LORD.      
"MIDIAN AND EPHAH; ALL  THEY FROM SHEBA"
Midian and Ephah and Sheba are descended from Abraham through Keturah:
[Genesis 25:1] THEN AGAIN ABRAHAM TOOK A WIFE, AND HER NAME WAS
KETURAH.                     
[Genesis 25:2] AND SHE BARE HIM
ZIMRAN, AND JOKSHAN, AND MEDAN, AND MIDIAN, AND ISHBAK, AND SHUAH
Notice
Midian above.                   
[Genesis 25:3] AND
JOKSHAN BEGAT SHEBA, AND DEDAN. AND THE SONS OF DEDAN WERE  ASSHURIM, AND LETUSHIM, AND LEUMMIM.      
Notice Sheba.              
[Genesis 25:4] AND THE SONS OF
MIDIAN; EPHAH, AND EPHER, AND HANOCH, AND ABIDAH, AND ELDAAH. ALL THESE WERE THE CHILDREN OF KETURAH.
Notice
Ephah above.

Who are Midian and Ephah?
Midian in Ancient times was southeast of Israel ca southern Jordan and northwest Saudia Arabia of today. The Mitanni of northern Syria were probably from Midian. They adopted an Indo-European culture and moved into Europe. Pliny (6;18) puts the Matiani in Southern Russia.
Ephah son of Midian was also in Europe.  
"THE MULTITUDE OF CAMELS",  "THE DROMEDARIES" appears to be a figurative usage for transportation. The Prophets spoke in terms of their own times.
Who is Sheba?
Sheba: For Identifications of  non-Israelite peoples I use my own studies and other works especially the studies of Craig White and also a small work by Harold
Hemenway "Is the Bible Racist?" (1995). There are a lot of things wrong with this last work and I disagree with perhaps most of it. Nevertheless it does contain invaluable information and insights of value.  Maimonides said we should take the truth wherever we find it. Hemenway connects Sheba with (amongst other possibilities) the Sabines of  Italy. There is a Semitic element in Italy and they are good at producing perfumes and jewellery and similar products:  "THEY SHALL BRING GOLD AND INCENSE". Hemenway also links Sheba with the Schwabians of West Germany.
Sheba is also the name of a descendant of Ham and a descendant of Shem.
Of Ham:
 [Genesis 10:7] AND THE SONS OF
CUSH; SEBA, AND HAVILAH, AND SABTAH, AND RAAMAH, AND SABTECHAH: AND THE SONS OF RAAMAH; SHEBA, AND DEDAN.
Sheba is a son of
Raamah son of Cush son of Ham. "Cush" can refer to Africa, Central Asia, or India. Rama (cf. Raamah father of Sheba) was an important Indian idol and Sheba has been identified by some with India.  "Gold" and "incense" are also plentiful in India.
Of Shem:
 [Genesis 10:25] AND UNTO
EBER WERE BORN TWO SONS: THE NAME OF ONE WAS PELEG; FOR IN HIS  DAYS WAS THE EARTH DIVIDED; AND HIS BROTHER'S NAME WAS JOKTAN.                     
[Genesis 10:26] AND
JOKTAN BEGAT ALMODAD, AND SHELEPH, AND HAZARMAVETH, AND JERAH,                     
[Genesis 10:27] AND
HADORAM, AND UZAL, AND DIKLAH,                     
[Genesis 10:28] AND
OBAL, AND ABIMAEL, AND SHEBA,
Here Sheba is a descendant of
Joktan. Joktan traditionally was the forefather of the peoples in southern Arabia, Aden, Yemen, and Oman.   


Afghanistan and the Sons of Keturah

Afghanistan

                
Isaiah 60:6 mentions Camels from Midian and Ephah and Sheba bringing gold and incense to the Temple and to Israel to praise the Almighty.
 "THE MULTITUDE OF CAMELS SHALL COVER THEE, THE DROMEDARIES OF MIDIAN AND EPHAH; ALL  THEY FROM SHEBA SHALL COME: THEY SHALL BRING GOLD AND INCENSE; AND THEY SHALL SHEW FORTH THE PRAISES OF THE LORD [Isaiah 60:6] . 
The exact identifications of these peoples are problematic though several probably candidates exist.
On the whole they are to be identified with the descendants of Keturah and Abraham.
[Genesis 25:1] THEN AGAIN ABRAHAM TOOK A WIFE, AND HER NAME WAS KETURAH.                     
[Genesis 25:2] AND SHE BARE HIM .. JOKSHAN...AND MIDIAN. 
[Genesis 25:3] AND JOKSHAN BEGAT SHEBA
[Genesis 25:4] AND THE SONS OF MIDIAN; EPHAH...ALL THESE WERE THE CHILDREN OF KETURAH.
The Descendants of Keturah traditionally settled in Central Asia and its neighborhood
including Afghanistan.
Another ancestor of the peoples of Afghanistan was Joktan brother of Peleg and son of Hebrew.
 [Genesis 10:25] AND UNTO EBER WERE BORN TWO SONS: THE NAME OF ONE WAS PELEG; FOR IN HIS  DAYS WAS THE EARTH DIVIDED; AND HIS BROTHER'S NAME WAS JOKTAN. 

Josephus Flavius says:
Antiquities 1:4
<<Now Joctan, one of the sons of Heber, had these sons, Elmodad, Saleph, Asermoth,
Jera, Adoram, Aizel, Decla, Ebal, Abimael, Sabeus, Ophir, Euilat, and Jobab. These inhabited from Cophen, an Indian river, and in part of Asia adjoining to it. And this shall suffice concerning the sons of Shem.

The "Cophen, an Indian river" runs by Kabul the capital of Afghanistan.
Afghanistan is a mixture of different peoples.
The ruling element are the Afghans who are more or less town dwellers of Persian origin in league with the Pathans who control
the surrounding countryside.
 Afghanistan recently was ruled (1996-2001) by the Taliban.
The Talibans are comprised of Pathans and Arabs from other countries  subsidized with fund from Saudi Arabia.
The Taliban is a fanatical Muslim sect connected with Osama bin Laden whose al-Quaeda group was responsible for
crashing two aeroplanes into the Twin Towers in New York (2001).
As a result of the Twin Towers destruction US forces enabled the "Northern Alliance" to to demote the Taliban and take control of Afghanistan.
The Northern Alliance was comprised mainly of Tajiks and Uzbeks. These are mixed peoples with Turkish, Mongolian, and Persian ancestors. In the past they were always subjected by the Pathans (Pushtuns) who consider themselves the true Afghanis.

It has been claimed that the Pathans are of Israelite origin. It is apparent that Israelites were formerly in the area and also that the Pathans at some stage did accept some Jewish customs. It is highly unlikely however that the Pathans have much if any Israelite blood. Genetically (Cavalli-Sforza)  the Pathans are classified as belong to the same stock as the Kurds and Armenians. There is a tradition that they did come from Armenia.

Claims also exist that the Lost Ten tribes today are to be found in Afghanistan:
For a point-by point rebuttal of Afghan claims to be Israelites along with Maps of Afghanistan:
http://www.britam.org/Questions/QuesAfghanistan.html
The URL above includes an article
Ken Blady Interviewed; Afghan Nazi Involvement in WW2
that points out that Jews in Afghanistan were always degraded and that in the Second World War massacres of Jews took place due to the influence of Nazi propaganda.  



 [Isaiah 60:7] ALL THE FLOCKS OF KEDAR SHALL BE GATHERED TOGETHER UNTO THEE, THE RAMS OF NEBAIOTH SHALL MINISTER UNTO THEE: THEY SHALL COME UP WITH ACCEPTANCE ON MINE ALTAR, AND I WILL GLORIFY THE HOUSE OF MY GLORY.
Kedar and Nebaioth were sons of Ishmael:       
 [Genesis 25:13] AND THESE ARE THE NAMES OF THE SONS OF ISHMAEL, BY THEIR NAMES, ACCORDING TO THEIR GENERATIONS: THE FIRSTBORN OF ISHMAEL,
NEBAJOTH; AND KEDAR, AND ADBEEL, AND MIBSAM
Who is Kedar today?



AMERICA AND KEDAR
Summarized Extracts (adapted slightly) from "Ephraim" by Yair Davidi, Revised Edition, (2001).

