Ras Tafari Movement

Table of Nations (Sons of Noah)

2014-05-27T12:37:00.000-07:00

The Table of Nations, or the Sons of Noah, is an extensive list of descendents of Noah appearing in Genesis 10 of the Hebrew Bible, representing a traditional ethnology.

During the Flood, the population of the Earth was completely destroyed, because of the wickedness, and Noah and his family were the sole eight survivors to continue and repopulate the human race.

All humans on Earth are descended from Noah' family.

The present population of the world was desended from Noah' three sons: Shem, Ham and Japheth, and their wives.

According to Genesis 10, Noah had three sons:

- Shem, the forefather of the Semitic people.

- Ham, the forefather of the Hamitic people.

- Japheth, the forefather of the Japhetic people.

Now these are the generations of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth: and unto them were sons born after the flood.

- Genesis 10:1

Joseph, son of Israel (Jacob) - The Man and His House

2014-04-18T14:35:00.000-07:00

Joseph (Hebrew: יוֹסֵף, Modern Yosef Tiberian Yôsēp̄) is the eleventh son of Jacob (latter named by God as Israel) with Rachel. He is also the father of the Israelite Tribe of Joseph (often called the Two Half-Tribes of Joseph) and the Josephites.

The name Joseph means "May Yahweh increase."

Genesis 30:23-24

²³ And she conceived, and bare a son; and said, God hath taken away my reproach: ²⁴ And she called his name Joseph; and said, The Lord shall add to me another son.

The prophetic blessing of Jacob to Joseph, prior to his death:

Genesis 49:1-2

¹ And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days. ² Gather yourselves together, and hear, ye sons of Jacob; and hearken unto Israel your father.

Genesis 49:22-26

²² Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall: ²³ The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him: ²⁴ But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel:) ²⁵ Even by the God of thy father, who shall help thee; and by the Almighty, who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lieth under, blessings of the breasts, and of the womb: ²⁶ The blessings of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills: they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren.

The Tribe of Joseph (The Two Half-Tribes of Joseph)

The Tribe of Joseph (Hebrew: שֵׁבֶט יוֹסֵף, Modern Shevet Yosef Tiberian Šḗḇeṭ Yôsēp̄) is one of the Tribes of Israel.

The Half-Tribe of Manasseh and The Half-Tribe of Ephraim

Genesis 41:50-52

⁵⁰ And unto Joseph were born two sons before the years of famine came, which Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On bare unto him. ⁵¹ And Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: For God, said he, hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father's house. ⁵² And the name of the second called he Ephraim: For God hath caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.

Manasseh (Hebrew: מְנַשֶּׁה, Modern Menaše Tiberian Mənaššé) is the first son of Joseph and grandson of Jacob (Israel). He is also the father of the Israelite Half-Tribe of Manasseh and Manassehites.

The name Manasseh means "to forget."

The Half-Tribe of Manasseh (Hebrew: חצי שֵׁבֶט מְנַשֶּׁה) is one of the Tribes of Israel. Together with the Tribe of Ephraim, formed the House of Joseph.

Ephraim (Hebrew: אֶפְרָיִם, Modern Efráyim Tiberian ʾEp̄ráyim) is the second son of Joseph and grandson of Jacob (Israel). He is also the father of the Israelite Half-Tribe of Ephraim and the Ephraimites.

The name Ephraim means "fruitful."

The Half-Tribe of Ephraim (Hebrew: חצי שֵׁבֶט אֶפְרָיִם) is one of the Tribes of Israel. Together with the Tribe of Manasseh, formed the House of Joseph.

Genesis 48:17-20

¹⁷ And when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, it displeased him: and he held up his father's hand, to remove it from Ephraim's head unto Manasseh's head. ¹⁸ And Joseph said unto his father, Not so, my father: for this is the firstborn; put thy right hand upon his head. ¹⁹ And his father refused, and said, I know it, my son, I know it: he also shall become a people, and he also shall be great: but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become a multitude of nations. ²⁰ And he blessed them that day, saying, In thee shall Israel bless, saying, God make thee as Ephraim and as Manasseh: and he set Ephraim before Manasseh.

Half-Tribe of Manasseh and Half-Tribe of Ephraim - The allotment of the Tribe of Joseph

Joshua 13:29-31

29
²⁹ And Moses gave inheritance unto the half tribe of Manasseh: and this was the possession of the half tribe of the children of Manasseh by their families. ³⁰ And their coast was from Mahanaim, all Bashan, all the kingdom of Og king of Bashan, and all the towns of Jair, which are in Bashan, threescore cities: ³¹ And half Gilead, and Ashtaroth, and Edrei, cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan, were pertaining unto the children of Machir the son of Manasseh, even to the one half of the children of Machir by their families.

Joshua 16:1-10

¹ And the lot of the children of Joseph fell from Jordan by Jericho, unto the water of Jericho on the east, to the wilderness that goeth up from Jericho throughout mount Bethel, ² And goeth out from Bethel to Luz, and passeth along unto the borders of Archi to Ataroth, ³ And goeth down westward to the coast of Japhleti, unto the coast of Bethhoron the nether, and to Gezer; and the goings out thereof are at the sea. ⁴ So the children of Joseph, Manasseh and Ephraim, took their inheritance. ⁵ And the border of the children of Ephraim according to their families was thus: even the border of their inheritance on the east side was Atarothaddar, unto Bethhoron the upper; ⁶ And the border went out toward the sea to Michmethah on the north side; and the border went about eastward unto Taanathshiloh, and passed by it on the east to Janohah; ⁷ And it went down from Janohah to Ataroth, and to Naarath, and came to Jericho, and went out at Jordan. ⁸ The border went out from Tappuah westward unto the river Kanah; and the goings out thereof were at the sea. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Ephraim by their families. ⁹ And the separate cities for the children of Ephraim were among the inheritance of the children of Manasseh, all the cities with their villages. ¹⁰ And they drave not out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer: but the Canaanites dwell among the Ephraimites unto this day, and serve under tribute.

