Daniel 5 : The Pre Babylonian Exile "Ivrit"

Hello again neighbor,

Today I wanted to begin discussing something that I have been studying that troubles me greatly. The differences which exist within the "Hebrew" (MT) Masoretic Text vs. the Greek (LXX) Septuagint.

First I have placed the word "Hebrew" in parenthesis. Why? 

Because although the sentence structure (syntax) and the spelling of the words within the (MT) Masoretic Text are indeed "Hebrew" what isn't Hebrew is the Alphabet that is used to express it. 

What the Rabbi's are passing off as "Hebrew" is just the Aramaic Alphabet in it's block lettering form which they adopted in Babylon. I would discover this as I was doing research when I was teaching on Daniel as a prison ministry volunteer from 2009-2017. The Prophet Daniel happens to be one of the books still extant within Western Bibles that was originally written in both Hebrew and Aramaic. 

https://www.coursera.org/learn/organising-empire-assyrian-way/

When I enrolled in a course on Assyriology online given by Dr. Karen Radner (Organizing an Empire the Assyrian Way) I discovered that it takes three (3) years to be proficient in Akkadian. That's when I realized that the prophet Daniel declares that Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael; and, Azariah were appointed to three (3) years of training:

"Then the king instructed Ashpenaz, the master of the eunuchs, to bring some of the children of Israel and some of the kings descendants and some of the nobles, young men in whom no blemish, but good looking, gifted in aww wisdom, possessing knowledge and quick to understand, who had ability to serve in the king's palace, and whom they might teach the language and literature of the Chaldeans...and three years of training for them, so that at the end they might serve before the king" (Daniel 1:5).

The Babylonians used a system of government that they copied from the Assyrians; and, the Persians would then copy as well. All three empires would subjugate the Children of Israel throughout their history. This "system" used two (2) languages both written and spoken to govern their empires. 

Daniel and his friends would have learned both Akkadian; and, Aramaic in order to serve in the King's courts. We are offered a clue about this pre Babylonian Exile Hebrew language in Daniel 5:25.

MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN: 
ACCORDING TO THE "HEBREW" (MT) MASORETIC TEXT

מנא מנא תּקל וּפרסין

So. What is important about this; is that we are told that the language written upon the wall was one that was NOT KNOWN TO THE KING (actually the vice regent) of Babylon. This king was none other than Belshazzar the oldest son of Nabonidus the last emperor of Babylon. 

Nabonidus was himself responsible for bringing back the worship of the Moon God called Nanna in Sumerian; and, called SIN/SU'EN in Akkadian. The moon god is intimately associated with the Ziggurat in UR. 

𒀭𒋀𒈾

The very place that Abram (Abraham) was called out by YHVH (יהוה) from the worship of false gods. A place where he and his father Terah were exposed to the worship of this particular god (Su'en/SIN) associated with the Crescent Moon.

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Because the King couldn't read what was written; this would in fact rule out the block lettering system used in Babylon as a candidate for what was seen. There is NO WAY that King Belshazzar saw what we see below as asserted by the (MT) Masoretic Text. 

Mene "Numbered" - Mene "Numbered" - Tekel "Weighed" - Upharsin = "Divided"

מנא מנא תּקל וּפרסין

From right to left:
Mene Mene Tekel Upharsin

We are told in Daniel 5 that the King has held a great feast for a thousand of his lords; and, that they ate and drank in his presence. This must have been an enormous gathering. We are told that they were praising the gods of of gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood; and, stone. They were not praising the creator of all things. The Moon God is not the Creator. I'm going to assert to you that there is a theme of Moon God worship within the Bible that needs deep consideration. 

Here is what the text of Daniel 5 declares was seen:

5. In the same hour the finger's of a man's hand appeared and wrote opposite the lamp stand on the plaster of the wall of the king's palace; and, the king saw the part of the hand that write. 6. Then the king's countenance changed so that his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his hips were loosened and his knees knocked against each other. 7. The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans; and, the Soothsayers. The King spoke, saying to the wise of Babylon:

'Whoever reads this interpretation, shall be clothed with purple and a chain of gold around his neck; and, he shall be third ruler in the Kingdom.'