        A people known both as Cadussi and as "Nephtali" in Ancient Times were to be found in the region of West Iran.The Nephtalite Cadussi were descended from the Israelite Tribe of Naphtali. They were also known as Gaeli and as Hephtali and as the White Huns.  Later the Nephtalites (Kadassaye) were to be reported from eastern Scythia. The Nephtalites in Eastern Scythia ruled over the Kidari and are sometimes confused with them. The Kidari or Kedari were also confused with the Khazars. The Nephtalites eventually migrated mainly to Scandinavia apart from split off groups who amalgamated with the Khazars or moved through Persia into Syria and from there to Yemen where they Judaized. The Khazars according to their own traditions were descended from part of the Lost Ten Tribes of Israel. In the Scythian and Iranian regions the sounds for "d" and "z" could interchange which is why the Kazars and Kidaris were apt to be confused with each other. On some maps the Crimea (which the Kazars once dominated) is referred to as Kedar. Kedar in the Bible was a son of Ishmael (Genesis 25:13). The Kedarites sons of Ishmael appear to have last been recorded of to the east of the Caspian Sea and to have disappeared.
        Certain passages in the Prophets dealing with the Lost Ten Tribes also recall Kedar in the sense that the land or possessions of Kedar accrue to Israel. Kedar was a son of Ishmael and as such would normally be linked with Arabia except that Arabia does not fit the context in all of the relevant prophecies whereas North America does. The possibility that Kedar is linked in the Biblical sense with North America and could Scripturally be considered the land of Kedar will therefore be examined.
    Ishmael (the father of Kedar) was the son of Abraham and Hagar the Egyptian maidservant of Sarah (Genesis 16:15). Many of the descendants of Ishmael settled in Arabia especially in the central section. They also participated in the actual or attempted Arabicisation and Islamicisation of the Middle East, Persia, Central Asia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Indonesia, North Africa, and Spain. The descendants of Ishmael are consequently scattered throughout these areas as well as being concentrated in Arabia.
    Kedar was one of the sons of Ishmael. "Kedar" in Hebrew implies "Darkness". Mohammed is said to have been descended from Kedar. Tiglathpileser king of Assyria who initiated the exile and re settlement of many nations also warred against the Arabs as well as using Arab Tribes in his auxiliary forces. Amongst the Arab Tribes encountered by Tiglathpileser were the Kedarites. Branches of the Kedarites and Aribi in Assyrian and Persian times were to be recalled in the East Iranian area. This region was south of Scythia but in many respects could be considered as part of it. At all events the Kidarites later moved northwards into eastern and southern Scythia. The Kidarites in Scythia present a picture of a predatory nomadic somewhat primitive people. They were not especially formidable and therefore no match for the merciless Turkic, Mongolian, and similar entities that were making inroads into the region. Like other peoples of that area, in order to survive the Kedarites would have had to move out.

THE SONS OF KEDAR IN NORTH AMERICA
     It is hereby proposed that the KEDARITES WENT TO NORTH AMERICA AND THAT IN SOME BIBLICAL PROPHECIES "KEDAR" REFERS TO NORTH AMERICA.
The grounds for this proposal are that:
1. The Siberian Connection: At least part of  the Kidarites were later located in what is now Siberia and from there the bulk of North American Indians appear to have originally come. There did therefore exist a recognized migratory path between Siberia and North America and this path was in use.
Additional points linking "Kedar" with the Red Indians of North America include:

2. Racial Factors: Some Red Indian Tribes have facial features similar to those known from the Middle East and the Mediterranean area.
DNA tests (for what they are worth) on the whole show an Amerindian link to Mongolian populations in Asia especially Siberia. They also indicate in some populations the existence of minority elements from Europe and the Middle East.

3. Archaeological and Cultural Similarities to the Old World: It may be that some of the observed similarities between the Red Indians and Middle East entities are due to the Kidarites sons of Ishmael having settled amongst them. In addition to Kedar, another son of Ishmael was Nebajot from who emerged the Nabataean Arabs. A comparison between the Nebataeans and such desert Indian groups as the Navajo could well yield surprising results. The civilizations of the two groups show some similarities as well as the choice of habitat. It is interesting to note that E.G. Stewart traces the name "Navajo" to a Central Asian root "Nava" meaning town and in Hebrew the name of Nabajot son of Ishmael may be understood as a plural of "Naveh" connoting pleasant place for settlement. 

4. Similarities to Hamitic and Semitic Arabs and Historical Contacts: Ishmael was the son of Hagar the Egyptian and as such partly a descendant of Ham son of Noah. Ishmael married a Hamitic woman from Egypt (Genesis 21:21) and in Arabia probably further intermixed with Hamitic groups. The Berbers of North Africa are also Hamitic and a similarity exists between them and the Red Indians of North America.
    
    Kedar was one of the sons of Ishmael and some of the Arabs are descended from Kedar. Recent studies by Barry Fell and his followers claim that Arab boats traded with the west coast of North America hundreds of years BCE. "Petroglyphs in California, Nevada, and South Idaho prove the Arabs and their culture flourished over here." Some Amerindian dialects are claimed to have been similar to Arabic ones.
    In addition to the work by Barry Fell and his followers other researchers have discussed the Arab Sea connection with the American continents. A lot of work has recently been done in this area and some of it should be accepted.
For example:
<<The descendants of the Muslim visitors of North America are members of the present Iroquois, Algonquin, Anasazi, Hohokam and Olmec native people.

<<There are 565 names of places (villages, towns, cities, mountains, lakes, rivers, etc.) in USA (484) and Canada (81) which are derived from Islamic and Arabic roots. These places were originally named by the natives in pre-Columbian period.
Source: MUSLIMS IN THE AMERICAS BEFORE COLUMBUS    by  Dr. Youssef Mroueh.
Israelites were also present amongst some of the Amerindians. They too may be considered part of the Exile of Kedar that is connected with the Lost Tribes of Israel as discussed below.

5. The Wars of Genghis Khan: Recent studies indicate that there were other relatively recent migratory connexions between East Asia and the American Continent. The whereabouts of the Kidari in North America is linked to these movements. One work (amongst many) worthy of notice in this connection is: "The Dene And Na Dene Indian Migration 1233 A.D", by Ethel G. Stewart (1991). The authoress demonstrates how certain Indian Tribes in Canada and the U.S.A. including the Apaches, Navajo, and many others were originally part of a host that fought against the Mongolian Genghis Khan in East Asia. They were defeated, conquered, and then fled via China by boat to North America in 1233 CE. The names Haida and Dene applied to Amerindian groups traceable to Central Asia are Israelite Nephtalite Tribal names. The Nephtalites had either once conquered forerunners of these groups in Central Asia or else had been in an area of their settlement before them. Amongst peoples in Central Asia subdued by the Nephtalites before the Nephtalites moved westwards were the Kidarites.

6. Linguistic Evidence: A Creolized Base In Uto Aztec by Brian Stubbs (1988) brings linguistic evidence indicating that Indian languages such as Shoshone, Paiute, Ute, Comanche, Hopi, Aztec, and others are composite tongues deriving in part from a branch of West Semitic which is the type of tongue the Kidari would have originally employed.

7. Biblical Linguistics: Kedar in Hebrew means darkness. The verse in the Song of Solomon (1;5) associating blackness with the tents of Kedar is a play on words: "I am black, but comely,.. as the tents of Kedar..." The Vikings called North America "Markland" which is said to mean "Land of the Dark". The Lost Ten Tribes were exiled (according to Talmudic tradition) to a place where "Clouds" covered them or to the "Mountains of Darkness". These terms were applicable to Mannae, the Caucasus, Crimea, Scandinavia, and other areas of Cimmerian settlement. In a Conceptual Figurative sense (as demonstrated below in this work) the terms were ultimately applicable to North America.

8. Scriptural Consistency: The Bible speaks of Kedar several times and there are Prophetical passages that fit the North American reality better than any other solution. An influential element from Kedar in the male line was superimposed on existing populations. This is enough in order to justify identification with Kedar from the Biblical perspective.

KEDAR IN ISAIAH 60

    Isaiah (ch.60) speaks of the Israelite exiles returning in the Latter Days to their own land. The reference to Zion (60;14) and other matters indicate that the description includes returnees from Judah.

    "THE MULTITUDE OF CAMELS SHALL COVER THEE, THE DROMEDARIES OF MEDIAN AND EPHAH; ALL THEY FROM SHEBAH SHALL COME: THEY SHALL BRING GOLD AND INCENSE ..(60:6)
    "ALL THE FLOCKS OF KEDAR SHALL BE GATHERED TOGETHER UNTO THEE, THE RAMS OF NEBAIOTH SHALL MINISTER UNTO THEE...(60:7)."
    "WHO ARE THESE THAT FLY AS A CLOUD..(60:8).
    "SURELY THE ISLES SHALL HASTEN UNTO ME, THE SHIPS OF TARSHISH FIRST? TO BRING THY SONS FROM FAR...(60:9).

    Camels from Median and Ephah if accepted literally can only really apply to the Arabs of the Middle East bringing tribute. Even so, a figurative (in part) application of the description to some extent is also feasible. "Shebah" with her gold and incense is a term applicable (in some passages) to both India and South Africa, as well as to Southern Arabia. A note of interest is that Afghan traders with their camels were introduced into Australia in the 1800s. These camels went wild in the vast Australian Desert and multiplied. Recently all of the camels of Saudia Arabia were infected with a terrible disease and had to be replaced with new stock from Australia.
     "Flocks of Kedar" and "rams of Nebaioth" which shall be gathered unto the Israelites had an importance at the time the prophecy was first pronounced parallel to the flocks of Northern America and Australia today. The Navajo Indians may have received their name from Nabaioth brother of Kedar. The word translated as "flocks" from the Hebrew ("Tzon") is applicable to both flocks of sheep and herds of cattle. Australia and North America are the largest commercial breeders of sheep and cattle. In other words the above passage does not contradict the suggested identification of Kedar with North America: The Prophets were wont to describe real-life realities of their own age and by amplification apply them to the future. To some degree all descriptions were of necessity delivered in terms of what was also applicable to their own times. Taken in the context of other identifications made, the North American equation with Kedar, is applicable.




