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Igbo Friends Of Israel - Finding the Lost Tribe of Gad: Finding Gad

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FINDING GAD
The Tribe of Gad. Gad was the 7th son of Jacob, the 1st son of Jacob and Zilpah the handmaid of Leah (Gen. 30:9-11) and was considered Leah's 5th son . Wow, pretty significant and meaningful biblical numbers; 1, 5, 7. One = Unity/YHWH, Five = Torah and Grace, and Seven = Completion and Perfection. Gad means: An army or a troop and also implies good fortune, for there is a pagan deity named Gad, pronounced, "Gawd". The following are verses which mention Gad and the sons and descendants of Gad. Could these give us a clue to who now comprises the Tribe of Gad? I do believe so. Gen. 30:11 And Leah said, A troop cometh: and she called his name Gad. Gen. 35:26 And the sons of Zilpah, Leah's handmaid; Gad, and Asher: these [are] the sons of Jacob, which were born to him in Padanaram. Gen. 46:16 And the sons of Gad; Ziphion, and Haggi, Shuni, and Ezbon, Eri, and Arodi, and Areli. The meanings of the names of the Sons of Gad - Ziphion: Watchtower - Haggi: Holiday, Celebration, Feast Day - Shuni: Seashore or Harbor - Ezbon: Wild Rosebush - Eri: My Guardian - Arodi: Bronze - Areli: Messenger and or Lion of God Gen. 49:19 Gad, a troop shall overcome him: but he shall overcome at the last. Num. 2:14 Then the tribe of Gad: and the captain of the sons of Gad [shall be] Eliasaph the
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Igbo Friends Of Israel - Finding the Lost Tribe of Gad: Finding Gad

son of Reuel. (Also rendered Eliasaph the son of Deuel in Numbers 1:14, 7:42, 10:20; a possible scribal error as a Resh and Dalet in Hebrew could easily be mistaken if not written correctly) Num. 13:15 Of the tribe of Gad, Geuel the son of Machi. Num. 26:15 The children of Gad after their families: of Zephon, the family of the Zephonites: of Haggi, the family of the Haggites: of Shuni, the family of the Shunites: Num. 32:34 And the children of Gad built Dibon, and Ataroth, and Aroer, Rev. 7:5 ...Of the tribe of Gad [were] sealed twelve thousand. Ya'akov (Jacob) prophetically blessed the children of Gad Gen. 49:19 Gad, a troop shall overcome him: but he shall overcome at the last. Moshe (Moses) prophetically blessed the children of Gad Deut. 33:20 And of Gad he said, Blessed [be] he that enlargeth Gad: he dwelleth as a lion, and teareth the arm with the crown of the head.

Gad's Sons: Eri and Areli

In Genesis 46:16 we read that two of the sons of Gad are named Eri and Areli. The Ibu (also rendered: Ibo, Igbo, Ebo, Ebu, Obu etc.) tribe of Nigeria has staked claim to be the descendants of the Israeli tribal patriarch Gad. But some Spaniards, Arabs among other peoples claim to be of Gad as well. So who is right? Who is of Gad? Can all, if any of them be of Gad? Remember Gad had sons who became the head of the clans of Gad and these clan heads could have scattered all over the world after the Assyrian captivity instead of sticking together. Gen. 46:16 And the sons of Gad; Ziphion, and Haggi, Shuni, and Ezbon, Eri, and Arodi, and Areli. The Ibu's ancestors and the related tribe of the Idoma of Benue State in Nigeria are said to come from Eri and Areli. So it is very possible other peoples around the world who claim to be from Gad are Gad also. Gen. 10:21 Unto Shem also, the father of all the children of Eber, the brother of Japheth the elder, even to him were [children] born. Ibu (and its various renderings) is said to be derived from Shem's descendant Eber, where we get the word "Hebrew" from. "The Igbo Jews are said to have migrated from Syrian, Portuguese and Libyan Israelites into West Africa. Historical records shows that this migration started around 740 C.E. According to UCLA trained amateur Jewish Historian and Rio Hondo Police Academy trained Forensic
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Igbo Friends Of Israel - Finding the Lost Tribe of Gad: Finding Gad

