Just as British Israelites (and related groups) stand in the way of the correct biblical identity for the sons of Jacob; so too, do the Black Hebrew Israelites prevent an accurate understanding through the promulgation today of an incorrect interpretation for the Israelite identity in the world.
The purpose of this article?
To present a fair and honest synopsis in highlighting where the Black Hebrew Israelite teachings are biblical and regrettably, which ones are not scripturally supported. Focussing primarily on their assertion that peoples originating from sub-Saharan descent in the Americas are related to the biblical Israelites.

Why write the article?
The movement has grown in popularity, while exhibiting a confrontational and at times aggressive stance when debating (arguing) their points of view – whether on the street corner or on websites and forums online.

As the central tenet of the movement – church, cult – is diametrically opposite to what the Bible actually says, yet its adherents remain passionate in defending their perceived truth all the while in error; it behooves a response in the (perhaps vain) hope that some, or even one soul may see the light and turn from a path of deceit towards the truth of the scriptures. In which many clearly are earnestly and commendably though misguidedly seeking.
Black Hebrew Israelites (also Hebrew Israelites, Black Hebrews, Black Israelites, and African Hebrew Israelites) while claiming African Americans are descendants of the ancient Israelites also contain sub-groups who believe the indigenous peoples of the Americas and Latin Americans are also descendants of the twelve tribes of Israel.
Black Hebrew Israelite teachings are an eclectic syncretism in that they incorporate their own unique interpretation of Christianity and Judaism with aspects of Freemasonry and New Thought.
Thus academics and opponents have criticised certain sects within the Black Hebrew Israelite movement for their theology and historical revisionism, which is viewed as lacking evidence to support their claims. With their combative style and disseminating questionable ethnic ideas some sects are considered black supremacist, anti-semitic hate groups who support racial segregation, Holocaust denial (refer Chapter XXIX Esau: The Thirteenth Tribe), homophobia and race war.

Online Encyclopaedia:
‘The origins of the Black Hebrew Israelite movement are found in Frank Cherry and William Saunders Crowdy, who both claimed that they had revelations [visions] in which they believed that God told them that African Americans are descendants of the Hebrews in the Christian Bible.’
Revelations of this kind are almost wholly from an unholy source, invariably emanating from a demonic influence as was the case with the false apostle, Paul (Acts 9:3-5, 10-11, Colossians 2:18) – Articles: The Pauline Paradox; and The Seven Churches – A Message for the Church of God in the Latter Days.
‘Cherry established the “Church of the Living God, the Pillar Ground of Truth for All Nations” [in Tennessee, later moving to Philadelphia] in 1886 [the oldest church], and Crowdy founded the “Church of God and Saints of Christ” [in Kansas, later moving to Philadelphia in 1899] in 1896 [the largest church].
It is curious how Crowdy’s last name also begins with the letter ‘c’; as his supposed revelatory vision some ten years following Cherry’s. One wonders if he was piggy-backing on a movement in its infancy for his own gain. Both men choosing to use the New Testament expression coined by Paul, ‘Church of God’, is also an interesting coincidence, of which the constant reader will recognise – Article: The Seven Churches – A Message for the Church of God in the Latter Days.
‘Cherry taught that the Talmud was authoritative, that Jesus would return in the year AD 2000, and in a “square earth surrounded by three layers of heaven [New Jerusalem, Revelation 21:16].” The playing of the piano and the collection of tithes during Black Hebrew Israelite worship was forbidden by Cherry, who also taught the eastward direction of prayer and “denigrated white Jews as interlopers.”
Only the Bible is authoritative. The Talmud is an ironic contradiction in that it is not very complimentary about Christ or Christians; though Cherry was correct about a Jewish mistaken identity – Chapter XXIX Esau: The Thirteenth tribe. Facing eastwards for worship or prayer is a pagan rite (Ezekiel 8:16-17); while setting dates for any unfulfilled prophecy is the quickest way to reveal oneself a false prophet.
‘Cherry, who was from the Deep South and had worked as a seaman and for the railroads before his ministry, taught himself Hebrew and Yiddish. The rituals of Cherry’s congregation incorporated many Jewish practices and prohibitions alongside some Christian traditions. For example, during prayer, the men wore skullcaps and congregants faced east. In addition, members of the church were not permitted to eat pork.’
Even though the eating of pork is an Old Covenant directive, the health benefits in desisting from eating any flesh from a pig are immensely beneficial – Article: Red or Green?
‘Crowdy later relocated to Washington, D.C., in 1903. After Crowdy’s death in 1908, the church continued to grow under the leadership of William Henry Plummer, who moved the organization’s headquarters to its permanent location in Virginia, in 1921.
The Church of God and Saints of Christ… teaches that all Jews were originally Black and that African Americans are descendants of the Ten Lost Tribes. Members believe that Jesus was neither God nor the son of God, but rather an adherent of Judaism and a prophet. They also consider William Saunders Crowdy, their founder, to be a prophet.’
Crowdy is correct in that Jesus was not God, but Christ was more than a human prophet, being the very Son of God – Article: Arius, Alexander & Athanasius. A real prophet speaks that which is true. Crowdy revealed himself as a false prophet in teaching an incorrect biblical identity for Jacob’s sons.

