Heraldry

OUR ONGOING SERIES OF BIBLE STUDIES, which started several years ago with the Call of The Almighty God to Abram in Ur of the Chaldees, has taken us through successive Scripture passages following the tribal history of God’s people as Abraham’s son, Isaac, and Isaac’s son, Jacob (re-named Israel), became Patriarchs of the tribal nation of Israel. They moved down into Egypt, then suffered bondage there, from which The Almighty God drew them forth with great wealth, through the miracles of The Exodus. They have, more recently, formed a tribal encampment under the guidance of The Almighty God Himself, and under the supervision of God’s Prophet, Moses.

Several weeks ago, we were discussing the various symbols on the tribal banners, validated prophetically by Jacob, and I made some further references to the matter of the Union Jack, which now represents a gathering in today’s world of a number of the descendants of those ancient Israelites of the wilderness encampments described in the Bible.

We, of the British-Israel-World Federation hold that the main bodies of the modern-day descendants of those Israelite clans now form the generally Anglo-Celto-Saxon and kindred peoples of today. These are seen primarily in the British, and their relatives in Holland, Scandinavia, France, those mainly of northern and-western Europe, and those descended of them in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the U.S.A. and other areas now similarly inhabited.

We do not forget the fact that many also of their relatives were left in significant pockets along the braided migratory routes by which these peoples moved from their Assyrian captivity and deportation to their homes in these new areas. Thus some peoples of Russian and Ukrainian background, and of Polish, Germanic, Italian, north Spanish and Portuguese, those of Switzerland, and others of central Europe, are by no means excluded from the list.

WHAT IS THE ORIGIN OF THE “STAR OF DAVID”? Was it really the ancient symbol on David’s shield? Did it originate with king Solomon? What is the meaning of two interlaced triangles, one pointed upward and one pointed down? Where did this ancient symbol Really originate?

Why does this symbol figure so prominently in the modern nation of Israel, today? You may be totally shocked at the explosive, provocative answers to these questions!

A Jewish Orthodox internet website tells us: “The Magen David (shield of David, or as it is more commonly known, the Star of David) is the symbol most commonly associated with Judaism today, but it is actually a relatively new Jewish symbol. It is supposed to represent the shape of King David’s shield (or perhaps the emblem on it), but there is really no support for that claim in any early rabbinic literature. In fact, the symbol is so rare in early Jewish literature and artwork that art dealers suspect forgery if they find the symbol in early works.

LITTLE need be said to the lover of antiquity in commendation of the subject of this volume; and I take it for granted that everyone who reads the history of the Middle Ages in a right spirit will readily acknowledge that Heraldry, as a system, is by no means so contemptible a thing as the mere utilitarian considers it to be. Yet, notwithstanding, how few are there who have even a partial acquaintance with its principles. To how many, even of those who find pleasure in archaeological pursuits, does the charge apply:

“neque enim clypei cæslamina norit”

Two hundred years ago, when the study of armoury was much more cultivated than at present, this general ignorance of our noble science called forth the censure of its admirers. Master R.. Brathwait, lamenting it, says of some of his contemporaries:

“They weare theire grandsire’s signet on their thumb. Yet aske them whence their crest is, they are mum;”

and adds:

“Who weare gay coats, but can no coat deblaze. Display’d for gulls, may bear gules in their face!”[1]

This invective is perhaps a little too severe, yet it is mildness itself when compared with that of Ranulphus Holme, son of the author of the “Academy of Armory,” who declares that unless the reader assents to what is contained in his father’s book he is:-

Chapter 1

1 The copy of the Testament of Asher, what things he spake to his sons in the hundred and

2 twenty-fifth year of his life. For while he was still in health, he said to them: Hearken, ye children of Asher, to your father, and I will declare to
you all that is upright in the sight of the Lord.