investigator Chinedu Nwabunwanne of Aguleri, who resides in Los Angeles and has researched this subject for more than 15 years at the UCLA libraries in Los Angeles, "the migration started when the forces of Caliph Mohammed -the last leader of the Umayyads- and his Qaysi-Arab supportes defeated the Yamani-Arab Umayyads of Syria in 744 C.E; sacked the Yamanis and their Jewish supporters from Syria. The Syrian-Jewish migrant tribes Dan, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher resettled in Nigeria where they became known as Sambatyon Jews. In 1484 and 1667 Judeans and Zebulonians from Portugal and Libya respectively joined Sambatyon Jews of Nigeria. Thus, Nigerian Jews originated from the following six Israelite tribes: Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher and Zebulon. It is interesting to note that these six tribes are the same tribes Moses repeated their names twice when he blessed the Children Of Israel. These six tribes mentioned above are The House Of Judah and the children of Israel his companions (Ezekiel 37:16. Those remaining six tribes not mentioned above are The House Of Ephraim and the children of Israel his companion (Ezekiel 37:16)."" -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Igbo_Jews

The Ibo Tribe of Nigeria

The wild landscapes of Africa, its exotic rhythms and mask dances provide the picturesque background for this tribe, who believes itself to be the descendants of the Israelite tribe of Gad. They have numerous legends which explain their origins, many of which don't exactly fit in with the others. But this doesn't seem to bother the Ibo, whose powerful faith allows them the flexibility of accepting what is considered by Western man as a logical contradiction. They interpret their name "Ibo" as a mispronounced "Hebrew" and till today, the members pray to "Chuku Abiama" - Abraham's God. The Ibos, well known for their struggle for independence in the Biafra war, are now considered the "Jews of Nigeria" and have contributed greatly to the intellectual and economic development in that country." -- http://www.aranpa.com/Tribes.htm "Outreach to Nigerian Jews by the wider Jewish world community gained official status in 1995 - 1997, when Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin sent a team to Nigeria in search of the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel. Western rabbis and educators such as Rabbi Gorin have visited the community at times and Jewish communities in the West support those in Nigeria by sending books, computers, and religious articles. However, the State of Israel has, to date, not officially recognized the Igbo as one of the Lost Tribes. In 2004-2008, Rabbi Yaacov Behrman made numerous trips to Nigeria to help the Israeli community with Jewish community development. During those visits Rabbi Behrman met with Igbo leaders and visited their community centers. Rabbi Behrman concluded that they lack evidence and refused to recognize them as Jews. -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Igbo_Jews Israel Today originally reported in 2006 how Chief Rabbinate recognized the Ebos as sons of Israel descended from Gad. And indeed, there is an Ebo-Gad community in Tel Aviv Israel who have their own synagogue. There has been great debates in the Israeli courts, secular and religious regarding the identity of the Ebo's; many immigration and deportation legal battles. The argument is not necessarily are they truly of Gad, but should they be considered returnees or new converts and it was eventually decided to allow them to make Aliyah as a returning tribe.
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Igbo Friends Of Israel - Finding the Lost Tribe of Gad: Finding Gad