William S Crowdy
‘The Church of God and Saints of Christ synthesizes rituals from both normative Judaism and Christianity. They have adopted rites drawn from both the Old and New Testaments. [It’s] Old Testament observances include the use of the Hebrew calendar, the celebration of Passover, the circumcision of infant males, the commemoration of the Sabbath on Saturday, and the wearing of yarmulkes. Its New Testament rites include baptism (immersion) and foot washing, both of which have Old Testament origins.’
While baptism by immersion is required of New covenant Christians (Matthew 3:16), foot washing was a one time event prior to Christ’s death, where he gave an example for the disciples of serving one another in humility – Article: The Seven Churches – A Message for the Church of God in the Latter Days.
Physical circumcision is no longer required as it was a rite which a male was obligated to perform to be part of the congregation of Israel – Acts 15:5, 19-20. Whereas circumcision of the heart is required of a New Covenant believer – Romans 2:29.
The Hebrew (Jewish) calendar is incorrect and the Passover has been replaced with the Bread and Wine ceremony – Article: The Calendar Conspiracy. The Sabbath while an everlasting commandment has changed under the terms of the New Covenant and is no longer to be kept under the Old Covenant stipulations – Article: The Sabbath Secrecy.

‘In 1919, Wentworth Arthur Matthew, an emigrant from Saint Kitts founded a Black Hebrew Israelite congregation in Harlem, the Commandment Keepers of the Living God. In 1930, Matthew established the Ethiopian Hebrew Rabbinical College (later renamed the Israelite Rabbinical Academy) in Brooklyn.’

Wentworth A Matthew
‘Matthew died in 1973, sparking an internal conflict over who would succeed him as head of the Harlem congregation. Shortly before his death, Matthew named his grandson, David Matthew Doré, as the new spiritual leader. Doré was 16 years old at the time. In 1975, the synagogue’s board elected Rabbi Willie White as its leader.’
It shows a lack of sound judgement on Matthew’s part in choosing a young relative unfit for the role of ‘spiritual leader.’ Nor is the irony lost in naming (presumably) a Black successor who’s last name was White. Christ expressly said not to call any man, Rabbi – Matthew 23:8.
‘Rabbi Doré occasionally conducted services at the synagogue until the early 1980s, when White had Doré and some other members locked out of the building. Membership declined throughout the 1990s, and by 2004, only a few dozen people belonged to the synagogue. In 2007 the Commandment Keepers sold the building while various factions among former members sued one another.’
This behaviour is unfitting for men who supposedly possessed a godly mind and reveals a lack of real conversion – Matthew 6:24, 1 Corinthians 6:1, 7, 1 Timothy 6:10.
‘The pioneers of the movement were Freemasons, and it was strongly influenced by Masonic traditions. In the late 19th century, Cherry’s and Crowdy’s followers continued to propagate the claim that they were the biological descendants of the Israelites. During the following decades [from Kansas to New York City], many more Black Hebrew congregations were established. Similar groups selected elements of Judaism and adapted them within a structure similar to that of the Black Church.’
A church movement which blends Old Covenant Judaic teachings with New Testament doctrine is already on an erroneous path, to then lace it with Freemasonry trappings sends it on a trajectory which in no way parallels the original teachings of Christ and the apostles – Article: The Establishment: Who are they… What do they want?
‘After Frank Cherry’s death in 1963 [at the age of 95], his son Prince Benjamin F. Cherry took over leadership of the movement. Members of the church believed that [Cherry Senior] had temporarily left and would soon reappear in spirit in order to lead the church through his son. In the mid-1980s, the number of Black Hebrews in the United States was between 25,000 and 40,000.’

Got Questions:
‘In 1966, African Israelite founder and leader Ben Ammi (the name literally means “Son of My People,” formerly Ben Carter of Chicago) claimed to have been visited by the angel Gabriel. According to Ben Ammi, Gabriel instructed him to “lead the children of Israel to the Promised Land, and establish the long-awaited Kingdom of God.” Ben Ammi then established the Original African Hebrew Israelite Nation of Jerusalem and led approximately 400 members to the West African nation of Liberia for a two-and-a-half year period of purification.
From there, those who remained for the entire two-and-a-half years began migrating to Israel in waves, beginning in 1969. The authorities in Israel did not accept Ben Ammi and his followers as biblical Jews and did not deem them entitled to citizenship under the Israeli “Right of Return” law.
After much perseverance, the group was finally granted residency in 2004. This allowed them to stay in Israel, but not as full citizens. In 2008, there were approximately 2,500 African Israelites living in Israel… members… believe that, after the Roman expulsion of the Jews from the land of Israel, many Jews migrated to West Africa. From there, their descendants were transported by slave ship to the United States…
Members of the Nation of Yahweh, on the other hand, believe that all of the Old Testament prophets, Jesus Christ, and God Himself are all black. They believe that all whites, but especially Jews, are infidels, whom they call “white devils.” Only blacks are “true Jews.” This group is considered a black supremacist group by many and has a history of violence and terror.’

