Bible students are familiar with the fact that the ancient Kingdom of Israel was broken into two parts - the House of Israel and the House of Judah. In four invasions between 762 and 676 B.C., approximately six million people of the Kingdom of the House of Israel were transported north from Palestine by God's command at the hand of Assyria, to the southern coast of the Caspian Sea. In the years 607 to 587 B.C., several hundred thousand Israelites of the House of Judah were transported, according to the prophet Ezekiel, to the River Chebar in Babylon, from which less than 50,000 would ever return. From that time onward they are spoken of as 'lost' to history. Israel is spoken of as 'lost' even in New Testament Times (Matthew 10:6;15:24), by which we know that they had not returned to Palestine, but were yet in dispersion. Where did they go? The Bible mostly gives us information in the form of prophecies and promises, such as this recorded in II Samuel 7:10: "Moreover, I WILL APPOINT A PLACE for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and move no more; NEITHER SHALL THE CHILDREN OF WICKEDNESS AFFLICT THEM ANY MORE, AS BEFORETIME." By this we learn, first, that the House of Israel was to have a new dwelling place, a permanent new homeland, which would NOT be Palestine, since they were in Palestine when this prophecy was given. Secondly, God informs us that this move was necessary because they had to be removed from the morally perverting influence of "the children of wickedness."

So let's establish who these children of wickedness were, and just what their evil religion was, that was influencing - "rubbing off" on the House of Israel. If we can then trace through history and see what people present these same characteristics in their religion, worship, and way of life, we will be well on the way to proving the identity of lost latter-day Israel.

WHO WERE THE CHILDREN OF WICKEDNESS?

The original inhabitants of Palestine were the Canaanites, whose religion of Baal worship was so wicked that God told his people in Deuteronomy 7:1-5: When the LORD thy God shall bring thee into the land whither thou goest to possess it, and hath cast out many nations before thee, the Hittites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and mightier than thou; And when the LORD thy God shall deliver them before thee; thou shalt smite them, and utterly destroy them; thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor show mercy unto them: Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son. For they will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and destroy thee suddenly. But thus shall ye deal with them; ye shall destroy their altars, and break down their images, and cut down their groves, and burn their graven images with fire. For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth." The Fenton translation of verse 5 says, "you are a People separated from all the Peoples who are upon the face of the earth!" Bible dictionaries tell us that Baal worship included self-torture and human sacrifice, carried on in sacred groves; worship of the heavens, such as astrology and the Zodiac; and nature worship. These seven nations also had given no thought or desire to preserving their national separateness, which God had commanded Israel to do.

The Bible records the fact that Israel's resolve weakened and they did not destroy these peoples. (Joshua 16:10; Judges 10:6, etc.) God observed that His people were corrupted by heathen religion, and it angered Him. Since they would not remove the heathen, God instead physically removed Israel, driving His people away to another land called in Scripture a "wilderness " or uninhabited land (Isaiah 35, etc.) Thus, in I Kings 14:15, we read, "For the Lord shall smite Israel, as a reed is shaken in the water, and he shall root up Israel out of this good land, which he gave to their fathers, and shall scatter them beyond the river (Euphrates) because THEY HAVE MADE THEIR GROVES, provoking the Lord to anger." This is the kind of paganized worship that Israel was infused with at the time of their forced dispersion out of Palestine. In addition, both Israel nations were under the influence of Assyria and Babylon and their religious culture for a period of nearly a century, before finally moving northward to "an uninhabited land, where never mankind dwelt," according to the prophet Esdras. (Esdras 13:41) The descendants of the lost tribes of Israel, therefore, whoever they may be, must have exhibited religious elements of both ancient Israel, and of ancient Assyria and Babylon. We believe that the evidence presented in this study proves that the peoples of southern, western, and northern Europe all show the marks of Israel in their early religious customs, traditions, and practices.

I. THE ORIGINS OF NORSE MYTHOLOGY

A Link With Ancient Assyria and Babylon:

The original home of the Saxon race appears certain to have been in the East. The central figure of Norse mythology was the king known as Odin who, history records, led the Saxon tribes from their former home somewhere in Asia or the Near- East northwestward across Europe into Scandinavia. Alexander Hislop, in his book, "The Two Babylons," gives us a further explanation, which ties in with Odin's origin. Odin was the great Norse war God. The Assyrians and Babylonians dwelling in Asia Minor also had a war god, known as "Adon." In addition to this, the Hebrews used "Adon" as a word for "Lord," and Christ in the New Testament is referred to as "Adonai." The connection between 'Odin' and 'Adon' has been verified by Hebrew language scholar, Dr. Isaac Mozeson, in his book, 'The Word," in a discussion on page 15. Since Odin's name came from the Middle-Eastern word, 'Adon,' we see that the Saxon mythology had its origin when the House of Israel dwelt in Assyria and Judah in Babylon.