Har Ararets magazine in Oct, 12, 2005 article declared the Ebos to be sons of Israel through Gad. Dr. G.T. Basden, an Anglican missionary and anthropologist, along with Prof. Elisabeth Isichei an Australian historian and Melville Merrskovits, an American writer all strongly believe there is enough evidences to link the Ebo's of Nigeria to the Israeli tribe of Gad. Among Ebo authorities, Prof. O. Alezi and ex-slave Olaudah (Ikwuano) Equiano also strongly believed that the Ebos were descendants of Gad. In several editions of the Encyclopedia Britannica in 1929 connects the Ebo people to Gad. A Torah commentary on Sh'mot in 1922 makes the Ebo-Gad connection also. Ohafia warriors from Abia state in Nigeria when they first came to Nigeria, the locals asked them who they were and they responded, "We are Hebrews." Eri is listed in Gen. 46:16, Num. 26:16-18 as a descendant of Gad and this name is still in the official title of the King of the Ebo people today in Nigeria; His Royal Majesty Eze (King) A.E. Chukwuemeka-Eri. In Aguleri, Anambra State, Eastern Nigeria is where the King resides and it is officially called Obu-Gad, meaning, "The Palace of Gad." It has been frequented by Rabbi's and Jewish scholars and archeologists alike. Found next to the palace is the ancient stone throne of the Ebos which at the foot of it is a Paleo-Hebrew inscription made from a specific seas shell used as ancient currency which reads, "Give" or "Gift." I have been there myself and can personally verify this to be true. Also on the palace grounds are three trees joined above ground by the roots to form a concave fence under which is said to lie the second Ebo-King who died during a time when the people were off working in the fields and when the rivers overflowed their banks during the rainy season it prevented their return home. When they finally made it they discovered their King had been dead a few days and so they buried him quickly very close to the palace and shortly thereafter these three trees miraculously sprang up to for a memorial like headstone. I too have seen this and can verify this as well. A Messianic Rabbi from Nigeria who now resides in Florida wrote: "I was doing my morning devotion, the Lord led me to read from the book of Genesis: "The sons of Gad were Ziphion, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi, and Areli" (Genesis 46:16). As I read this verse, the name Eri literally jumped out of the book and hit me in the face! I thought, what if this whole dream, and the accompanied Torah verse of Genesis 46:16, which confirmed it, were all a figment of my imagination? Who will believe my report since there is no so called "empirical evidence?" Could any other human being still alive ever corroborate this finding? These questions, and many others, ran through my mind even as I felt a tingling of excitement in my heart. When I arrived at my office that morning, I telephoned two Nigerian friends of mine. First, I called Attorney Innocent Chinweze (from Aguleri) and inquired of him if the name Eri meant anything to him and his town folks. He informed me that Eri was the first Hebrew man to settle in Nigeria. Eri was the father of Aguleri and other sons who together became great ancestors of the Ibos. The compound where Eri settled in Aguleri is called Obu Gad and has become a historic site in Aguleri. Obu Gad when translated from Ibo language means, "The Compound of Gad."Attorney Innocent Chinweze shared a great multitude of facts with me concerning His Royal Majesty, Eze A.E Chukwuemeka-Eri, Ezeora 34th & Aka Ji Ofor Igbo the Traditional Ruler of Ifite Aguleri who was ordained king at 21 years of age. To my
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amazement, he informed me that in 1995, a number of Jewish Rabbis came to Nigeria in search of their lost brother, Eri. Their search took them to Aguleri where there was a very emotional ceremony and reunion of kindred. Secondly, I contacted my other friend born in Umueri, a neighboring town of Aguleri in Nigeria. Felix Eziagulu confirmed much of what Attorney Innocent Chinweze narrated to me. "Out of the mouth of two or three witnesses, the Counsel of the Lord is established." I wondered why no one ever told me about Eri while I lived in Nigeria. In fact, I wondered why throughout my entire educational career in Nigeria, achieving to the master's level, I never came across any literature or individual who knew about this and why the information was never shared with me from the time of my birth to the writing of my testimony. Also, I pondered whether my father (Late) Gabriel Udeorah Ogugua (O-goo-gwa) knew about this, and why he never shared the information with his son. Astonished by the account of Eri and the Ancestral Hebrew Heritage of the Ibos, I decided to visit my Dad and the people of Aguleri in December of 2003. Sadly, on October 2, 2003, just a few days after I received the revelation and made plans, I was devastated when I received a call from Nigeria. My father had moved on to be with God on October 1, 2003!! Grieved by the loss of my father because of who he was in my life, and the lost opportunity to explore the one question that meant everything - Eri. I asked the Lord why he chose to take my father home at the time He did. To my greatest astonishment, the Lord impressed upon my heart that the business concerning Eri and the Heritage of the Ibos is between Him and me and not between me and my earthly father. I "sucked it up" and went home on November 23, 2003 to bury my father. On the night of November 24, 2003, my first night in Nigeria, the Lord spoke to me in the following words, "Reveal My name to My people according to the Tabernacle of David and you shall declare the Year of Jubilee in the land." The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob wanted to reveal Himself to the Ibos afresh as 'Chukwu Abiama' (God of Abraham) through a renewed revelation of Yeshua ben David (Jesus, son of David)." - Rabbi Gavriel Ogugua The British found in 1917, about 500 ft below the soil on the palace grounds a solid bronze Star of David indicating the Ebo people may have migrated from the ancient city of David. Also, in a booklet given to be by the King of Obu-Gad, it says; "One scholar who visited Iboland, saw a swastika there and questioned how the Ebos/Hebrews could have this symbol and be Jewish. Sar Amariel answered the question stating, 'This is an ancient Hebrew symbol that represents the sun...'" And indeed swastikas have been found on the relief's of ancient synagogues in Israel. No wonder the Nazis adopted this symbol to imply they were like the sun and greater that the Star of David. It should come as no surprise that the Ebo people of Nigeria are of Gad. Other African tribes such as the Lemba of Ethiopia claimed to be of Levi and DNA tests confirm the presence of the Cohen gene in their DNA, proving them to be the descendants of Levi and Aaron. Among such archeological evidence, Ebo cultural evidence also points to them being Hebrews. For missionaries were dumbfounded to discover when they came to evangelize the Ebo's that they practiced circumcision on the 8th day, naming ceremony, separation of menstruating women. They kept a lunar calendar and had an annulment if debt and servitude every seven years
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as well as buried their dead facing East and believed in a resurrection. Preference of Inheritance and leadership was given to the first born and passed down through the fathers, this among many other Jewish laws and customs were found to be kept by the Ebo people and the Christian missionaries forced them to abandon many of these Hebraic practices. One Ebo, Avraham, a canter of the Natsari Jewish community in Nigeria said; "In a nutshell, every law as stated in the Torah was being practiced by our forefathers before the advent of Christianity. Except that our fathers went into idol worship, but they still kept the tradition as was handed over to them by their forefathers." And should not the idolatry too be seen as possible evidence of their connection to Gad and Israel because did not all Israel have a problem with Idolatry when one reads the Tanak!? Another unique cultural fact is that the 7th day Sabbath was not observed by the Ebos until the 1940's promoted by a revelation given to an Ebo man named De Okeke from Akwa-ete presently known as Abia State in Southeast Nigeria. Prior to this the Ebos observed a 4 of 8 day rest believed to have been adopted from the apostasy of Jeroboam. But such a Sabbath was nonetheless observed by an abstaining from work and commerce. So you see the Ebo people's claim of being Gad is not a fly by night claim based on fiction but archeological, historical and cultural evidences in which new facts are uncovered year after year.