Fritz Chery:
‘The Nation of Yahweh sect believed their leader Hulon Mitchell Jr. (Yahweh Ben Yahweh) was the Son of God. He taught that God was black and that as God’s Son, black people could know their true history through Yahweh Ben Yahweh. He was convicted of conspiracy to murder in 1990 and served 11 years in prison. Today, on their website, his followers sell a 2-disc DVD set entitled, “Yahweh Ben Yahweh is the True God and Eternal Life.”
Before addressing the specific subject of the Black Hebrews claiming an Israelite descent, we will survey the core beliefs of their followers – though each group does not necessarily hold the same doctrines as other factions.
For example, the Great Mill Stone group believe in calculating the weekly Sabbath using the New Moon (1) – based on a Lunar calendar. While they are entirely correct on this point, the weekday Saturday on the Solar based Gregorian calendar is not the true seventh day.
Additionally, the requirement to use the New Moon to calculate an Old Covenant Sabbath is redundant under the New Covenant as is observing sabbaths (or feast days) – Articles: The Calendar Conspiracy; and The Sabbath Secrecy.
Related to this doctrine is using the New Moon to begin a new calendar month (2).
The belief in Reincarnation (3) is unscriptural – refer articles: Heaven & Hell; and DEATH: A Dead End or a New Beginning?
A denial of the immaculate conception (4) is also in opposition of the biblical account – Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:18-20.
The patriarch Job was not an Edomite (5). In this the Black Hebrew Israelites are correct – refer article: Job.
A major tenet of the Black Hebrew Israelites is that Gentiles cannot be saved (6).
This is an interesting doctrine because while it is not true on one hand it is on another. Christ made clear that his commission (Gospel of the Kingdom of God – Mark 1:14-15, Matthew 6:33) was to the ‘lost sheep of the House of Israel’ – Matthew 15:24. It is they from whom the first fruits of God’s plan will be selected – Revelation 7:3-4; 14:4, Romans 8:23.
Confirming Paul’s commission to the Gentiles was not ordained by Christ but from another source not deriving from God – Article: The Pauline Paradox.
And so no, salvation is not being offered to all at the present time (albeit ostensibly with certain exceptions – Acts 10:1-4), but will be later – Revelation 7:9; 20:12.
Of course, where the Black Hebrew Israelites are in error is in who they think are gentiles.

An article entitled: The Biblical Truth vs. Black Hebrew Israelite Theology: A Scriptural Refutation by Jim Green, May 14, 2025, is interesting for a couple of reasons.
Not only does it provide a helpful summary of Black Hebrew Israelite beliefs, it also counters each one with scriptures almost entirely taken from the writings of Paul or those books attributed to him – Article: The Pauline Paradox.
It is difficult to know which is more troubling, salvation predicated on genealogy and skin colour of the Black Hebrew Israelites or the false salvation by grace as espoused by Paul and used by Jim Green in his counter arguments.
Jim Green:
‘Summary of Core Beliefs:
- The belief that African Americans and other marginalized peoples of color are the true descendants of the biblical Israelites.’
The Black Hebrew Israelite interpretation is incorrect, yet as a doctrinal premise it is correct. The whole thrust and plot of the Old Testament includes the story of one family, Jacob’s, grown large and the details of their beginning, exploits, punishment and future blessings which have transpired in our modern age – refer: The Noachian Legacy. The Bible is written about and to Jacob’s descendants, pure and simple, accept it or not.
- ‘The claim that modern Jews (especially Ashkenazi Jews) are imposters.’
Again, disappointment for Green and others who are deceived in thinking the Jews are the tribe of Judah – refer Chapter XXIX Esau: The Thirteenth Tribe; and Chapter XXX Judah & Benjamin – the Regal Tribes. And yes, the Sephardim are a ‘truer’ ethnic Jew than the Ashkenazim.
- ‘A strong emphasis on keeping Old Testament laws, dietary codes, and feast days.’
- ‘Some sects of the Black Hebrew Israelites assert that salvation is only for Israelites (often interpreted to mean Black and brown people).’
- ‘They often teach that Jesus (Yahawashi or Yahshua) came only for the “lost sheep of Israel,” which they interpret as Black people.’
Refer aforementioned answers for numbers three to five.
‘Why This Matters:
- These teachings distort the gospel of grace (Galatians 1:6–9).’
There is no gospel of grace. It is an invention of Paul and was not, repeat, was not taught by Christ or the apostles – Article: The Pauline Paradox.
- ‘They undermine biblical doctrines of justification by faith, the universal offer of salvation, and the true identity of God’s people.’
This point runs contrary to the words of James, the Lord’s half-brother and Elder in Jerusalem – James 2:14 (Article: The Sabbath Secrecy).
Now looking closely at the Black Hebrew Israelite claim of descent from Abraham’s grandson Jacob. What does not assist their cause is the aggressive delivery of their message.

Masimba Musodza:
‘Humiliating White people who happen to stop to hear them preach on the street is a favourite pastime of the Hebrew Israelites.
It is a scene that has played out often on the streets of many large cities in the United States. Now, it is increasingly becoming a common occurrence in the large cities of the United Kingdom.’

Black Hebrew Israelites promoting Judaism in New York City in 1995
‘A group of Black men stand in the street, preaching in loud voices what at first appears to be a group of Christian street preachers. But, they are dressed in outlandish costumes, an eclectic mix that echoes Afrofuturism and post-apocalyptic American movies. They always seem to have a Bible verse ready to explain their ideology, or respond to questions. They shout. They use profanities. They are the Black Hebrew Israelites. Their videos are seen by thousands of viewers across the world on YouTube.’

‘They claim that they represent the ancient Twelve Tribes of Israel and have been sent to inform all the other Israelites of their identity ahead of the imminent Second Appearance of Jesus. These Twelve Tribes, after a long history of being enslaved and oppressed by every nation on earth, are today known as African Americans, Hispanics, Caribbeans and Native Americans. Any ethnicity outside these groups cannot claim an Israelite ancestry or identity.’

‘In reality, The Black Hebrew Israelites are a latter day manifestation of the Black Jewish movement established by Wentworth A. Matthew, William S. Crowdy etc. There are many religious communities who have adhered to the teachings of the aforementioned Matthew et al, but these new groups distort the Bible to teach racial hate, particularly antisemitism.’

‘Sometimes, a member of their street audience identifies themselves as Jewish. Their response is to shout, “Ata goy, lo Yehudi!” Often, this has to be repeated before the Jewish person realises that they are trying to speak Hebrew and meant to say, “You are a Gentile, you’re not Jewish!” Sometimes it takes longer for the Jewish person to realise that the preacher is serious.’

