Ten Commandments in ancient Paleo-Hebrew characters

[visionary]

Decalogue Stone

The most vital element of this artifact is the fact that it contains an inscription of the Ten Commandments in ancient Paleo-Hebrew. Much evidence exists which confirm this artifact is genuine. Some efforts have been made to allege the artifact is not genuine, but contrary arguments (some quite fanciful) have been debunked by solid scholarship. The authenticity of the artifact and its Hebrew inscription was even confirmed during a court trial in Albuquerque involving an epigraphic hoax re: other supposed "artifacts" in December, 1986 ("An Epigraphic Hoax on Trial in New Mexico," Epigraphic Society Occasional Publications, Volume 17, 1988, pp. 206-219). You may be assured the Hidden Mountain artifact is exactly what it appears to be: an ancient Hebrew inscription of the Ten Commandments in an ancient North American context.

 

[visionary]

Interesting theory as to how it got there..

There is only one time when the making of this inscription makes historical sense: the reign of King Solomon. His reign had many years of unbroken peace (I Kings 4:21-25) and incredible wealth (I Kings 10:10-26). He also had an expansive heart and his mind had the scientific curiosity to learn more about the world (I Kings 4:29-33). King Solomon had the means, the opportunity and the motive to sponsor large maritime expeditions to other continents. Solomon continued King David's alliance with King Hiram of the Phoenician city-states. Indeed, King Solomon's Israelites and the Phoenician city-states joined their navies into a common fleet (I Kings 10:11 and 22, II Chronicles 8:18). Solomon even had a special fleet outfitted to go on very extended voyages. I Kings 9:27 and II Chronicles 9:21-24 relate that this expeditionary fleet of Solomon's would be gone on voyages lasting three years, returning with plants, animals, etc. from other continents. During these years, King Solomon ruled in a Golden Age which was characterized by Israel's reverence to the Ten commandments. The Israelites used Paleo-Hebrew characters during this period of time. King Solomon's reign was the high-point of what historians call the Golden Age of the Phoenician Empire (which was really the Golden Age of the Kingdom of Israel, allied to the much smaller city-states known later as "Phoenicians"). This time context makes complete sense for the Hidden Mountain inscription to be made. In ancient times, the Hidden Mountain site would have been accessible by ships sailing from Israel. After sailing across the Atlantic Ocean, the Israelite-Phoenician fleet could sail through the Gulf of Mexico, up the Rio Grande River and to Hidden Mountain site via a large river (now dried up) that flows right past Hidden Mountain.This dried-up river used to be a large one in ancient times when the American Southwest had a wet climate.

 

[visionary]

The Holy One of Israel led colonies of righteous Israelites to the land of America, prior to the destruction of Jerusalem and the Babylonian dispersion that occurred in about 587 BC.

- according to Harvard scholar Robert Pfeiffer. Pfeiffer, an expert in Semitic languages, concluded that the mysterious inscription was written in a form of Paleo-Hebrew and paraphrased the Ten Commandments.

 

[visionary]

The historical records about the arrival of the native people of the western world are found in the book of 2 Esdras from the Apocrypha, chapter 13, verses 40:46:

2 ESDRAS 13:40 - Those are the ten tribes, which were carried away prisoners out of their own land in the time of Osea the king, whom Salmanasar the king of Assyria led away captive, and he carried them over the waters, and so came they into another land.

The ten tribes you are reading about in 2 Esdras 13:40 are the ten tribes of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. For breaking the laws of God, they were held captive under the Assyrian people.

2 ESDRAS 13:41 - But they took this counsel among themselves, that they would leave the multitude of the heathen, and go forth into a further country, where never mankind dwelt,

This is talking about a land that previously man never lived in. At this point in history, America, the West Indies, Puerto Rico, Hispanola, Cuba, and surrounding islands had no inhabitants. This is possibly where the ten Israelite tribes came to, and they became the native people of these lands.

2 ESDRAS 13:42 - That they might there keep their statutes, which they never kept in their own land.

The purpose of Israelite tribes coming to the Americas and surrounding islands was to keep the laws, statutes, and commandments of God which they never kept in their own land.

2 ESDRAS 13:43 - And they entered into Euphrates by the narrow passages of the river. 44 - For the most High then shewed signs for them, and held still the flood, till they were passed over.

The way the ten tribes came over here was by using information from King Solomon's naval fleets.

