Hidden Treasures of the Diaspora

Dinah, Portrait of a Negress: ca 1866-69

Eastman Johnson (July 29, 1824 – April 5, 1906) was an American painter and co-founder of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City

Did you know??

In 19th century America, "Dinah" became a generic name for an enslaved African woman

Lizzie McCloud, a slave on a Tennessee plantation during the American Civil War, recalled that Union soldiers called all enslaved women "Dinah". Describing her fear when the Union army arrived, she said: "We was so scared we run under the house and the Yankees called 'Come out Dinah' (didn't call none of us anything but Dinah). They said 'Dinah, we're fightin' to free you and get you out from under bondage'." After the end of the war in 1865 The New York Times exhorted the newly liberated slaves to demonstrate that they had the moral values to use their freedom effectively, using the names "Sambo" and "Dinah" to represent male and female former slaves: "You are free Sambo, but you must work. Be virtuous too, oh Dinah!"

The name Dinah was subsequently used for dolls and other images of black women ~wikipedia

Genesis 34:1

“And Dinah the daughter of Leah, which she bare unto Jacob, went out to see the daughters of the land.” 

A MOMENT OF EXCELLENCY IN WISDOM

Joshua son of Nun

Joshua 8:1-8

And the LORD said unto Joshua, Fear not, neither be thou dismayed: take all the people of war with thee, and arise, go up to Ai: see, I have given into thy hand the king of Ai, and his people, and his city, and his land:2

And thou shalt do to Ai and her king as thou didst unto Jericho and her king: only the spoil thereof, and the cattle thereof, shall ye take for a prey unto yourselves: lay thee an ambush for the city behind it.

3So Joshua arose, and all the people of war, to go up against Ai: and Joshua chose out thirty thousand mighty men of valour, and sent them away by night.

4And he commanded them, saying, Behold, ye shall lie in wait against the city, even behind the city: go not very far from the city, but be ye all ready:

5And I, and all the people that are with me, will approach unto the city: and it shall come to pass, when they come out against us, as at the first, that we will flee before them,

6(For they will come out after us) till we have drawn them from the city; for they will say, They flee before us, as at the first: therefore we will flee before them.

7Then ye shall rise up from the ambush, and seize upon the city: for the LORD your God will deliver it into your hand.

8And it shall be, when ye have taken the city, that ye shall set the city on fire: according to the commandment of the LORD shall ye do. See, I have commanded you.

Wisdom of Solomon 8:17

“Now when I considered these things in myself, and pondered them in my heart, how that to be allied unto wisdom is immortality;” 

A MOMENT OF EXCELLENCY IN WISDOM

Joseph

Genesis Chapter 39:7-13

And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me.

8But he refused, and said unto his master's wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand;

9There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?

10And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her.

11And it came to pass about this time, that Joseph went into the house to do his business; and there was none of the men of the house there within.

12And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out.

13And it came to pass, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and was fled forth,

Ecclesiasticus 11:1

“Wisdom lifteth up the head of him that is of low degree, and maketh him to sit among great men.” 

Spotlight on Leadership: Caleb son of Jephunneh

Leader: Caleb son of Jephunneh

Tribe: Judah

Occupation: Spy, Ruler, Ancient of the Exodus

Introductory Scripture: Numbers 13:6 “Of the tribe of Judah, Caleb the son of Jephunneh.”

Childhood: We can conclude Caleb was born and raised in Egypt for a period of time. We can understand by reading, he among the multitude participated in the first Passover and crossed the Red Sea. Not much scriptural reference can be gather about Caleb’s personal childhood but through comprehending we know he witnessed the great plagues placed on Egypt

Adulthood:

Out of the multitudes Caleb son of Jephunneh was selected by the Heavenly Father through our beloved leader Moses to spy out the Land of Canaan. “Send thou men, that they may search the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel: of every tribe of their fathers shall ye send a man, every one a ruler among them”. With the divine directions laid on his heart Caleb and eleven of his kinsmen scouted the land for forty days and as he hoped the land was flowing in abundance.  Returning with soldierly intel about the land set-ups ten of the tribesmen relayed disheartening news about the people of the land. Until Caleb stilled the people with a profound statement “Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.” Nevertheless, the other ten spies spewed out more slanders and disquieting news bringing an evil report upon the land. As the congregation lifted their voices in murmurs against Moses, Aaron and weeping that night conspired to make themselves a captain to return to Egypt! With vexation of heart Moses and Aaron fell on their faces, while Joshua son of Nun and Caleb rent their clothes. Caleb and his brotherly companion and soon to be first in command Joshua attempted to reassure the children of Israel with comforting words, but the congregation took upon stones against the brothers! This dissatisfied the Father greatly! After all was said and done the MOST HIGH pronounced the generation 20 years and older will NOT see the land because the slanders brought upon it by them! SAVE JOSHUA and CALEB! 

DEATH???

Caleb lived years after he first spied out the land and was of another spirit, wholly following the LORD GOD of Israel. Because of this he out lived the generation he foreknew. Alongside Joshua son of Nun, he went up into the promised land concurring the southern part of the land driving out the three sons of Anak, Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai, the children of Anak. Inheriting fields, the city, and villages thereof, and blessed his children therewith his heritage.

Want to Know More about Caleb the son of Jephunneh??

