The Lemba People

The Mystery of the Lemba People: Tudor Parfitt was a 19 year old student when he first visited Jerusalem in 1963 and heard the story that in ancient days, more than 2,500 years ago, when the Assyrians invaded Jerusalem, they massacred the people, and took the people captive. Later Babylon invaded, massacred and took the people to Babylon. The Ark of the Covenant that housed the 10 Commandments was lost. When released from captivity, many tribes did not make it back to their place of origin. They are called the lost tribes and they were predicted to one day return to their homeland.

In 1985, Tudor Parfitt, a university lecturer, met some men in South Africa who claimed to be one of the lost tribes. Within a few years, he embarked upon a journey to the Lemba villages, and studied their customs discovering that are very similar to ancient Jewish customs. They spoke about a traditional story that 7 men of the Jewish priestly clan travelled by boat and land in ancient days. They also described an ancient box that was kept in the museum of Harare. By examining the box, it would appear to be a drum. By the year 2000, it became possible to conduct DNA examination of the Lemba people. It was discovered that they are indeed of the Jewish race. They had travelled through the Yemen, and their genes are of the Cohen priests of the line of Aaron, the brother of Moses.

The Jews were great travellers, always seeking a new homeland when they are at risk. The Falasha of Ethiopia are very ancient Jews. Though there is great controversy over the original temple grounds, it has been suggested the the earliest temple, known as Solomon's Temple, might have been outside the city walls. If this is so, it will be revolutionary for the current tensions between the Jews and the Muslims, that both claim the same site as holy ground. 

Article by Wendy Stokes 
Read Part One on this link: https://wendystokesuk.blogspot.com/2018/10/jerusalem-history-part-one.html