This book is a long lost favourite of the writers of whispersinear, not only because it gives a clear roadmap to understanding WHO SoNiNis People (meaning The Bantu Tribes of Southern Africa), are today. But also we enjoy the book because its simple language style, it is very easy to understand and as we shall see, you can use this book to recognise The Tribes by identifying them by their sins ! True markers like language and generational sin, is THE tool in discerning who is who now, and who was who back in the day. So if you dare to come with us, you will find some location speculations, and perhaps to find your tribe and their sins who knows, lets dive ! This will be long one !
Now academics argue fiercely about authenticity this and intent that, stating the work was written late etc, mixing Greek with early `Semitic` languages. None of this matters as it has surely has been written off old Hebrew (Sotho) or even older Aram (Aramaic) works, later refurbished by Greeks or others with perhaps limited linguistic knowledge on the mother tongue they did translate from. And translate someone indeed did. Irregardless of the translation questions, somehow (which is miracolous) by the very hand of SoNiNi it has survived for us to read today. The Book tells the story about all of The 12 Tribes of The Promised Land, and what would become of them in the Land and what would be their Tribes particular sin of choice or inheritance, ie - what they would struggle with come the future. If you look for SoNiNis people on the continent you will see, depending on how far they have gone from His Commandments, you will see what struggles they have endured, you will see what struggles they have now. And the saints are struggling now more than ever, we need righteous and sound teachings, and get rid of churches filled with idols.
Now the book contains the words of each of Jacobs 12 sons on their death bed or close to dying. Now academics and scholars will tell you these testaments are fanciful, apocryphal or pseudepigraphal works, meaning they don't quite know what to make of them. So it goes like this, Let's put a label on them and get these ideas contained in a box. They will do this on account of not being able rightly discern what is inspired or not inspired by SoNiNi. The Spirit in us at this site tells us to read a certain book, gather information then call a more sound judgement. And we are not the first people to call these books inspired, like for instance this book was included in the Armenian Bible from 1666 and also others before and after this. Unless a church comes along and tells you this book is of the devil and should be burned, you are left with little to no choice but to disregard it. Luckily, we still have the people that want to do the research and for now we enjoy platforms on the vast internet make us able to share as we like. This seems to be a for know situation.
The original scripts are in Greek (Koine) and ancient Hebrew (similar to northern Sotho). The problem is these books got out very late from the continent of Africa, so naturally western scholars don't quite know what to make of them. First translated by a Robert Grosseteste (1168-1253) in Latin, he was convinced the book was important and certainly inspired by SoNiNi. Now Grosseteste, who almost received a knighthood (Grosseteste means Bighead in Latin), was however crushed by his piers and contemporaries, and they even went so far as to call the book a Christian forgery... Much of these sentiments has remained !
Now as we have alluded to earlier, an academic or person set against the will of SoNiNi will argue with you until he is red soon come blue in the face about authenticity. Pay him or her no mind, retouched by Christian Greeks or written off an early Bantu language, it does not matter. What matters is we have it and the information it gives, is inspired by SoNiNi.
One of the trademarks of writings inspired by SoNiNi is the focus on the Law and ethics, which means adhering to SoNiNis commandments, like Immanuel (uMsindisi) pleaded with us to do. This will remove most the undecided and backsliding Christians straight off the bat, because according to them the Law was done away with... Hence you can do what you want right?
The Testament of the 12 starts out very precise leaving no room for doubt of the sin in question, virtue or vice, being done as a bad trait before SoNiNi. Now the New Testament values does ring very clear in this book, and a quote by Robert Henry Charles (1855-1931) the translator of The Testament (Charles, 1908:17):
"...the main, the overwhelming value of the book lies ... in its ethical teaching, which has achieved a real immortality by influencing the thoughts and diction of the writers of the New Testament, and even those of our Lord."
Charles interestingly also writes that the Testament may help to bridge peoples understanding of the Old and New Testament, as they do seem to put emphasise on several New Testament beliefs and the ethical teachings we find there. We find things like Love SoNiNi with all your life or with a true heart, love one another from the heart, and be merciful if anyone sin against you (speak peacefully to him), do not hide your soul in guile, if someone repents forgive them, don't get into passionate and fruitless debates, love your neighbour and SoNiNi, stay away from anger which is blindness to the soul and stay away from hatred which is evil.
So we find plenty of New Testament beliefs, either woven into the work by later authors having in dept knowledge about the Bantu people, or it is describing the Bantu as they were back then. The Book is really 12 separate books, that each of the Father of his Tribe in question, gives a narration of his own life, with focus on strength, virtue and even more on sin. There is a strong encouragement to emulate the one and stay away from the other.
On the left you see the mothers of which son all from the same Man that is Jacob, and notice Rachel, which was the one wife Jacob loved and favoured, she only had two sons. And off the line of Joseph came Immanuel who is uMsinidsi our Saviour, as we know he is the one who shows us the Father SoNiNi, and if you let Him into your heart, they both will come and live with your soul. Enough preaching lets dive already!
