Date:  Fri Aug 30, 2002  1:07 am

Contents:
1. Three Righteous Men
2. Joseph, Slavery, and the Ultimate Prevention of Slavery
1. Three Righteous Men
From: Andrew Jackson
Subject: Re: Ezekiel 14
Shalom Yair,
I'm enjoying the commentary on the book of Ezekiel.
The following is an observation concerning verse 14:
> [Ezekiel 14:14] THOUGH THESE THREE MEN, NOAH,
> DANIEL, AND JOB, WERE IN IT, THEY SHOULD DELIVER
> BUT THEIR OWN SOULS BY THEIR RIGHTEOUSNESS, SAITH
> THE LORD GOD.
These three men also have one other thing in common.
They were "blameless" in their walk with El Shaddai.
Noah and Job are described explicitly as "just",
"perfect", "upright". The Hebrew terms include
"tzadiq", "taam", and "yashar". The term "taam"
(perfect, upright) is applied to both Noah and Job.
Daniel the prophet is not described in these terms, at
least not explicitly. However, we can conclude Daniel
was also "blameless". The fact that his name is
mentioned in the midst of Noah and Job supports this.
The chronicle of his life is further proof. Daniel led
the stand against consuming non-kosher foods when
being trained in the Chaldeans schools. Daniel prayed
to HaShem even on penalty of death. (There is a
thought that Daniel intentionally prayed to be seen by
others to make a statement.)
Scripture does not mention Daniel refraining from
bowing to the statute on the plain of Nebo. However,
everything else we know about him indicates that he
would *not* have bowed down. Daniel was not mentioned
in this incident because the jealous ministers were
targeting Daniel's three companions. They knew Daniel
was a favorite of Nebuchadnezzar and that directly
Daniel would be very impolitic (and very unwise).
Perhaps there is more record about this among the
Sages.
There is a school of thought that these three were the
most righteous men to have walked with El Shaddai.
Sh'mor shaarit Yisrael!
Andrew

Question:
>I've heard it said that slavery of the Africans was foretold in the
>scriptures. Anyone able to give that reference?
>
>Hannah

Answer:

It is explained in "Joseph" how the Sabaeans originated in the Sudan and
moved to West Africa.
The Sabaeans were active in the slave trade both as slave raiders and as
slaves themselves. It is explained how passages in Isaiah, especially
Isaiah 45:14, refer primarily to Israel and describe the descendants of
Israel ruling over India and Egypt and taking large-bodied "Sabaeans" away
in change, of "passing over" (the sea?). The only people historically who
fulfilled these criteria were the British and American descendants of Joseph.
We are not making moral judgments. Certain things did happen in history and
the Prophets predicted them and we can use these prophecies to understand
the present. Regarding slavery it should be pointed out that ultimately
Britain and (after Britain, Denmark and the USA) were those who abolished
by FORCE the international trade in slavery. They stopped ships taking
slaves from Africa to South America etc and they were the only ones who did
so. Even today, slavery exists all over the world and Britain and the
USA are really the only ones whose presence puts a restraint on it.

Extract from "Joseph" by Yair Davidi, chapter eight

CUSH AND ISRAEL
The Lost Tribes, India, Egypt,
and the Negroes in America

The Lost Ten Tribes are identified as peoples of West European descent.
Amongst these peoples the nations of Britain and the USA have historically
been predominant. The Tribes of Ephraim and Menasseh, who were the sons of
Joseph, dominate these entities. Justification for these identifications
can be drawn from Biblical passages concerning the blessings and predicted
geographical location of the exiles in the Last days and also from
historical evidence. Important historical phenomena involving the USA and
Britain were also indicated in prophecy.
Did the prophet Isaiah foretell that Britain would rule Egypt and India and
the USA import Negro slaves? For better or for worse the British rule of
India and the presence of Negroes in America greatly influenced the
national character of both countries. When Britain was at its peak the
economic benefits accruing from India (which then included Pakistan) helped
fund the Empire and influenced the British Imperial character. The passage
to India was via Egypt and the Suez Canal. In the Second World War
Churchill told President Roosevelt that if the British lose the Middle East
it could be fatal to the British position. Just as India was an important
factor in Britain's greatness so was the existence of a Negro element a
formative factor in American existence.
The presence of Negro slaves in the USA was the open cause of the Civil
War and helped crystallize the American nation. American speech, attitudes,
culture, and ethnic composition have also been influenced by the Negro
presence.
"SURELY THE LORD GOD WILL DO NOTHING BUT HE REVEALS HIS SECRET UNTO HIS
SERVANTS THE PROPHETS" (Amos 3;7). We will see that Isaiah says that the
descendants of Israel will benefit from control of the merchandise of Cush
meaning India and also take large Sabaeans (meaning Negroes) in chains
across the sea. There are not that many single ethnic units that have both
ruled Egypt and India and engaged in the large-scale transportation of
Negro slaves. The British and Americans are basically one ethnic unit. If
we are right in our interpretation then we have further proof that the
British and Americans comprise the leading element amongst the Lost Tribes
of Israel.

Isaiah in chapters 43, 44, and 45 spoke of Cyrus and of Israel and of Cush,
Egypt, and Saba. It is often conventionally accepted to assume that on the
whole the entire section is referring to Cyrus. This is not so. The verses
may be applicable to a degree to Cyrus but he was not the primary motif
intended. In order to prove the point we will quote and discuss the
relevant Scriptures.

