VIEW OF THE HEBREWS;
Or The
TRIBES OF ISRAEL IN AMERICA
Exhibiting
Chap. I. The Destruction of Jerusalem. Chap. II. The Certain
Restoration of Judah and Israel. Chap. III. The Present
State of Judah and Israel. Chap IV. An Address of the
Prophet Isaiah to the United States Relative to their
Restoration.
Second Edition, Improved and enlarged.
By Ethan Smith,
Pastor of a church in Poultney (VT.)
"These be the days of vengeance."
"Yet a remnant shall return."
"He shall assemble the outcasts of Israel; and gather
together the dispersed of Judah."
Published and printed by Smith & Shute,
Poultney, (VT.)
1825.
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District of Vermont, To wit:
Be it remembered, that on the sixteenth day of April, in the forty-ninth year of the Independence of the United States of America, Smith & Shute, of the said District, have deposited in this office the title of a book, the right whereof they claim as proprietors, in the words following, to wit: "View of the Hebrews; or the Tribes of Israel in America. Exhibiting, Chap. I. The Destruction of Jerusalem. Chap. II. The certain Restoration of Judah and Israel. Chap. III. The Present State of Judah and Israel. Chap. IV. An address of the Prophet Isaiah to the United States relative to their restoration. Second edition, improved and enlarged. By Ethan Smith, pastor of a church in Poultney, (VT.) ‘ These be the days of vengeance.’ 'Yet a remnant shall return.' ‘ He shall assemble the outcasts of Israel; and gather together the dispersed of Judah.'" In conformity to the act of the Congress of the United States, entitled "An act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of maps, charts, and books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned."
Jesse Gove,
Clerk of the District of Vermont.
A true copy of record, examined and sealed by
J. Gove,
Clerk.
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FOR THE SECOND EDITION.
The importance of the question, Where are the Ten Tribes of
Israel? the speedy sale of the first edition of this work;
and the obtaining considerable additional evidence relative
to the origin of the American Indians;--have led the way to
the publishing of a second edition of this View. Additional
evidences are adduced from various sources; especially from
Hunter's Narrative --Baron Humboldt on the Kingdom of New
Spain--and the American Archaeology. These authors, without
particular design, have furnished what is deemed material
evidence upon this subject.
Some objections are noted, and replies made to them. The
writer has had his ears open to objections; and he is of
opinion that none have been made, but what are capable of a
fair solution.
Poultney, April 1, 1825.
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RECOMMENDATIONS.
Testimonials in favour of this work have not been wanting. The following will be here inserted.
The Pawlet Association certify, that they have heard the
Rev. E. Smith read a considerable part of his "View of the
Hebrews;" that they do highly approve of the plan and
execution of the work; do wish its publication; and
cordially recommend it to the perusal of all classes of
people.
Voted, unanimously,
Attest, RUFUS
CUSHMAN, Scribe.
Extracts from Reviews of the First Edition.
"We have been exceedingly gratified in taking a 'View of the
Hebrews,' through the glass that Mr. S. has put to our eye;
and it is presumed that none will turn away dissatisfied
with such a medium of vision, unless they are dissatisfied
that they may not look longer.--The subject is large enough
to engage a more extended discussion; but perhaps Mr. S. has
said all that need be said at present. Undoubtedly further
inquiries will be made, and more satisfactory results
obtained ere long."--[ Boston Recorder.]
"Of this we feel convinced, that the religious community are
indebted to Mr. S. for the pains he has taken in this his
sketch of the Hebrews; and we hope that his labour will be
amply remunerated, not only in seeing the salutary tendency
of his book in exciting Christians to their duty in
reference to the Jews, but also in its rapid sale. The
sentiments interspersed are calculated to be profitable to
the pious; as well as informing to the reader, who is merely
in pursuit of interesting historical knowledge." "We
consider the moral tendency of the publication to be truly
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valuable. No person can read it without some benefit, unless
his heart be strangely perverted." "One of the impressions
which this work is calculated to make is, the awful guilt
and danger contracted by a rejection of Jesus Christ as our
atoning Saviour. This we see in the terrible destruction of
Jerusalem and the temple, and in the dreadful slaughter and
dispersion of the Jews. Another is, the weight of obligation
which now rests on Gentile Christians, and eminently on
American Christians to extend the gospel to the Jews. When
this people was rejected from spiritual privileges, we were
graciously received; and our duty now is, by every
practicable method, to persuade them to renounce their
unbelief, and participate with us in the rich blessings of
grace."-- [Christian Watchman, published in Boston.]