Joshua 17:1-10

¹ There was also a lot for the tribe of Manasseh; for he was the firstborn of Joseph; to wit, for Machir the firstborn of Manasseh, the father of Gilead: because he was a man of war, therefore he had Gilead and Bashan. ² There was also a lot for the rest of the children of Manasseh by their families; for the children of Abiezer, and for the children of Helek, and for the children of Asriel, and for the children of Shechem, and for the children of Hepher, and for the children of Shemida: these were the male children of Manasseh the son of Joseph by their families. ³ But Zelophehad, the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, had no sons, but daughters: and these are the names of his daughters, Mahlah, and Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. ⁴ And they came near before Eleazar the priest, and before Joshua the son of Nun, and before the princes, saying, The Lord commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our brethren. Therefore according to the commandment of the Lord he gave them an inheritance among the brethren of their father. ⁵ And there fell ten portions to Manasseh, beside the land of Gilead and Bashan, which were on the other side Jordan; ⁶ Because the daughters of Manasseh had an inheritance among his sons: and the rest of Manasseh's sons had the land of Gilead. ⁷ And the coast of Manasseh was from Asher to Michmethah, that lieth before Shechem; and the border went along on the right hand unto the inhabitants of Entappuah. ⁸ Now Manasseh had the land of Tappuah: but Tappuah on the border of Manasseh belonged to the children of Ephraim; ⁹ And the coast descended unto the river Kanah, southward of the river: these cities of Ephraim are among the cities of Manasseh: the coast of Manasseh also was on the north side of the river, and the outgoings of it were at the sea: ¹⁰ Southward it was Ephraim's, and northward it was Manasseh's, and the sea is his border; and they met together in Asher on the north, and in Issachar on the east.

Joshua 18:12-14

¹² And their border on the north side was from Jordan; and the border went up to the side of Jericho on the north side, and went up through the mountains westward; and the goings out thereof were at the wilderness of Bethaven. ¹³ And the border went over from thence toward Luz, to the side of Luz, which is Bethel, southward; and the border descended to Atarothadar, near the hill that lieth on the south side of the nether Bethhoron. ¹⁴ And the border was drawn thence, and compassed the corner of the sea southward, from the hill that lieth before Bethhoron southward; and the goings out thereof were at Kirjathbaal, which is Kirjathjearim, a city of the children of Judah: this was the west quarter.

Zebulun, son of Israel (Jacob) - The Man and His House

2014-04-18T10:29:00.002-07:00

Zebulun (Hebrew: זְבוּלוּן, Modern Zevulun Tiberian Zəḇūlūn) is the tenth son of Jacob (latter named by God as Israel) with Leah. He is also the father of the Israelite Tribe of Zebulun and the Zebulunites.

The name Zebulun means "Gifts."

Genesis 30:19-20

¹⁹ And Leah conceived again, and bare Jacob the sixth son. ²⁰ And Leah said, God hath endued me with a good dowry; now will my husband dwell with me, because I have born him six sons: and she called his name Zebulun.

The prophetic blessing of Jacob to Naphtali, prior to his death:

Genesis 49:1-2

Genesis 49:13

¹³ Zebulun shall dwell at the haven of the sea; and he shall be for an haven of ships; and his border shall be unto Zidon.

The Tribe of Zebulun

The Tribe of Zebulun (Hebrew: שֵׁבֶט זְבוּלוּן, Modern Shevet Zevulun Tiberian Šḗḇeṭ Zəḇūlūn) is one of the Tribes of Israel.

Joshua 19:10-16

¹⁰ And the third lot came up for the children of Zebulun according to their families: and the border of their inheritance was unto Sarid: ¹¹ And their border went up toward the sea, and Maralah, and reached to Dabbasheth, and reached to the river that is before Jokneam; ¹² And turned from Sarid eastward toward the sunrising unto the border of Chislothtabor, and then goeth out to Daberath, and goeth up to Japhia, ¹³ And from thence passeth on along on the east to Gittahhepher, to Ittahkazin, and goeth out to Remmonmethoar to Neah; ¹⁴ And the border compasseth it on the north side to Hannathon: and the outgoings thereof are in the valley of Jiphthahel: ¹⁵ And Kattath, and Nahallal, and Shimron, and Idalah, and Bethlehem: twelve cities with their villages. ¹⁶ This is the inheritance of the children of Zebulun according to their families, these cities with their villages.

Issachar, son of Israel (Jacob) - The Man and His House

2014-04-18T04:27:00.000-07:00

Issachar (Hebrew: יִשָּׂשכָר, Modern Yissakhar Tiberian Yiśśāḵār) is the ninth son of Jacob (latter named by God as Israel) with Leah. He is also the father of the Israelite Tribe of Issachar and the Issacharites.

The open book in the center of the image depicts the tribe's devotion to Torah study.

The name Issachar means "there is a reward."

Genesis 30:17-18

¹⁷ And God hearkened unto Leah, and she conceived, and bare Jacob the fifth son. ¹⁸ And Leah said, God hath given me my hire, because I have given my maiden to my husband: and she called his name Issachar.