What About Gad's Sons Ziphion, Haggai, Shuni, Ezbon & Arodi
I don't know. I will have to keep searching. I have been on many websites who claim Gad settled in Spain or any one of the Nordic/Scandinavian countries, mainly Sweden and from there made their way to the British Isles to become the Goths and a myriad of other peoples. I do think it is ironic that right after I went to Nigeria and met the Ibo people who are factually from Gad through his son Eri that I went to Sweden who some claim are also the descendants of Gad. So is there something to this Gad-Sweden thing? I am not sure, I'll have to research this more. I have even heard of Austria, Germany and Prussia as candidates of where the sons of Gad ended up. So far I have only seen very poor speculative and circumstantial evidence and play on words to back up such claims and link Gad to these modern countries and peoples. Within such claims you have false teachings and cultic groups from Mormon, British Israeliteism as well as Black Hebrewism that both have opposite extreme and racially supremacist claims that all Israeli tribes are white or all Israeli tribes are black. On the other hand as I said earlier, Gad did have sons who became the head of the clans of Gad and these clan heads could have scattered all over the world after the Assyrian captivity instead of sticking together. So it is very possible other peoples around the world who claim to be from Gad are from Gad, but these claims need to be heavily scrutinized and investigated in order to find ample solid evidence to substantiate such claims. The culture, customs, tradition, legends, literature, genealogies and archeological artifacts must be investigated and scoured tediously if any such the claims are ever to be substantiated.

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