"Certainly, if we may judge from our own feelings, such a
collection of facts and details, as is presented by our
author, must secure for his book an unusual degree of
popularity."--[Christian Advocate, published at Saratoga,
N.Y.]
Extracts of a letter from the Rev. Jabez B. Hyde of Eden,
Erie county, N.Y. dated Feb. 4, 1825, after having read the
first edition of this work.
"I have been in the sentiment of your book, that the natives
of our country are the outcasts of Israel. It cannot well be
doubted by any one, who has become acquainted with the
religious ceremonies of the Indians, but that they have a
manifest shadow of the Mosaic rituals. Most of the
particulars you have mentioned in your book, I know to be
facts; and were observed by the Seneca Indians. When I first
came among them, the chiefs invited me to all their
celebrations. For some time (when I could make it
convenient) I attended, in hopes of obtaining information
concerning their ceremonies. All the information I could
obtain from their interpreter was, that all related to
things their fathers taught them many years ago. "So our
fathers worshiped the Great Spirit!" This was all the
account they could give. I neglected their meetings. After I
read Dr. Boudinot's 'Star in the West,' I again attended
their religious ceremonies, to see if I could discern what
he had represented. In 1818, a general religious excitement
commenced among the Senecas. They attempted to understand
and reform their old religious rites, rather than receive
Christianity. This brought to-
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gether their wise men, who were
best acquainted with their mysteries. They spent much time to
investigate their religion, its origin and what it taught,
and to what it would avail. They found themselves involved
in darkness. Of the meaning of the words they used in their
dances, and divine songs, they were wholly ignorant. They
used the words, Y-O-He-Wah, and Hal-le-lu-yah, as Dr.
Boudinot has represented of other Indians. They became
dissatisfied with their old rites, and consented that they
would take the book which the white people call the word of
God, to throw light on their path. This was the commencement
of Christianity among the Senecas. This in its progress
brought in two who had officiated as high priests in their
religious ceremonies. With these I have had frequent
opportunities. They have given me, I believe, an unreserved
account of all they know of their ancient religion. Their
wish has been to obtain information whether any thing is
found in our scriptures similar to their religion. They have
been firmly persuaded that they are the people of God; but
that they have lost their way, and are bewildered in
darkness. They call themselves, Hung-gwa-o-way; --i.e. the
real people.
In all their rites which I have learned from them, there is
certainly a most striking similitude to the Mosaic rituals.
Their feasts of first fruits; feasts of ingathering; day of
atonement; peace offerings; sacrifices. They build an altar
of stone before a tent covered with blankets; within the
tent they burn tobacco for incense, with fire taken from the
altar of burnt offering. All who have seen a dead human body
are considered unclean eight days; which time they are
excluded from the congregation. These Senecas observe their
separations of females, as you notice of other Indians in
your book. These Indians are well acquainted, that formerly
places like cities of refuge existed among them. An old
chief showed me the boundaries of one of them. I could fill
sheets with details; but it would be unnecessary.
I remain yours in the bonds of the Gospel,
JABEZ
B. HYDE.
Rev. Ethan Smith.
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From the Rev. Dr. Proudfit, of Salem, NY,
Salem, February
18, 1825.
"Reverend and esteemed Brother: I have examined with no
inconsiderable interest your 'View of the Hebrews,' and have
been highly entertained, and instructed. From the view given
of their Language, and from the similarity of their customs
and religious rites, with those of ancient Israel; from
their belief in the existence of the one Great Spirit, as
the Creator and Judge of the world; from their existing in
tribes, during the lapse of so many ages; from the
coincidence of their traditions with the events recorded in
the inspired volume; we have in my opinion satisfactory
evidence that the aborigines of our country are the remnant
of the ten tribes of Israel.
I am much gratified to hear that you are preparing a second
edition, with additional facts and evidences. If my name may
have any influence to introduce this work to the patronage
of the religious public, you have liberty to use it for the
purpose.