 [Isaiah 60:8] WHO ARE THESE THAT FLY AS A CLOUD, AND AS THE DOVES TO THEIR WINDOWS"
"WHO ARE THESE": This is an expression relating to the Lost Ten Tribes.  We discussed this in our Commentary on Isaiah 49, but it is worth repeating in part:

Isaiah 49 no.8 [Summarized Extract]:

ISAIAH AND THE RETURN OF THE LOST TEN Tribes

The Lost Ten Tribes will also return. The Jews of Judah will meet the return of the Lost Ten Tribes with mixed reactions:

 [Isaiah 49:21] THEN SHALT THOU SAY IN THINE HEART, WHO HATH BEGOTTEN ME THESE, SEEING I HAVE LOST MY CHILDREN, AND AM DESOLATE, A CAPTIVE, AND REMOVING TO AND FRO? AND WHO HATH BROUGHT UP THESE? BEHOLD, I WAS LEFT ALONE; THESE, WHERE HAD THEY BEEN?


ISAIAH (49;21) DESCRIBES HOW THE JEWISH PEOPLE UPON SEEING  MASSES OF LOST ISRAELITES RETURNING TO THE HOLY LAND WILL HAVE A SERIOUS QUESTION:

    "THEN SHALT THOU SAY IN THY HEART, WHO HATH BEGOTTEN ME THESE, SEEING I HAVE LOST MY CHILDREN, AND AM DESOLATE, A CAPTIVE, AND REMOVING TO AND FRO? AND WHO HATH BROUGHT UP THESE? BEHOLD, I WAS LEFT ALONE; THESE WHERE HAD THEY BEEN?" (ISAIAH 49;21)

                In other words, the Jews will ask where were all those now identified as Israel when the Jews needed help and were alone? According to the Midrash (Pesikta Rabati 32;10) this reaction of the Jews will take place WHEN THEY SEE THE THREE EXILES OF THE LOST TEN Tribes RETURNING!
    On the one hand those few people among the Gentiles who have helped the Jews have more often than not belonged to the Lost Ten Tribes. On the other hand these nations were powerful and rich ones and they could have done much more to help than they did. There were times even when the Lost Ten Tribes had acted as the adversaries of Judah.
    A reflection on this future conundrum is provided by a passage in the
Zohar.                 
The
Zohar (Breishit, VaYechi, 88m, Sulam edition) comments on the expression "WHO HATH BEGOTTEN ME THESE" in the verse we are here concerned with (ISAIAH 49;21). The Zohar notes an emphasis in the question on the Hebrew word "EYLEH" i.e. "these"':

    The verse says: "THEN SHALT THOU SAY IN THY HEART, WHO HATH BEGOTTEN ME THESE, SEEING I HAVE LOST MY CHILDREN, AND AM DESOLATE, A CAPTIVE, AND REMOVING TO AND FRO? AND WHO HATH BROUGHT UP THESE? BEHOLD, I WAS LEFT ALONE; THESE WHERE HAD THEY BEEN?" (ISAIAH 49;21)

    The Zohar emphasizes the emphasis on the expression these: "WHO HATH BEGOTTEN ME THESE.....? AND WHO HATH BROUGHT UP THESE...THESE, WHERE HAD THEY BEEN?"
    The
Zohar then refers back to the time when the Patriarch Israel was about to die and his son Joseph had brought his grandsons, Ephraim and Menasseh, to him to receive a final blessing.

    "WHEN ISRAEL SAW JOSEPH'S SONS, HE SAID, WHO ARE THESE?" (Genesis 48;8).

    [Said Rabbi Yehudah bar Shalom, "And why did he did he not   recognize them?" Was he not acquainted with them?... "And now he asks, Who are these?"..."But rather he must have foreseen [through Divine Inspiration] Jeroboam son of Nebat and Ahab son of Omri [both future kings of the northern separated Ten-Tribes of Israel] who would arise from Ephraim and worship idolatry" Midrash Tanchuma, VaYichi,6.]
 
  The Zohar relates:
    "Rabbi Abba began to explain [the above question of the Patriarch Israel, "Who are these?"] by relating it to [the verse in ISAIAH 49;21] "then
shalt thou  say in thy heart: `Who hath begotten me these?': What does this verse imply?
    -That the Heavenly Patriarch Israel foresaw the Children of Israel assembling before him in the future: `In that day the LORD shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people which shall be left [FROM ASSYRIA, AND FROM
MITSRAYIM, AND FROM PATHROS, AND FROM CUSH, AND] FROM ELAM, AND FROM HAMATH, AND FROM THE ISLES OF THE SEA" (ISAIAH 11;11).

    The above place names are those to where the Lost Ten Tribes were taken or went shortly after their Exile. Isaiah continues to speak of the ingathering of the Lost Tribes as well as that of Judah and of reconciliation between the Lost Tribes and Judah:

[Isaiah 11:12] HE WILL RAISE AN ENSIGN FOR THE NATIONS, AND WILL ASSEMBLE THE OUTCASTS OF ISRAEL, AND GATHER THE DISPERSED OF JUDAH FROM THE FOUR CORNERS OF THE EARTH.                     

[Isaiah 11:13] THE JEALOUSY OF EPHRAIM SHALL DEPART, AND THOSE WHO HARASS JUDAH SHALL BE CUT OFF; EPHRAIM SHALL NOT BE JEALOUS OF JUDAH, AND JUDAH SHALL NOT HARASS EPHRAIM.

    The question concerning "these" therefore refers to the Lost Ten Tribes (Ephraim) in the End Times.
    The
Zohar goes on to explain Isaiah 49;21, the question `WHO HATH BEGOTTEN ME THESE?'
 
    "And they shall assemble together and be mutitudinous; the Divine Presence [i.e. Heavenly Israel] will wonder and ask, `Where did you all come from?'  `And is it not possible that there exists amongst you someone blemished, of foreign seed?' "They will answer, `We are all your sons. There is no foreigner amongst us'.
    "And they will divide off from each other. The foreign non-Israelite element will voluntarily separate from them, and they [i.e. the returning Israelites] will be circumcised, and convert, and these converts will return with [and to] Israel, and they shall be one."

   
    Ezekiel (ch.47) spoke of the future apportionment of the Promised Land amongst the Twelve Tribes of Israel in the Messianic era. The area spoken of includes modern day Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, and Israel, and additional parts of neighboring lands. This final re-division of the land takes place after certain physical geographical and climatic changes occur. Ezekiel also speaks of apportioning The Land to "The strangers [i.e. non-Israelites] that sojourn amongst you": The strangers who identify with you will be counted as the same as you. "So shall ye divide this land among you according to the Tribes of Israel" (Ezekiel 47;21).
    "AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS, THAT YE SHALL DIVIDE IT BY LOT FOR AN INHERITANCE UNTO YOU, AND TO THE STRANGERS THAT SOJOURN AMONG YOU, WHICH SHALL BEGET CHILDREN AMONG YOU; AND THEY SHALL BE UNTO YOU AS BORN IN THE COUNTRY AMONG THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL.
    "AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS, THAT IN WHAT TRIBE THE STRANGER
SOJOURNETH, THERE SHALL YE GIVE HIM HIS INHERITANCE.."
    (Ezekiel 47;22 23).   


The verse (Isaiah 60:8) we are dealing with said:
 [Isaiah 60:8] WHO ARE THESE THAT FLY AS A CLOUD, AND AS THE DOVES TO THEIR WINDOWS"
They fly on the clouds in Aeroplanes.  When was it possible for this prophecy to have been literally fulfilled before our times?
The Talmud (Baba
Batra 75;b) says: <<When Israel sins somewhat, they are brought down like a fowl [flying away], as it says, "AS FOR EPHRAIM, THEIR GLORY SHALL FLY AWAY LIKE A BIRD" [Hosea 9:11]. When they gain merit, they are elevated like a cloud, as it says,  "WHO ARE THESE THAT FLY AS A CLOUD" [Isaiah 60:8].>> So we see that in at least one place the Talmud speaks of  the above verse in Isaiah (60:8) in connection to Ephraim meaning to the Lost Ten Tribes.                    
                                 
[Isaiah 60:9] SURELY THE ISLES SHALL WAIT FOR ME, AND THE SHIPS OF TARSHISH FIRST, TO BRING THY SONS FROM FAR, THEIR SILVER AND THEIR GOLD WITH THEM, UNTO THE NAME OF THE LORD THY GOD, AND TO THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL, BECAUSE HE HATH GLORIFIED THEE.
"SURELY THE ISLES SHALL WAIT FOR ME" Iben Ezra Commentary: "For I will give them a good reward."
"THE SHIPS OF
TARSHISH FIRST": Ships that plough the Atlantic Ocean bringing people back from America, Britain, and Western Europe.