Black Hebrew Israelites Exposed, Fritz Chery, May 18, 2026:
‘All Black Hebrew Israelites believe they are biologically God’s chosen people – the Israelites – and thus inherently superior to both white people and non-black Jews. Some groups are antagonistically racist toward Jews and whites. Since 2000, these extremist fringe groups have been steadily ramping up a rhetoric of a God-ordained race war.
The extremist groups, of course, get most of the attention, as they often engage in street preaching in high-traffic areas, provoking whites and Jews with hateful rants.
They gained national publicity in January 2019 by targeting a group of Covington Catholic High School kids who had participated in the March for Life in Washington, D.C. A group of about a half-dozen black-robed Black Israelites called the students “white crackers,” “faggots,” and “incest kids.”
‘One Black Israelite, “General” Mayakaahla Ka, has said, “Every white person who doesn’t get killed by Christ when he returns is going into slavery!”
Of course, this flies in the face of Biblical teaching. God expressly warned the Israelite’s not to oppress foreigners (non-Israelites) living among them. “Do not oppress a foreign resident, since you yourselves know how it feels to be foreigners; for you were foreigners in the land of Egypt.” (Exodus 23:9)
Foreigners living among the Israelites followed the same Mosaic law and the regulations for Passover as native-born Israelites, including circumcision (Exodus 12:19, 48-49). It wasn’t a matter of DNA as much as faith. God never told the Israelites to enslave or kill the foreigners living among them; He said to treat them kindly. Even if the Black Israelites are genuine descendants of the Biblical Israelites, they are not following God’s commands when demonizing Jews and white people.
Jesus’ message was all about love. The two greatest commands are to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind and to love our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew 22:37-40). Jesus said, “By this, all people will know that you are My disciples: if you have love for one another” (John 13:35). Accosting people on the sidewalk with hateful diatribes is at odds with Jesus’ message.’

The photo’s above and below reveal a troubling martial aspect of certain Black Hebrew Israelite sects.

What is the biblical basis for the claim that black people are descendants of the Nation of Israel? Factually, October 13, 2025 – emphasis mine:
‘The claim that Black people are descendants of the Nation of Israel has been advanced most visibly by Black Hebrew Israelite movements and a variety of advocacy and popular sources; this claim rests primarily on interpretive readings of biblical texts combined with historical, cultural, and sometimes pseudoscientific assertions, not on a single uncontested pillar of evidence.
There is consensus among mainstream historians and geneticists that no single biblical proof establishes all Black people as descendants of ancient Israelites.
Contemporary treatments range from devotional identity-building to commercialized media and internet forums, producing a mix of sincere theological argument, selective historical interpretation, and unverified evidence that scholars and many historians regard as insufficient to prove biological descent for all Black communities.
… [population genetics] and historical studies do not support a simple, universal biological descent of all Black populations from ancient Israelites… [leaving] major evidentiary gaps.
Advocates rely on three broad evidence types: scriptural exegesis, cultural continuity claims, and modern DNA assertions; each has limitations when used alone to establish lineage.
Scriptural re-readings are hermeneutical and vary across communities; cultural parallels are suggestive but not sufficient for proving descent; DNA claims circulated online and in videos are often anecdotal or methodologically opaque, and therefore fail to provide robust population-level evidence for the broad claim that Black peoples as a whole descend from Israel.
Missing from many popular treatments are transparent methodologies, peer-reviewed genetic analyses, and engagement with mainstream historical scholarship; forthcoming responsible research would combine archaeology, linguistics, population genetics, and community history with ethical dialogue.’
This writer concurs with the inadequate scholarship and subsequently a lack of conclusive evidence either biblically or genetically in answering the Black Hebrew Israelites claim of descent from Isaac’s son, Jacob.
We will concentrate firstly on scriptures used by Black Hebrew Israelites to substantiate their principal doctrine regarding identity, followed secondly, by those scriptures they choose to ignore which refute their mainstay tenet of belief.
Thirdly, the genetic argument will be examined, thereby demonstrating how the Black Hebrew Israelite claim is totally and utterly (hands down), scientifically impossible.

It is confounding that a small percentage of people – some 200,000 worldwide – should be confused over their identity. For they are neither Hebrew or Israelite; though they are African and Black.
As the complex origin of the identity of sub-Saharan people has been extensively catalogued in The Noachian Legacy, it it not this writer’s purpose to replicate the voluminous work in this article.
The constant reader will be readily knowledgeable, while new readers are encouraged to read the following articles so that what follows has a biblical, historical and genetic context which makes sense due to the accurate foundation it is built upon – refer Chapter XI Ham Aequator; and Chapter XII Canaan & Africa.
Regarding texts used by the Black Hebrew Israelites and beginning with two which are less often addressed and ending with the two most commonly cited.
The first is an apocryphal reference not found in the Bible.
2 Esdras 13:40-45
‘Those are the ten tribes, which were carried away prisoners out of their own land in the time of Osea the king, whom Salmanasar the king of Assyria led away captive, and he carried them over the waters, and so came they into another land.
But they took this counsel among themselves, that they would leave the multitude of the heathen, and go forth into a further country, where never mankind dwelt, That they might there keep their statutes, which they never kept in their own land.
And they entered into Euphrates by the narrow places of the river.
For the most High then shewed signs for them, and held still the flood, till they were passed over. For through that country there was a great way to go, namely, of a year and a half: and the same region is called Arsareth.’
This reference is used to propose that Israel travelled to the Western Hemisphere in antiquity, though this interpretation is not widely accepted among mainstream scholars.
This passage is not speaking about journeying to the Americas, though if it were, it was fulfilled by the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh. This would not support the Black Hebrew Israelites at all; but rather the true tribes descending from Joseph – Chapter XXXIII Manasseh & Ephraim – the Birthright Tribes.
What it is saying is that Israelite tribes were transported away from the Kingdom of Israel (740 BCE and 721-718 BCE) by ships along the Euphrates River. The Bible reveals where they went – Assyria and Media.