3 Two ways hath God given to the sons of men, and two inclinations, and two kinds of action, and

4 two modes (of action), and two issues. Therefore all things are by twos, one over against the

5 other. For there are two ways of good and evil, and with these are the two inclinations in our

6 breasts discriminating them. Therefore if the soul take pleasure in the good (inclination), all its

7 actions are in righteousness; and if it sin it straightway repenteth. For, having its thoughts set upon righteousness, and casting away wickedness,
it straightway overthroweth the evil, and uprooteth

8 the sin. But if it incline to the evil inclination, all its actions are in wickedness, and it driveth away the good, and cleaveth to the evil, and is ruled by Beliar; even though it work what is good,

Chapter 1

1 The copy of the words of Benjamin, which he commanded his sons to observe, after he had lived

2 a hundred and twenty-five years. And he kissed them, and said: As Isaac
was born to Abraham

3 in his old age, so also was I to Jacob. And since Rachel my mother died in giving me birth, I had

4 no milk; therefore I was suckled by Bilhah her handmaid. For Rachel remained barren for twelve years after she had borne Joseph; and she prayed the Lord with fasting twelve days, and she

5 conceived and bare me. For my father loved Rachel dearly, and prayed that he might see two

6 sons born from her. Therefore was I called Benjamin, that is, a son of days.

Chapter 2

1 And when I went into Egypt, to Joseph, and my brother recognized me,
he said unto me:

2 What did they tell my father when they sold me? And I said unto him, They dabbled thy coat with blood and sent it, and said: Know whether this be thy son’s coat.

Chapter 1

1 The copy of the words of Dan, which he spake to his sons in his last days, in the hundred and

2 twenty-fifth year of his life. For he called together his family, and said: Hearken to my words, ye

3 sons of Dan; and give heed to the words of your father. I have proved in my heart, and in my whole life, that truth with just dealing is good and well pleasing to God, and that lying and anger

4 are evil, because they teach man all wickedness. I confess, therefore, this day to you, my children,

5 that in my heart I resolved on the death of Joseph my brother, the true and good man. [And

6 I rejoiced that he was sold, because his father loved him more than us.] For the spirit of jealousy

7 and vainglory said to me: Thou thyself also art his son. And one of the
spirits of Beliar stirred me up, saying: Take this sword, and with it slay Joseph: so shall thy father love thee when he is dead.

8 Now this is the spirit of anger that persuaded me to crush Joseph as a leopard crusheth a kid.

9 But the God of my fathers did not suffer him to fall into my hands, so that I should find him alone and slay him, and cause a second tribe to be destroyed in Israel.

Chapter 1

1 The copy of the testament of Gad, what things he spake unto his sons, in the hundred and twenty

2 fifth year of his life, saying unto them: Hearken, my children, I was the ninth son born to Jacob,

3 and I was valiant in keeping the flocks. Accordingly I guarded at night
the flock; and whenever the lion came, or the wolf, or any wild beast against the fold, I pursued it, and overtaking (it)

4 I seized its foot with my hand and hurled it about a stone’s throw, and so killed it. Now Joseph my brother was feeding the flock with us for upwards of thirty days, and being young, he fell sick

5 by reason of the heat. And he returned to Hebron to our father, who made him lie down near him,

6 because he loved him greatly. And Joseph told our father that the sons of Zilpah and Bilhah were slaying the best of the flock and eating them against the judgement of Reuben and Judah.

7 For he saw that I had delivered a lamb out of the mouth of a bear, and put the bear to death; but

8 had slain the lamb, being grieved concerning it that it could not live, and that we had eaten it. And

Chapter 1

1 The copy of the words of Issachar. For he called his sons and said to them: Hearken, my children, to Issachar your father; Give ear to the words of him who is beloved of the Lord.

2, 3 I was born the fifth son to Jacob, by way of hire for the mandrakes. For Reuben my brother

4 brought in mandrakes from the field, and Rachel met him and took them. And Reuben wept, and

5 at his voice Leah my mother came forth. Now these (mandrakes) were
sweet-smelling apples

6 which were produced in the land of Haran below a ravine of water. And Rachel said: I will not give them to thee, but they shall be to me instead of children. For the Lord hath despised me,

7 and I have not borne children to Jacob. Now there were two apples; and Leah said to Rachel:

8 Let it suffice thee that thou hast taken my husband: wilt thou take these also? And Rachel said

9 to her: Thou shalt have Jacob this night for the mandrakes of thy son. And Leah said to her:

10 Jacob is mine, for I am the wife of his youth. But Rachel said: Boast not, and vaunt not thyself; for he espoused me before thee, and for my sake he served our father fourteen years.

