Azahari Hassim
The ten lost tribes of Israel refer to the ten of the twelve tribes of ancient Israel that were said to have been deported from the Kingdom of Israel after it was conquered by the Neo-Assyrian Empire around 722 BCE. These tribes are:
- Reuben
- Simeon
- Dan
- Naphtali
- Gad
- Asher
- Issachar
- Zebulun
- Manasseh
- Ephraim
The remaining two tribes, Judah and Benjamin, along with some members of the priestly tribe of Levi, formed the southern Kingdom of Judah.
According to the Bible, the ten tribes were exiled to various locations including Halah, Habor, the cities of the Medes, and along the Gozan River. These areas are generally understood to be in parts of modern-day Syria, Iraq, and Iran.
The ultimate fate of the ten lost tribes is a matter of much speculation. The Jewish historian Josephus wrote in the 1st century CE that the ten tribes existed in great numbers beyond the Euphrates River. Some legends state they were exiled beyond the mythical Sambatyon River and have been unable to return.
Over the centuries, many groups around the world have claimed descent from the lost tribes, including the Pashtun tribes of Afghanistan and Pakistan, the Igbo Jews of Nigeria, and the Beta Israel of Ethiopia, among others. However, most historians believe the deported tribes were assimilated into the local populations of the lands to which they were exiled.
Jewish tradition maintains that the ten lost tribes will return to Israel with the coming of the Messiah. So while considered “lost” to history, they are not considered lost permanently or irretrievably in Jewish theology. The search for the lost tribes continues to fascinate many to this day.
There is a fascinating theory, supported by some evidence, that the Pathans may be descendants of the lost tribes of Israel.
The Pathans, also known as Pashtuns or Afghans, are an ethnic group of approximately 50 million people primarily living in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The Pathans have several cultural and historical elements that suggest a possible connection to ancient Israelites:
- Self-identification: Many Pathans refer to themselves as “Bani Israel” or “Sons of Israel”.
- Tribal names: Some Pathan tribal names bear striking similarities to the names of Israelite tribes. For example, Rabbani (Reuben), Shinwari (Simeon), Levani (Levi), Daftani (Naphtali), Jaji (Gad), Ashuri (Asher), Yusufzai (Joseph), and Afridi (Ephraim).
- Genealogical records: The Pathans maintain detailed genealogical records called “shijra,” some of which claim to trace their lineage back to ancient Israelite figures.
- Customs: Some Pathan customs resemble Jewish practices, such as:
• Lighting candles on Friday evenings
• Avoiding mixing meat and milk
• Circumcising male children within the first week of life
• Having a “sandek” (similar to a Jewish godfather) hold the infant during circumcision. - Physical appearance: Some Pathans have been noted to have Semitic features and wear sidelocks and beards, similar to traditional Jewish appearance.
Royal Lineage Claim
There is a tradition among some Pathans that the former Afghan monarchy was descended from the tribe of Benjamin and the family of King Saul. According to this tradition:
King Saul had a son named Jeremia and a grandson named Afghana.
Afghana was raised in King David’s court and remained there during Solomon’s reign.
Centuries later, during Nebuchadnezzar’s time, the Afghana family fled to the Gur region (central Afghanistan).
Scholarly Perspectives
While the theory of Pathan-Israelite connection is intriguing, it remains controversial among scholars:
Rabbi Eliyahu Avichail has extensively researched this topic and supports the connection.
Dr. Shalva Weil, an anthropologist from Hebrew University, acknowledges that there is more convincing evidence for the Pathan-Israelite connection than for other groups claiming Israelite descent.
Some researchers suggest that the similarities could be due to interactions with Jewish traders and administrators along the Silk Road rather than direct descent.
Conclusion
While the evidence is not conclusive, the cultural, historical, and genealogical connections between the Pathans and ancient Israelites are certainly intriguing. Further research and possibly genetic studies may provide more definitive answers about the origins of the Pathan people and their potential connection to the lost tribes of Israel.