2 Kings 18:11
English Standard Version
‘The king of Assyria carried the Israelites away to Assyria and put them in Halah, and on the [river] Habor, the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes…’
The Israelites being white peoples easily assimilated into their new homes as these were lands occupied by white people – Chapter XX Will the Real Assyria Stand Up: Asshur & Russia.
Black Africans headed westwards into Africa, long prior to the Israelite exodus from Egypt and travelling to the land of Canaan – Appendix VII: Moses, the Exodus & Red Sea Crossing – Fabrication or Fact?

Black Hebrew Israelites teach Ephraim is Puerto Rico and Manasseh, Cuba.
This is incorrect as both these nations have not fulfilled and could not fulfil the profound prophecies predicted for them and specifically ascribed to the two sons of Joseph – Chapter XXXIII Manasseh & Ephraim – the Birthright Tribes; Chapter XV The Philistines: Latino-Hispano America.
The second reference is in the Book of Isaiah.
‘This text speaks of God regathering the remnant of His people from various regions. Some groups see the African diaspora and other migrations as the modern realization of biblical regathering prophecies.’
Isaiah 11:11-13
English Standard Version
11 ‘In that day the Lord will extend his hand yet a second time to recover the remnant that remains of his people, from Assyria [Russia], from Egypt [Middle East], from Pathros [Egypt], from Cush [India], from Elam [Turkey], from Shinar [Eastern Europe], from Hamath [Nigeria], and from the coastlands of the sea [East Asia].
12 He will raise a signal for the nations and will assemble the banished of Israel, and gather the dispersed of Judah [African Americans?] from the four corners of the earth [Chapter XXX Judah & Benjamin – the Regal Tribes].
13 The jealousy of Ephraim [Puerto Rico?] depart, and those who harass Judah [African Americans?] shall be cut off; Ephraim [Puerto Ricans?] shall not be jealous of Judah [Black Americans?], and Judah [African Americans?] shall not harass Ephraim [Puerto Rico?].’
Once accurate biblical identities are understood, then the ascribing of Black African (African American) and Puerto Rican roles in this passage is clearly incorrect. Coupled with this, is the fact that this prophecy is yet future and has not been fulfilled during this present age.

The third text is a heavily relied upon verse in the Book of Revelation. In fact, there are two verses.
The Black Hebrew Israelites are very misguided in using these two verses out of context as they are included in personal letters to seven consecutive eras of the true church (Body of Christ) through the centuries, dictated by Christ to the Apostle John – Article: The Seven Churches – A Message for the Church of God in the Latter Days.
The first letter is addressed to the first era beginning after Christ’s death until the final letter to the seventh era which culminates with Christ’s return. The first verse oft quoted is included in the second letter to the Church of Smyrna.
Revelation 2:9
English Standard Version
“I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.”
This verse has a physical application, in that the Jews are not the true tribe of Judah. In this, the Black Hebrew Israelites are surely correct, where they err is in then applying the identity of Judah to themselves – Chapter XXX Judah & Benjamin – the Regal Tribes.
The second verse is within the sixth letter to the Church of Philadelphia.
Revelation 3:9
English Standard Version
“Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie – behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you.”
This verse has a spiritual application – refer article: The Seven Churches – A Message for the Church of God in the Latter Days.
The fact many Black Hebrew Israelites observe a considerable portion of the Old Covenant is prophetically ironic in light of the subject in this verse.