The sons of Leah; Reuben (firstborn), Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar & Zebulun
The sons of Rachel; Joseph and Benjamin (last-born)
The sons of Bilhah, Rachel's handmaid; Dan and Naphtali
The sons of Zilpah, Leah's handmaid; Gad and Asher
Reuben - ROBENI (Leah)
Lets start this off with the same order of appearance as they appear by birth, with firstborn Reuben or Robeni in Nguni languages. The Testament of Robeni is predominantly concerned with LUST, after the sinfulness Reuben got after having sex with Bilhah (his fathers concubine). Seemingly Reuben warns about the dangers of fornication, as he spied on Bilhah bathing and when she got drunk he rapes her. How do we identify Reuben today? Well thats the investigation isn't it, which of the tribes currently in South Africa can be of Reuben? Keeping this sin in mind, and if you live in South Africa, you should be able to start drawing a picture of tribes or people that regularly commit rape.
Like we said earlier the Nugni languages Reuben would have sounded like Robeni, meaning He has looked on me , we can read more in Genesis 29,32:
32 Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Reuben, for she said, “It is because SoNiNi has seen my misery. Surely my husband will love me now.”
Judging by the sin, we can find many such customary laws for intermarriage in the family after an untimely death or a given reason to take on a family member.
But sadly only going after fornication or lust is not enough to make any sound judgement on who Reuben historically might be today. Fornication is endemic in many Africa cultures and especially in South Africa. So What about Reubens coat-of-arms, or the Tribe of Robenis Totem? We know it was a Mandrake, from Genesis 30 where young Reuben brought his Mother Leah mandrakes from the field.
This is taken from the verse (Deuteronomy 33,6):
“Let Robeni live and not die, nor his people be few.”
Now The Book of Joshua talks about Robenis territory, which was close to Gada and Manasseh (kinda had two land allotments) on the EASTERN side of the Jordan (now we use the Senqu River, or Orange River, as the Great River Jordan). We also have oty account for thre Dead Sea in this, if it was a name for the Ancient Sea to the East or a now large body of water that is dried up. Robeni was allocated land to the East of the Dead Sea it says. Not only Robeni, but also Gada and Manasseh (a half tribe that was located two places at an earlier time) was to be found on the eastern side of the River Jordan and the Dead Sea (and the plains of Madaba)
Some Say Robenis land went all the way into central Africa (like Kenya or Uganda), that may be but we just don't have enough information at this point to confirm it with locations. But we will figure out these old border stones with time. Now it may not have been that far up because the border between Gada and was considered to be north of Robeni, Dibon and Aroer was a part of Gada (Numbers 32,34) but these cities belonged to Robeni according to Joshua 13,16-16. So it seems the borders would change at times.
Simeon - SOMONI (Leah)
We continue with The Testament of Simeon or Somoni or SoNiNi hears me, is a written epos against ENVY. Now if we read in Genesis 29,33:
33 She conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “Because SoNiNi heard that I am not loved, he gave me this one too.” So she named him Somoni."
Somoni tried to explain the sin of envy and jealousy, with Somoni really wanting his brother Joseph to die. The story goes with the fact that it was Juda that sold his brother into slavery, and that Joseph embodied virtue and generosity for his actions. We read in 5,4-6 that Somoni did have a degree of interbreeding in the family going on (Numbers 25).
Furthermore it talks about Somoni and the attach on Shechem, which made tensions between Levi and Somoni. Now during their wanderings in the desert Somoni was the strongest of all the tribes, but later would become weakened after great losses during the battles for The Promised Land. Somoni was eventually absorbed by Juda, inland Free State, parts of Eastern Cape and perhaps parts of old Basotholand. At its strongest, the land lay southwest of Kanaaland, and bordered on the East of Juda (but later they kinda absorbed one another).
Now attempting to reconstruct the Territory of Somoni, you can use Joshua 19,2-9 and I Chronicles 4,28-32, here we see town that belonged to Somoni, in Joshua 15,20-30 that will list these same towns as a part of Judas territory, which must have been closer to todays Bethlehem.
Now there was safe to say little bit of a competition going on between Leah and Rachel, obviously a fierce one if you read the Genesis stories. Leah felt that Somoni was a gift, and she said she was not worthy this gift, isipho Somoni (gift to an unworthy).
Levi - LEVA (Leah)
The Testament of Levi or Leva (attached to Me), is certainly different and is the longest sections of all the Brothers. We read in Genesis 30
34 Again she conceived, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “Now at last my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” So he was named Leva.
Now to what was Levas problem, concerned with the things that go with being a priest was, well, to be blunt...just plain arrogance. Being the priest of SoNiNi would quite easily go to your head if your feet are not planted firmly on the ground. The Testament confirms how they all became corrupted by their office position and with an arrogant disregard for proper regulations, kinda like people in South African government these days. Another topic surely, but we wont go there. We have seen the plans SoNiNi has put in place for those that corrupt and throw down.
