THE PHYSICAL APPEARANCE OF ANCIENT ISRAEL THE HEBREWS & THE SONS OF HAM PART THREE

Let’s go right into analyzing these verses.

First, this "Ethiopian" was coming to Jerusalem to worship.

 In those days only the Hebrews came to Jerusalem for worship, because this is where the Temple of Yah stood, making Jerusalem the spiritual home of all Hebrews (2nd Chronicles 6:6 - 7:16).

 Hebrews continued to come to Jerusalem to worship, up until the time of the Roman destruction in 70 C.E. As a matter of fact, Many Hebrews were worshiping at the temple while the Romans were breaking down the walls of Jerusalem about to lay siege to it.

 Second, this Ethiopian had Hebrew scriptures in his possession.

 In those days the scriptures were still considered sacred, and remained in the possession of the Hebrews, not everyone had access to scripture, as we do today. Hebrews, whether abroad or in the land, were the primary owners of scripture in those days.

 Third, the Ethiopian was baptized by Phillip.

 All these facts prove that this Ethiopian was a Hebrew, according to what Peter said in Acts 10:28:

 "You know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Hebrew TO KEEP COMPANY OR COME UNTO ONE OF ANOTHER NATION."

 If the Hebrews thought it was unlawful to keep company with those of another nation, why would Philip go and keep company with this Ethiopian, if indeed he was from a entirely different nation? Philip didn't even try to argue with the spirit, when he was told to go and teach this Ethiopian. The reason for that is:

 The Ethiopian was a Hebrew who lived in Ethiopia. Making him what we know as a Ethiopian Hebrew.

 As stated previously, it is a known fact that the Ethiopians are a black-skinned people. The name Ethiopian comes from the Greek word Aethiops which means burnt face. This was a title the ancient Greeks gave to the people who lived south of Egypt because they were closer to the equator than the Egyptians. Their hue on an average was a little darker than the Egyptians.

This Hebrew was not called Ethiopian just because he lived in Ethiopia, but because he also looked like a black-skinned Ethiopian. To this very day, there are many black-skinned Hebrews who live or have lived in Ethiopia in the past. Today many of them are known as the "Falasha" or Beta Yisrael. So far we have not seen where scripture likens Israel to any white-skinned nations as it relates to physical appearance. This is very important to understand because many of the people who are called Jews today are white- skinned and come from Europe.

 These white skinned Jews make up the majority of the Jews in Israel and in the world. This is not a racist or "anti-Semitic" statement. It's only the truth according to scripture.

For further proof of the color of the ancient Israelites lets look at Acts 13:1:

 "Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain PROPHETS AND TEACHERS: as Barnabas, and SIMEON THAT WAS CALLED NIGER, AND LUCIUS OF CYRENE, and Manaen which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Shaul (Paul)".

 The word Niger is a Latin word that means BLACK, and Cyrene is a city in Libya, which is located in North Africa. Historians and scholars both agree that the city of Cyrene was a black area, meaning it was heavily populated with black skin-people in biblical times. Cyrene is also the place where Simon, the man who helped Yahshuah carry the cross (stake) was from (Matt. 27:32, Mark 15:21, Luke 23:26). Many acknowledge that Simon (the cross bearer) was a "black" man.

 This man who was called Niger wasn't called black because he was the only black- skinned person there. He was called black because his hue was maybe darker than the rest of the prophets and teachers. Much like in the "African American" community, when one of our brothers or sisters have a skin tone that is darker than the rest, we sometimes give that person a nick name that describes his color. If the person's name is Michael we might call him Black Mike, or we might just call him Black, even though, we are all black-skinned. He's just been given a FRIENDLY nick name which describes him. This is why Simeon was called Niger or black.

Scripture confirms in Acts 13:1, that there were black-skinned men who were prophets and teachers at the church in Antioch. But, we must understand that the Hebrews were not dealing with any other people or racial group at this time, other than scattered Israel. It is written in Acts 11:19:

 "Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen, traveled As far as Phenice and Cyprus, and Antioch, PREACHING THE WORD TO NONE BUT THE HEBREWS ONLY".

 This was before the apostles ministries to the Gentiles at large started, so why were these "black" men there, if the Hebrews were a white skinned people? Simple, they were Hebrews, just like Paul who was also there with them in the church in Antioch. Remember Paul was mistaken for a "black" Egyptian. Niger and LUCIUS were prophets and teachers, and as scripture shows us, all the prophets and teachers were Hebrews.

 Now, I will refer to a few historical sources that are also in agreement with scripture about the physical appearance of the Hebrews. The Romans who knew the Hebrews well, had this to say about their physical appearance.

 A Roman historian named Tacitus who lived about C.E. 90 said, "Many assert that the Hebrews are an RACE OF ETHIOPIAN ORIGINS." 

 Once again, we have the Hebrews compared to one of HAM’S black-skinned descendants. Historian and scholar, J.A. Rogers commented, "For the Romans to have considered them Ethiopians is a clear indication of their color, because the Ethiopians are a known black people". Tacitus also said that the Hebrews were Egyptians , who left Egypt during a disease outbreak. 

 The Roman Emperor, Justinian the Great, who ruled basically from 527 - 564 C.E., 500 years after the time of Yahshuah, had engraved on a coin, the image of Yahshuah with woolly / kinky hair and "BLACK" features. On the obverse side of the coin there is an image of Justinian but with straight hair.   

 he Cambridge Encyclopedia has this particular listing about that image on the coin.                                                             

 "Whatever the fact, this coin, with the straight haired Justinian on the obverse side, places beyond doubt the belief that "Jesus" was a Negro (black-skinned)." 

Now, lets go back to the scripture for more information that proves the Hebrews were a black-skinned nation.

 Lamentations 5:1