TARSHISH and the US DOLLAR SIGN

(a) TARSHISH
Adapted from "Lost Israelite Identity" by Yair Davidy (1996), Chapter Twelve:

    The Assyrians claimed to control Tarsis in the far west of their domains. The exact position of Tarsis is still uncertain though a place somewhere on the west coast (more specifically the southwest coast) of Spain, near Gades (Cadiz) is usually accepted. In Classical (Greek and Roman) records there was an important center named "Tartessos" somewhere on the Spanish southwest coast. In Phoenician "Tartessos" was referred to as "Tarsis". "Tartessos" is generally identified with the western Tarshish of Scripture. According to one opinion Tartessos once controlled most of Spain and Gaul. Tartessos served as an emporium for goods from Gaul and Britain.
    "Tarsis", "Tartessos", and "Tarshish" are all different ways of pronouncing the same name.
    In Scripture and Talmudic sources TARSHISH is often linked with the "Isles of the Sea" (meaning Britain) and with the "Yam Okyanus" (i.e. Oceanic Sea) meaning the Atlantic Ocean.
    In some Talmudic accounts Tarshish is taken to refer to the Sea encompassing one third of the world. The Aramaic translation of Yehonathan translates "Tarshish" as "sea". Rashi (the major Talmudic Commentator) says that (the sea) Tarshish is called the Sea of Africa presumably meaning the Atlantic.
    In one of the Psalms, it says "The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents" (Psalm 72:10): The Aramaic Targum translates this expression to say, "The Kings of Tarsis and of the Isles in the Oceanic Sea shall bring offerings" and by Oceanic Sea (i.e."Yam Okyanus") it is generally understood that the Atlantic Ocean is intended.
   
     "Tarshish" is referred to in connection with the Messianic era and with the return of the exiled Tribes of Israel:      

    "Who are these that fly as a cloud and as a dove to their windows? Surely the isles shall wait for me, and the ships of Tarshish first, to bring thy sons from afar, their silver and gold with them, unto the name of the LORD thy God to the Holy One of Israel because he hath glorified thee" (Isaiah 60:8-9).

    The above verse speaks of the exiled of Israel returning to the land of Israel by air (i.e. in aeroplanes) and by ship. The "Ships of Tarshish" means those plying the Atlantic Ocean ("Yam Okeanus") and it therefore follows that Tarshish was someplace on the Atlantic coast.       

  TARSHISH IN ANCIENT TIMES 

     Prior to the Assyrian exile, the Israelite Hebrews had had seafaring experience, had co-operated with the Phoenicians, and had become familiar with "Tarshish". King Solomon had been partner to Hiram king of Phoenician Tyre in an enterprise that circumnavigated Africa and re-entered the Mediterranean after visiting Tarshish somewhere on the European Atlantic shores and taking three years to make the round trip (1- Kings 9:26-27).   
     Herodotus (4.42,43) reported that Pharoah Neco who reigned just after Solomon also sent Phoenician sailors to circumnavigate Africa and return via the Pillars of Hercules i.e. the Straits of Gibraltar. He likewise mentions the fact that this trip took three years to complete since he explains the sailors would make a camp on dry land and sow and reap a harvest before continuing.
    The prophet Ezekiel listed Tarshish amongst the numerous places that were wont to trade with Tyre:

    "Tarshish was thy merchant by reason of the multitude of all kinds of riches; with silver, iron, tin, and lead, they traded in thy fairs" (Ezekiel 27:12).
   
     It is well to note that tin and copper were essential in the production of Bronze and most tin was claimed to have originated in Britain. The Egyptian (Coptic) word for tin is "pithran" said to be derived from a mispronunciation of Britain. Tarshish is a name applied to a port "Tarsis" in Cilicia as well as to Tartessos in Spain and it has been claimed that sundry Phoenician trading posts also received the name. Regarding Tarsis of Cilicia (Anatolia) there are no rich deposits of iron, tin, and lead there. The Greek Translation (Septuagent, in the 300s BCE but "edited" later) translated Tarshish as Carthage (in North Africa) but at the time the Septuagent was written the domain of Carthage included much of Spain. The name Tarshish has been found inscribed in stone in Sardinia wherein the Phoenicians also founded colonies but the relevant settlement (Nora) in Sardinia was founded by Phoenicians based on Spain and, by inference, may mean that the settlement was connected with "Tarshish" of Spain. In other words the concept of "Tarshish" as far as Scripture and the connection between Tyre, Israel, and Tarshish is concerned is referring to Spanish Tartessus or a connected post on the Atlantic Ocean.
    The above points show that both the ancient Hebrews and the Phoenicians had association of trade and points of control in Tarshish and the Atlantic prior to the Assyrian exile. The Israelite involvement with Tarshish was connected to that of the Phoenicians and of joint Hebrew PHOENICIAN maritime enterprise.

ISRAELITE PRESENCE IN SPAIN, GAUL AND BRITAIN

In "Lost Israelite Identity" we show how a portion of the Israelite Exiles were transported in Phoenician and Philistine ships on behalf of the Assyrians to Spain and the West. This is in addition to the mass of Israelites who were exiled overland to elsewhere in the Assyrian Empire. 
A few confirmatory points proving that the Exiles were indeed Hebrews and that they later moved towards the north and the British Isles include the following:      1.    The term "Iberi" means "HEBREW". This name or variations of it (e.g. Ebero) in Spain derived originally from the people driven out by the Carthaginians and North Africans. The original "Iberi" (or Hiberi) had from Spain passed into Gaul and the British Isles and the root "Eber" (or "Iber" or "Heber") is frequently found in the "Celtic" nomenclature of those areas. The overwhelming majority of places bearing the name IBER and its cognates are Celtic and the claim that everywhere the name is found was due to Celtic presence at some time or other is well defensible.

Avienus referring to Gades (on the southwest coast of Spain) said, "Here is the town of Gadir earlier known  as Tartessus". In the region of Gades ceramics from the Middle East of the Late Bronze Age have been found, as well as ivory plaques similar to those of Megiddo in the Holy Land, also from the Late Bronze Age period.

4. Justin (44;3) said that,
    "The Gallaecians..... took possession  of those parts where New Carthage now stands and passing from thence to Gallaecia.."*24
    New Carthage was on the southeast coast of Spain. -Gallaecia was on the northwest. Justin is recording a tradition of migration from the southeast of Spain to Gallaecia in the northwest. "Gallaecia" was named after the Galatae who settled in Gaul and the British Isles and according to Irish and Scottish mythology arrived via Spain. They called themselves "Hiberi" or "Iberi" and are so named on Ptolemy's Map of Britain. The appellation "Galatia" (whence is derived  "Gallacea") was also rendered as Galadi which is the same as Galaad or Gilead the major clan amongst the Tribe of Menasseh and an important entity in its own right.  "GALATIA" is also the name given to the Celtic area of Northern Gaul often associated with the Belgae.

Ammianus Marcellinus (15;19) said that the Tartessians were Dorians who followed after the Gauls an ancient Hercules and inhabited those places beside the Ocean. Bochartus using Greek and Latin sources demonstrates that the Dorians led by Hercules who migrated to Gades and Tartessus were descendants of a legendary "Dorus and Phoenicius" i.e. of Dorians and Phoenicians. He traces them to DOR in Israel and says that originally they were identified as Galicians (i.e. Galatians) Additional proof that the Dorians (of Tarshish) were actually Israelites from the province of DOR belonging to the Tribe of Menasseh is found in the Geography of Ptolemy. Ptolemy records the "MENESTHEI PORTUS",  i.e. the PORT OF THE TRIBE OF MENASSEH in the region of the Turdulorum just to the east of GADES off the southwest coast of Spain! The "Port of the Tribe of Menasseh" is linked with Tartessus and with the Dorians who were also of Menasseh and arrived with the "Phoenicians" at least some of whom were also Israelite.

5.     In southern Spain the remains of a wall and monumental stone buildings dating from the 700s BCE (i.e. shortly after the exile) to 600s BCE have been found. The constructions were built of dressed stone (ashlar) in a particular style whose closest parallels are to be found in the Israelite buildings at Samaria and at Ramat Rachel (near Jerusalem) of Judea. The place was abandoned  by about 550 BCE which date was that of Carthaginian and North African incursions.

Metal produced in Baetica (in southeast Spain) was called "Samarian metal" (Pliny N.H.) after Samaria in Israel.

10.    TARSHISH in Scripture is the name of a son of Javan (Genesis 10:4) which indicates Greek connections. TARSHISH is also the name of a grandson of Benjamin (1-Chronicles 7:10) and often a seemingly coincidental identity or similarity of name in the Bible presages some form of future connexion.
           
