Did Eldad the Danite Reveal the Lost Tribes of Israel? Unveiling the Truth Behind the Tales

Around eleven hundred years ago, a carriage pulled by a pair of weary horses halted in the town square of Kairouan in Spain, appearing to have traveled a great distance. A short, dark-skinned man emerged, introduced himself as Eldad, and made his way to the Jewish quarter. There, he settled in the synagogue and began discussing Torah teachings with the congregants.

Eldad's speech was mesmerizing, filled with Torah verses and wise teachings, extending insights and halachic rulings aplenty. The scholars of Kairouan, who were no ordinary minds, were greatly impressed by his wisdom. On the other hand, some of his statements seemed far-fetched, such as declaring that an animal slaughtered without a blessing is unfit, and other unusual laws.

When asked about his origins and where he learned his Torah, Eldad shared a fascinating story. In fact, his account is detailed in his letter, opening with: "I have come from beyond the rivers of Kush. I, along with another Jew from the tribe of Asher, went aboard a small ship to trade with seafarers. But in the middle of the night, Hashem sent a mighty wind that broke the ship. By divine providence, I clung to a board, as did my companion, and we drifted until the sea cast us upon a nation called the Romernose. These were tall, dark-skinned people without clothes, who were likened to beasts and cannibals. Upon our arrival, they captured us. Seeing my companion healthy and plump, they slaughtered and ate him. In his despair, he cried, 'Woe is me for knowing this nation that Kushites would devour my flesh.' Because I was sickly from the sea journey, they imprisoned me until I would fatten. They offered me forbidden foods, which I feigned to eat, hiding the food instead.

"I stayed with them for a long time, until Hashem performed a miracle for me. A large army from another place attacked them, capturing and plundering the people, and among the captives, I was taken. These captors were fire worshippers, and I lived with them for four years. Every morning they would make a large fire and bow to it. One day, they brought me to the land of Atzit, where a Jewish merchant from the tribe of Issachar found me. He purchased me for thirty-two gold coins and took me back to his land."

Eldad described how he was a merchant traveling to Kush and was captured by cannibals, but miraculously rescued by a Jew from the tribe of Issachar. But where could these Issachar Jews be located, many years after the exile of the Ten Tribes?

Eldad claimed the tribe of Issachar resided in very high mountains close to Medea and Persia. They lived without the burden of a kingdom, constantly engaging in Torah study, led by a prince named Nachshon and a Sanhedrin following Torah law. They spoke in both Hebrew and Persian.

Later, Eldad reportedly discovered the people of Zebulun living nearby, close to the state of Armenia and up to the Euphrates River, followed by the tribe of Reuben. All the tribes lived in peace and studied Torah and legends every Shabbat. Eldad claimed to have seen the other tribes as well. He himself was from the tribe of Dan. When Jeroboam son of Nebat set up the golden calf in Dan, a portion of the tribe fled eastwards to avoid idol worship. Since then, they have lived in the deserts, keeping the Torah, and all the unique laws Eldad recounted were from the traditions of Dan, Issachar, and Zebulun. They allegedly amassed wealth, had abundant gold, observed purity laws, studied Torah, and enjoyed long lives over a hundred years. They left their doors unlocked as there were no thieves among them.

Eldad the Danite continued to enthrall with his stories and Torah teachings. The Jews of Kairouan wondered about the truth of his claims and promptly wrote to Rabbi Tzemach Gaon, the head of the Pumbedita academy in Babylon, seeking advice on how to regard Eldad and his works.

Rabbi Tzemach Gaon replied that Eldad had visited Babylon before and had conversed with prominent scholars, Rabbi Yitzchak ben Mar and Rabbi Simcha. They determined some of Eldad's words appeared learned, while others seemed exaggerated.

This is how the sages took Eldad's words. Some of the laws he brought were preserved respectfully, yet others were questioned. His stories were treated similarly. It's likely he came from an unknown Jewish community in Africa at the time, but the detailed tribe descriptions might be fanciful imaginations. Rabbi Abraham Ibn Ezra dismissed Eldad's book outright, stating, "Any book not written by prophets or sages from oral tradition isn't to be relied upon, just like Eldad the Danite."

About a hundred years ago, Jewish-Austrian researcher Professor David Muller embarked on a unique expedition to Africa, tracing Eldad the Danite's adventure, hoping to uncover remnants of the ancient Jewish kingdoms Eldad spoke of. Researchers and commentators continue to strive to find historical truths in Eldad's tales to this day.