Igbo Torah Commentary

Rabbi Yehudah Tochukwu ben Shomeyr

Igbo Torah Thoughts Parashah #9 Vayishlach He Sent Genesis 37:1-40:23, Amos 2:6-3:8 Rabbi Yehudah Tochukwu ben Shomeyr

Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams. Gen. 37:20 And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him. Mark 1:13

Interestingly enough in Igbo culture there is the concept of the evil beast sometimes called, Ajo Anu or Chayah Raah.

And Judah acknowledged them, and said, She hath been more righteous than I; because that I gave her not to Shelah my son. And he knew her again no more And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me. But he refused, and said unto his master's wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand; There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God? Gen. 38:26, 39:7-9

The stance of morality against adultery and or fornication as spoken here in the chapters of our texts is strongly proposed and upheld in like manner among Ndi Igbo. Such sexual sin is abominable to the Igbo and is considered a pollution in the land that if discovered must be cleansed.

Igbo Torah Commentary

Rabbi Yehudah Tochukwu ben Shomeyr

Can two walk together, except they be agreed? Will a lion roar in the forest, when he hath no prey? will a young lion cry out of his den, if he have taken nothing?

If these verses sound familiar, they are, for they are very much like Igbo Idioms which the elders have spoken long before missionaries came and introduced Amos to them. This tells me that even beyond the Torah (Law of Moses) which is virtually identical to Igbo Omenana, that from various Hebrews and Jews who came to the Igbo Gadites after the destruction of the 2nd Temple.

There appears to be a pre-exodus, exodus excursion to Nigeria by Gads son Eri and his traveling companions. The Eri who came to Igboland may have not been the same Eri mentioned in Scripture. The Eri name was passed down from father to son. (Luke 1:59). There is evidence to suggest that there were many waves of Hebrew and Gadites to Nigeria.

The Pre-Exodus-Exodus The Jeroboam Exodus

It is believed that the ancestors of the Igbo left Israel around 718 B.C. and trekked for 70 years before they came to Nigeria. These were the tribes said to have followed Jeroboam into Samaria when the 12 tribes split into two kingdoms. Those of Jeroboams Kingdom who did not like his move into gross idolatry left and headed for Nigeria. This according to the book, Igbo Jews by Evangelist David A. Iheanacho pg. 55

The Assyrian Captivity The Destruction of the Temple in 70 A.D.

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Igbo Torah Commentary

Rabbi Yehudah Tochukwu ben Shomeyr

After the destruction of the First Temple many Israelites and Gadites went to join the first Gadites of Eri, Arodi and Areli that were already there. As it says in the Brit Chadasha (New Testament) letter of Yaakov (James):

James 1:1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.

Again, this means that during the first century, prior to the destruction of the Temple in 70 CE (AD) it was generally known where the 10 tribes taken into Assyrian Captivity were. So it is reasonable to believe that Gadites in the Jerusalem and surrounding areas knew where their brother Gadites were in Africa and stayed in contact with them and decided to join their brothers after the Temple was destroyed.

Prof. O. Alazei in his book Ibo Exodus page 74-75 that this second wave of Gadite and possibly other Hebrew and Jews first passed through Egypt, Libya and Sudan and eventually camped at Chad Basin in North Eastern Nigeria. From there some settled around Zaria, Benue, Ingala, Idoma, Uburu and the Delta regions. Some went as far as Cameroon to settle. But what is consistent in every account is that many made it to Aguleri, where the first wave settled and fanned out from there.

The Masada Revolt

Igbo Torah Commentary

Rabbi Yehudah Tochukwu ben Shomeyr

Josephus tells that not all committed suicide at Masada, but some escaped and some of these are believed to have made it to Nigeria.

The Modern Diaspora

Some Black Hebrews in the Americas and worldwide who have discovered their Hebrew roots as Igbo descendants from the slave trade are returning home to Igboland.

SHABBAT SHALOM! IGBO KWENU! Rabbi Yehudah Tochukwu ben Shomeyr

Igbo Torah Commentary

Rabbi Yehudah Tochukwu ben Shomeyr

Igbo Torah Thoughts Parashah #10 Mikketz At the end Genesis 41:-44:17, I Kings 3:15-4:1 Rabbi Yehudah Tochukwu ben Shomeyr

And Joseph saw his brethren, and he knew them, but made himself strange unto them, and spake roughly unto them; and he said unto them, Whence come ye? And they said, From the land of Canaan to buy food. And Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew not him. And Joseph remembered the dreams which he dreamed of them, and said unto them, Ye are spies; to see the nakedness of the land ye are come And they knew not that Joseph understood them; for he spake unto them by an interpreter. And he turned himself about from them, and wept; and returned to them again, and communed with them, and took from them Simeon, and bound him before their eyes Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all them that stood by him; and he cried, Cause every man to go out from me. And there stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren. And he wept aloud: and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard. And Joseph said unto his brethren, I am Joseph; doth my father yet live? And his brethren could not answer him; for they were troubled at his presence. And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt. Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life. Gen. 42:7-9, 23-24, 45:1-5