2 ESDRAS 13:45 - For through that country there was a great way to go, namely, of a year and a half: and the same region is called Arsareth.

The region that they reached, which is the Western Hemisphere, is referred to by the Bible as "Arsareth", which means "New Found Land".

2 ESDRAS 13:46 - Then dwelt they there until the latter time; and now when they shall begin to come,

It says "Then dwelt they there until the latter time", this lets you know that this is where these ten Israelite tribes would be found at in the last days, which is now.


So, in conclusion, these are the historical records which show that the ancestors of the native Indians of the western hemisphere are the ten tribes of the Northern Kingdom of Israel.

 

[visionary]

Missouri Cherokee Tribes proclaim Jewish Heritage
by Staff February 7, 2003

The Northern Cherokee Nation of the Old Louisiana Territory has recently shocked the world by claiming their ancient Oral legends tell of a Cherokee migration made to America from the area known as Masada.

This startling evidence is being offered to the public by Beverly Baker Northup whom is the spokesperson for their organization. The evidence offered in support of this connection to Cherokees escaping the mountain fortress of Masada is based in part of what Northup claims is stories passed down from elders and the similarity between ancient words.

Beverly Baker Northup believes there is a connection between these two peoples based on evidence of Jews of the region around Masada during Roman times wearing braided hair and the similarities that the spokesperson attributes to Hebrew language.

In explaining this connection Beverly Baker Northup is quoted as saying:
"The story has been kept alive among our Cherokee people that the Sicarii who escaped from Masada, are some of our ancestors who managed to cross the water to this land, and later became known as Cherokees. (Please note the phonetic resemblance of Si'cari'i and, Cherokee or Tsa'ra-gi'.)"

Northup claims that the famous scholar Josephus wrote that there were escapees from Masada in which the spokesperson for the Northern Cherokee states that this is evidence that gives credence to this connection between the Cherokee Indians and the Jews.

In addition to other startling claims, there is also the belief by the Northern Cherokee that a rock that was uncovered in Tennessee in 1889 that is named the Bat Creek Stone, proves a transatlantic connection to Jews.

Northup believes that the scratched writings on the rock indicate that the stone is evidence of a first century Atlantic Crossing to America by these escaped Jews that later became known as the Northern Cherokee Indians.

Missouri Cherokee Tribes proclaim Jewish Heritage

 

[visionary]

Testimony from the American Indians
by James Adair
Chapter 13

James Adair is the earliest source information concerning the American Indians. He observed several Israelite characteristics in the southern American Indians.

James Adair was a backwoods preacher that lived and traded with the Southern Indians some forty years; he was called, by various writers, an Englishman, a Scotchman, and an Irishman. He was of a noble birth, whose family was of Earldom. His book was first published in London in 1775, and the main reason he wrote this book was to give evidence to show that the Indians were the lost tribes of Israel.

In recent times many stones have been turned up in America with ancient writings on them. These writings were compared to writings in the old world, and have been identified. These writings were found to be Arabic, Basque, Celtic, Cuneiform, Egyptian, Gaelic, Greek, Iberian, Libyan, Norse Runic, Numidian, Phoenician, and yes, there is ancient Hebrew inscriptions as well. One of these inscriptions is the "Bat Creek Stone" discovered in Loudon County Tennessee.

 

[visionary]

Moses warned the Israelites that if they departed from the covenant faith that "YHWH shall scatter thee among all people, from the one end of earth even unto the other." Deuteronomy 28:64. Most scholars interpret this to mean everywhere but America.

 

[visionary]

The American Indians did practice certain aspects of the Hebrew religion. "Cotton Mather in Boston, in the course of a long series of extraordinary letters to the Royal Society in London, drew attention to the existence, in Connecticut, of a tribe of Indians which practiced circumcision." America B.C. p. 17

Even today the Cherokee nation honors the 7th day of the week. The numbers 4 and 7 are sacred to them, largely because it is the fourth commandment that sanctifies the seventh day.