13.    Irish and Scottish Celtic legends state that their ancestors, the Hiberi, came from the Middle East via Gallaecia in Spain. It seems to be generally accepted by most authorities that they were in Spain and their nomenclature, customs, and traditions confirm their Israelite ancestry.
    The relevant myths said that the forefathers of the Irish and Scottish came from the Middle East. They said that they had moved to Spain and dwelt there for some time before leaving for Ireland and the British Isles.

  The Scottish Declaration of Independence (1320 CE) declared that:

    "...We know...and from the chronicles and books of the ancients gather, that among other illustrious nations, ours to wit, the nation of the Scots, has been distinguished by many honours; which passing from the greater Scythia through the Mediterranean Sea and Pillars of Hercules  and sojourning in Spain among the most savage Tribes through a long course of time, could nowhere be subjugated by any people however barbarous; and coming thence one thousand two hundred years after the outgoing of the people of Israel, they, by many victories and infinite toil, acquired for themselves the possessions in the West which they now hold...".

Roberts, in "The Brut or The Chronicles of the Kings of Briton": (Date unknown but claimed to be "one of the oldest histories in the English language":)

    "He Bartholome  the chief of the 30 ships had his name from a river of Spain called Eirinnal, on the banks of which they had lived. This chief related to the king the whole of their adventures, from the time they had arrived from Israel (Palestine) their original country, and the manner and circumstances in which their ancestors  dwelt in a retired part of Spain,  near Eirnia, from whence the Spaniards drove them to sea to seek another abode"61.

    "They `were called Barclenses', had been driven from Spain, and were roving on the seas to find a place  of settlement...

    "Gwrgan(r)t....directed them ...to go to Ireland, which at that time lay waste and uninhabited.

    Note that it is stated expressly above that they came originally from "Israel (Palestine) their original country". Irish and Scottish traditions recorded waves of invaders two of the most important were the Dana and the Goidels (Gaels) or Milesians. The Sons of Dana who also migrated to Ireland and Britain are in another account traced to Lebanon. Nearly every legend concerning the Gaels ("Milesians") says that their ancestors had been in Egypt at the time of the Exodus and somehow or other had been linked in the eyes of the Egyptians with the Children of Israel. After leaving Egypt (the legends say) the Hiberi (also known as "Gaels", "Goidhels", and "Milesians") had sojourned in Spain and after being driven into the northwest of that country had sailed for Ireland. The legendary accounts therefore conform to the conclusions drawn above.

The Dollar Sign and Israelite Heritage

From the extract below (last paragraph) we see that the dollar sign really is derived from a representation of the Pillars of Hercules meaning the Straits of Gibraltar meaning in ancient terminology of Tarshish.
  Etymologies & Word Origins:
http://www.wordorigins.org/wordord.
htm+dollar+origin&hl=en  
 The origin of the almighty dollar is in what is now the Czech Republic. In 1519, a silver mine near the town of
Joachimstal (literally "Joachim's valley," from the German Tal, meaning valley) began minting a silver coin called, unimaginatively, the Joachimstaler coin, which was circulated widely, became better known by its clipped form, the taler. In Dutch and Low German, the initial consonant softened to become daler. English adopted this form, eventually changing its spelling to the modern dollar.               
 In the American colonies, there was no standard currency. The coin that was in widest use was the Spanish Peso, known also as "Pieces of Eight" because it could be divided into eight pie-like pieces. The English colonists informally assigned the name dollar to this coin. In 1785, when the Continental Congress established U.S. currency, they adopted dollar as name for the standard unit of currency, at the suggestion of Governeur  Morris and Thomas Jefferson, because the term was widely known and was not associated with any form of official English currency. (Jefferson also coined the term  disme, from the French dixieme, for a tenth of a dollar. Pronounced deem, it eventually became dime.)  The origin of the $ sign has several folkloric stories attached. One says that Thomas Jefferson invented it, perhaps as a sort of monogram for TS. Jefferson was the first to use the symbol in relation to the U.S. dollar, but this story is fanciful. Another says that originally it was U superimposed over an S, for U.S. of course. Eventually the base of the  U eroded due to poor printing technology, leaving an S with two lines through it. Another says that it is a variant of a figure eight that appeared on the Spanish Peso, standing for  the pieces of eight. This last is close to the truth, but not quite there. 
The Spanish royal family used on its escutcheon, two pillars (representing the Pillars of Hercules in Gibraltar and Morocco) crossed by an unfurled banner reading "Plus Ultra." This symbol appeared on the Peso, and looked much like the modern $ sign. It was adopted as a symbol for the Peso in the American colonies, and was transferred to the  dollar. The U.S. was the first nation to adopt an official currency named the dollar. In 1797, the Bank of England began minting "dollar" coins as bank-issued currency. Other nations that have adopted the name dollar for their currency have done so in emulation of either the U.S. or this short-lived Bank of England practice.

(b) THE DOLLAR BILL, TARSHISH,
AND THE TEN LOST TRIBES!
by
Gunnar Jeremia Gishron
in Jerusalem, Israel

    Sixteen years after the Declaration of Independence there was promulgated a monetary law in America concerning the currency called "Dollar".
Not many things in American culture actually originated in the United States but most things rather have their origin in Europe. It is well known that the American Dollar actually was an adaptation of the "Spanish
Thaler" called Peso. The symbol "$" originally was the heraldic sign of the Spanish Royal Family which appear on the backside of the Spanish "Pillar Dollar" and represented the two Pillars of Hercules at Gibraltar with a Latin inscription curled around.
    The story of the dollar started in the district of Bohemia in
Czechia. There was an enormously rich silver mine in the valley of Joachimsthal, and in the 15th century a new coin appeared on the world market, the "Joachims-thaler". It soon became called simply the "Thaler" in Austria and in Germany and wandering northward and northwestward it changed tits name to "DALER" in the countries of England, Holland, and Sweden. [From this evolved the term "dollar"].
    In Sweden it was King Gustav I
Wasa who minted the first Swedish DALER-coin. Nevertheless it was used only in addition to the Mark-coins that continued to be the official currency dating almost half a century. King Gustav I Wasa was succeeded by his son John III who was married to the Polish Princess Katarina Jagellonica. After John III came his son Sigismund who officially became King of Sweden. Sigismund (who mother was the Polish Princess) as well as becoming King of Sweden was already King of Poland. Sigismund had grown up in Poland and was a devout Catholic. In practice however Sweden was ruled by Karl the uncle of Sigismund. Karl acted as regent ("rikforestandare"). Karl was brother of the deceased King John, the third son of King Gustav I Wasa, and the uncle of the new King Sigismund. Karl immediately convened Parliament and Sigismund was requested to sign an official proclamation respecting the new "Protestant" religion of Sweden. Sigismund did sign but it soon became obvious that he had no intention of fulfilling the conditions of the proclamation. Another Parliament was convened in 1599. Sigismund was deposed and Karl was elected (as Karl IX) in his stead.
It was Karl IX that made the
Daler into the new main currency, minting a whole series of "Nova Moneta" "new coins " at the turn of the century in 1599 and in 1600. Karl at this stage was still not crowned when he made his monetary reform and introduced the new "Daler". He appears without a crown on all coins in this series. Even though Sigismund never had a real chance to regain his crown, Karl IX refrained from being officially crowned until 1606, four years before his death.
The new currency was quite exceptional. The coins had
God"s holy four letter name, the so-called Tetragrammaton, engraved upon them, in authentic Hebrew characters with proper vocalization. Around the Holy Name appears something that looks like the rays of the sun and around the periphery of the coins there were additional texts. Often this additional text indicated the slogan of the King in Latin " solvatum mea". In Swedish this is "Gud min trost" or "In God We Trust"! Karl IX had a very keen interest in theological questions with an almost "Calvinist" frame of mind. We have to bear in mind that this was the first Protestant nation in the world fighting for its existence against the Catholics.
King Karl IX became neither as famous as his father, Gustav
Wasa, who finally united Sweden, nor as his son, Gustav II Adolf who died the death of a hero in Germany during the 30-Years War, defending the interests of the regional Protestant Lords and Princes. This was ended with the Peace of Westfalen in 1648 and came to lay down the main lines for the religious map of Europe during the following centuries. It is against this background of an intense struggle between Protestants and Catholics that these "sacred" coins must be understood. The new DALER [i.e. "dollar"] of the Protestants had an almost American slogan: "GUD MIN TROST". This was the personal slogan of King Karl IX after the custom of Swedish monarchs. "Trost" and "trust" are etymologically the same word even if the English "trust" is [conventionally] translated "fortrosta" in Swedish. Truly the origins of many English words are to be found in Swedish or in the other Nordic languages. The expression "GUD MIN TROST" is comparable with the English "In God We Trust" now printed on every Dollar bill.

