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Anglo-Israelism (Sometimes called British-Israelism) is a complex set of theories that are not identical nor are they necessarily compatible with each other. These theories all share one common theme which is that the British, are the direct lineal descendants of the lost tribes of Israel. This is a fringe theory among Christians who are usually Protestants which cannot be described as being semitic or anti-semitic; nor pro-German or anti-German, because the context of the any specific sub-theory within the general theory of Anglo-Israelism, can only be interpreted by the position taken by the group advocating its own theory. There are however, certain points thats these theories have in common and many can be traced back to a common historical starting point.
Origins of the theory
References in various ancient manuscripts have provided clues to the origins of Anglo-Israelism. One of the first known books detailing this theory was written by Richard Brothers' and called a A Revealed Knowledge of the Prophecies and Times. It was published in the 1790s. Also cited as an original work is Rev. John Wilson's Our Israelitish Origins which was originally published during the 1840.
General overview
The teaching of Anglo-Israelism took off in the mid-1800s after the ancient rock inscription at Behistun in Persia was deciphered. On the rock, one of the kings of the nations that Darius the Great had subdued was the king of the 'Saka', or the Scythians. The Behistun rock was a type of Rosetta stone written in three languages. In the Babylonian, the Saka were called the Gimirri; in the Assyrian language they were referred to as the Khumri or Bit-Khumri, or Cimmerians by the Greeks and Romans.
In other Babylonian and Assyrian monuments and tablets the conquests of the Khumri and their eventual captivity were chronicled. The Khumri were also called the Bit-omri or the House of Omri, one of the kings of the northern tribes of the kingdom of Israel.
Some researchers have argued that both Celts and the Germans came from an area south-east of the Black Sea, and migrated westward to the coast of Europe. The names Iberia for Spain, and Hibernia for Ireland are sometimes interpreted as evidence that the Habiru (Hebrews) traveled to and settled those areas.
According to the hypothesis, the Saka-Scythians migrated west starting with the reign of the Persian King Cyrus the Great, when they declined to help him in his conquest of the Babylonian empire. Herodotus says they were called "Germanii" at that point in time. The Greeks called the Scythians Sakae and Scyths. When the Saxons invaded England in 400 AD, their chroniclers said they "sent back to Scythia for reinforcements." The implication is that the Saxons considered themselves to be Scythians, the name having travelled with them even though they were far away from the region the Greeks had labelled "Scythia". The English are known to be descended from the Anglo-Saxons. Hence the connection with the tribes of Israel.
The burial customs of the Scythians and Vikings also show similarities, for which some have argued a common origin in support of Anglo-Israelism.
Joseph of Arimathea is believed to have travelled to Cornwall sometime after Christ's crucifixion and to have established an early Christian community.
Legends of the coming of Brutus (Britis) to England after the burning of Troy is another essential element in most variants of the British Israel theory.
Theology involves claim of racial lineage
Anglo-Israelism asserts theologically-related claims of a bloodline that traces back to God's chosen people, the early Jews. As such, it is based on a racialized construct. In the United States, one branch of Anglo-Israelism turned into the Christian Identity religion, with many practitioners openly embracing white supremacy and antisemitism. However, there is a difference between claiming a racial lineage, and endorsing naked bigotry.
See also
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