Joseph, though his mother was the Semite Rachel, nonetheless was dark and became darker by being exposed to the harsh Egyptian sun as a slave and then eventually being appointed by Pharaoh as viceroy of Egypt, to the point that his very own brothers failed to recognize him and took him for a black Egyptian. It wasnt until he revealed himself to his brothers, likely by removing his Egyptian headgear to reveal his wavy Semitic hair, instead of tightly curly Hammitic/Egyptian hair, did they know it was really Joseph. Joseph had Ephraim and Manasseh by a black Egyptian woman (Gen. 41:45), thus Ephraim and Manasseh were black men.

Igbo Torah Commentary

Rabbi Yehudah Tochukwu ben Shomeyr

Gen. 40-41, 42:9, I Kings 3:15

Like Israel, Igbos have a deeply rooted belief regarding the meaning of dreams; believing that they are from God (Chukwu Abiama), and that is one of the ways He speaks to and even warns His people. I have yet to meet a true Igbo who does not take dreams very seriously.

And they said one to another, We are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear; therefore is this distress come upon us. And Reuben answered them, saying, Spake I not unto you, saying, Do not sin against the child; and ye would not hear? therefore, behold, also his blood is required And he said unto his brethren, My money is restored; and, lo, it is even in my sack: and their heart failed them, and they were afraid, saying one to another, What is this that God hath done unto us? - Gen. 42:21-22, 28

In the text it is clear Josephs brothers believed in Divine retribution for sin; that there is a consequence for every action, even if such divine retribution is delayed by years, it will eventually come if not repented and atoned for and this too is deep rooted in the Igbo psyche.

SHABBAT SHALOM! IGBO KWENU! Rabbi Yehudah Tochukwu ben Shomeyr

Igbo Torah Commentary

Rabbi Yehudah Tochukwu ben Shomeyr

Igbo Torah Thoughts Parashah #11 Vayigash And Came Near Gen. 44:18-47:27, Ezk. 37:15-28 Rabbi Yehudah Tochukwu ben Shomeyr

And Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the country of Goshen; and they had possessions therein, and grew, and multiplied exceedingly. Gen. 47:27

Igbos, like Jews can be found all over the globe. Wherever they go outside their homeland they, being a chosen people by God and having an un unbreakable entrepreneurial spirit, thrives in their place of diaspora and seeing as Igbos are Hebrews, through Gas and various other Israeli tribes of Israel, the same principle holds true.

It is said if there is a place in which an Igbo is not found, it therefore must be uninhabitable or not a good enough place for a human being to dwell.

Igbos have a strong presence and community in Europe, North and South America as well as other African Countries.

Igbos have found their place of fame and recognition in Hollywood with the likes of Forrest Whitaker and Blair Underwood. In ministry with T.D. Jakes and in sports with NFLs Victor Abiamiri, Emeka Okafor, Ike Nwankwo. In Boxing with such folks as Dick Tiger, Emmanuel Nwodo and Friday Ahunaya. Igbos also thrive in music with such musicians such as Nneka and modles like Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, authors such as, the late Prof. Chinua Achebe, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichi and
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Igbo Torah Commentary

Rabbi Yehudah Tochukwu ben Shomeyr

Oluadah Equiano. These names simply scratch the surface of all the famous Igbos in various fields and professions. There are to many Igbos to name that are successful businessmen, scientists, and politicians. Igbos, like Jews bloom where they are planted, find success and enjoy the blessings of Chukwu Abiama (the God of Abraham).

The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying, Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim and for all the house of Israel his companions: And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand. And when the children of thy people shall speak unto thee, saying, Wilt thou not shew us what thou meanest by these? Say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with him, even with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in mine hand. And the sticks whereon thou writest shall be in thine hand before their eyes. And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land: And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all. Neither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions: but I will save them out of all their dwellingplaces, wherein they have sinned, and will cleanse them: so shall they be my people, and I will be their God. And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them. And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, even they, and their children, and their children's children for ever: and my servant David shall be their prince for ever. Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore. My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And the heathen shall know that I the LORD do sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore. Ezk. 37:15-28

This passage speaks of a coming day when the Jewish staff of Judah and the staff representing the lost tribes of Israel which include the Igbos, will be recognized and united into one whole staff before Messiah returns to rule and reign.
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Igbo Torah Commentary

Rabbi Yehudah Tochukwu ben Shomeyr

SHABBAT SHALOM! IGBO KWENU! Rabbi Yehudah Tochukwu ben Shomeyr