The prophetic blessing of Jacob to Naphtali, prior to his death:

Genesis 49:1-2

Genesis 49:14-15

¹⁴ Issachar is a strong ass couching down between two burdens: ¹⁵ And he saw that rest was good, and the land that it was pleasant; and bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a servant unto tribute.

The Tribe of Issachar

The Tribe of Issachar (Hebrew: שֵׁבֶט יִשָּׂשכָר, Modern Shevet Yissakhar Tiberian Šḗḇeṭ Yiśśāḵār) is one of the Tribes of Israel.

Joshua 19:17-23

¹⁷ And the fourth lot came out to Issachar, for the children of Issachar according to their families. ¹⁸ And their border was toward Jezreel, and Chesulloth, and Shunem, ¹⁹ And Haphraim, and Shihon, and Anaharath, ²⁰ And Rabbith, and Kishion, and Abez, ²¹ And Remeth, and Engannim, and Enhaddah, and Bethpazzez; ²² And the coast reacheth to Tabor, and Shahazimah, and Bethshemesh; and the outgoings of their border were at Jordan: sixteen cities with their villages. ²³ This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Issachar according to their families, the cities and their villages.

Asher, son of Israel (Jacob) - The Man and His House

2014-04-18T04:06:00.004-07:00

Asher (Hebrew: אָשֵׁר, Modern Asher Tiberian ʼĀšēr) is the eighth son of Jacob (latter named by God as Israel) with Zilpah. He is also the father of the Israelite Tribe of Asher and the Asherites.

The name Asher means "happy."

Genesis 30:12-13

¹² And Zilpah Leah's maid bare Jacob a second son. ¹³ And Leah said, Happy am I, for the daughters will call me blessed: and she called his name Asher.

The prophetic blessing of Jacob to Naphtali, prior to his death:

Genesis 49:1-2

Genesis 49:20

²⁰ Out of Asher his bread shall be fat, and he shall yield royal dainties.

The Tribe of Asher

The Tribe of Asher (Hebrew: שֵׁבֶט אָשֵׁר, Modern Shevet Asher Tiberian Šḗḇeṭ ʼĀšēr) is one of the Tribes of Israel.

Joshua 19:24-31

²⁴ And the fifth lot came out for the tribe of the children of Asher according to their families. ²⁵ And their border was Helkath, and Hali, and Beten, and Achshaph, ²⁶ And Alammelech, and Amad, and Misheal; and reacheth to Carmel westward, and to Shihorlibnath; ²⁷ And turneth toward the sunrising to Bethdagon, and reacheth to Zebulun, and to the valley of Jiphthahel toward the north side of Bethemek, and Neiel, and goeth out to Cabul on the left hand, ²⁸ And Hebron, and Rehob, and Hammon, and Kanah, even unto great Zidon; ²⁹ And then the coast turneth to Ramah, and to the strong city Tyre; and the coast turneth to Hosah; and the outgoings thereof are at the sea from the coast to Achzib: ³⁰ Ummah also, and Aphek, and Rehob: twenty and two cities with their villages. ³¹ This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Asher according to their families, these cities with their villages.

Gad, son of Israel (Jacob) - The Man and His House

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Gad (Hebrew: גָּד, Modern Gad Tiberian Gāḏ) is the seventh son of Jacob (latter named by God as Israel) with Zilpah. He is also the father of the Israelite Tribe of Gad and the Gadites.

The name Gad means "Good fortune."

Genesis 30:10-11

¹⁰ And Zilpah Leah's maid bare Jacob a son. ¹¹ And Leah said, A troop cometh: and she called his name Gad.

The prophetic blessing of Jacob to Naphtali, prior to his death:

Genesis 49:1-2

Genesis 49:19

¹⁹ Gad, a troop shall overcome him: but he shall overcome at the last.

The Tribe of Gad

The Tribe of Gad (Hebrew: שֵׁבֶט גָּד, Modern Shevet Gad Tiberian Šḗḇeṭ Gāḏ) is one of the Tribes of Israel.

Joshua 13:24-28

²⁴ And Moses gave inheritance unto the tribe of Gad, even unto the children of Gad according to their families. ²⁵ And their coast was Jazer, and all the cities of Gilead, and half the land of the children of Ammon, unto Aroer that is before Rabbah; ²⁶ And from Heshbon unto Ramathmizpeh, and Betonim; and from Mahanaim unto the border of Debir; ²⁷ And in the valley, Betharam, and Bethnimrah, and Succoth, and Zaphon, the rest of the kingdom of Sihon king of Heshbon, Jordan and his border, even unto the edge of the sea of Chinnereth on the other side Jordan eastward. ²⁸ This is the inheritance of the children of Gad after their families, the cities, and their villages.

Naphtali, son of Israel (Jacob) - The Man and His House

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Naphtali (Hebrew: נַפְתָּלִי, Modern Naftali Tiberian Nap̄tālî) is the sixth son of Jacob (latter named by God as Israel) with Bilhah. He is also the father of the Israelite Tribe of Naphtali and the Naphtalites.

The name Naphtali means "My struggle."

Genesis 30:7-8

⁷ And Bilhah Rachel's maid conceived again, and bare Jacob a second son. ⁸ And Rachel said, With great wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister, and I have prevailed: and she called his name Naphtali.

The prophetic blessing of Jacob to Naphtali, prior to his death:

Genesis 49:1-2

Genesis 49:21

²¹ Naphtali is a hind let loose: he giveth goodly words.