That the blessing of Israel's God may accompany this, and
every production designed to excite greater exertions for
the missionary cause, and extending the kingdom of the
Redeemer, in the gathering of the Jews, and the fulness of
the Gentiles, and hastening the progress of the millennial
glory, is the prayer of your brother in the faith of Jesus,
and fellow labourer in the gospel.
ALEXANDER PROUDFIT. .
Rev. Ethan Smith.
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CONTENTS
[note that the pages numbers here refer to pagination in the original]
|
Chapter I |
|
| Description of Jerusalem of the Temple Christ foretels its destruction Various signs of the event Seven striking portents of it Causes of the war Factions of the Jews The Roman army approaching Some prophecies have a primary, and an ultimate fulfillment
|
15 |
|
Chapter II The Certain Restoration of Judah and Israel 47 |
|
| The expulsion of the ten tribes Arguments in favour of a literal restoration. 1. The distinct existence of the Jews 2. Their past partial, and short possession of Canaan 3. Express predictions of the event 4. A mystical import given to these predictions inadmissible 5. Their expulsion was literal; hence their restoration may be expected to be literal
|
ib. |
|
Chapter III The Present State of the Jews, And of Israel 67 |
|
| State of the Jews State of Israel Preliminary Remarks. 1. Israel as well as Judah are to
be recovered |
67 |
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Commencement of arguments in favour of the natives of America being the descendants of Israel 1. These natives all appear to have had one origin 2. Their language appears to have been Hebrew Table of words 3. The Indians have had their ark of the covenant 4. They have had circumcision 5. They generally have acknowledged one and only one God 6. Testimonies of William Penn 7. Their superior tribe 8. Several prophetic traits of character 9. Their being in tribes with heads of tribes 10. Their having an imitation of cities of refuge 11. Various other traditions and arguments Where they came to this country, Promiscuous testimonies from page 114 to 225; a few only of which shall be here noted. Notice of some objections from page 168 to 173, also in the Appendix |
85 ib. 89 90 95 96 98 107 108 109 111 112 113 ib. |
| Good original character of the natives 132-139 173-177 | |
| Natives of New Spain Indian Pyramids American High Places like those of ancient Israel Pyramid of Cholula Traditions of an ancient celebrated character, probably Moses Traditions of a Trinity in Unity in God Phylacteries, or ancient Hebrew writings, found on Indian Hill, in Pittsfield
|
177-187 179, 202 200 179, 203 180, 204 210 217 |
|
Chapter IV An Address of the Prophet Isaiah, Relative to the Restoration of His People 227 |
|
|
Preliminary Remarks Exposition of Isaiah xviii Conclusion Appendix, (Objections answered,) |
228 |
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|
AUTHORS AND AUTHORITIES ADDUCED. |
|
| Archaelogia Americana, page 188 Adair, 80,84,88,89,92,95,98,112, 116, 21,123. Some of his arguments, 147-154. Don Alonzo de Ericilla, 158. Boudinot, 87,91,93,96,98,100, 116,120,123-125,133,134,138. Bartram, 113,123-125. Buttrick, 130. Beatty, 96,98,116,119. Charlevoix, 85,174. Colden, 94,109. Cushman, 105,174. Clavigero, 116. Chapman, 123,157. Carver, 123,154. Columbus, 132. Commissioners, 137. Casas, 176. Dodge & Blight, 104. Edwards, 86,89,162. Esdras, 74. Frey, 118. Giddings, 88,102. Gookin, 107. |
Hunter, 162. Humboldt, 177. Herman, 140. Heckewelder, 107. Hebard, 101. Hutchinson, 93,174. Immanuel de Moraez, 97. Jarvis, 79. M'Kenzie, 97,114,115. Long, 141,160. Lewis & Clark, 106,124. Morse, 91,126,142. Mather, 127. Melverda & Acasta, 162. Occum, 106. Pratz, 87,175. Pedro de Cicca, 88. Penn, 107,174. Pixley, 111,113,130. Robertson, 153. Sauard, 92. Smith, (Col.) 117,126,134,136, 174,175. Schoolcraft, 145. Ulloa, 88. Williams, 88,101,110,114. Williams, (Roger) 107. |