Read about the perpetual name he inherited from the Almighty ONE

Ecclesiasticus Chapter 46 (Ben Sirach) & 1 Maccabees Chapter 2:56

Unsung Sisters of Action: דְּבוֹרָה Debora [Tobit's Grandmother]

Tobit 1:8

"And the third I gave unto them to whom it was meet, as Debora my father's mother had commanded me, because I was left an orphan by my father."


Facts:

Name Origin:The bee from it's systematic instincts; Bee

Tribe: Naphtali

Husband: Ananiel son of Aduel

Characteristics: Strong, Wise, Humble, meek, loving, obedient, virtuous,  

Action:

Sister Debora is the embodiment of the woman describe in Proverbs 31!

Tobit’s life illustrates the teachings of the laws, statues and commandments afforded him by his grandmother.

Facing rumors and gossip all the while suffering the heartache of losing her son Tobiel to idoltary, Debora continue to put forth good works. Have you ever stopped to consider the mental anguish a father and mother may feel when their son or daughter goes astray from their upbringing? Their son Tobiel fell from the house of Jerusalem revolted and sacrificed unto the heifer Baal leaving his son orphan. The scriptures doesn't mention Tobit's mother but we must not assume the worst.

In holy behavior Debora accepted her son’s parental duties providing Tobit with a loving and caring home with all things considered. Debora's actions in doing so is a great example of charity taught to us by YHWH. As instructed by the Lord in Deuteronomy 6:5-7 Debora raised Tobit in all the ways of the Heavenly Father.

Once Tobit became a man he kept the ways of the Most High as commanded by his grandmother in giving many almsdeeds and remembering the laws with all his heart. Tobit became a vigilant man who guided his own house well. Married to a sister of his own kindred named Anna they had a son named Tobias and continued the system of teaching him in the ways of YHWH!

UNSUNG SISTERS OF ACTION: WISE WOMAN OF A`BEL

2 Samuel 20:16
Then cried a wise woman out of the city, Hear, hear; say, I pray you, unto Joab, Come near hither, that I may speak with thee.

Characteristics: 
Wise, Lively, Patient, Faithful, Brave, Emphatic.



Action:

During a time of civil unrest in the household of King David another foe rears its ugly head to contend for the sovereign rulership over the children of Israel. Sheba the son of Bichri a Benjaminte decides to rebel against the crown by declaring “We have no part in David neither have we in the son of Jesse every man to his tents, O’ Israel!” Sheba rallied from Jordan to Abel even Bethmaachah were he was pursued.

A wise women comes to the city’s aid and the King! She was resourceful by keeping the sayings of old. Thinking on these sayings of old time: “They shall surely ask counsel at Abel and so they ended the matter.” she patiently waited for prophesy of which is obviously her native land to unfold. 

Without hesitation she yells across the wall insisting on speaking with Joab she inquires of him “I am one of them that are peaceably and faithful in Israel: thou seekest to destroy a city and a mother in Israel: Why wilt thou swallow up the inheritance of the Lord?" Joab informs her why the militia was there also reassuring her that no harm would come to the city or it’s people unless they give up the rebel Sheba!

In her wisdom she consulted with her people about the grave matter at hand either surrender the traitor of the crown or be toppled!  The conclusion of the matter was no doubt agreed upon Sheba was B-E-H-E-A-D-E-D and it was thrown over the wall!

Unsung Sisters of Action: Huldah Hebrew: חֻלְדָּה The prophetess

2 Kings 22:14

So Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam, and Achbor, and Shaphan, and Asahiah, went unto Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe; (now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the college;) and they communed with her.

Facts:

Husband: Shallum son of Tikvah, son of Hashas

Tribe:unknown

Name origin: Weasel

Characteristics: Intelligent, Swift, Integrity, Poised, Alert, Graceful, 

Action:

Huldah the prophetess dwelt at the college in Jerusalem which is called in our native language Mishneh, or the second gate.  Like her predecessor Deborah, Huldah’s counsel was sought in the matter of the book of the law when a long lost scroll was stumbled upon by Hilkiah the High priest. 

The King of Judah at this time was Josiah and Hilkiah thought it pertinent for the king to receive the parchment concerning the people Israel and what would become of them. After hearing the writings of the document King Josiah rent his clothing and so sent Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan, and Asahiah, to Huldah to enquire of YWHW for the people and all Judah.

Without hesitation Huldah ready to answer spoke the words of Yah declaring the evil that the Most High was going to bring upon the inhabitants because they forsook HIM, burned incense to other gods, and provoke him to anger with all the works of their hands.  She was unafraid in delivering the oracles from the father almost as if she and the Father conversed before the messengers arrived. Even in the sincerity of truth she spoke of the Lord’s mercy towards the man Josiah king of Judah because his heart was tender, and humbled when he heard the words of the Lord.

Huldah’s name has a peculiar meaning which is weasel. Why, you may ask???

Contrary to popular belief the weasel is portrayed in a negative light, but its traits are far from anything detrimental! I’ve researched the attributes of the weasel and Huldah fits them perfectly! In relation to human traits this animal has the skill and talent to escape tricky scenarios, ability to see far beyond ordinary beings, powerful intelligence, and in ancient times it was believed the weasel had seven hearts which is considered to have a perfect soul full of integrity. Silent and graceful, weasels go unseen and unheard about their territories quietly observing what is happening and then discern what is important and what’s not.

Quiz: The Book of James

The Book of James » ProProfs