One of Odin's sons in Norse mythology is said to be called Balder, which Hislop states comes from the Chaldee form of "Baal-zer," the SEED OF BAAL. Quoting Alexander Hislop, "The Hebrew z, as is well known, frequently, in the later Chaldee, becomes d. Now, Baal and Adon both alike signify "LORD;" and, therefore, if Balder be admitted to be the seed or son of Baal, that is as much as to say that he is the son of Adon; and, consequently, Adon and Odin must be the same."

The name of Odin's other well-known son is Thor. Again to quote Mr. Hislop: "Now as Odin had a son called Thor, so the second Assyrian Adon had a son called Thouros (Cedrenus, vol. I, p.29). The name Thouros seems just to be another form of Zoro, or Doro, "the seed." (Lexicon, pars I. p.93). The D is often pronounced as Th, -Adon in the pointed Hebrew , being pronounced Athon."

The Babylonish 'Adon was regarded as the GOD OF WINE: Odin too, is represented as having no food but wine. This fact is established in the book, "Norse Mythology" by R.B. Anderson, published in 1879. In the 'Elder Edda' we read: "The illustrious father of armies, with his own hand, fattens his two wolves; but the victorious Odin takes no other nourishment to himself than what arises from the unintermittent quaffing of wine, for 'tis with wine only that Odin in arms renowned is nourished forever."

In addition, it is well known that the Norse religion involved worship in sacred groves, which were trees planted to simulate the walls of a temple. The Assyrians and Babylonians, too, had sacred groves for worship, as did other middle-eastern worshippers of Baal and other false gods. We pointed out already that the Bible states the Israelites, too, had adopted this form of worship at the outset of their wanderings out of Palestine.

Professor Hans Gunther, in his book, "Religious Attitudes Of the Indo-Europeans," finds much to admire in the Norse mythology, yet is led to admit that, "one perceives in him (Odin) the voice of an alien non-Nordic race." p.11 Professor Gunther goes on to associate certain aspects of Norse mythology with Babylon. (p.57) We know that the Saxon hero-king Odin was an actual person, and that his migration across Europe was an actual fact. But apparently, after Odin's death, the Saxon tribes elevated him to godhood, and worshipped him according to the religious customs they adopted while in the Near-East. This view is reinforced by H.M. Chadwick in "The Origin of the English," which tells us that Sigge, son of Fridulph, was a prince of the Saxons about 72 B.C. when he took the name of Odin. Why adopt that name? As the Gigla-Saga says, "Sometimes a chief's name referred to the God he especially worshipped." Thus, Odin shows us an amazing comparison between ancient Norse mythology and the religion of ancient Babylon.

SIMILARITIES OF NORSE AND BIBLICAL RELIGION:

Mr. Hislop ends his pursuit of the subject there, but I think it appropriate at this point to show that there are also other distinct similarities between Norse religion and that of the ancient Israelites as recorded in the Bible. In fact, from the numerous legends of Odin we learn many facts which lead to a comparison with both our heavenly father YHVH and Jesus. The tribes of Israel, before their dispersion, would have been familiar with the Old Testament prophecies of a coming Messiah. Many of these ancient beliefs would naturally remain with them in their traditions after their dispersion. Let us therefore compare Bible prophecies with some of the basic beliefs cherished by the ancient Norse.

The Bible contains over 100 prophecies relating to the coming of our God in the flesh (our "Immanuel," meaning 'God with us.') We find many of these in Norse mythology transferred to the historic character Odin. In our Bibles we read that our coming God was to be smitten as a sacrifice (Zechariah 13:7, as fulfilled in Matthew 36:31); that he was to be pierced (Zechariah 12:10 and fulfilled in John 19:37), but would have no broken bones (Psalm 34:20 and Exodus 12:46, where Passover is a type of Christ.) And whereas Christ was sacrificed on the tree (l Peter 2:24, where the word translated "cross" in our Bibles can simply be translated, 'a tree.') for nine hours, (Matthew 27:46 is a quotation from Psalm 22), Odin is said to have hung on a tree for nine days. Compare these Bible prophecies with a few lines of the Norse 'Elder Edda:'

Snorre Sturleson, interpreter of many Scandinavian legends, was author of the Heimskringla or Home Chronicles. He says that just before Odin died he let himself be marked (wounded) with a spear-point and said he was the owner of all men slain by weapons, and would go to Godheim (the world of the Gods) and there welcome his friends. When one recalls the closing scenes of the life of Christ it is remembered that He told His disciples that He must go to prepare a place for them, that where He was they might be also, and that He would be there to welcome them in His Father's mansions where they might come to dwell with Him forever. Also do not forget to consider the manner of the death of Christ, for He was wounded with a spear in the side as He hung on the cross.