 

[visionary]

A few evidences that James Adair listed:

1) They constructed their place of worship so "that their backs are to the east, and faces to the west", this is after "the Jerusalem copy"! Adair's History of the American Indians p. 118
2) "They do not pay the least perceivable adoration to any images, or to dead persons; neither to the celestial luminaries, nor evil spirits, nor any created being whatsoever. They are utter strangers to all the gestures practiced by the pagans in their religious rites." Ibid p.20
3) "The Germans among them, frequently say "Yah-yah", as an affirmative, they call them Yah-yah Algeh, Those of the blasphemous speech'; which strongly hints to us, that they still retained a glimpse of the third moral command delivered at Sinai." Ibid p.70
4) They "observed a weekly sabbath". Ibid p. 79 [This Sabbath is the seventh-day, as the Cherokee observe and many Seminole, the same day which Jews observed]
5) When they go to war they always carried their "sacred ark" with them! Ibid p. 162
6) They rejoiced "at the appearance of the new moon." Ibid p. 20
7) They "observed a year of jubilee"! Ibib p. 226
8) They used the word "HalleluYah" in their religious gatherings etc.

James Adair, throughout his book, notes the set-apart name used by these American Indians as Yo He Wah. Josiah Priest, in his book (American Antiquities p. 76) bears out that this was from the Choctaw and Florida Indians.

Amazon.com: History of the American Indians (9780831700614): James Adair: Books: Reviews, Prices & more

 

[visionary]

In the Book of the Hopi by Frank Waters, the Sun God is referred to as the Creator by the name "Taiowa", a combination of Tau and iowa. The Paleo-Hebrew Tau , is a symbol of the sun, also called the "MARK" or cross. The Hebrew Aleph and Tau are the first and last letters in the Hebrew alephbet. "Thus saith God, the King of Israel, and His redeemer Lord of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside Me there is no Elohim." Isaiah 44:6. The Greeks related it as Alpha and Omega as in Revelation.

Amazon.com: book of the hopi frank waters: Books

 

[visionary]

When the Babylonian captivity of the House of Judah ended in 538 B.C., there was a return of God’s people known today as “the Restoration.” Religious writers looking back upon this event 2,500 years later invariably assume that virtually every one of the Israelites, all twelve tribes, were soon reestablished in Canaan. But surprisingly, there are two very creditable and inspired witnesses to the events of that period -- Ezra and Nehemiah -- who sharply disagree with most modern historians.

In fact, these two prophets are the only reliable eyewitnesses existing today concerning the Restoration period of Biblical history. Both agree on an important point: They specifically refer to the returnees as being only of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, corporately known as the House of Judah. There is no mention at all of any of the other missing ten tribes which comprised the kingdom of the House of Israel!

Ezra was looking for colonists to resettle Israel’s old homeland, yet not only did he not send an embassy to the missing ten tribes, he strangely did not mention their existence at all. We receive the definite impression that Ezra had no idea where they were himself! In 2 Kings 17:6, we were told that the house of Israel was exiled by Assyria “to Halah, and Habor, and the cities of the Medes.” If they were still in the same location in Ezra’s day, surely he would have sent emissaries there to encourage them to return to the land of Canaan. Yet Ezra did not send an envoy, nor did he seem to even know where they had gone.

Something to think about.. Why not?

 

[visionary]

If so, why is there no mention of the rest of these tribes, either in the early portion of the book (see Ezra 1:5 and 4:1, “Judah and Benjamin&#8221, or during events years later (Ezra 10:9, “Judah and Benjamin&#8221?

The prophet Ezra knew nothing of any return to old Canaan of the exiled ten tribes of the House of Israel! Neither did his contemporary, the prophet Nehemiah, who spoke only of the existence of the “House of Judah” (Neh. 4:16) and the two tribes it comprised, Judah and Benjamin (Neh. 11:4, 36; 12:34).

 

[visionary]

A leading Jewish Israeli scholar, Sara Japhet, agrees and says, “the restoration [i.e. return from exile] and the subsequent renewal of Jewish community life involved only three tribes: the lay tribes of Judah and Benjamin, and the tribe of Levi.” (From The Rivers Of Babylon, p. 82}

Amazon.com: From the Rivers of Babylon to the Highlands of Judah: Collected Studies on the Restoration Period (9781575061214): Sara Japhet: Books: Reviews, Prices & more

 

[visionary]

Thomas and Fowke did not indicate precisely what it was about the East Fork Works that they found so questionable. Subsequently, however, David Berry of Columbus, Ohio has noted that the structure inside the walls looks remarkably like the nine-branched lampstand or menorah used to celebrate the Jewish festival of Hanukkah (or Hanukah, or Channukah, etc). In Israel today, this Hanukkah menorah is called a hanukkiah (or hanukiah, or channukiah, etc), to differentiate it from the seven-branched temple menorah, a more ancient symbol of Judaism. Eight of the nine lamps of the hanukkiah represent the eight days an oil lamp is supposed to have miraculously burned, despite the fact that it was filled by a jar that had only enough oil for one day, after an historical seige of Jerusalem was lifted in 165 B.C. by Judah Maccabbee. The ninth lamp, the shammes or "servant," traditionally stands either higher than or aside from the other eight, and is used to light the others on the eight days of Hanukkah. It should be noted that the upper portion of the outer structure of the East Fork Works bears a curious resemblance to an ancient oil lamp.