Chapter 1

1 The copy of the Testament of Joseph. When he was about to die he called his sons and his brethren together, and said to them:–

2 My brethren and my children, Hearken to Joseph the beloved of Israel; Give ear, my sons, unto your father.

3 I have seen in my life envy and death, Yet I went not astray, but persevered in the truth of the Lord.

4 These my brethren hated me, but the Lord loved me: They wished to slay me, but the God of my fathers guarded me: They let me down into a pit, and the Most High brought me up again.

5 I was sold into slavery, and the Lord of all made me free: I was taken into captivity, and His strong hand succoured me. I was beset with hunger, and the Lord Himself nourished me.

6 I was alone, and God comforted me: I was sick, and the Lord visited me: I was in prison, and my God showed favour unto me; In bonds, and He released me;

7 Slandered, and He pleaded my cause; Bitterly spoken against by the Egyptians, and He delivered me; Envied by my fellow-slaves, and He exalted me.

Chapter 1

1, 2 The copy of the words of Judah, what things he spake to his sons before he died. They gathered

3 themselves together, therefore, and came to him, and he said to them: Hearken, my children, to Judah your father. I was the fourth son born to my father Jacob; and Leah my mother named

4 me Judah, saying, I give thanks to the Lord, because He hath given me a fourth son also. I was

5 swift in my youth, and obedient to my father in everything. And I honoured my mother and my

6 mother’s sister. And it came to pass, when I became a man, that my father
blessed me, saying, Thou shalt be a king, prospering in all things.

Chapter 2

1, 2 And the Lord showed me favour in all my works both in the field and in the house. I know that

3 I raced a hind, and caught it, and prepared the meat for my father, and he did eat. And the roes I used to master in the chase, and overtake all that was in the plains. A wild mare I overtook, and

4 caught it and tamed it. I slew a lion and plucked a kid out of its mouth. I took a bear by its paw

5 and hurled it down the cliff, and it was crushed. I outran the wild boar, and seizing it as I ran,

Chapter 1

1 The copy of the words of Levi, the things which he ordained unto his sons, according to all that

2 they should do, and what things should befall them until the day of judgement. He was sound in health when he called them to him; for it had been revealed to him that he should die. And when they were gathered together he said to them:

Chapter 2

1, 2 I, Levi, was born in Haran, and I came with my father to Shechem. And I was young, about

3 twenty years of age, when, with Simeon, I wrought vengeance on Hamor
for our sister Dinah. And when I was feeding the flocks in Abel Maul, the spirit of understanding of the Lord came upon me, and I saw all men corrupting their way, and that unrighteousness had built for itself walls, and lawlessness

4 sat upon towers. And I was grieving for the race of the sons of men, and I prayed to the

5 Lord that I might be saved. Then there fell upon me a sleep, and I beheld a high mountain, and

6 I was upon it. And behold the heavens were opened and an angel of God said to me, Levi enter

Chapter 1

1 The copy of the testament of Naphtali, which he ordained at the time of his death in the hundred

2 and thirtieth year of his life. When his sons were gathered together in the seventh month, on the

3 first day of the month, while still in good health, he made them a feast of food and wine. And after

4 he was awake in the morning, he said to them, I am dying; and they believed him not. And as he

5 glorified the Lord, he grew strong and said that after yesterday’s feast he should die. And he began

6 then to say: Hear, my children, ye sons of Naphtali, hear the words of your father. I was born from Bilhah, and because Rachel dealt craftily, and gave Bilhah in place of herself to Jacob, and she

7 conceived and bare me upon Rachel’s knees, therefore she called my name Naphtali. For Rachel loved me very much because I was born upon her lap; and when I was still young she was wont