If we read chapter 2-8 we see Leva being taken to Heaven where he is promised Priesthood forever, with Seven angels giving Leva the insignia of Priesthood (like also described in Exodus). If we read on chapter 14-18 clearly cites Book of Enoch, describing the sins of his descendants with a promise of a glorious priest or Saviour that would restore the righteousness of the Levite position. Furthermore Leva talks about the raid on Shechem (most likely in the Eastern Cape) and Jacobs proposal of a marriage between Shechem and Dina.
In Xhosa when a torn is attached to your flesh it is called iLeva. Now we see that Levites was not given a territory of their own (Numbers 1,53) and they were dispersed among all the other tribes. The Totem of Leva was the ephod (a measurement), an engraved vest with precious stones with names of all the tribes. Remember Leva did not really have his own land, he was serving SoNiNi at the Temple, which means they would have been close to Jerusalem. So Leva would have escaped after the ransacking of Jerusalem so very detailed and vividly described by Josephus. Immanuel said not one stone would be left upon another, and so many people got killed and was chased away from Jerusalem, it did not matter if it was priest, woman nor child. This would have lead Leva to escaped and disperse somewhere in the southern African territories.
In Deuteronomy 33,10 we read:
8 About Leva he said:“Your Thummim and Urim belong to your faithful servant. You tested him at Massa; you contended with him at the waters of Meriba.
9 He said of his father and mother, ‘I have no regard for them.’ He did not recognise his brothers or acknowledge his own children, but he watched over your word and guarded your covenant. 10 He teaches your precepts to Jacob and your law to Israel. He offers incense before you and whole burnt offerings on your altar. 11 Bless all his skills, SoNiNi, and be pleased with the work of his hands. Strike down those who rise against him, his foes till they rise no more.”
Juda - Yehuda (Leah)
The Testament of Juda or Yehuda, comes with a word and shout for praise, Yahuza kinda, only its Yehoodha, like ululating and praising, this name would be Judas praise name. Juda was Leahs last child, and the story goes the same like we know in Genesis 29,35:
35 "She conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “This time I will praise SoNiNi.” So she named him Juda. Then she stopped having children."
This book is primarily concerned with courage, greedy for money and fornication. Now if that does not sum up your average African American, I know not what does. Sorry folks, but in Babylon, were some of you live these days, these are the sins you can revel in to with almost no limits.
Now Juda had liver (unesibindi) meaning he was courageous in front of wild animals, and the many military conquests having inherited these traits from Jacob. However Juda seems to be very Xenophobic, to much focused on his own race and openly critiquing a non-Bantu marriage. Remember another who did this, was Aarons sister Miriam did this and SoNiNi turned her skin white with leprosy (something we are going to talk more about in the future, not for the faint hearted). Now Juda also slept with Tamar who was his daughter-in-law, she was pretending to be a prostitute. This narrative says Juda got drunk and slept with Tamar and his wife, he also bribed his wife's father in order to marry her (like an initial Lobola negotiations behind closed doors). It goes on to explain that Judas role was that of a King, and that role is lesser then a priest and Levi should be lifted up more. Judas symbol we know well, The Tribe of Judah displayed a Lion, the most powerful of the Beasts of the Field and they used to roam freely in and around Judas land and the city of Bethlehem, not so much these days. A Lion is the symbol of strength and is one of the most frequent mentioned in the Scriptures, 130 times with different names, like Genesis 49,8-9:
“Juda, your brothers will praise you; your hand will be on the neck of your enemies: your father’s sons will bow down to you. You are a lion’s whelp Juda; you return from the prey, my son. Like a lion he crouches and lies down, like a lioness—who dares to rouse him?
Or like this in Deuteronomy 33,7:
7 And this he said about Juda: “Hear, SoNiNi, the cry of Juda; bring him to his people. With his own hands he defends his cause. Oh, be his help against his foes!”
Now in its heyday Juda was the leading Tribe, and had a large territory except for a smaller piece in the North East (remember down from Juda) occupied by Benjamin (or today would be spread among Xhosas, Thembu and Pondo), and Somoni was not far away towards the South West. Interestingly it says Juda said both Bethlehem and Hebron was within his borders, which would make Judas territory vast. Now the parts of the Negev (not the desert), to the south (we feel that may have been up into Africa) was pasture land. Then came Sepelele (meaning the lowlands or at home in the lowlands) was mostly coastal regions, between the mountains and the Great Sea or where it met the Ancient Sea to the East. The wilderness was supposed to be a barren region (perhaps the Kalahari desert as we spoke about before being the Negev) right next to the Dead Sea. The Hill country of Juda was very fertile, and a big part of that is called Highveld today, so named in the latest conqueror language. In Scriptures they produced grain, olives, grapes and others, all of the fruits giving oil and wine.