The Tribe of Naphtali

The Tribe of Naphtali (Hebrew: שֵׁבֶט נַפְתָּלִי, Modern Shevet Naftali Tiberian Šḗḇeṭ Nap̄tālî) is one of the Tribes of Israel.

Joshua 19:32-39

³² The sixth lot came out to the children of Naphtali, even for the children of Naphtali according to their families. ³³ And their coast was from Heleph, from Allon to Zaanannim, and Adami, Nekeb, and Jabneel, unto Lakum; and the outgoings thereof were at Jordan: ³⁴ And then the coast turneth westward to Aznothtabor, and goeth out from thence to Hukkok, and reacheth to Zebulun on the south side, and reacheth to Asher on the west side, and to Judah upon Jordan toward the sunrising. ³⁵ And the fenced cities are Ziddim, Zer, and Hammath, Rakkath, and Chinnereth, ³⁶ And Adamah, and Ramah, and Hazor, ³⁷ And Kedesh, and Edrei, and Enhazor, ³⁸ And Iron, and Migdalel, Horem, and Bethanath, and Bethshemesh; nineteen cities with their villages. ³⁹ This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Naphtali according to their families, the cities and their villages.

Dan, son of Israel (Jacob) - The Man and His House

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Dan (Hebrew: דָּן, Modern Dan Tiberian Dān) is the fifth son of Jacob (latter named by God as Israel) with Bilhah. He is also the father of the Israelite Tribe of Dan and the Danites.

The name Dan means "to judge" or "vindicate."

Genesis 30:5-6

⁵ And Bilhah conceived, and bare Jacob a son. ⁶ And Rachel said, God hath judged me, and hath also heard my voice, and hath given me a son: therefore called she his name Dan.

The prophetic blessing of Jacob to Dan, prior to his death:

Genesis 49:1-2

Genesis 49:16-18

¹⁶ Dan shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel. ¹⁷ Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path, that biteth the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backward. ¹⁸ I have waited for thy salvation, O Lord.

The Tribe of Dan

The Tribe of Dan (Hebrew: שֵׁבֶט דָּן, Modern Shevet Dan Tiberian Šḗḇeṭ Dān) is one of the Tribes of Israel.

Joshua 19:40-47

⁴⁰ And the seventh lot came out for the tribe of the children of Dan according to their families. ⁴¹ And the coast of their inheritance was Zorah, and Eshtaol, and Irshemesh, ⁴² And Shaalabbin, and Ajalon, and Jethlah, ⁴³ And Elon, and Thimnathah, and Ekron, ⁴⁴ And Eltekeh, and Gibbethon, and Baalath, ⁴⁵ And Jehud, and Beneberak, and Gathrimmon, ⁴⁶ And Mejarkon, and Rakkon, with the border before Japho. ⁴⁷ And the coast of the children of Dan went out too little for them: therefore the children of Dan went up to fight against Leshem, and took it, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and possessed it, and dwelt therein, and called Leshem, Dan, after the name of Dan their father.

Judah, son of Israel (Jacob) - The Man and His House

2014-04-17T15:22:00.001-07:00

Judah (Hebrew: יְהוּדָה, Modern Yehuda Tiberian Yəhûḏā) is the fourth son of Jacob (latter named by God as Israel) with Leah. He is also the father of the Israelite Tribe of Judah and the Judahites.

The name Judah means "to praise."

Genesis 29:35
³⁵ And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praise the Lord: therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing.

The prophetic blessing of Jacob to Levi, prior to his death:

Genesis 49:1-2
¹ And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days. ² Gather yourselves together, and hear, ye sons of Jacob; and hearken unto Israel your father.

Genesis 49:8-12
⁸ Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise: thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; thy father's children shall bow down before thee. ⁹ Judah is a lion's whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up? ¹⁰ The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. ¹¹ Binding his foal unto the vine, and his ass's colt unto the choice vine; he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes: ¹² His eyes shall be red with wine, and his teeth white with milk.

The Tribe of Judah

The Tribe of Judah (Hebrew: שֵׁבֶט יְהוּדָה, Modern Shevet Yehuda Tiberian Šḗḇeṭ Yəhûḏā) is one of the Tribes of Israel.

Joshua 15:1-4
¹ This then was the lot of the tribe of the children of Judah by their families; even to the border of Edom the wilderness of Zin southward was the uttermost part of the south coast. ² And their south border was from the shore of the salt sea, from the bay that looketh southward: ³ And it went out to the south side to Maalehacrabbim, and passed along to Zin, and ascended up on the south side unto Kadeshbarnea, and passed along to Hezron, and went up to Adar, and fetched a compass to Karkaa: ⁴ From thence it passed toward Azmon, and went out unto the river of Egypt; and the goings out of that coast were at the sea: this shall be your south coast.

Joshua 15:10-11
¹⁰ And the border compassed from Baalah westward unto mount Seir, and passed along unto the side of mount Jearim, which is Chesalon, on the north side, and went down to Bethshemesh, and passed on to Timnah: ¹¹ And the border went out unto the side of Ekron northward: and the border was drawn to Shicron, and passed along to mount Baalah, and went out unto Jabneel; and the goings out of the border were at the sea.