The fourth text in Deuteronomy chapter twenty-eight is a pillar of Black Hebrew Israelite belief and perceived by them as an unanswerable knock out blow to any and all opponents toward their views.
So ‘obviously and clearly’ is it speaking about African Americans.
Yet their conviction that this chapter describes the Africans taken as slaves from Africa to the Americas contains immense incongruity in that Genesis chapter nine, verses eighteen to twenty-seven are the actual Bible verses which really so ‘clearly and obviously’ reveal their true biblical identity and the curse of their prophesied inheritance – Chapter XI Ham Aequator.
While the blessings and curses discussed in Deuteronomy do describe what would happen to the Israelites – going into captivity – if they habitually sinned after entering the promised land, it is not describing the slave trade which afflicted the Black African peoples – Chapter XII Canaan & Africa.
Deuteronomy chapter twenty-eight contains a lengthy sixty-eight verses. Thus only the key verses are highlighted including the all important final verse.
1 “And if you faithfully obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful to do all his commandments that I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. 2 And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the Lord your God.
4 Blessed shall be the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground and the fruit of your cattle, the increase of your herds and the young of your flock.
7 “The Lord will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before you…
9 The Lord will establish you as a people holy to himself, as he has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of the Lord your God and walk in his ways. 14 and if you do not turn aside from any of the words that I command you today, to the right hand or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them.
15 “But if you will not obey the voice of the Lord your God or be careful to do all his commandments and his statutes that I command you today, then all these curses shall come upon you and overtake you.
20 “The Lord will send on you curses, confusion, and frustration in all that you undertake to do, until you are destroyed and perish quickly on account of the evil of your deeds, because you have forsaken me.
25 “The Lord will cause you to be defeated before your enemies…
27 The Lord will strike you with the boils of Egypt, and with tumors and scabs and itch, of which you cannot be healed.
32 Your sons and your daughters shall be given to another people, while your eyes look on and fail with longing for them all day long, but you shall be helpless. 33 A nation that you have not known shall eat up the fruit of your ground and of all your labors, and you shall be only oppressed and crushed continually,
36 “The Lord will bring you and your king whom you set over you to a nation that neither you nor your fathers have known. And there you shall serve other gods of wood and stone.
41 You shall father sons and daughters, but they shall not be yours, for they shall go into captivity.
45 “All these curses shall come upon you and pursue you and overtake you till you are destroyed, because you did not obey the voice of the Lord your God, to keep his commandments and his statutes that he commanded you.
48 therefore you shall serve your enemies whom the Lord will send against you, in hunger and thirst, in nakedness, and lacking everything. And he will put a yoke of iron on your neck until he has destroyed you. 49 The Lord will bring a nation against you from far away, from the end of the earth, swooping down like the eagle, a nation whose language you do not understand, 50 a hard-faced nation who shall not respect the old or show mercy to the young.
51 It shall eat the offspring of your cattle and the fruit of your ground, until you are destroyed; it also shall not leave you grain, wine, or oil, the increase of your herds or the young of your flock, until they have caused you to perish.
52 “They shall besiege you in all your towns, until your high and fortified walls, in which you trusted, come down throughout all your land. And they shall besiege you in all your towns throughout all your land, which the Lord your God has given you.
58 “If you are not careful to do all the words of this law that are written in this book, that you may fear this glorious and awesome name, the Lord your God, 59 then the Lord will bring on you and your offspring extraordinary afflictions, afflictions severe and lasting, and sicknesses grievous and lasting. 60 And he will bring upon you again all the diseases of Egypt, of which you were afraid, and they shall cling to you.
62 Whereas you were as numerous as the stars of heaven, you shall be left few in number, because you did not obey the voice of the Lord your God. 63 And as the Lord took delight in doing you good and multiplying you, so the Lord will take delight in bringing ruin upon you and destroying you. And you shall be plucked off the land that you are entering to take possession of it.
64 “And the Lord will scatter you among all peoples, from one end of the earth to the other, and there you shall serve other gods of wood and stone, which neither you nor your fathers have known.’
Truly, these things came to pass for the disobedient Israelites and they suffered immeasurably at the hands of first, the Assyrians (740 BCE, 721-718 BCE) and later to a lesser degree, the Chaldeans (597 BCE, 587-586 BCE, 582 BCE) – Chapter XXI Will the Real Assyria Stand Up: Asshur & Russia; and Chapter XXV Italy: Nahor & the Chaldeans.
The crucial final verse states the following:
68 ‘And the Lord will bring you back in ships to Egypt, a journey that I promised that you should never make again; and there you shall offer yourselves for sale to your enemies as male and female slaves, but there will be no buyer.”
Returning to Egypt is a metaphor (Deuteronomy 28:27, 60) for going back into bondage and servitude (Deuteronomy 17:16, Hosea 8:13). This applies to when the Israelites were a free people within a kingdom who then lost everything as God had predicted.
Conversely, Africans have suffered a relentless tide of slavery and have never been free. For before the Europeans (Portuguese, British), Arabs took Africans as slaves and before that, Black people were oppressed by either a rival tribe or worse by their own leaders and chiefs. Not much has changed on the African continent which still suffers remorselessly from corrupt and cruel governments led by their own people.
While Africans were taken as slaves in ships during the transatlantic slave trade, this event was relatively recent in humankind’s history. The captivity of the Israelites occurred more than 2,500 years ago. We learned from 2 Esdras and 2 Kings how the Israelites were taken by Assyrian ships along the Euphrates River and its tributary rivers and transplanted in the regions stretching from in Assyria to neighbouring Media – Chapter IV Central Asia – Madai & the Medes.

Assyrian (Phoenician) oared warship circa 15th century BCE
The most damning part of the verse for a Black Hebrew Israelite argument is the fact that the Israelites would try to sell themselves as slaves so they could eat and not cannibalise each other (Jeremiah 19:9, Ezekiel 5:10, Lamentations 4:10, Leviticus 26:29). Whereas Black slaves in the Americas had no choice in their status; were taken against their will; and then auctioned to the highest bidder upon arrival in America, the Caribbean and Brazil.
Some readers may be thinking Egypt is not a metaphor and rather a literal reference. It may be a combination of both – refer following article. Either way, using Deuteronomy 28:68 as proof that sub-Saharan Africans are the descendants of Israelites is manipulative at worst and naive at best.

Two Hebrew Israelite Biblical Verses Examined, Masimba Musodza, November 8, 2019 – emphasis mine:
‘Clearly… [the Black Hebrew Israelite] interpretations are completely wrong, they are based on forced metaphors rather than historical reality.
Were Jews ever put on ships to be sold into slavery? Did they ever go back to Egypt as slaves. Oh, yes. This happened after the Destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans and the Bar Kochba Revolt.
Josephus records:
‘Caesar appointed one of his freedmen as their guard, his friend Fronto, to decide the fate appropriate to each… He picked out the tallest and handsomest of the lot and reserved them for the Triumph… Of the rest, those who were over seventeen he put in chains and sent to hard labor in Egypt…’ – The Jewish Wars, Book 6, Chapter 9:2.
“Innumerable was the multitude of those who were sold away as slaves. At the Annual Market of Terebrinth of Hebron they were offered for sale in such numbers that a Jewish slave was of no more value than a horse.” –Emil Schьrer, A History of the Jewish People in the Time of Jesus Christ.
‘Egypt and Israel are geographical neighbours… but the Roman Empire found it easier to use ships of its vast navy to link the different parts of its domain that were located around the Mediterranean Sea.
The aforementioned Schьrer continues from above:
“What could not be disposed of there was brought to Gaza[*] and sold or sent to Egypt, on the way to which many died of hunger, or of shipwreck.”
Another source records:
“Those captives who were not sold there [market at the Terebinth-Eloh tree in Hebron] were brought to the market place in Azza[*] which, because of the great multitudes of slaves who were sold there, was called Hadrian’s marketplace. And those who were still not sold there were herded into ships and were taken to Egypt. Many died in transit, whether by starvation or by shipwreck, while many also were killed by cruel masters” – Friedrich Mьnter, Primordia Eccl. Africanae.