Dan - Dana (Bilhah)
The Testament of Dan is mainly focused on anger and lying, with the main vice being set in anger. In Genesis 30,6 we read more about how these women was fighting amongst themselves:
1 When Rachel saw that she was not bearing Jacob any children, she became jealous of her sister. So she said to Jacob, “Give me children, or I’ll die!”
2 Jacob became angry with her and said, “Am I in the place of God, who has kept you from having children?”
3 Then she said, “Here is Bilhah, my servant. Sleep with her so that she can bear children for me and I too can build a family through her.”
4 So she gave him her servant Bilhah as a wife. Jacob slept with her, 5 and she became pregnant and bore him a son. 6 Then Rachel said, “God has vindicated me; he has listened to my plea and given me a son.” Because of this she named him Dana.
Now Dana to the disappointment as it were, in this whole competition between Leah and Rachel so the name means (vindication or disappointment). Rachel basically had Jacob sleep with Bilhah, as a way to get back at her sister for bearing so many children, remember Rachel was barren.
Now talking specifically about a people today that revels in this particular sin, are Zulus (Shaka). Now when it comes to areas in the Promised Land, Zulus seem to be in the Land of Naphtali (Nobuhlali), but this sin we would go so far as to say they have mastered to the art of near perfected. Now the brother Dan first explains these feelings of anger, rooted in jealousy towards his more favoured brother Joseph. Now the Spirit of anger tempted him in committing murder towards his Brother Joseph, but SoNiNi did not deliver Joseph into Danas hands. Dana goes deep into how the Spirit of anger works, how it covers your eyes, distorts the vision, and you cannot see people for who they are when the vision is compromised like that. Now Dana is pouring his heart out here and drawing on the experiences he had with his brother. Anger disturbs the mind is such a way that SoNiNi departs from it when it runs hot and Beliar (satan) takes over.
According to Deuteronomy 33,22:
22 About Dan he said: “Dan is a lion’s cub, springing out of Bashan.”
Dana pleads then with his children to keep the commandments of SoNiNi, and to stay near SoNiNi. Dana also prophecies and makes predictions, including exiles and returns. Dan also says a Saviour (uMsindisi) will come from Leva and Juda and will set the souls free from Beliar (Satan). Dana reminds his sons to stay close to SoNiNI, and that they must listen to Danas interceding angel and the Saviour of Gentiles and Hebrews. If they would listen to Dana his children will receive uMsindisi and will be saved.
Dana area would stretch from Jaffa and to the south, remember Samson came from the Tribe of Dana. Dana looked for other places to settle and moved north towards the source of the River Jordan (Lesotho, Free State, Eastern Cape and KwaZulu Natal), they captured Laish and settled there. Danas totem is a pair of justice scales, although in modern images a snake has coiled around it.
In Jacobs blessing Dana is promised (Genesis 49,16):
“Dan will provide justice for his people as one of the tribes of Israel. 17 Dan will be a snake by the roadside, a viper along the path, that bites the horse’s heels so that its rider tumbles backward.
Naphtali - Nobuhlai (Bilhah)
The Testament of Nobuhlali (with wrestling) has certain elements of apocalypse in them. It starts with a genealogy of Bilhah (her father Rotheus). In this book there are visions her with Levi seizing the sun and Juda taking the moon. The Name means wrestling, which is what Rachel said she did with her sister Leah, remember Bilhah is the mother of Nobuhlali.
As we read in Genesis 30,7:
7 Rachel’s servant Bilhah conceived again and bore Jacob a second son.8 Then Rachel said, “I have had a great struggle with my sister, and I have won.” So she named him Naphtali."
Going back to the visions in this book, we see a young man with 12 palm branches, that might be a reference to the 12 Apostles. In the vision Joseph takes a bull and rides it. Nobuhlali has another dream in which he sees a stormed sea and his brothers being separated.
Nobuhlali also talks about sexual relations and trying to stay away from promiscuity. A copy of Nobuhlalis Testament was included in the Komga (Qumra) Scrolls, that somehow ended up at the Dead Sea in the Middle East (but that is another story certainly). Nobuhlali settled in the North the Scriptures say, we have thought Land of Natal or parts of KwaZulu Natal but we cannot use the new lines in the maps to find the correct boundaries. However Nobuhlalis land does say it has a big lake to the south of it, now this makes things both interesting and complicated. Nobuhlali played a central role among all his neighbouring tribes that was located around him. Nobuhlali has an Eland or Gazelle looking animal on his Totem.
As we read in Genesis 49,21:
"Nobuhlali is a hind let loose"
As we read in Deuteronomy 33,23:
23 About Naphtali he said: “Naphtali is abounding with the favour of SoNiNi and is full of his blessing; he will inherit southward to the lake.”
Now placing Nobuhlali on the map is not easy, it says he settled on the Eastern Side of the Galillee (upper and lower Galilee), the border was shared with Asher in the west, Dana in the North, Zebulwane in the South (which must have been by the coast hence north and south have interchanged), and the River Jordan cutting all up in the East. The biggest city they had was Hazor.