Joshua 15:20-63
²⁰ This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Judah according to their families. ²¹ And the uttermost cities of the tribe of the children of Judah toward the coast of Edom southward were Kabzeel, and Eder, and Jagur, ²² And Kinah, and Dimonah, and Adadah, ²³ And Kedesh, and Hazor, and Ithnan, ²⁴ Ziph, and Telem, and Bealoth, ²⁵ And Hazor, Hadattah, and Kerioth, and Hezron, which is Hazor, ²⁶ Amam, and Shema, and Moladah, ²⁷ And Hazargaddah, and Heshmon, and Bethpalet, ²⁸ And Hazarshual, and Beersheba, and Bizjothjah, ²⁹ Baalah, and Iim, and Azem, ³⁰ And Eltolad, and Chesil, and Hormah, ³¹ And Ziklag, and Madmannah, and Sansannah, ³² And Lebaoth, and Shilhim, and Ain, and Rimmon: all the cities are twenty and nine, with their villages: ³³ And in the valley, Eshtaol, and Zoreah, and Ashnah, ³⁴ And Zanoah, and Engannim, Tappuah, and Enam, ³⁵ Jarmuth, and Adullam, Socoh, and Azekah, ³⁶ And Sharaim, and Adithaim, and Gederah, and Gederothaim; fourteen cities with their villages: ³⁷ Zenan, and Hadashah, and Migdalgad, ³⁸ And Dilean, and Mizpeh, and Joktheel, ³⁹ Lachish, and Bozkath, and Eglon, ⁴⁰ And Cabbon, and Lahmam, and Kithlish, ⁴¹ And Gederoth, Bethdagon, and Naamah, and Makkedah; sixteen cities with their villages: ⁴² Libnah, and Ether, and Ashan, ⁴³ And Jiphtah, and Ashnah, and Nezib, ⁴⁴ And Keilah, and Achzib, and Mareshah; nine cities with their villages: ⁴⁵ Ekron, with her towns and her villages: ⁴⁶ From Ekron even unto the sea, all that lay near Ashdod, with their villages: ⁴⁷ Ashdod with her towns and her villages, Gaza with her towns and her villages, unto the river of Egypt, and the great sea, and the border thereof: ⁴⁸ And in the mountains, Shamir, and Jattir, and Socoh, ⁴⁹ And Dannah, and Kirjathsannah, which is Debir, ⁵⁰ And Anab, and Eshtemoh, and Anim, ⁵¹ And Goshen, and Holon, and Giloh; eleven cities with their villages: ⁵² Arab, and Dumah, and Eshean, ⁵³ And Janum, and Bethtappuah, and Aphekah, ⁵⁴ And Humtah, and Kirjatharba, which is Hebron, and Zior; nine cities with their villages: ⁵⁵ Maon, Carmel, and Ziph, and Juttah, ⁵⁶ And Jezreel, and Jokdeam, and Zanoah, ⁵⁷ Cain, Gibeah, and Timnah; ten cities with their villages: ⁵⁸ Halhul, Bethzur, and Gedor, ⁵⁹ And Maarath, and Bethanoth, and Eltekon; six cities with their villages: ⁶⁰ Kirjathbaal, which is Kirjathjearim, and Rabbah; two cities with their villages: ⁶¹ In the wilderness, Betharabah, Middin, and Secacah, ⁶² And Nibshan, and the city of Salt, and Engedi; six cities with their villages. ⁶³ As for the Jebusites the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the children of Judah could not drive them out; but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Judah at Jerusalem unto this day.

Levi, son of Israel (Jacob) - The Man and His House

2014-04-17T14:15:00.001-07:00

Levi (Hebrew: לֵּוִי‎, Modern Levy Tiberian Lēwî) is the third son of Jacob (latter named by God as Israel) with Leah. He is also the father of the Israelite Tribe of Levi and the Levites.

The name Levi means "joining."

Genesis 29:34

³⁴ And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have born him three sons: therefore was his name called Levi.

The prophetic blessing of Jacob to Levi, prior to his death:

Genesis 49:1-2

Genesis 49:5-7

⁵ Simeon and Levi are brethren; instruments of cruelty are in their habitations. ⁶ O my soul, come not thou into their secret; unto their assembly, mine honour, be not thou united: for in their anger they slew a man, and in their selfwill they digged down a wall. ⁷ Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel.

The Tribe of Levi

The Tribe of Levi (Hebrew: שֵׁבֶט לֵּוִי, Modern Shevet Levy Tiberian Šḗḇeṭ Lēwî) is one of the Tribes of Israel.

Joshua 13:33

³³ But unto the tribe of Levi Moses gave not any inheritance: the Lord God of Israel was their inheritance, as he said unto them.

Simeon, son of Israel (Jacob) - The Man and His House

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Simeon (Hebrew: שִׁמְעוֹן, Modern Shim'on Tiberian Šimʻôn) is the second son of Jacob (latter named by God as Israel) with Leah. He is also the father of the Israelite Tribe of Simeon and the Simeonites.
The name Simeon means "God has heard."

Genesis 29:33
³³ And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Because the Lord hath heard I was hated, he hath therefore given me this son also: and she called his name Simeon.

The prophetic blessing of Jacob to Simeon, prior to his death:

Reuben, son of Israel (Jacob) - The Man and His House

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Reuben (Hebrew: רְאוּבֵן‎, Modern Re'uven Tiberian Rəʾûḇēn) is the first and eldest son of Jacob (latter named as Israel) with Leah. He is also the father of the Israelite Tribe of Reuben and the Reubenites.
The name Reuben means "see a son."

Genesis 29:32
³² And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben (Reuven): for she said, Surely the Yah hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me.

The prophetic blessing of Jacob to Reuben, prior to his death:

Genesis 49:1-4
¹ And Jacob (Ya’akov) called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days. ² Gather yourselves together, and hear, ye sons of Jacob (Ya’akov); and hearken unto Israel your father. ³ Reuben (Reuven), thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power: ⁴ Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father's bed; then defiledst thou it: he went up to my couch.