A Roman Galley, non-coincidently not too dissimilar to an Assyrian ship
Apparently a further claim by Black Hebrew Israelites of an Israelite lineage from the tribe of Judah consists of a tenuous link with a West African kingdom.
Masimba Musodza:
‘… the Hebrew Israelites falsely claim that there was a Kingdom of Judah established in West Africa by their ancestors. However, there is no proof for this claim, rather a fictional connection to the historical Kingdom of Whydah in West Africa.
It was located in what is now the modern Republic of Benin, and its economy was founded on slave trading. Its name is from the Yoruba Xwйda, but Europeans distorted it variously to Whydah, Hueda, Whidah, Ajuda, Ouidah, Whidaw, and Juda.
It is that last version of this name that Hebrew Israelites have erroneously seized on to claim that there was a Kingdom of Judah established by their ancestors in West Africa, after they fled Israel following the Destruction of Jerusalem.
The only primary source to support this claim of a mass migration of Jewish refugees to Africa that I have come across is a book called From Babylon To Timbktu by Rudolph R. Windsor, first published in 1969. Mr Windsor claims that millions (p84) of Jews fled into Africa following the Destruction of Jerusalem, but is shy with his sources.
Contemporary Roman sources however have it that 100000 Jews were taken to Egypt in ships to be sold as slaves. More were sent to other parts of the Roman Empire.
The history of the Kingdom of Whydah’s history is adequately documented. It was founded around 1100 C.E. (the Fall of Jerusalem happened in 70 C.E, what were the Jews doing in West Africa for a whole thousand years before finally being sold to European slave traders?)
… Native Americans and Hispanics did not get to the New World on slave ships, except those who today have some African ancestry…
And, by the way, there is no Arab record of kidnapping and enslaving Jewish people out of West Africa. Given that the Arab Slave [Trade] was longer… [capturing] people, it is quite remarkable that there is no mention of Hebrews at all.’

The scriptural support used by Black Hebrew Israelites throughout is flimsy, weak and wholly unconvincing. Add this to the fact that their biblical identity is actually from the descendants of Canaan – the youngest son of Noah and Ham’s wife Na’eltama’uk – it is almost hardly worth enumerating the points which show Abraham’s descendants cannot be Africans.
But, we will do so.
There are three key aspects to the promise by God of blessings to Abraham’s descendants.
One, that he would be the father of many nations; two, the ancestor of a singularly great nation; and three, a royal line of kings would proceed from him.
As these points have been discussed at length in The Noachian Legacy, they are summarised here – refer Chapter XXX Judah & Benjamin – the Regal Tribes; and Chapter XXXIII Manasseh & Ephraim – the Birthright Tribes.
Genesis 12:2
English Standard Version
‘… I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.’
The first time the Eternal speaks about this subject, a ‘great nation’ is promised to come from Abraham’s descendants.
Genesis 17:1-2, 4, 6
English Standard Version
1 ‘… the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless, 2 that I may make my covenant between me and you, and may multiply you greatly.”
4 “… you shall be the father of a multitude of nations. 6 I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make you into nations, and kings shall come from you.”
The second time the Eternal speaks with Abraham, the promise of national blessing is amplified to include, many (or numerous nations), from which many people would descend from Abraham, including royal lines of kings.
Before commenting on these verses and their fulfilment, there is further amplification when Jacob, Abraham’s grandson – who received the birthright blessing from Abraham’s son Isaac, instead of Esau – passes the birthright blessing to his grandsons, the sons of Joseph.
Genesis 48:14-20
English Standard Version
14 And Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on the head of Ephraim, who was the younger, and his left hand on the head of Manasseh, crossing his hands (for Manasseh was the firstborn). 15 And he… said… 16 bless the boys… and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.”
17 When Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased him, and he took his father’s hand to move it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head. 18 And Joseph said to his father, “Not this way, my father; since this one is the firstborn, put your right hand on his head.”
19 But his father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know. He also shall become a people, and he also shall be great.
Nevertheless, his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his offspring shall become a multitude of nations.” 20 … Thus he put Ephraim before Manasseh.’