8. Now all the king's wise men came, but they could not read the writing; or make known to the King its interpretation. 

It had been over 70 years since King Nebuchadnezzar II had sacked Jerusalem. The language of Hebrew had become a dead language. Yet the Queen declared this to Belshazzar:

"Oh King, live forever! Do not let your thoughts trouble you; nor let your countenance change. There is a man in your kingdom in whom is the Spirit of the Holy God."

Daniel was allegedly 16 years old when he was deported from the land of Israel to Babylon. Daniel was most likely in his 80's when he was called before Belshazzar. The Pre Babylonian Exile written language called "IVRIT" had become a dead language by this time. Unspoken. Unwritten. Forgotten. To all except those who lived in Samaria. Preserved for all time by those considered half-breeds; preserved by those who were hated by the Jews. 

So. What was seen? 

Here is my suspicion. The hand wrote most likely in IVRIT; the Pre-Babylonian exile script, because the King had to call someone from the old kingdom of Israel (pre exile) who could actually read the language/script that was written; and, give the King it's interpretation. 

When I was studying the Talmud itself I discovered it declares the Samaritan's have the pre-babylonian exile IVRIT. So here beneath us are the same words from the (MT) Masoretic Text; but, rendered instead using the Samaritan Alphabet. 

This is NOT Aramaic you see below. This is the SAMARITAN HEBREW ALPHABET - IVRIT HEBREW. I used the Samaritan Alphabet to render "Mene - Mene - Tekel - Upharsin." 

The pre-babylonian exile Hebrew alphabet. Preserved by the Samaritans; and, their scroll received thru Aaron's great grandson Abishua. Here is a LINK about the Samaritans and their Torah Scroll.

 

ࠌࠍࠄ ࠌࠍࠄ ࠕࠒࠋࠋ ࠅࠐࠓࠎࠉࠍ

Friend, something important occurred during the Babylonian Captivity that we are just now beginning to really understand; and, it has greater implications than you can possibly imagine. While in Captivity both the written language/spoken language of the people (those of Judah in Babylon) became Aramaic; and, the Hebrew language was abandoned by the common people. 

This explains the necessity for the Targums (Aramaic Translations) used in the Temple Service. If you have never read the Targum; or are unaware of what they are here is an article I wrote about the Targums. 

Should you go and examine the Targums themselves comparing them to the MT you will find material differences. These difference matter. Why? Because detailed within the prophet Malachi the LORD of Hosts (יהוה צבאות) YHVH TSABA'OT accussess the High Priests the Kohan'im of:

• Departing from the way of the LORD of Hosts
• Causing many to stumble at the Torah
• Corrupting the Covenant of Levi
• Not Keeping His Ways
• Showing partiality in Torah (Theirs over His)

What we have today that is passed off as being "authentic" is in fact
the Doctrine of the Scribes. 

SOMETHING JESUS HIMSELF WARNED US ABOUT

The (MT) Masoretic Text was altered by the Masorites to be materially different from the LXX. It was done POST YESHUA. These changes were made "POST JESUS." Why?

Because the Christians were using the LXX (Septuagint) to prove that Jesus was the Messiah. They were using it to prove that Jesus was the Prophet Like Unto Moses. 

We will be discussing these differences a lot more going forward. 

• How exactly was the text altered?
• What are the changes that were made?
• Where within the text can we find these changes? 
• How does this alter our understanding of the text? 
• What does this do to our existing theology?

I look forward to presenting these answers to you.
And I look forward to your reading them.

Eusebius Ecclesiastical History: The Martyrdom of James

BOOK II

CHAPTER 23 ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY:
The Martyrdom of James, who was called the Brother of the Lord. 