The Tribe of Reuben

The Tribe of Reuben (Hebrew: שֵׁבֶט רְאוּבֵן, Modern Shevet Re'uven Tiberian Šḗḇeṭ Rəʼûḇēn) is one of the Tribes of Israel.

Joshua 13:15-23
¹⁵ And Moses (Moshe) gave unto the tribe of the children of Reuben (Reuven) inheritance according to their families. ¹⁶ And their coast was from Aroer, that is on the bank of the river Arnon, and the city that is in the midst of the river, and all the plain by Medeba; ¹⁷ Heshbon, and all her cities that are in the plain; Dibon, and Bamothbaal, and Bethbaalmeon, ¹⁸ And Jahaza, and Kedemoth, and Mephaath, ¹⁹ And Kirjathaim, and Sibmah, and Zarethshahar in the mount of the valley, ²⁰ And Bethpeor, and Ashdothpisgah, and Bethjeshimoth, ²¹ And all the cities of the plain, and all the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites, which reigned in Heshbon, whom Moses smote with the princes of Midian, Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, which were dukes of Sihon, dwelling in the country. ²² Balaam also the son of Beor, the soothsayer, did the children of Israel slay with the sword among them that were slain by them. ²³ And the border of the children of Reuben was Jordan, and the border thereof. This was the inheritance of the children of Reuben after their families, the cities and the villages thereof.

The Ten Lost Tribes

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When we're talking about the Ten Lost Tribes, we're talking about the Tribes of Ancient Israel that were deported from the Kingdom of Israel after it was conquered by Assyria in about 722 BC. We espouse a millenarian view that the Tribes will return.
The Hebrew Bible does not use the expression "Ten Lost Tribes", leading some people to question the number of tribes involved. However, the passage in 1 Kings, chapter 11, verse 31 and 35, states that kingdom would be taken from Solomon and that would be given ten tribes to Jeroboam:

1 Kings (Melachim Alef) 11:31
³¹ And he said to Jeroboam (Yarov‘am), Take thee ten pieces: for thus saith Yah Elohei Yisrael (of Israel), Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon (Sh’lomo), and will give ten tribes to thee:

1 Kings (Melachim Alef) 11:35
³⁵ But I will take the kingdom out of his son's hand, and will give it unto thee, even ten tribes.

The Ten Lost Tribes and the New Testament

Within the New Testament we can verify that exists some evidence of a continuing identification in later centuries of individual Israelites to the Lost Tribes. For example, in Luke 2:36, an individual is identified with the tribe of Asher.

Luke (Lukas) 2:36
³⁶ And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity;

The Ten Lost Tribes and the Jewish Tradition

There are numerous references to the Lost Tribes in biblical writings. In Ezekiel 37:16-17; the prophet is told to write on one stick (an ancient reference to scrolls) "For Judah..." and on the other "For Joseph..." (the main Lost Tribe). The prophet is then told that these two groups shall be someday reunited. See the biblical passage below:

Ezekiel (Yechezkel) 37:16-17
¹⁶ Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah (Yehudah), and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph (Yosef), the stick of Ephraim (Ephrayim) and for all the house of Israel his companions: ¹⁷ And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand.

There are also discussions in the Talmud as to whether the ten lost tribes will eventually be reunited with the Tribe of Judah, that is, with the Jewish people.

The Ten Lost Tribes and the Beta Israel of Ethiopia

The Beta Israel are Ethiopian Jews. Some members of the Beta Israel, as well as several Jewish scholars, believe that they are descended from the lost Tribe of Dan.
Early DNA studies showed they were descended from Ethiopians, but in the 21^st century, new studies have shown possible connection to a few Jews of the 4^th to 5^th century

The Ten Lost Tribes and the Igbo Jews of Nigeria

The Igbo Jews of Nigeria claim descent variously from the tribes of Levi, Naphtali, Gad, Zebulun and Joseph (Manasseh and Ephraim).

The Twelve Tribes Of Israel

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John (Yochanan) 14:2

² In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I got to prepare a place for you.

Dr . Vernon Carrington 'The Prophet Gad'

The Order of the Twelve Tribes of Israel was founded in 1968 in Jamaica by Dr. Vernon Carrington. Its founder is known as 'The Prophet Gad' or 'Gadman', for he was the reincarnation of Gad, one of the original sons of Israel. He felt his role was to reunite the Ten Lost Tribes.
The Twelve Tribes of Israel are based on the twelve astrological zodiacal signs.

Zodiac Symbol and Latin Name	English Translation	The Corresponding Tribe
♈ Aries	The Ram	Reuben
♉ Taurus	The Bull	Simeon
♊ Gemini	The Twins	Levi
♋ Cancer	The Crab	Judah
♌ Leo	The Lion	Dan
♍ Virgo	The Maiden	Naphtali
♎ Libra	The Scales	Gad
♏ Scorpio	The Scorpion	Asher
♐ Sagittarius	The (Centaur) Archer	Issachar
♑ Capricorn	The Goat-Horned	Zebulun
♒ Aquarius	The Water-Bearer	Joseph
♓ Pisces	The Fishes	Benjamin

Carrington is central to the movement, although he has a number of 'shepherds' to work beneath him, enabling the development and understanding of the group. The Twelve Tribes of Israel is considered the most liberal of the present orders in the Ras Tafari Movement. The members of the Twelve Tribes can practice their religion in the church or from their homes. We believe ourselves to be descendants of the Twelve Sons of Israel.