The Pathans and the Lost Tribes of Israel: Exploring a Historical and Biblical Theory
Some Rabbis believe that the Pathans are among the lost tribes of Israel. What is the basis for this argument?
According to some Rabbis, the belief that Pathans are among the lost tribes of Israel is based on historical and biblical connections. The argument suggests that after the Assyrians conquered the northern kingdom of Israel in 722 BCE, the ten tribes living there were dispersed and integrated into different nations.
This theory proposes that one of these tribes, known as the tribe of Ephraim, migrated eastward and settled in the region that is now Afghanistan and Pakistan, where the Pathan people currently reside. Various factors support this belief, including linguistic similarities between Hebrew and certain Pathan dialects, as well as cultural practices and customs that resemble Jewish traditions.
Furthermore, proponents of this hypothesis highlight historical accounts of Jewish merchants and travelers encountering Jewish-like communities in the Pathan-inhabited area. Some even claim that these communities maintained Jewish religious practices and retained knowledge of their Israelite origins.
While not universally accepted, this theory holds appeal for certain Rabbis and scholars as it offers a potential explanation for the mystery surrounding the lost tribes of Israel. It also emphasizes the endurance and preservation of Jewish identity among diverse groups throughout history.
Do the Khazars have a direct lineage to numerous contemporary Jewish populations?
Some argue that the Khazars are the ancestors of many modern Jews, particularly those of Ashkenazi descent, and that their conversion to Judaism has resulted in a special attachment to the Holy Land and Jerusalem. How does their argument go?
The argument that the Khazars are the ancestors of many modern Jews, particularly Ashkenazi Jews, provides a fascinating historical perspective on Jewish ancestry and the attachment to the Holy Land. Proponents of this view trace the lineage of a significant portion of modern Jews to the Khazar Empire and its conversion to Judaism, which resulted in a lasting connection to Jerusalem and the land of Israel.
The Khazars were a powerful Turkic people who established an empire in modern-day Russia, Ukraine, and the Caucasus between the 7th and 10th centuries. In the 8th or 9th century, many Khazars converted to Judaism as a strategic move to position themselves between the Christian Byzantine Empire and Islamic Caliphates.
Many historians argue that the Khazar conversion to Judaism involved large segments of the population, not just the nobility. The Khazars eventually became a Jewish nation, practicing Jewish laws and customs. This made them a unique case of a Jewish state in Eastern Europe, far from traditional Jewish centers.
After the Khazar Empire fell in the 10th century, many Jewish Khazars migrated westward into Europe, settling in regions like Poland, Ukraine, and Hungary. They eventually became the ancestors of the Ashkenazi Jewish population in Eastern Europe.
The Khazar origin of many Ashkenazi Jews contributed to the growth of Jewish populations in Eastern Europe during the Middle Ages. The migration of Khazars after their empire fell, along with their established Jewish identity, helped establish Jewish life in these areas. Some believe a significant portion of Ashkenazi Jews can trace their roots back to Khazar ancestry, as they integrated into the broader Jewish world and contributed to Jewish culture and practices.
The Khazar conversion to Judaism instilled in them the central tenets of the faith, including the importance of the Holy Land and Jerusalem. This connection was passed down through generations, leading to a special attachment among their descendants—modern Ashkenazi Jews—to Israel. The Khazar lineage reinforced a sense of Jewish identity that maintained a longing for the Holy Land even while living in diaspora.
The Khazar ancestry theory explains the strong connection between Ashkenazi Jews and Israel. It suggests that many Ashkenazi Jews are descended from the Khazars, who converted to Judaism centuries ago, creating a historical and religious bond with Jerusalem and Israel.
The Khazar theory enhances Jewish history by showing how different peoples have contributed to the Jewish diaspora while maintaining a shared religious and cultural heritage centered on the Holy Land. The Khazars played a key role in shaping Eastern European Jews, particularly Ashkenazi Jews, and their conversion to Judaism created a lasting connection to the Holy Land that still impacts Jewish identity.
ABRAHAMIC THEOLOGY 