There are two obscure passages in the Bible that are relatively unknown to most of the 2.2 billion Christians and Jews but very familiar to the 1.3 billion Muslims in the world.

^JPS Deuteronomy 33:2 And he said: The LORD came from Sinai, and rose from Seir unto them; He shined forth from mount Paran, and He came from the myriads holy, at His right hand was a fiery law unto them.

^NRS Habakkuk 3:3 God came from Teman, the Holy One from Mount Paran. Selah His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full of his praise.


The reason for this is quite simple. Many Muslims use these two verses to suggest that the coming of Mohammed was prophesied in the Bible.

As we have already suggested Paran is linked to Mecca and hence the link to Mohammed.

Great discussions take place between Christians and Muslims as to the validity of this conclusion with both sides being adamant that it is either proof the Mohammed was mentioned in the Bible or not depending upon ones belief.

In all the noise, little notice has been given to the origin of “God” in the Habakkuk quote. The verse is obviously a later paraphrase of the Deuteronomy verse with the substitution of Teman (Teiman) for Sinai.

Scholars have studiously avoided commentary on this. However we need not. All we need do is show where Teiman was and everything becomes clear.

One of the most respected of all the Jewish sages was Maimonides and fortunately he wrote a letter that clears up the whole subject.

We have of course stated categorically that Sinai was in the Yemen and now we see what Maimonides has to say.

 

And as King Solomon knew with divine inspiration that the Jewish People would face the consequences of this and that suffering would come upon them, and warned the Jewish People not to do this (i.e. violate the Three Oaths), and in a metaphorical way made them swear not to commit these acts, as it is written in Song of Songs, 3,5: I made you swear Daughters of Jerusalem by the deer and gazelles of the field should you arouse or awaken love until it is so desired.

Therefore, you, dear brethren, must accept the Oath and do not attempt to arouse the love until the proper time when the Alm-ghty shall remember us and you with his trait of mercy to gather his portion from Exile to behold his glory at his holy Temple and redeem us from the Valley of the shadow of Death where he has placed us, thereby removing the darkness from our eyes and the fog from our hearts. He will then fulfill in our days and in yours the verse from Isaiah 9:1 The nation wandering in darkness shall see a great Light, and a Light shall shine on those residing in the land of the shadow of death. At that time G-d shall darken the eyes of all those who rise up against us, and fulfill the verse from Isaiah 60:2 Verily darkness shall cover the land and fog shall cover nations, but the light of G-d shall shine upon you, and you shall display his honor.

YES: Teiman was the Yemen and Sinai was in Yemen and “God came from Teiman”.

p.s. The following quote from Baruch (The scribe of Jeremiah) will prove to be of interest when we follow “The sons of Hagar” in their march through history.


Baruch 3

22 She has not been heard of in Canaan,
nor seen in Teman.
23 The sons of Hagar who seek knowledge on earth,
the merchants of Midian and Teman,
the phrasemakers seeking knowledge ...




Michael S. Sanders
August 2, 2004
Arabia

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