The group's headquarters are on Hope Road in Kingston. But the order also exists outside Jamaica in places such as the United States of America, New Zealand, Europe and Africa.

Bobo Ashanti

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John (Yochanan) 14:2

² In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I got to prepare a place for you.

Prince Emmanuel Charles Edwards 'Dada'

The Bobo Ashanti Order, also called the Ethiopian International Congress, was founded in 1958 in Jamaica, by Prince Emmanuel Charles Edwards, considered by many to be the reincarnation of Yahushua. Prince Emmanuel, Marcus Garvey and Haile Selassie are regarded as part of the Holy Trinity. Selassie is regarded as King and God, Garvey is perceived to be a Prophet and Emmanuel a High Priest. Additionally, some Bobos see Idi Amin, the former ruler of Uganda during the 1970s, as a second coming of Garvey. Bobo Ashanti members live apart from society, their base is in Bull Bay, Jamaica. But nowadays the group can also be found in the Bahamas, Virgin Islands, Ghana, Nigeria, Ethiopia and Trinidad.

Bobo Ashanti are one of the stricted Mansions of Rastafari, they wear brightly coloured turbans to cover their dreadlocks, and long flowing robes to dress themselves. The members of the Ashanti order are all strict vegan and stick to the biblical restrictions regarding their vow. Returning to their diet, the Bobo Ashanti fast twice a week and on the first day of every month. They also adhere to a strict communal life, apart of society as I mentioned earlier, where women are separated from men. The Bobos have built a strong relationship with the local community outside of Bobo Hill and they often invite people to their services. Women and children are considered subordinate to men; a women may serve food to a guest, but never to a Bobo male; apart from that, the women' garments must cover their arms and legs. All children attend a basic school called Jerusalem School Room, and only after that, they can go to Kingston to school, but fortunately that is seldom. Almost all men within the community is seen as prophets or priests. The function of a prophet is to reason, and of a priest is to conduct the services.
The Bobo Ashanti do not accept the laws and principles of Jamaican society, which means that they do not accept the principles and laws of many other countries.
The Bobo Ashanti do smoke ganja, but not in public, because it is a spiritual rite only to be carried out during periods of worship. The Ashanti movement is concerned with fulfilling the campaign 'Back to Africa' created by Marcus Garvey, reuniting Africans with their homeland and abandoning contact with Western Society. Some members of this group feel black people should be given monetary rewards for the slavery they have endured.

The Name 'Bobo Ashanti', the Flag and the Hymns

In relation to the name of their order, the word Bobo means black and Ashanti was the name of an African tribe from Kumasi in Ghana. Their also fly their flag in a different way to other Ras Tafari groups, they fly the Red, Gold and Green flag with Red at the top, while other groups fly it the other way up. Almost all songs and tributes within the community end with the phrase "Holy Emmanuel I Selassie I Yah Rastafar-I"

Elements of their daily life reflect the Jewish Mosaic Law

The Bobo Ashanti honour the Sabbath, from sundown on Friday. And during the Sabbath the use of salt and oil is avoided and no work can be carried out. They have special rules for menstruating women. And also special group greetings.

Nyahbinghi Order

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John (Yochanan) 14:2

² In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I got to prepare a place for you.

Bongo Watu

Nyahbinghi is the oldest of all the Ras Tafari Orders. We attempts to keep the link between our faith and African heritage close. We pledge love to all humankind, however we not know violence, only Yah has the right to destroy. We make this pledge because of the power of Word, believing that only when we all, Yah' children, make the pledge together the downpressors will be downstroid.
The focus of this group is on the veneration of Haile Selassie, who is regarded by us as the embodiment of Yah. Ethiopia is very important to us, which emphasises the repatriation to Africa. We also regard water, air and fire as representations of the elements of life. Fire is believed to represent the wrath of Yah pouring down on Babylon.
Nyahbinghi eat organic produce only, such as vegetables, fruits, herbs and barks, and avoid the consumption of salt. The group take part in regular Groundations, often called Nyahbinghi Groundations. The word 'groundation' means affirmation of life through earth.

The Name 'Nyabinghi'

Nyabinghi was a legendary Ugandan/Rwandan tribe queen in 19^th Century which inspired a movement, rebelling against African colonial authorities. The name Nyahbinghi is believed to mean 'Death to all Oppressors'.

The importance of Ethiopia to Nyahbinghi

The flag tends to have the colour green first. The Nyahbinghi flag also features a lion in the centre, reflecting the Lion of Judah - Haile Selassie I. The order observe the Ethiopian Sabbath, which is Tuesday. The group try to use the Ethiopian language, Amharic.

Rastafari History

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1930s

HIM Haile Selassie I

Marcus Garvey

The Ras Tafari began in Jamaica during the 1930s following a prophecy by Marcus Garvey, a political leader. Garvey preached "Look to Africa where a king shall be crowned, he shall be the Redeemer." This statement became the foundation of our Movement. The prophecy was rapidly followed by the crowning of Emperor Haile Selassie I in Ethiopia. We see this as the fulfilment of Garvey's prophecy. The religion takes its name from the original name of the emperor, Ras (Head, Chief) Tafari Makonnen. Haile Selassie I is therefore regarded as Yah. He is our figure of salvation and we believe He will redeem the downpressed from the downpressor, reuniting them with Afrika "The Cradle of Humanity".