The Ohio Hanukkiah Mound

 

[visionary]

Another notable Jewish-Indian incident occurred in 1860, when stones hewn with Hebrew inscriptions were found near Newark, Ohio. The story unfolded over the course of many months and was followed closely by The Israelite, The Occident, and The Jewish Messenger, whose respective editors represented the intellectual vanguard of American Jewry. Isaac Mayer Wise, the leader of the Reform movement in America, employed philological proofs to undermine the stone's authenticity. He rejected any connections between Jews and Native Americans, though it's notable that he bothered to engage the story at all. Isaac Leeser, a traditionalist, sided in favor of the Lost Tribes theory. Reviewing the relics in question, The Occident, Leeser's newspaper, concluded, "The sons of Jacob were walking on the soil of Ohio many centuries before the birth of Columbus."

My Jewish Learning: Native Americans & Jews: The Lost Tribes Episode

 

[visionary]

In 1644 Antonio Montezinos, a Spanish explorer of Jewish ancestry (he was also known as Aaron Levi), returned to Amsterdam from an extended journey in the interior of what is now Eastern Colombia. Testifying in front of Amsterdam's Rabbi Menasseh Ben Israel, Montezinos stated that he had met on his travels "the remnant of the Tribe of Reuben." A group of Indians in the mountains of the New World had spoken to him in an archaic Hebrew. As Montezinos put it, "They greeted me with the Shema Yisrael." The report that these people knew the words of the Jewish creed, words as old as the Book of Deuteronomy, convinced many who heard Montezinos's account that this tribe was Israelite in some form. A close look at Montezinos's account reveals that he implied only that some lost Jews lived among the Indians, not that all of the local Indians were Jews.

UNC Press - God's Sacred Tongue: Hebrew and the American Imagination, by Shalom L. Goldman. Chapter 1.

 

[aniello]

Well, maybe the 'Torah Stone', close to Los Lunas, New Mexico, is legit and maybe it's not. Who knows? We live not 30 miles from it and have seen it, years ago.

I'm on a tribal census as 1/2 Lakota, grew up until I was 16 in S.D. My father was native, my mom Jewish. Odd dysfunctional family.

My tribe I DO NOT consider part of the 'Lost Tribes'. But, as a people, we certainly are lost for the most part.

Gen. 10:25 says; "To Eber were born two sons: the name of one was Peleg, for in his days the earth was divided; .........". This makes sense to me how we got here. Wasn't that about 5000 +/- years ago? Makes more sense than canoeing all over the ocean with our IGLOO coolers and Coleman camp stoves.

We've seen here a few go bugs over this and it just hasn't panned out yet. It would seem a side trip not worth taking. Can't see that it would add anything positive to the Bible we already have, nor change any theology.

There does exist some seasonal and conceptual similarities between my tribe's traditions and the Moedim of Scripture. Possibly, way back in time, there was a common tie, I surely cannot say.

Meaning no offense, just highly doubtful on this, after seeing some folks go nipsy over it.

 

[visionary]

Not sweating it.. the regulars here are solid folks who are not easily moved.. but do have a open mind to keep this little nugget at the back of their mind.. who knows.. it might help when studying another part, and it fits...

 

[yonah_mishael]

I find it interesting that you post the stone's transcription above (in post 3), which shows exactly what YHWH looked like in Paleo-Hebrew, yet you made some strange claim about Paleo-Hebrew on the other thread (here). It's very obvious that the pics you posted in that thread were not Paleo-Hebrew. I've seen that site online, where you got this, and it's just not in the ballpark.

 

[seekHISface]

this is all very interesting....
the only fear I have is all these things are often used to "prove" the book of mormon.... anyone know of any of the suposid proofs of the natives being lost israelites that are in their book? I read it many years ago but don't remember