Bordering the Sea of Galillee one could find the extremely fertile place that was Gennesaret, which Josephus called the ambition of Nature an earthly Paradise. This southern (or northern tip) called Mamre or the Cape today in the Western Cape, would have been a natural pass into the mountains of Kanaan, with several old and great rods going up to big cities places like Damaskus and Tyre.
Gad - Gada (Zilpa)
This Testament beings with explanations of Gadas hatred for his brother Joseph, but in chapter 2 you can see the father of Gadas change of heart:
As we read in Genesis 30,9:
9 When Leah saw that she had stopped having children, she took her servant Zilpah and gave her to Jacob as a wife.10 Leah’s servant Zilpah bore Jacob a son.11 Then Leah said, “What good fortune!” So she named him Gada."
Gada, which means good fortune (gad), changes his tune completely and says, I exhort you my children, love each one his brother and put away hatred from your hearts. The emphasis is to put away hatred from your heart and love all your brothers. Now Gada settled in the Land of Gilead (that housed the Balm of Gilead as well), which was east of Jordan, which would put it Close to Moab (parts of Mozambique, Kwazulu Natal, Eswatini and further inland) and Amon. Now Gada did battle with both Amon and Moab who came from the South, some wandering tribes in the East and Aram in the North.
We can read in Genesis 49,19:
“Gada will be attacked by a band of raiders, but he will attack them at their heels.
Furthermore in Deuteronomy 33,20:
20 About Gada he said: “Blessed is he who enlarges Gada’s domain! Gada lives there like a lion, tearing at arm or head. 21 He chose the best land for himself; the leader’s portion was kept for him. When the heads of the people assembled, he carried out SoNiNis righteous will, and his judgments concerning Israel.”
As is the case with Gada, Robeni and Manasse, Moses gave them land on the East side of the River Jordan and the Dead Sea (Joshua 13,24-28). So then it seems the tribe of Gada was located kinda in the middle of those three, east of Ephraim and West of Manasseh...
Asher - Ashe (Zilpa)
This Testament is the shortest of the lot, and unlike the other books we are not at someones deathbed here. Ashe means to be happy or its more of a call out for happiness, Ashe! Ashe! This books talks mainly about two ways to live, and choosing to follow the truth with a singleness in your faith is a very New Testament thought and sounds like it comes straight from uMsindisi.
We read more in Genesis 30,12 about the naming of Ashe:
12 Leah’s servant Zilpah bore Jacob a second son.13 Then Leah said, “How happy I am! The women will call me happy.” So she named him Ashe.
Now the coastal strip from the foothills of Mount Carmel in the Western Cape and all the way up to Mount Hermon (Sidon) was and still is Ashe countryside. Now the fertile valleys of in these parts of South Africa are littered with Olive Gardens and Vineyards, and the Totem of Ashes land was the Olive Tree.
As Genesis 49,20 says:
"Asher’s food will be rich; he will provide delicacies fit for a king.
Furthermore we read in Deuteronomy 33,24-29:
24 About Asher he said:“Most blessed of sons is Ashe; let him be favoured by his brothers, and let him bathe his feet in oil. 25 The bolts of your gates will be iron and bronze, and your strength will equal your days.
26 “There is no one like the God of Jeshurun, who rides across the heavens to help you and on the clouds in his majesty. 27 The Eternal is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. He will drive out your enemies before you, saying, ‘Destroy them!’ 28 So Israel will live in safety; Jacob will dwell secure in a land of grain and new wine, where the heavens drop dew. 29 Blessed are you, Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by SoNiNi? He is your shield and helper and your glorious sword. Your enemies will cower before you, and you will tread on their heights.”
Issachar - Isaka (Leah)
This Testament is about self-discipline, which is something to be held in high esteem according to Isaka, even a virtue. His name means something to the equivalent to He purchased me (Isaka) or SoNiNi has given me my wages (payed off kinda). The story goes like this in Genesis 30,14:
14 During wheat harvest, Robeni went out into the fields and found some mandrake plants, which he brought to his mother Leah. Rachel said to Leah, “Please give me some of your son’s mandrakes.”
15 But she said to her, “Wasn’t it enough that you took away my husband? Will you take my son’s mandrakes too?” “Very well,” Rachel said, “he can sleep with you tonight in return for your son’s mandrakes.”
16 So when Jacob came in from the fields that evening, Leah went out to meet him. “You must sleep with me,” she said. “I have hired you with my son’s mandrakes.” So he slept with her that night.
17 SoNiNi listened to Leah, and she became pregnant and bore Jacob a fifth son. 18 Then Leah said, “SoNiNi has rewarded me for giving my servant to my husband.” So she named him Isaka.
The story beings with the retelling of the Mandrake story, where Leahs buys Jacobs nocturnal activities (sorry for that slang but it was almost a bribe) for a night by giving the Mandrakes to Rachel. Now Rachel is here portrayed as virtuous for being more chaste and ability to wait for longer than Leah.