1930s - 1950s

Leonard P. Howell

The first branch of Rastafari is believed to have been established in Jamaica in 1935 by Leonard P. Howell. He preached the divinity of Haile Selassie. Howell's action encouraged others to help develop and spread the message of Rasta theology, and as E.E. Cashmore explains: "All, in their own ways, added pieces to the jigsaw, and the whole picture came together in the mid 1950s when a series of congregations of rastas appeared at various departure points on Jamaica's shores, awaiting ships bound for Africa". This marked the first uniting of Ras Tafari and it paved the way for the future of our movement, bringing hope of repatriation with Afrika and freedom.

1960s - 1970s

Bob Marley and Peter Tosh

In 1966 Haile Selassie I visited Jamaica, where He was greeted with vast enthusiasm. The development of Reggae music during this period made Ras Tafari audible and visible to an international audience. The work of Bob Marley or Peter Tosh (two of the most important figures between our Movement) was starting to be popular with a much wider group than the working class Jamaican culture from which it sprang. In 1974 Haile Selassie I was deposed by a Marxist revolution. He died mysteriously the next year. The removal of a divine figure by an atheist secular political group was initially discouraging to us.

They're saying lies. Yah live, Selassie I will live forever!

Rastafari Music

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Nyahbinghi

Nyahbinghi music is used during reasoning sessions and consists of chanting and drumming to reach states of heightened spirituality. The Nyahbinghi resistance inspired a number of Rastafarians who incorporate what are known as Binghi into our celebrations (Grounnations). Three kinds of drums are used in Nyabinghi music: bass, funde and keteh. The keteh plays an improvised syncopation, the funde plays a regular one-two beat and the bass drum strikes loudly on the first beat, and softly on the third (of four) beat. The chants contain ideas of redemption and repatriation. They help people to participate and feel included in the Rasta community.

Reggae

In the last thirty years Rastafari has become commonly associated with Reggae music, especially following the worldwide success of the group of the Wailers, that included Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer.

The Wailers (Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer)

Worship and Customs

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Worship

There is no specific religious building in Rastafari that is set aside for worship. Usually meet weekly. The meetings are referred to as Reasoning sessions. They provide a time for chants and prayers, and for communal issues to be discussed. Ganja may be smoked to produce heightened spiritual states. The music used at these meetings is known as Nyahbinghi, and so when meetings are mostly musical they are often referred to as Nyahbingi meetings. Meetings may also include large feasts.

Ganja

Ganja is regarded as a herb of religious significance. It is used in Rastafari reasoning sessions, which are communal meetings involving meditation. Ganja is used to heighten feelings of community. Ganja is the key of the fire for the return of the original conscience of each other, with Yah and the Universe. Is the vehicle for the conscience, introducing other levels of reality, developing the sense of unity with all life. Ganja is usually described as the Herb of Wisdom or the Holy Herb. The latter name is used because the use of Ganja is sacred, following biblical texts justifying its use:

Psalm (Tehillim) 104:14

¹⁴ He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth;

Dreadlocks

The wearing of hair in dreadlocks by Rastas is spiritual; this is justified in the Bible:

Leviticus (Vayikra) 21:5

⁵ They shall not make baldness upon their head, neither shall they shave off the corner of their beard, nor make any cuttings in their flesh.

Numbers (Bamidbar) 6:5

⁵All the days of the vow of his separation there shall no razor come upon his head: until the days be fulfilled, in the which he separateth himself unto Yah, he shall be holy, and shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow.

Food Laws

This Laws may change between the Mansions (or Orders) of Ras Tafari.

Eat strictly I'tal which means natural and clean
Don't eat meat, scavengers or shellfish
Eat copious amounts of vegetables, as they are of the earth, and therefore good
Food is prepared without salt, and coconut oil is the most likely form of oil to be utilised
Don't drink alcohol
Drink anything herbal, grown from natural roots
Consume plentiful amounts of fruit and fruit juice

Proverbs (Mishle) 15:17

¹⁷ Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.

Yah Is My Health

We don't allows the use of any unnatural medicine. Only Yah can heal the sick, and no other being have this capacity.

Women in Rastafari

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The role of women in Rastafari

The role of women may differ according to the orders set in the Movement. This being the most stereotypical.

Women are known as Queens;
The main role of women is to look after her King;
Women are regarded as subordinate to men;
Women are regarded as housekeepers and child bearers;
Women must not commit infidelity;
Women are not called to Rastafari except through their husbands;
Women cannot be leaders;
Men are the spiritual head of the family;
Women must not cook for their husbands when menstruating;
Women must not wear makeup, nor dress in promiscuous clothing, or use chemicals in their hair;
Women must not use birth control, as it is regarded as a European tactic to suppress the development of the population. This builds on the Old Testament prophecy that says "The seeds of Israel shall be numberless" (Isaiah 48:19);
Women must also abstain from abortion which is regarded as murder;
Women must cover their hair to pray, in keeping with the Biblical teaching in 1Corinthians 11:3-5.

Isaiah (Yeshayah) 48:19
¹⁹ Thy seed also had been as the sand, and the offspring of thy bowels like the gravel thereof; his name should not have been cut off nor destroyed from before Me.

1Corinthians (Kehillah in Corinth I) 11:3-5

³ But I would have you know, that Rebbe, the Messiah is the head of every man; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of the Messiah is God. ⁴ Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head. ⁵ But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.

Rastafari Beliefs: The Key Ideas in Rastafari

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The Key Ideas in Rastafari

The humanity of God and the divinity of Man
God is found within every Man
God in History
Salvation on Earth
The supremacy of life
Respect for nature
The power of the Word
Evil is corporate
Judgement is near
The priesthood of Rastafari