1. But after Paul, in consequence of his appeal to Cæsar, had been sent to Rome by Festus, the Jews, being frustrated in their hope of entrapping him by the snares which they had laid for him, turned against James, the brother of the Lord, to whom the episcopal seat at Jerusalem had been entrusted by the apostles. The following daring measures were undertaken by them against him. 

FRIENDS. THIS "EPISCOPAL SEAT"
IS THE HIGHEST SEAT OF THE CHURCH ON THE EARTH.

2. Leading him [JAMES] into their midst they demanded of him that he should renounce faith in Christ in the presence of all the people. But, contrary to the opinion of all, with a clear voice, and with greater boldness than they had anticipated, he spoke out before the whole multitude and confessed that our Saviour and Lord Jesus is the Son of God. But they were unable to bear longer the testimony of the man who, on account of the excellence of ascetic virtue and of piety which he exhibited in his life, was esteemed by all as the most just of men, and consequently they slew him. Opportunity for this deed of violence was furnished by the prevailing anarchy, which was caused by the fact that Festus had died just at this time in Judea, and that the province was thus without a governor and head. 

3. The manner of James' death has been already indicated by the above-quoted words of Clement, who records that he was thrown from the pinnacle of the temple, and was beaten to death with a club. But Hegesippus, who lived immediately after the apostles, gives the most accurate account in the fifth book of his Memoirs. He writes as follows: 

4. James, the brother of the Lord, succeeded to the government of the Church in conjunction with the apostles. He has been called the Just by all from the time of our Saviour to the present day; for there were many that bore the name of James. 

5. He was holy from his mother's womb; and he drank no wine nor strong drink, nor did he eat flesh. No razor came upon his head; he did not anoint himself with oil, and he did not use the bath. 

READ UP ON THE VOW OF A NAZARITE IN NUMBERS 6 & JUDGES 13 & 16

6. He alone was permitted to enter into the holy place; for he wore not woolen but linen garments. And he was in the habit of entering alone into the temple, and was frequently found upon his knees begging forgiveness for the people, so that his knees became hard like those of a camel, in consequence of his constantly bending them in his worship of God, and asking forgiveness for the people. 

HE WEARS LINEN GARMENTS.
JUST AS THE PRIESTS ARE INSTRUCTED. 

HE ENTERS THE TEMPLE ALONE.
HE BEGS FORGIVENESS. UPON HIS KNEES.
HE PRAYS ASKING FORGIVENESS FOR THE PEOPLE. 

SURELY HE IS RIGHTEOUS.

7. Because of his exceeding great justice he was called the Just, and Oblias, which signifies in Greek, 'Bulwark of the people' and 'Justice,' in accordance with what the prophets declare concerning him. 

WHAT DID THE PROPHETS DECLARE ABOUT JAMES?

WHERE CAN WE READ WHAT WAS WRITTEN? WHICH PROPHETS?

8. Now some of the seven sects, which existed among the people and which have been mentioned by me in the Memoirs, asked him, 'What is the gate of Jesus?' and he replied that he was the Saviour. 

WHO WERE THESE (7) SEVEN SECTS?

9. On account of these words some believed that Jesus is the Christ. But the sects mentioned above did not believe either in a resurrection or in one's coming to give to every man according to his works. But as many as believed did so on account of James. 

10. Therefore when many even of the rulers believed, there was a commotion among the Jews and Scribes and Pharisees, who said that there was danger that the whole people would be looking for Jesus as the Christ. Coming therefore in a body to James they said:

'We entreat you, restrain the people; for they are gone astray in regard to Jesus, as if he were the Christ. We entreat you to persuade all that have come to the feast of the Passover concerning Jesus; for we all have confidence in you. For we bear you witness, as do all the people, that you are just, and do not respect persons. Matthew 22:16 11.

Therefore, persuade the multitude not to be led astray concerning Jesus. For the whole people, and all of us also, have confidence in you. Stand therefore upon the pinnacle of the temple, that from that high position you may be clearly seen, and that your words may be readily heard by all the people.