Another important Norse God was Loki, the author of all evil, who was said to be of a swarthy complexion and originated in a land to the south. This is probably Israel's remembrance of the Edomites of Palestine, their ancient enemies.

The number twelve also must have been held in sacred significance to the Norse, for we read in "Germanic Origins," that Odin arrived in Svithoid (Scythia) with twelve pontiffs or chief priests. The presence of these twelve priests corresponds to the twelve disciples which Christ called to himself during His ministry; twelve being significant because of the twelve original tribes of Israel.

The Norse also practiced baptism of their infant children at the time they were named. The idea that no harm would thus come to them, also reminds us of the blood sprinkled on the doors of Israel in Egypt, which insured that they would not be harmed by the angel of death:

The Norse myths also recount a remarkable account of creation, which differs from the Bible in that the flood was said to be caused by the blood of a slain giant. (compare: Gen. 6:4, Bible "Nephilim" or giants). The world is wiped out in this catastrophe, with the exception of one household escaping on a skiff (ark), and from whom is descended the new race from which Odin came. Odin is also called the "Rafnagud," the raven-god, because he is said to have two ravens (Hugin and Munin) which he sends out into the world each day, returning at nightfall to tell him what they observed:

This bears an unmistakable similarity with the account in Genesis chapter eight of Noah sending two birds out into the world, one of them the raven which Noah was anxious for, because he did not return.

Odin is often referred to as "the Lawgiver." This is a title our Lord could well claim, who gave Moses upon Mt. Sinai the laws for the nation. There are many other interesting legends too numerous to tell, such as Thor conquering the serpent, while dying in the process. This was prophesied of Christ in Genesis 3:15, who conquered the serpent's seed by his own death.

This also suggests the most important point. "Bullfinch's Mythology" states that "the Scandinavians had an idea of a deity superior to Odin, uncreated and eternal," which they called the Alfadur or "All-father." For although the Saxon mythology allows for a pantheon of gods (i.e. 'many'), yet only ONE GOD is said to be immortal. Thor, Odin, and the others we have mentioned are mortal and die at some point in the mythologies. But above Odin was said to be the one eternal true god - unnamed except to be called the "All-father," meaning the "everlasting father," as he is called in our Bibles in Isaiah 9:6 and other places. In the original language of our Bible, God's name was "Yahweh," which Ferrar Fenton translates as meaning "the Ever-Living." The Norse called the 'All-father' by no other name, believing that his personal name was too sacred to be spoken, although they didn't have any record of what that personal name was. Compare this with the actions of the few Israelites who returned to Palestine and removed what we know to be God's personal name, "Yahweh," from our Bibles, believing it too sacred to be spoken.

Yes, we are convinced that although the Norse mythology was corrupted with the religion of ancient Babylon, the proofs are plain that they were indeed "the people of the Book."

II. DRUIDIC MYTHOLOGY'S LINK TO THE BIBLE

Now we will discuss the religion of Druidism, which was said to have been brought to England in ancient times by Hu Gadarn Hysicion, who came from the east with a party of colonists and built Stonehenge. Who were these colonists? Historians tell us the British Isles were colonized at various times chiefly by Phoenician speaking peoples. The Phoenicians proper were Canaanites, but the Israelites, also a seafaring people, spoke a Phoenician dialect called "Aramaic," which was the language that Christ spoke. The Bible tells us that Solomon's navy sailed with the Phoenicians (I Kings 5) on their trade and colonizing expeditions It is also a well-known fact that Phoenician speaking peoples colonized Spain and Britain in ancient times, mining tin and other ores. This being the case, the Druidic religion of early Britain should exhibit signs of both Hebrew and Canaanite origins.

Before me is a copy of the book "The Early dawn," published in 1865, which describes much about the basics of Druidism in old England as it was found by the early Christian missionaries. The chief god of the Druids was called Be'al. It is not difficult to see the similarity between the words "Be'al" and "Baal," since historians have so fully documented that Phoenician traders came and settled on the shores of England and Ireland long ago, as discussed in the book "The Tender Twig" by Francis Henking. But although Druidism did adopt some of the practices of the ancient Canaanites, such as worship in sacred groves, veneration of the oak (Ezekiel 6:13), and the Canaanite festival of Beltane, or "Baal-fire," yet the bulk of their religious customs bear a striking resemblance to the Mosaic law of the Bible.

The Druidic priests, like the Levitical priests of the Bible, were exempt from military service. The Druidic and Levitical priests were both divided into three classes. Even the Druidic ceremonial robes remind one of the Mosaic priests, with their breastplates of gold.

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