8 to kiss me, and say: May I have a brother of thine from mine own womb, like unto thee. Whence

9 also Joseph was like unto me in all things, according to the prayers of Rachel. Now my mother was Bilhah, daughter of Rotheus the brother of Deborah, Rebecca’s nurse, who was born on one and

10 the self-same day with Rachel. And Rotheus was of the family of Abraham, a Chaldean, God

Chapter 1

1 The copy of the Testament of Reuben, even the commands which he gave his sons before he

2 died in the hundred and twenty-fifth year of his life. Two years after the death of Joseph his

3 brother, when Reuben fell ill, his sons and his sons’ sons were gathered together to visit him. And

4 he said to them: My children, behold I am dying, and go the way of my fathers. And seeing there Judah, and Gad, and Asher, his brethren, he said to them: Raise me up, that I may tell to my brethren and to my children what things I have hidden in my heart, for behold now at length

5 I am passing away. And he arose and kissed them, and said unto them: Hear, my brethren, and

6 do ye, my children, give ear to Reuben your father in the commands which I give unto you. And behold I call to witness against you this day the God of heaven, that ye walk not in the sins of

7 youth and fornication, wherein I was poured out, and defiled the bed of my father Jacob. And I tell you that he smote me with a sore plague in my loins for seven months; and had not my father

8 Jacob prayed for me to the Lord, the Lord would have destroyed me. For I was thirty years old

9 when I wrought the evil thing before the Lord, and for seven months I was sick unto death. And

Chapter 1

1 The copy of the words of Simeon, the things which he spake to his sons before he died, in the

2 hundred and twentieth year of his life, at which time Joseph, his brother,
died. For when Simeon was sick , his sons came to visit him, and he strengthened himself and sat up and kissed them, and said:-

Chapter 2

1 Hearken, my children, to Simeon your father, And I will declare unto you what things I have in my heart.

2 I was born of Jacob as my father’s second son; And my mother Leah called me Simeon, Because the Lord had heard her prayer.

3 Moreover, I became strong exceedingly; I shrank from no achievement, Nor was I afraid of ought.

4 For my heart was hard, And my liver was immovable, And my bowels without compassion.

5, 6 Because valour also has been given from the Most High to men in soul and body. For in the time of my youth I was jealous in many things of Joseph, because my father loved him beyond

7 all. And I set my mind against him to destroy him, because the prince of deceit sent forth the spirit of jealousy and blinded my mind, so that I regarded him not as a brother, nor did I spare even

8 Jacob my father. But his God and the God of his fathers sent forth His angel, and delivered him

Chapter 1

1,2 The copy of the words of Zebulun, which he enjoined on his sons before he died in the hundred and fourteenth year of his life, two years after the death of Joseph. And he said to them:

3 Hearken to me, ye sons of Zebulun, attend to the words of your father. I, Zebulun, was born a good gift to my parents. For when I was born my father was increased very exceedingly, both in flocks

4 and herds, when with the straked rods he had his portion. I am not conscious that I have sinned

5 all my days, save in thought. Nor yet do I remember that I have done any iniquity, except the sin of ignorance which I committed against Joseph; for I covenanted with my brethren not to tell

6 my father what had been done. But I wept in secret many days on account of Joseph, for I feared my brethren, because they had all agreed that if any one should declare the secret, he should be slain.

7 But when they wished to kill him, I adjured them much with tears not to be guilty of this sin.

Chapter 2

1, 2 For Simeon and Gad came against Joseph to kill him, and he said unto them with tears: Pity me, my brethren, have mercy upon the bowels of Jacob our father: lay not upon me your hands

3 to shed innocent blood, for I have not sinned against you. And if indeed I have sinned, with chastening chastise me, my brethren but lay not upon me your hand, for the sake of Jacob our

A chart giving all the necessary information, for identifying the whereabouts of the 12 tribes today through heraldry. This chart needs to be used in conjunction with the Testimonies of The Patriarchs which gives many more clues to tribes and and their nation states today.