Moving on we see that Isaka portrays himself as a living godly and agricultural life, a simple life based on genesis 49,14-15. We see that Isaka loved the land with such intent that he bent his shoulder to the burden and became a farmer for hire even. Now Isaka territory went from the Plain of Esdraelon, from the Great Sea to the Banks of the Jordan. Isaka and Zebulon (he was a costal dweller) is often mentioned together, which means they were close neighbours and did maintain their close relations.
We see the emblem of The tribe of Isaka as the sun and stars (and the Donkey), taken from the phrase in I Chronicles 12,32:
"And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times."
Now from other representations we see that there was a link between Isaka and the Phoenician tradesmen (up the East African Coast), who the tribe traded with extensively. Carrier of loads as a donkey or a laden camel. But here comes the problem, Joshua says Isakas territory went from Jordan River in the East to Mount Carmel in the West, near the Coast. With Manasse both on the east and west, Zebulwane to the north on the coast with Nobuhlali not far off.
Zebulon - Zebulwane (Leah)
Zebulwane was the 6th son of Leah and Jacob, his name means dwelling (bulwane) like an animals that stay put in the same place and takes a long time to move to another spot. And This guy was very clever hey, we see him described as an inventor (Zebulon 1-6):
"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. 2 And he said to them: Hearken to me, ye sons of Zebulun, attend to the words of your father. 3 I, Zebulun, was born a good gift to my parents. 4 For when I was born my father was increased very exceedingly, both in the flocks and herds, when with the straked rods he had his portion. 5 I am not conscious that I have sinned all my days, save in thought. 6 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, because they had all agreed that if any one should declare the secret, he should be slain."
Now if we see Zebulwanes seaboard and symbol on his emblem (totem), we must conclude that Zebulon was close to the coast. If we see Zebulwanes land, it would have stretched to the southern end of the Sea of Gallilee (Eastern Border) then The Great Sea to the West as the other (meaning it was mostly coastal areas of South Africa. Isaka was to the South (meaning South was up in the old days), Ashe to the northwestern side (hard to explain) and Nobuhlai to the eastern side. Now according to the Book of Joshua, it must have looked something like that, parts of KwaZulu Natal, Eastern Cape and the Coast of the Western Cape was Zebulwanes area of land.
As we Read in Genesis 49,13:
“Zebulun will live by the seashore and become a haven for ships; his border will extend toward Sidon.
In Genesis 30,19 we read
19 Leah conceived again and bore Jacob a sixth son. 20 Then Leah said, “SoNiNi has presented me with a precious gift. This time my husband will treat me with honour, because I have borne him six sons.” So she named him Zebulun. 21 Some time later she gave birth to a daughter and named her Dinah."
As we can read in Deuteronomy 33,18:
18 About Zebulun he said: “Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going out, and you, Issachar, in your tents. 19 They will summon peoples to the mountain and there offer the sacrifices of the righteous; they will feast on the abundance of the seas, on the treasures hidden in the sand.”
Deeply prophetic Scriptures and sounds like there are things hidden in the sand for those that care to look in the coastal lands of Zebulwane. Now the ancient historian Josephus (that we can trust somewhat) said Zebulwanes territory was from Mount Carmel in the Western Cape and the Sea, it included parts of Jezreel valley, like a great highway from the sea to the lake (now which lake was that?). In these territories is where Immanuel was raised in the land of the Galillees (small harbours, like Gulleys). Now Joshua 19,10 says it started with Sarid, close to Nazareth (Perhaps the Lesotho one).
Joseph - Josipa (Rachel)
This testament talks allot about chastity, the ability to stay pure and seems much focused on when Josipa withstood the attacks of Potifars Egyptian wife lambasting him and trying her very best to seduce him. First he was threatened, then tortured, then flattered, then she plotted to kill her husband so Joseph could marry her without taking her as a second wife, then she used love potions and finally threatened to kill herself if she could not have her way. But Joseph stood still like a mountain, unmoved and faithful.
Now in Genesis 30,22 it goes like this at the birth of Joseph:
22 Then SoNiNi remembered Rachel; he listened to her and enabled her to conceive.23 She became pregnant and gave birth to a son and said, “SoNiNi has taken away my disgrace.”24 She named him Joseph, and said, “May SoNiNi add to me another son.”
More in Deuteronomy 33,13:
13 "About Joseph he said: “May SoNiNi bless his land with the precious dew from heaven above and with the deep waters that lie below; 14 with the best the sun brings forth and the finest the moon can yield; 15 with the choicest gifts of the ancient mountains and the fruitfulness of the everlasting hills; 16 with the best gifts of the earth and its fullness and the favour of him who dwelt in the burning bush. Let all these rest on the head of Joseph, on the brow of the prince among his brothers."
17 In majesty he is like a firstborn bull; his horns are the horns of a wild ox. With them he will gore the nations, even those at the ends of the earth. Such are the ten thousands of Ephraim; such are the thousands of Manasseh.”
Joseph was the central tribe in The Promised Land, which would split into Manasseh and Ephraim. Josephs lands was symbolised by a sheaf, probably barley or wheat.