Brit-Am Comment:  Gunnar Jeremia Gishron says that the original Dollar sign was derived from a representation of the Straits of Gibraltar. In ancient times these would stand for Tarshish. Tarshish was a state just to the east of Gibraltar facing the Atlantic Ocean. Tarshish was a trading empire linked with King Solomon and other Israelite monarchs. It had outposts in Gaul and Britain and according to one authority once controlled most of Spain and Gaul. Tarshish in Rabbinical terminology came to represent the whole Atlantic area beyond the Mediteranean and this usage was foreshadowed by the Biblical one. In Isaiah 60:9 it says that the ships of Tarshish are destined to bring the Lost Israelites back to the land of Israel. We have interpreted this in our works to refer to the ships of Britain and North America. The ancient northern Israelites before their exile wrote in Hebrew but also used Egyptian-like hieroglyphic signs. They used to insert these signs in the midst of their Hebrew sentences. The principle of these signs is that as a kind of shorthand one can employ a picture-emblem instead of a word. Were we to employ this method today we could use the dollar sign to represent the USA. This sign already represents American money but it could also be used to represent America in general and we would know what the intention was from the context in which it was employed. By the same method the sign could also represent Tarshish since it is derived from an image of the Straits of Gibraltar.
    Gunnar also says that the first dollar had the name of God in Hebrew inscribed upon it and the slogan "In God We Trust". It would be interesting to learn if this slogan was later printed on the dollar bill with the knowledge that it had been on the dollar coin or this is another of those historical "coincidences" we have learned to almost take for granted!

In our Commentary to Isaiah chapter two we also spoke of Tarshish and said:
"Tarshish" can refer to the Atlantic Ocean area and to the USA as explained in "The Tribes". Historically Tarshish was centred in Spain with colonies in Gaul and Britain. It was just past the Straits of Gibraltar and so the name (in Biblical exegesis) came to represent the whole Atlantic Ocean area and in a future sense Noth America.
Gunnar Jeremia Gishron of Jerusalem traced the dollar to a coin issued by a Swedish monarch. The original coin included  the name of God in Hebrew and the motto in Swedish "In God WE Trust"!
Later the Spanish adapted the coin and the USA took it from the Spanish. The Spanish version bore the Heraldric sign of the Spanish Royal family. This represented the two pillars of Hercules at Gibraltar. These pillars gave rise to the dollar "$" symbol (with two strokes not one)! The ancient northern Israelites (LTTS) wrote Hebrew interspersed with Egyptian-like hieroglyphics. Where we to use the hieroglyphic system today instead of writing "AMERICA" or the USA all the time we would substitute "$" as a hieroglyph representing the USA. This one sign ($) could only in the context stand for the USA. This is the sign of Gibraltar, i.e. the sign of Tarshish. Isaiah (60;9) says that ships of Tarshish will be the leaders in returning the exiles.

What Really is Tarshish?
We were requested to comment on the following posting:

Date: Thu, 22 Nov 2001 14:46:22 +0800
From: David Wise
Subject: [
lostTribes] "TARSHISH"
There is no Biblical or scriptural foundation that
Tarshish is the USA or Great Britain.

The only "black & white" reference is of Spain and the western
mediteranean area, which to mention also had mines working the rich deposits of silver, iron, tin and other metals found there. Jeremiah 10:9 and Ezekiel 27:3, 12 confirm this.
David Wise

[Jeremiah 10:9] SILVER SPREAD INTO PLATES IS BROUGHT FROM
TARSHISH, AND GOLD FROM UPHAZ, THE WORK OF THE WORKMAN, AND OF THE HANDS OF THE FOUNDER: BLUE AND PURPLE IS THEIR  CLOTHING: THEY ARE ALL THE WORK OF CUNNING MEN.                     
[Ezekiel 27:3] AND SAY UNTO
TYRUS, O THOU THAT ART SITUATE AT THE ENTRY OF THE SEA, WHICH ART A MERCHANT OF THE PEOPLE FOR MANY ISLES, THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD; O TYRUS, THOU HAST  SAID, I AM OF PERFECT BEAUTY.                     
[Ezekiel 27:12]
TARSHISH WAS THY MERCHANT BY REASON OF THE MULTITUDE OF ALL KIND OF RICHES; WITH SILVER, IRON, TIN, AND LEAD, THEY TRADED IN THY FAIRS.                     

Brit-Am  Reply:
Comment: We had previously sent out a posting on Tarshish consisting mainly of extracts from chapter twelve of our work "Lost Israelite Identity". We had apparently not been explicit enough and not included enough sources and should also have quoted from chapter eleven in "Lost Israelite Identity".
This is part of what we said in the previous posting:
<<The Assyrians claimed to control Tarsis in the far west of their domains. The exact position of Tarsis is still uncertain though a place somewhere on the west coast (more specifically the southwest coast) of Spain, near Gades (Cadiz) is usually accepted. In Classical (Greek and Roman) records there was an important center named "Tartessos" somewhere on the Spanish southwest coast. "Tartessos" is generally identified with the western Tarshish of Scripture. According to one opinion Tartessos once controlled most of Spain and Gaul. Tartessos served as an emporium for goods from Gaul and Britain.
    In Scripture and Talmudic sources TARSHISH is often linked with the "Isles of the Sea" (meaning Britain) and with the "Yam Okyanus" (i.e. Oceanic Sea) meaning the Atlantic Ocean.
    In some Talmudic accounts Tarshish is taken to refer to the Sea encompassing one third of the world. The Aramaic translation of Yehonathan translates "Tarshish" as "sea". Rashi (the major Talmudic Commentator) says that (the sea) Tarshish is called the Sea of Africa presumably meaning the Atlantic.
    In one of the Psalms, it says "The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents" (Psalm 72;10): The Aramaic Targum translates this expression to say, "The Kings of Tarsis and of the Isles in the Oceanic Sea shall bring offerings" and by Oceanic Sea (i.e."Yam Okyanus") it is generally understood that the Atlantic Ocean is intended.
   
    "Tarshish" is referred to in connection with the Messianic era and with the return of the exiled Tribes of Israel:      

    "Who are these that fly as a cloud and as a dove to their windows? Surely the isles shall wait for me, and the ships of Tarshish first, to bring thy sons from afar, their silver and gold with them, unto the name of the LORD thy God to the Holy One of Israel because he hath glorified thee" (Isaiah 60:8-9).

    The above verse speaks of the exiled of Israel returning to the land of Israel by air (i.e. in aeroplanes) and by ship. The "Ships of Tarshish" means those plying the Atlantic Ocean ("Yam Okeanus") and it therefore follows that Tarshish was someplace on the Atlantic coast.       

From the above we said that Tarshish referred in our comprehension of the Biblical account and in Talmudic understanding with the Atlantic Ocean area in general and with Britain and America in particular. We also had a posting from Steven Collins pointing out that the great researcher Cyrus Gordon based on archaeological finds considered "Tarshish" to refer to North America. The confusion arises since we had said that Tarshish was centered in Spain and from this some want to say that it refers only to Spain and that we are all wrong. The fault is partly ours since it seems that Tarshish was the name of center west of the Straits of Gibraltar in  southwest Spain and ALSO of the whole area (in Britain and Gaul) associated with this center. We did not emphasize the last point sufficiently.
In "Lost Israelite Identity" we wrote:
    <<The Phoenecians (implied Avienus) had established colonies in Britain. Their monopoly on British tin made them rich and powerful; tin and copper were essential in the production of bronze which was the basic metal employed by most ancient peoples.  
Ezekiel said:                       
TARSHISH WAS THY MERCHANT BY REASON OF THE MULTITUDE OF ALL KIND OF RICHES; WITH SILVER, IRON, TIN, AND LEAD, THEY TRADED IN THY FAIRS [Ezekiel 27:12].  
Exekiel is referring to the Phonicians in Tyre who received  silver, iron, tin, and lead from Tarshish. Tin especially was important since it was needed in the production of bronze that was the primary metal used at that time. The tin of Tarshish mentioned by Ezekiel was obtained from Britain.                 

"Lost Israelite Identity" chapter 11:
    <<"The burden of Tyre. Howl ye ships of Tarshish; for it is laid waste. Be still ye inhabitants of the isle; thou whom the merchants of Zidon that pass over the sea have replenished pass ye over to Tarshish; howl ye inhabitants of the isle Pass through thy land like a river, O daughter of Tarshish..daughter of Zidon; arise, pass over to Chittim; there also shalt thou have no rest.." Isaiah  ch.23.