It is perplexing why Black Hebrew Israelites teach American Blacks are the tribe of Judah. Yet all the African Blacks are who exactly?
The other tribes of Israel are equated to Amerindians and Latinos in the main. Ethnically, this does not make sense and is a crippling contradictory flaw in their reasoning. African Americans are not an isolated ethnic group divorced from Africans, whether incorrectly defined as tribes of Israelites or correctly ascribed as descendants of Canaan.
This alone seriously questions the theory, casting grave doubts on their conclusions.
Ephraim and Manasseh’s blessing meant they would eventually become a multitude of nations (a ‘union of states’) and a ‘great people’ – Chapter XXXIII Manasseh & Ephraim – the Birthright Tribes.
This hardly – to put it mildly – sounds like Puerto Rico and Cuba as offered by Black Hebrew Israelites.
The reality is that the United States of America (comprising a federation of nation states) and Canada are the recipients of the blessings promised to Ephraim and Manasseh. It is they who dwell in the ‘middle’ of the Earth, sandwiched between Asia to the west and Europe to the east.
When the Eternal said many nations would descend from Abraham, did it mean all the African nations?
Or peoples related to the British and Irish who descend from Jacob? Including Germans, Scandinavians and the Dutch – Chapter XXVIII The True Identity & Origin of Germans & Austrians – Ishmael & Hagar; and Chapter XXVII Abraham & Keturah – Benelux & Scandinavia.
The Noachian Legacy provides considerable detail to show it is unarguably the latter peoples, while Africans beyond a shadow of a doubt descend from Canaan – Chapter XII Canaan & Africa.
Coupled with this – though somewhat redundant according to Black Hebrew Israelite teaching – is which African nation could be deemed as ‘great’ Is there an African nation nearly as great, as great even, or greater than the United States of America?
The aspect of royal lines and kings is perhaps even more damaging to Black Hebrew Israelite doctrine.
While local tribal kings are not unknown in Africa – yet wholly missing amongst the African American population – it is the true Judaic royal lineages throughout northwestern Europe and the world renowned throne in England which fulfil the numerous biblical prophetic promises regarding the tribe of Judah – Genesis 49:10.
Notice, the Jewish people do not fulfil these promises, for they are not Israelites or the tribe of Judah (Obadiah 1-21, John 8:39-44) — Chapter XXIX Esau: The Thirteenth Tribe.
In this, the Black Hebrew Israelites are perversely correct – antisemitic or not.

Now the subject of genetic identity, which one would assume would be the most definitive and objective in the case against the Black Hebrew Israelite central dogma. Yet adherents have been fooled by clever sounding arguments which unravel when mirrored against science.
Black Hebrew Israelites freely discuss paternal Y-DNA Haplogroups (Y sex chromosome passed from fathers only to sons), though appear to shy away from discussion on the maternal mtDNA Haplogroups (mitochondria DNA passed from mothers to sons and daughters).
Here is perhaps why.

While this writer is not convinced on the chronological or sequential trail as exactly displayed above, it is as good a chart as any – Article: Y-DNA Adam & mtDNA Eve: The Genesis & Evolution of Homo sapiens.
If African Americans – being related to Africans – were sons of Jacob, then their men would exhibit a more recent Y-DNA Haplogroup mutation as Abraham lived about 4,000 years ago. Yet some African men possess Haplogroups A and B, with the majority carrying Haplogroups E1b1a and E1b1b. Haplogroup E is an old mutation, certainly not recent (in terms of thousand of years).
While the men descended from Abraham: Ishmael, Issac and his six sons with Keturah are identified by Y-DNA Haplogroup R1b (specifically R1b-U106).
This is a recent mutation which coincides with the time frame in which Abraham was born (1977 BCE).
Of course, a Black Hebrew Israelite could counter with: what about Japheth’s male descendants who are predominantly Haplogroup O (O1a, O1b, O2a).
The Bible appears to indicate that Noah’s sons were born in the following order: Japheth, Shem, Ham and Canaan (Genesis 9:24; 10:21; 11:10).
So it is highly revealing – for whatever reason – that the age of their Y-DNA Haplogroups are in reverse order to their order of birth.
Thus Canaan being the youngest, his male descendants predominantly carry Haplogroup E, the oldest of the four sons Haplogroups.

Ham the next youngest, his descendants carry principally Haplogroup J which is younger than E.
Shem and Japheth’s males each carry younger Haplogroups again with R (R1a, R1b) and O respectively. Yet R1 is younger than O, so that this writer might have to concede that Shem may be the eldest after all and not Japheth – refer Chapter I Noah Antecessor Nulla.
Whichever way one looks at it, the fact African men carry Haplogroups A, B and E eliminates any chance of them being genetically Israelites.
Though if that weren’t enough, the evidence of maternal mitochondria sinks all claims by any Black people in being descended from Jacob.

For again, the mtDNA Haplogroup chronological sequence runs in reverse order for Noah’s sons descendants. So that those men who exhibit R1b-U106, also carry predominantly mtDNA Haplogroups (in alphabetical order): H, J, K, U and T.
These are all relatively recent Haplogroup mutations in principally Europeans – and Arab and Indian people via admixture.
Yet those of African descent only carry the very earliest mitochondrial DNA as typified by Haplogroup L – primarily L0, L1, L2, L3 (as well as L4-L6).

This fact resounds with the unflinching power of an incontrovertible truth, where no side stepping or circumlocutory reasoning can change it.
Regrettably, the beginning of the Black Hebrew Israelite movement was founded on a premise of deceit by those entities who revealed revelations to Frank Cherry and William Crowdy – refer article: Principalities & Potentates: What they want… Who they are.
The two men unknowingly (knowingly?), were duped in putting together a hodgepodge of Jewish, Christian and Freemasonry beliefs which in the main are erroneous, with degrees of truth mixed in for deceptive measure.

The most important doctrines where the Black Hebrew Israelites are partially correct – though still denied by mainstream orthodox Christianity – are one; the aspect of Christ’s unique sonship and his not being the same as God or God himself; and two, the fact that while African Americans are not from the tribe of Judah, they are completely correct in asserting that the Jews are not the tribe of Judah either – Chapter XXIX Esau: The Thirteenth Tribe.
Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be to his brothers.
Genesis 9:25 English Standard Version
“A persistent debate in scholarship is whether to classify Black Hebrew Israelites as a form of Judaism, a sect of Christianity, or a distinct new religious movement altogether, with consensus leaning toward the latter due to its unique synthesis and foundational claims.”
Anonymous
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