As we read in Deuteronomy 33,13:
"...blessed of SoNiNi be his land"
Manasse and Ephraim formed the House of Joseph, Manasse spread from Jordan River and towards the coast, which would have been the centre of Western Cape (Western Kanaaland) with its corner at Mount Carmel (table Mountain) with neighbour tribes of Asher and Isaka, both up and away from the Coast. Now Manasse furthest to the East, was supposed to be the guys furthest up group of Bantus east of Jordan. The neighbours was Gada in the south, Nobuhlai and Isaka to the west. The land went from Mahanaim in the south to Mount Hermon in the north (see this is north again) this included the whole of Bashan. Now these places was supposed to be abundant with water, this may not be so factual today as water certainly is being withheld from parts of the Promised Land today. But you can see on the that once it truly was flowing. Now Manasse was left to defend two mountain passes, Edsraelon on the West of Jordan and Hauran on the East.
Ephraim, the other part of the House of Joseph, was at the centre of Kanaan, west of the Jordan, south of Manasse, and north of Benjamin, this region may later have been renamed later on as being Samaria, with plenty mountains and somewhat fertile soils that would be Eprahims blessings. Now if we read our Bible Ephraims territory would entail places like Shiloh (eastern Cape) and Shechem (also in eastern Cape). Joshua 16,1-4 gives these borders given to the children of Joseph, meaning both Eprahim and Manasse (Joshua 16,5-8). The place called Bethel was given to Benjamin, in Judges Deborah describes Bethel as being in the land of Ephraim.
Benjamin - Benyameni or Benyoni (Rachel)
Benjamins testament reads much like a continuation of Joseph, and talks about how Joseph was sold into slavery to the Ishmaelites. Benyoni (flying piece of my soul) or Benyameni (My pain or my right hand) warns his descendants against deceit and again, against fornication. Benjamin was Jacobs favourite son and remains the symbol of the youngest and most tender of his children. The tribe was on all accounts warlike and courageous. From this root came the likes of Saul, Israels first King and his son Jonathan. Their totem or tribe symbol was a wolf, from the phrase in Genesis 49,27:
"...in the morning he shall devour the prey"
Benyoni was the youngest son of Jacob and Rachel. The tribe was located in the North of Juda but to the South of the Kingdom (but remember this must include Bethlehem which is still there on maps, but would be in the far south, which means the directions in the Scriptures seems to have been changed, another topic we know). If we read these instructions we must put them North or South of Lesotho. Several Xhosas in the Eastern Cape has had historical ties to Benjamin, even local and oral legends tells these stories. Benyonis name can also be read as Son of the South which is strange as Benjamin was supposed to be a part of the northern Kingdom, the southern edge of the northern Kingdom.
Benyameni (meaning of the flesh or right hand) was north of Juda, and became a part of the southern Kingdom after the Promised Land split into two Kingdom (hence northern and southern Sotho, just follow the language you will find them). Now the story goes that Benyameni the name his father changed it to, after Juda was decimated during the siege of Jerusalem by Babylonians, was almost wiped out and Benyoni as a tribe, was seemingly relocated or absorbed.
Now if we read this Genesis story, we can see its a very painful one, Rachel does die in that the birth of Benyoni and naming him immediately son of my pain or as renamed by Jacob Benyameni son of my flesh (Genesis 35,16-18).
Deuteronomy 33,12:
12 About Benjamin he said:
“Let the beloved of SoNiNi rest secure in him, for he shields him all day long, and the one SoNiNi loves rests between his shoulders.”
In Closing
Eish poor Jacob, having to handle 4 women and each one their ways, hopefully not all of them was under under the same roof, those who know will know. In closing on this by now rather lengthy post (apologies for that but we even shortened it). We can add a few things and see that these Testaments does also include a certain amount of Prophecy concerning the coming of uMsindisi. Now this is where the academics loose their good senses, if it predates our Saviour it is certainly a prophetic book and should even be in our Bibles. Just look at this passage in Levi 5,21-22):
"The heavens shall be opened, and from the temple of glory shall come upon him sanctification, with the Father's voice as from Abraham to Isaac. And the glory of the Most High shall be uttered over him, and the spirit of understanding and sanctification shall rest upon him in the water."
Compare this to Matthew 3,16-17:
As soon as Immanuel was baptised, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of SoNiNi descending like a dove and lighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."
Choice of words seem impeccably chosen. Furthermore we see that RH Charles, the translator of the testaments Books from Greek to English, made more comparisons to writings in the New Testament.
1 Thessalonians 2,14-16:
14 "For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators of SoNiNis churches in Judea, which are in uMsindisi: You suffered from your own people the same things those churches suffered from the Hebrews 15 who killed uMsindisi and the prophets and also drove us out. They displease SoNiNi and are hostile to everyone 16 in their effort to keep us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. In this way they always heap up their sins to the limit. The wrath of SoNiNi has come upon them at last."