    <<The ships of Tyre are "ships of Tarshish" and it is predicted that Tyre would be destroyed and an attempted re-establishment would be made in Chittim which would be unsuccessful and from there a move to Tarshish itself (in Spain) would have to be made.
    Sargon (722-705) claimed to have conquered Anaku and Kaptara in the Atlantic Ocean. "Anaku" is said to mean the Land of Tin and could refer to Britain whilst Kaptara (i.e. "Cyprus" in Assyrian terms) in the Atlantic Ocean apparently means Scandinavia where Bronze Age remains show direct contact with Mediterranean Cyprus, Egypt, and the Middle East and Egyptian descriptions of a Kaptara (i.e. "Cyprus") in the Atlantic Ocean are apposite to what is known concerning the civilisation of Scandinavia at that time. Sennacherib (705-681) took Tyre and began the organised exile and re-settlement of its inhabitants.
     Esarhaddon (681-669) boasted of controlling Yadnana (i.e. "Isle of the Dananu", meaning Cyprus), Yaman (Yavan meaning Greece), and Tarsis (meaning Tarsis of the Atlantic) presumably in Spain. Assyrian references explicitly mention Tarsis as the westernmost extremity of Phoenecian colonisation. According to Avienus and various sources the Phoenecians had colonies in Britain and this fact together with other indications suggests that the concept of "Tarshish" as well as intending someplace on the southwest or west coast of Spain also encompassed the British Isles and one understanding of the name "Tarshish" itself is "sea" or "ocean" and therefore places or isles in the ocean.

From the above we see that Tarshish  was considered the westernmost region known to the Assyrians and the Assyrians did know of Britain and minerals from Britain were considered as coming from Tarshish. The Talmud considered Tarshish to be the Atlantic Ocean area in general associated with the Isles of the Sea meaning Britain.
In addition in a note to "Lost Israelite Identity" chapter twelve we had noted:

[12.* Some modern scholars explain the word "Tarshish" to mean "forgers" or "furnace" and to refer to metal-working. The Talmudic explanation linking "Tarshish" to the sea is actually more feasible. Tarshish is the name of a son of Javan (Genesis 10:3) meaning Ionia and Greece and Elyakim ben Menachem points out that "Thalasos" in Greek came to mean "Sea" and the "L" (of "Thalasos") is interchangeable with "r". This observation makes the names "Tharsis" (i.e. Tarshish) and "Thalasos" ("Sea") different forms of the same word.  Cyrus Gordon  (1978, JNES, 37) said that the Greek word "Thalassa" which was their commonest term for "sea" was of Near Eastern origin with roots attested in Egyptian, Hebrew, and hieroglyphic Hittite. The word is cognate with Tarshish.

In other words according to the above the Talmudic equation of Tarshish with the Sea is paralleled on linguistic grounds with a usage in Greek, Egyptian, Hebrew, and Hittite.

The other point we mentioned is perhaps equally important:
Tarshish was seen to represent the sea area beyond the Pillars of Hercules, i.e. the Atlantic Ocean. In Prophecy this refers to North America, Britain, and related areas. The symbol of the USA can be taken as being the dollar sign. This sign is derived from a Spanish coat of arms representing the Straits of Gibraltar (Pillars of Hercules) beyond which lay the realm of Tarshish that included America or was to do so in the future.

The Prophets spoke in terms of their own reality. Isaiah 60:9 saw the Isles and the ships of Tarshish associated with the return of the exiles of Israel. In Isaiah's time Ships of Tarshish probably included ships trading with Tartessos in Spain as well as those traveling from Britain. It would seem from other sources that the British Isles (including Ireland) as well as Spain were included in the concept "Tarshish".  Even if this was not so those Israelites who went to Spain did later gravitate to the British Isles and the term "Tarshish" could be sued as synonymous with the Atlantic Ocean area.
This does not mean that in the future ships of Tarshish have to come from those places or from both those places. Isaiah was referring to whatever would evolve in the future from what was represented by "The ships of Tarshish" in his time.  



[Isaiah 60:10] AND THE SONS OF STRANGERS SHALL BUILD UP THY WALLS, AND THEIR KINGS SHALL MINISTER UNTO THEE: FOR IN MY WRATH I SMOTE THEE, BUT IN MY FAVOUR HAVE I HAD MERCY ON THEE.
Isaiah again returns to consider matters mainly from the aspect of Judah. It should be remembered that though Isaiah spoke about the Lost Ten Tribes as much as any of the Prophets he was from the Tribe of Judah and related to the Kings of Judah.  We saw that according to tradition Isaiah was the grandson of King Amaziah of Judah and father-in-law of King Hezekiah of Judah.  He lived for a very long time and was apparently the grandfather of  Menasseh who nevertheless put him to death.   If anything Isaiah also had a tendency to emphasize religion and spiritual correctness above other considerations.  His prophecies sometimes tend to revert to an emphasis on Judah. Prophecy comes  from God but they are delivered through human agency and the characteristics of that agency influence the form in which the Prophecies are received. The Human nature of the receiving agency also influences what particualar prophecies are received by what particular prophet. 

 [Isaiah 60:11] THEREFORE THY GATES SHALL BE OPEN CONTINUALLY; THEY SHALL NOT BE SHUT DAY NOR NIGHT; THAT MEN MAY BRING UNTO THEE THE FORCES OF THE GENTILES, AND THAT THEIR KINGS MAY BE BROUGHT.

 [Isaiah 60:12] FOR THE NATION AND KINGDOM THAT WILL NOT SERVE THEE SHALL PERISH; YEA, THOSE NATIONS SHALL BE UTTERLY WASTED.
In the Messianic Era all nations will have to worship the God of Israel and give tribute to the Temple in Jerusalem and receive instruction from Jerusalem. No more Mohamed, no Buddha, no more New Age, no more anything.  This is what the Bible says.

 [Isaiah 60:13] THE GLORY OF LEBANON SHALL COME UNTO THEE, THE FIR TREE, THE PINE TREE, AND THE BOX  TOGETHER, TO BEAUTIFY THE PLACE OF MY SANCTUARY; AND I WILL MAKE THE PLACE OF MY FEET GLORIOUS.
These trees represent nations and national qualities. Everyone has their place and everyone is destined to be enabled to make their own unique contribution to the glory of God.

 [Isaiah 60:14] THE SONS ALSO OF THEM THAT AFFLICTED THEE SHALL COME BENDING UNTO THEE; AND ALL THEY THAT DESPISED THEE SHALL BOW THEMSELVES DOWN AT THE SOLES OF THY FEET; AND THEY SHALL CALL THEE; THE CITY OF THE LORD, THE ZION OF THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL.
The persecutors of the Jews shall repent. Their descendants shall request forgiveness and acknowledge the basic relative  innocence and righteousness of the Jewish people. This has happened in a very small way in our generation. Representatives of the German, Ukrainian, and Lithuanian, and other peoples have requested forgiveness from the Jews for having persecuted them in the past. You could say that they do not really mean it or that they just want to get on good terms with the State of Israel or with Jewish and Gentile politicians in the USA, or just in general to imporve their international image. It could also be claimed that those making the apologies do not represent the mass of the people but rather a minority of intellectuals whose ancestors  were probably never involved in the persecutions but stood aside from them.  Even so, in some cases to a degree there must be a genuine feeling of  regret or repentance behind the said apologies even if only a very small number of their peoples really agree with them. The potential for regret and repentance is there and in the future will show itself to a greater intensity.

 [Isaiah 60:15] WHEREAS THOU HAS BEEN FORSAKEN AND HATED, SO THAT NO MAN WENT THROUGH THEE, I WILL MAKE THEE AN ETERNAL EXCELLENCY, A JOY OF MANY GENERATIONS.
Jerusalem as a physical place was a desolation for  many centuries. When the Jews began to return the situation of the Land of Israel began to improve.  Many so-called "Palestinians" were actually the descendants of immigrants from Egypt, Syria, Bosnia, Afghanistan, and other parts of the Muslim world that under Turkish encouragement (Turkey once ruled here) began to settle in the Land after the Jews (with American and British encouragement and protection)  had began to return to it. This has been documented by many historians but see especially "The Vision Was There" by Joan Peters.
"NO MAN WENT THROUGH THEE" also
translateable as meaning "no-one was a guarantee for you".
Judah as a people was also hated and abandoned and no-body put themselves out to help her.

 [Isaiah 60:16] THOU SHALT ALSO SUCK THE MILK OF THE GENTILES, AND SHALT SUCK THE BREAST OF KINGS: AND THOU SHALT KNOW THAT I THE LORD AM THY SAVIOUR AND THY REDEEMER, THE MIGHTY ONE OF  JACOB.

 [Isaiah 60:17] FOR BRASS I WILL BRING GOLD, AND FOR IRON I WILL BRING SILVER, AND FOR WOOD BRASS, AND  FOR STONES IRON: I WILL ALSO MAKE THY OFFICERS PEACE, AND THINE EXACTORS RIGHTEOUSNESS.

 [Isaiah 60:18] VIOLENCE SHALL NO MORE BE HEARD IN THY LAND, WASTING NOR DESTRUCTION WITHIN THY  BORDERS; BUT THOU SHALT CALL THY WALLS SALVATION, AND THY GATES PRAISE.   

 [Isaiah 60:19] THE SUN SHALL BE NO MORE THY LIGHT BY DAY; NEITHER FOR BRIGHTNESS SHALL THE MOON GIVE LIGHT UNTO THEE: BUT THE LORD SHALL BE UNTO THEE AN EVERLASTING LIGHT, AND THY GOD THY GLORY.

