ELDAD, BEN MALcHr, of Southern Arabia, or as some will have it, of Media, also called Eldad Ha-Dani, Abu-Dani, and Daud Ha-Dani, that is, of the tribe of Dan, a very celebrated Jewish tra veller and philologian who flourished about 830 890 A.D. For the sake of those Biblical students who speculate on unfulfilled prophecy and the whereabouts of the ten tribes, as well as to spew the state of the Hebrew text of the Scriptures at that time, we subjoin a summary of Eldad's famous work.
He embarked with another Israelite (about 86o A.D.) on the other side of the river Cush n:), when they were suddenly wrecked in the middle of the night, but saved themselves by clinging to a board which drifted them on the shores of a cannibal country. His companion being in good condition was immediately devoured, but he being ill and lean was spared. Providentially a foreign troop came upon these cannibals, killed many, and captured some, and he was taken with the prisoners. After remaining four years with his captors, who were fire worshippers, he was at last bought by a Jewish merchant of the tribe of Issachar, who took him home ; and thus Eldad came to the territory of this tribe, which lies among the mountains or borders of Media and Persia. The tribe of Issachar are very peaceful, and only dispute about the import of the Bible. They are engaged in agricultural pursuits, have large flocks, but no weapons of war ; they are exceedingly honest, are governed by a judge whose name is Nahashon, and speak both Hebrew and Persian.
The tribe of Zcbulon live onthe other side of the mountains of Paran (r ), extending to Ar menia, and reaching to the river Euphrates. They are engaged in business ; whilst the tribe of Reu ben occupy the other side of the mountains. These two tribes live in brotherly love, speak Hebrew and Persian, have the Bible, the Mishna, the Tal mud, and the Agadah ; they read the Scriptures every Sabbath in Hebrew, and expound in Persian. The tribe of Ephraim, and half the tribe of Man asseh, live in Arabia, not far from Mecca, are war like, and subsist on plunder. The tribe of Simeon and the other half of Manasseh live in Chorazin, six months' journey from Jerusalem, are the most numerous of all, exact tribute from twenty-five states, as well as from some Mohammedans. ' The tribes of Judah and Benjamin are you who are dispersed through the Roman, Greek, and Mo hammedan dominions, and we are the tribe of Dan.' Now the tribe of Dan at first lived in the land of Israel, and being the most warlike were urged to fight against the sons of Judah, when Jeroboam, son of Nebat, sinned and divided the house of David ; whereupon they chose to quit the country rather than participate in the fratricidal war ; they then emigrated to Cush (VIZ), conquered this fer tile country, whose inhabitants would not suffer them to settle down peacefully, made the abori gines tributary, lived with them many years, and multiplied exceedingly. The tribes of Reuben, Gad,
and half of Manasseh, whom Sennacherib took as captives after his first conquest, were led to Halla, Habar, the river Gozan and Media ; whilst the tribes of Asher and Naphthali, who were taken by him after the second conquest, were brought to Cush (V17). These four tribes live now in ancient Havila, where the gold is. They regularly make war every year upon the seven neighbouring nations, have plenty of gold, silver, precious stones, and flocks. They cultivate the land, which abounds in fertile corn fields and vineyards ; they have a king whose name is Uziel ben Michael, of the tribe of Asher, and a prince whose name is Elizaphon, of the tribe of Dan ; their banner is white, upon which is written in black, Hear, 0 Israel, the Lord our God is one God.' The valiant men of each of these four tribes in their turn guard the frontiers three months, fight the battles, and divide the spoil with the others, whilst those who are un able to take up arms are engaged in studying the Scriptures. The tribe of Levi,* too, were mira culously guided into the land of Havila. They are, however, separated from the other tribes, and protected from all hostile nations by the river Sam batten or Sabbatiem, which surrounds their territory, and flows violently with stones and sand all the six days of the week, so that no one can cross it. On the Sabbath, however, the river is quiet and rest ing,+ but is enclosed in a dense fog, and is thereby rendered unnavigable. Their ]and is exceedingly fruitful ; there are two harvests in the year, the flocks too are very productive, there are no wild beasts there, the people arc all Levites, there are no grades of society, no servants amongst them ; they have the Bible, the Mishna, the Talmud, and the Agadab ; but their Talmud is in Hebrew, and they trace their laws direct to Moses. They do not know the sages or the Rabbins, since these lived in the time of the second temple, when this tribe was no more in Judaea; they speak nothing but Hebrew, they never use an oath, and live from roo to 120 years, and are engaged in cultivating the land ; they are seen by none, except by those brethren of the four neighbouring tribes ; they generally go to the same spots on the two opposite shores of the river, and talk across the water about their mutual affairs.