Levi 6,3-5:
3 "The light of knowledge shalt thou light up in Jacob, And as the sun shalt thou be to all the seed of Israel. 4 And there shall be given to thee a blessing, and to all thy seed, Until SoNiNi shall visit all the Gentiles in His tender mercies for ever. 5 And therefore there have been given to your counsel and understanding, That you might instruct your sons concerning this; 6 Because they that bless Him shall be blessed, And they that curse Him shall perish."
We can see the similarities with Levi and Pauls letter to the Thessalonians, the use of language is similar. There are other examples in Levi ass well with Pauls writings in general, as we shall see just now.
Now the deeply concerning thing is there are people coming out of Americas (Babylon) with good teachings about geographical locations in The Promised Land, but very strange doctrines about who was who in The Old Israel (who the Bantus were and who their enemies were). They talk about the notion that the lineage of Cain (yes the lineage that was ended by the flood) today consists of white people and that they (somehow being priests and tribes of Levi back in the day of black Bantus), killed uMsindisi. This would off course be contradictory and against Paul, as he wrote that the Bantu basically became enemies of the Gospel, after they shouted: let his blood be upon us and our children.... Which may be hard for any ears to hear. You will notice those with teachings such as that has a bad smelling odour of hate and blame, and will not have a to high opinion of Paul or they misreading him severely. As Peter said people would do, because his teachings are not what they seem, he does not tell you to abandon the Law or that it was done away with at the Stake (cross). Read them again people and get in line with what Paul truly is saying. A man that suffered for his previous life of persecution and sin, he walked and breathed with uMsindisi's grace. These teachings from Americas however use Colour and genetics as the distinction of who was behind the ultimate blood being shed at the stake.
But, Is not the whole point this, aren't we all guilty of at least something? Instead of going out of your way looking for where to put the blame of all the sin in this world at this point in time. Someone must be held accountable, Its not me, therefore it must be you. Anyone that has started their walk with uMsindisi will be confronted with his own pride and shortcomings, even Peter who said he would die for uMsindisi was put back in his place and had to admit he was wrong, not once but 3 times he denied him. This little segment should probably have been a post of its own, because in no way are the Gentiles innocent, that is not the point here. Neo Colonialism is a mad and sad chapter in African history, the more you look the more you want to look away. So perhaps this will grow into a topic of its own. Now to us it is disturbing nonetheless to see people take the name of SoNiNi on their lips, and use their platform to spread such teachings about Paul. As a wise and very black man once said: if yall gotta problem with Paul, Yall Gotta problem with the Gospel!
More similarities in Romans 12,21:
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Compare with Benjamin 4,3:
4 1 See ye, therefore, my children, the end of the good man? Be followers of his compassion, therefore, 2 with a good mind, that ye also may wear crowns of glory. For the good man hath not 3 a dark eye; for he shows mercy to all men, even though they be sinners.
Here follows more from Paul, the man that some people will not listen to because he is simply misread and not understood fully, these words everyone can understand though, 2 Corinthians 7,10:
10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. 11 See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter. 12 So even though I wrote to you, it was neither on account of the one who did the wrong nor on account of the injured party, but rather that before SoNiNi you could see for yourselves how devoted to us you are.13 By all this we are encouraged."
Compare that with Gada 5,7:
He speaks not against a holy man, because the fear 5 of SoNiNi overcomes hatred. For fearing lest he should offend SoNiNi, he will not do wrong to any 6, 7 man, even in thought. These things I learnt at last, after I had repented concerning Joseph. For true repentance after a godly sort [destroyed ignorance, and] drives away the darkness, and 8 enlightens the eyes, and giveth knowledge to the soul, and leads the mind to salvation. And 9 those things which it hath not learnt from man, it knows through repentance. For SoNiNi brought upon me a disease of the liver; and had not the prayers of Jacob my father succoured me, it had 10 hardly failed but my spirit had departed, For by what things a man transgress, by the same also 11 is he punished."
Same themes, slighty different writing style. Lets do one last one from Letter to the Ephesians 5,6:
6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things SoNiNi’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient.7 Therefore do not be partners with them."
Compare that to The Testament of Nobuhlali 3,1:
1 "Be you, therefore, not eager to corrupt your doings through covetousness or with vain words to beguile your souls; because if you keep silence in purity of heart, you shall understand how to hold 2 fast the will of SoNiNi, and to cast away the will of Beliar.
Sun and moon and stars change not their 3 order; so you also change not the law of SoNiNi in the disorderliness of your doings. The Gentiles went astray, and forsook SoNiNi, and changed their order, and obeyed stocks and stones, spirits of 4 deceit. But you shall not be so, my children, recognising in the firmament, in the earth, and in the sea, and in all created things, SoNiNi who made all things, that ye become not as Sodom, which 5 changed the order of nature. In like manner the Watchers also changed the order of their nature, whom SoNiNi cursed at the flood, on whose account He made the earth without inhabitants and fruitless."
Comments