 [Isaiah 60:20] THY SUN SHALL NO MORE GO DOWN; NEITHER SHALL THY MOON WITHDRAW ITSELF: FOR THE LORD SHALL BE THINE EVERLASTING LIGHT, AND THE DAYS OF THY MOURNING SHALL BE ENDED.

 [Isaiah 60:21] THY PEOPLE ALSO SHALL BE ALL RIGHTEOUS: THEY SHALL INHERIT THE LAND FOR EVER, THE BRANCH OF MY PLANTING, THE WORK OF MY HANDS, THAT I MAY BE GLORIFIED.
"            THY PEOPLE ALSO SHALL BE ALL RIGHTEOUS": Through  being righteous they shall merit to be blessed.

 [Isaiah 60:22] A LITTLE ONE SHALL BECOME A THOUSAND, AND A SMALL ONE A STRONG NATION: I THE LORD WILL HASTEN IT IN HIS TIME.
A very large number will be saved in the end and these will increase greatly manifold over.  It may well be that Israelites will become the majority of the world's population.
"WILL HASTEN IT IN HIS TIME" This traditionally was read  "WILL HASTEN IT,  IN HIS TIME" i.e.  WILL HASTEN IT: If you are meritorious it will come sooner but if not there is a time-limit after which the End Times will come at all events = "IN HIS TIME"

Isaiah 60 Summarized for Perspective
[Isaiah 60:1] ARISE, SHINE; FOR THY LIGHT IS COME, AND THE GLORY OF THE LORD IS RISEN UPON THEE.

 [Isaiah 60:2] FOR, BEHOLD, THE DARKNESS SHALL COVER THE EARTH, AND GROSS DARKNESS THE PEOPLE: BUT THE LORD SHALL ARISE UPON THEE, AND HIS GLORY SHALL BE SEEN UPON THEE.        
There will be a spiritual enlightenment for all Israel. It will encompass both Judah and the Lost Ten Tribes. After that it will spread to all the world.

 [Isaiah 60:3] AND THE GENTILES SHALL COME TO THY LIGHT, AND KINGS TO THE BRIGHTNESS OF THY RISING.

 [Isaiah 60:4] LIFT UP THINE EYES ROUND ABOUT, AND SEE: ALL THEY GATHER THEMSELVES TOGETHER, THEY COME TO THEE: THY SONS SHALL COME FROM FAR, AND THY DAUGHTERS SHALL BE NURSED AT THY SIDE.

 [Isaiah 60:5] THEN THOU SHALT SEE, AND FLOW TOGETHER, AND THINE HEART SHALL FEAR, AND BE ENLARGED; BECAUSE THE ABUNDANCE OF THE SEA SHALL BE CONVERTED UNTO THEE, THE FORCES OF THE GENTILES SHALL COME UNTO THEE.            
THE ABUNDANCE OF THE SEA: The Lost Ten Tribes in the Isles of the Sea will return and be re-united with Judah in the service of the God of Israel. THE FORCES OF THE GENTILES actually means the might and power of the peoples and in this case those concerned are Lost Israelites.

 [Isaiah 60:6] THE MULTITUDE OF CAMELS SHALL COVER THEE, THE DROMEDARIES OF MIDIAN AND EPHAH; ALL  THEY FROM SHEBA SHALL COME: THEY SHALL BRING GOLD AND INCENSE; AND THEY SHALL SHEW FORTH THE PRAISES OF THE LORD.        
This may be figurative or it may mean that actual nations shall devote their increase to your service.

 [Isaiah 60:7] ALL THE FLOCKS OF KEDAR SHALL BE GATHERED TOGETHER UNTO THEE, THE RAMS OF NEBAIOTH SHALL MINISTER UNTO THEE: THEY SHALL COME UP WITH ACCEPTANCE ON MINE ALTAR, AND I WILL GLORIFY THE HOUSE OF MY GLORY.    
Kedar and Nebaoith may be referring to North America since people from these nations did settle amongst the Amerindians and therefore in one respect the land could be called on their name.

 [Isaiah 60:8] WHO ARE THESE THAT FLY AS A CLOUD, AND AS THE DOVES TO THEIR WINDOWS?
The Lost Tribes and Judah will return in aeroplanes flying as a cloud like pigeons homing in on their homeland.

 [Isaiah 60:9] SURELY THE ISLES SHALL WAIT FOR ME, AND THE SHIPS OF TARSHISH FIRST, TO BRING THY SONS FROM FAR, THEIR SILVER AND THEIR GOLD WITH THEM, UNTO THE NAME OF THE LORD THY GOD, AND TO THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL, BECAUSE HE HATH GLORIFIED THEE.
The ships of  Tarshish  are ships plying the Atlantic Ocean such as those of North America who will bring the Exiles back.

 [Isaiah 60:10] AND THE SONS OF STRANGERS SHALL BUILD UP THY WALLS, AND THEIR KINGS SHALL MINISTER UNTO THEE: FOR IN MY WRATH I SMOTE THEE, BUT IN MY FAVOUR HAVE I HAD MERCY ON THEE.

 [Isaiah 60:11] THEREFORE THY GATES SHALL BE OPEN CONTINUALLY; THEY SHALL NOT BE SHUT DAY NOR NIGHT; THAT MEN MAY BRING UNTO THEE THE FORCES OF THE GENTILES, AND THAT THEIR KINGS MAY BE BROUGHT.

 [Isaiah 60:12] FOR THE NATION AND KINGDOM THAT WILL NOT SERVE THEE SHALL PERISH; YEA, THOSE NATIONS SHALL BE UTTERLY WASTED.
All the world will acknowledge the God of Israel and His Divine Service centered in Jerusalem.

 [Isaiah 60:13] THE GLORY OF LEBANON SHALL COME UNTO THEE, THE FIR TREE, THE PINE TREE, AND THE BOX TOGETHER, TO BEAUTIFY THE PLACE OF MY SANCTUARY; AND I WILL MAKE THE PLACE OF MY FEET GLORIOUS.
All peoples of the world will serve you since you will be dedicated to the Most High.

 [Isaiah 60:14] THE SONS ALSO OF THEM THAT AFFLICTED THEE SHALL COME BENDING UNTO THEE; AND ALL THEY THAT DESPISED THEE SHALL BOW THEMSELVES DOWN AT THE SOLES OF THY FEET; AND THEY SHALL CALL THEE; THE CITY OF THE LORD, THE ZION OF THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL.
The descendants of the persecutors of Judah will serve Judah.

 [Isaiah 60:15] WHEREAS THOU HAS BEEN FORSAKEN AND HATED, SO THAT NO MAN WENT THROUGH THEE, I WILL MAKE THEE AN ETERNAL EXCELLENCY, A JOY OF MANY GENERATIONS.
Judah shall be elvated and recompesed for its suffering.

 [Isaiah 60:16] THOU SHALT ALSO SUCK THE MILK OF THE GENTILES, AND SHALT SUCK THE BREAST OF KINGS: AND THOU SHALT KNOW THAT I THE LORD AM THY SAVIOUR AND THY REDEEMER, THE MIGHTY ONE OF  JACOB.

 [Isaiah 60:17] FOR BRASS I WILL BRING GOLD, AND FOR IRON I WILL BRING SILVER, AND FOR WOOD BRASS, AND  FOR STONES IRON: I WILL ALSO MAKE THY OFFICERS PEACE, AND THINE EXACTORS RIGHTEOUSNESS.

 [Isaiah 60:18] VIOLENCE SHALL NO MORE BE HEARD IN THY LAND, WASTING NOR DESTRUCTION WITHIN THY  BORDERS; BUT THOU SHALT CALL THY WALLS SALVATION, AND THY GATES PRAISE.
The nature of mankind will change for the better.

 [Isaiah 60:19] THE SUN SHALL BE NO MORE THY LIGHT BY DAY; NEITHER FOR BRIGHTNESS SHALL THE MOON GIVE LIGHT UNTO THEE: BUT THE LORD SHALL BE UNTO THEE AN EVERLASTING LIGHT, AND THY GOD THY GLORY.

 [Isaiah 60:20] THY SUN SHALL NO MORE GO DOWN; NEITHER SHALL THY MOON WITHDRAW ITSELF: FOR THE LORD SHALL BE THINE EVERLASTING LIGHT, AND THE DAYS OF THY MOURNING SHALL BE ENDED.

 [Isaiah 60:21] THY PEOPLE ALSO SHALL BE ALL RIGHTEOUS: THEY SHALL INHERIT THE LAND FOR EVER, THE BRANCH OF MY PLANTING, THE WORK OF MY HANDS, THAT I MAY BE GLORIFIED.          
We will  all be good.

 [Isaiah 60:22] A LITTLE ONE SHALL BECOME A THOUSAND, AND A SMALL ONE A STRONG NATION: I THE LORD WILL HASTEN IT IN HIS TIME.
Even the smallest and most insignificant amongst us will be enabled to realize his or her potential a million fold over.



  Isaiah chs. 51 to 55

Isaiah chs. 61 to 66 

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