[There follows an analysis of the relevant verses]

"THUS SAYS THE LORD, THE LABOR OF EGYPT, AND MERCHANDISE OF CUSH AND OF
THE SABEANS, MEN OF STATURE, SHALL COME OVER UNTO YOU, AND THEY SHALL BE
YOURS; THEY SHALL COME AFTER YOU; IN CHAINS THEY SHALL COME OVER, AND THEY
SHALL FALL DOWN UNTO YOU, THEY SHALL MAKE SUPPLICATION UNTO YOU, SAYING,
SURELY GOD IS IN YOU; AND THERE IS NONE ELSE, THERE IS NO OTHER GOD"
(ISAIAH 45;14).

Already according to the simple reading of the text it may be seen that the
Prophet is discussing the fate of Israel. He may be understood as referring
to the distant future, yet while taking the case of Cyrus as an analogy of
what will come much later. In verse 45;1 Cyrus was mentioned and all of the
verses after that leading up to here may be understood as referring to
Cyrus but not necessarily in an exclusive sense. From the following verse
(Isaiah 45;15) onwards Israel is explicitly referred to. We will return to
this point. Isaiah 45;14 that speaks of Egypt, Cush, and the Sabaeans is
between a section that talks at least partially about Cyrus and another
section that talks exclusively about Israel.
The person or people referred to were to receive, "The labor of Egypt, and
merchandise of Cush and of the Sabeans, men of stature, shall come over
unto you, and they shall be yours; they shall come after you; in chains
they shall come over." We already saw above (Isaiah 43;3) concerning Israel
that "Egypt (will be) for your ransom, Cush and Seba for (placed
underneath) you." (Isa 45;14).

"THUS SAYS THE LORD, THE LABOR OF EGYPT, AND MERCHANDISE OF ETHIOPIA [in
Hebrew: "CUSH"], AND OF THE SABAEANS, MEN OF STATURE, SHALL COME OVER UNTO
YOU, AND THEY SHALL BE YOURS: THEY SHALL COME AFTER YOU; IN CHAINS THEY
SHALL COME OVER, AND THEY SHALL FALL DOWN UNTO YOU, THEY SHALL MAKE
SUPPLICATION UNTO YOU, SAYING, SURELY GOD IS IN YOU; AND THERE IS NO ELSE,
THERE IS NO OTHER GOD" (Isaiah 45;14).

The whole of this Prophecy of Isaiah is arranged in an oracular style of
mainly short paragraphs with no necessary strong connection between them.
The expression concerning "LABOR OF EGYPT, AND MERCHANDISE OF ETHIOPIA [in
Hebrew, CUSH], AND OF THE SABAEANS" is not necessarily connected to the
preceding verses concerning Cyrus. The following verses return to speak
only of Israel. The verse itself speaks of an ultimate acknowledgement of
the God of Israel by the captives. This could only apply to Israel. Israel
is discussed before Cyrus is spoken of, and afterwards Israel is again
mentioned. In Isaiah 43;3 it says "FOR I AM THE LORD YOUR GOD, THE HOLY ONE
OF ISRAEL, YOUR SAVIOR, I GAVE EGYPT FOR YOUR ATONEMENT, ETHIOPIA [Hebrew:
"CUSH"] AND SEBA UNDERNEATH YOU." Here Egypt, Cush, Seba are linked with
Israel and can be understood in the Hebrew as being placed under Israel's
subjection!!!
A simple reading of Isaiah chapter 45 does not leave much room for Cyrus,
the emphasis is on Israel.

This is the verse we are primarily considering:

"THUS SAYS THE LORD, THE LABOR OF EGYPT, AND MERCHANDISE OF CUSH, AND OF
THE SABAEANS, MEN OF STATURE, SHALL COME OVER UNTO YOU, AND THEY SHALL BE
YOURS: THEY SHALL COME AFTER YOU; IN CHAINS THEY SHALL COME OVER, AND THEY
SHALL FALL DOWN UNTO YOU, THEY SHALL MAKE SUPPLICATION UNTO YOU, SAYING,
SURELY GOD IS IN YOU; AND THERE IS NO ELSE, THERE IS NO OTHER GOD" (ISAIAH
45;14).
According to our understanding of the Prophet Isaiah (43;3 and
45;14 and the verses around them) it was predicted that the Lost Ten Tribes
would rule over India, Egypt and much of Negro Africa. The trade with India
would be theirs, the recompense arriving (via the Suez Canal) at Egypt
would be theirs, and they would transport Negroes (many of whom were
large-bodied) across the seas in chains. The whole passage ends on the
point that in the Last Days they will return to worship the True God. In
their own way they had always subconsciously acknowledged the One God Of
Israel to some degree, but had publicly worshipped something else as
explained at length elsewhere in Ephraim. In the Last days Israel will then
worship the True God and descendants of the Negro slaves will also see the
truth and bear witness to the God of Israel. We identify the Lost Ten
Tribes headed by Britain and America as Israel. If we consider Britain and
North America as one "Anglo-Saxon" entity then the Prophecy indicates that
the Lost Ten Tribes are amongst them. The British ruled India. Economically
they gained very much from trade with India, they ruled Egypt and
controlled the Suez Canal linking the Mediterranean Sea with the East. They
also controlled much of Africa and Negro Slaves in chains were sent by them
and others acting on their behalf across the Sea to North America and to
the West Indies. They have an ambivalent attitude towards the God of the
Bible but formally worship in a way described in Isaiah in the rest of
chapter 45.
This is the simple meaning of the verse, BUT in order to
understand and appreciate this plain meaning there are several other
factors to consider.

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