For all the tribes, with the Gentiles also, have come together on account of the Passover.' 

12. The aforesaid Scribes and Pharisees therefore placed James upon the pinnacle of the temple, and cried out to him and said: 

'You just one, in whom we ought all to have confidence, forasmuch as the people are led astray after Jesus, the crucified one, declare to us, what is the gate of Jesus.' 

13. And he answered with a loud voice:

'Why do you ask me concerning Jesus, the Son of Man? He himself sits in heaven at the right hand of the great Power, and is about to come upon the clouds of heaven.' 

14. And when many were fully convinced and gloried in the testimony of James, and said, 'Hosanna to the Son of David,' these same Scribes and Pharisees said again to one another:

'We have done badly in supplying such testimony to Jesus. But let us go up and throw him down, in order that they may be afraid to believe him.' 

15. And they cried out, saying, 'Oh! Oh! The just man is also in error.' And they fulfilled the Scripture written in Isaiah:

'Let us take away the just man, because he is troublesome to us: therefore they shall eat the fruit of their doings.'

16. So they went up and threw down the just man, and said to each other:

'Let us stone James the Just.' 

And they began to stone him, for he was not killed by the fall; but he turned and knelt down and said:

'I entreat you, Lord God our Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.'            Luke 23:34 

17. And while they were thus stoning him one of the priests of the sons of Rechab, the son of the Rechabites, who are mentioned by Jeremiah the prophet, cried out, saying:

'Stop. What are you doing? The just one prays for you.' 

18. And one of them, who was a fuller, took the club with which he beat out clothes and struck the just man on the head. And thus he suffered martyrdom. And they buried him on the spot, by the temple, and his monument still remains by the temple. He became a true witness, both to Jews and Greeks, that Jesus is the Christ. And immediately Vespasian besieged them. 

19. These things are related at length by Hegesippus, who is in agreement with Clement. James was so admirable a man and so celebrated among all for his justice, that the more sensible even of the Jews were of the opinion that this was the cause of the siege of Jerusalem, which happened to them immediately after his martyrdom for no other reason than their daring act against him. 

20. Josephus, at least, has not hesitated to testify this in his writings, where he says, These things happened to the Jews to avenge James the Just, who was a brother of Jesus, that is called the Christ. For the Jews slew him, although he was a most just man. 

21. And the same writer records his death also in the twentieth book of his Antiquities in the following words: But the emperor, when he learned of the death of Festus, sent Albinus to be procurator of Judea. But the younger Ananus, who, as we have already said, had obtained the high priesthood, was of an exceedingly bold and reckless disposition. He belonged, moreover, to the sect of the Sadducees, who are the most cruel of all the Jews in the execution of judgment, as we have already shown. 

22. Ananus, therefore, being of this character, and supposing that he had a favorable opportunity on account of the fact that Festus was dead, and Albinus was still on the way, called together the Sanhedrin, and brought before them the brother of Jesus, the so-called Christ, James by name, together with some others, and accused them of violating the law, and condemned them to be stoned. 

23. But those in the city who seemed most moderate and skilled in the law were very angry at this, and sent secretly to the king, requesting him to order Ananus to cease such proceedings. For he had not done right even this first time. And certain of them also went to meet Albinus, who was journeying from Alexandria, and reminded him that it was not lawful for Ananus to summon the Sanhedrin without his knowledge. 

24. And Albinus, being persuaded by their representations, wrote in anger to Ananus, threatening him with punishment. And the king, Agrippa, in consequence, deprived him of the high priesthood, which he had held three months, and appointed Jesus, the son of Damnæus. 

25. These things are recorded in regard to James, who is said to be the author of the first of the so-called catholic epistles. But it is to be observed that it is disputed; at least, not many of the ancients have mentioned it, as is the case likewise with the epistle that bears the name of Jude, which is also one of the seven so-called catholic epistles. Nevertheless we know that these also, with the rest, have been read publicly in very many churches.