Uncovering the Lost Tribes: Ancient Discoveries in Afghanistan

For generations, travelers and scholars have searched for the lost Ten Tribes exiled by Sennacherib, King of Assyria, to "Halah, Habor, and Gozan" about 2600 years ago, beyond the Mountains of Darkness, and the River Sambatyon.

The Talmud mentions a region feared for its idolatrous sanctity, possibly mingled with the Ten Tribes according to tradition. This area is in present-day Afghanistan. The medieval traveler Benjamin of Tudela and historian Josephus also pointed to this location as the tribes' home.

Afghan popular tradition was documented 400 years ago (in 1620) in a book called "Mahzani Afghan." In 1829, it was translated into English by Professor Dorn. Afghans traced their lineage to the house of Saul, recounting stories of Jacob, Esau, Moses, the Exodus, battles with Amalek, and the conquest of Canaan, including the Ark of the Covenant. They claimed descent from Saul's sons, Berekiah (probably Berachiah) and Jeremiah. Their temple was in Bethel, they said, destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar. They called themselves the "Bani Afghana."

The Pashtun tribe in Afghanistan claims descent from Pithon, a descendant of Saul, mentioned in I Chronicles 8:35. By the time these stories were recorded, Afghans had fully assimilated, with no Jewish customs due to the spread of Islam, which forced conversion upon them.

One of their last leaders before conversion was named Kish (the name of Saul's father). Numerous observers noted their Jewish features; for example, the Encyclopedia Britannica's "Afghanistan" entry describes them with Jewish characteristics. Dr. Avigdor Shachan, in his book "Ze Sinai," describes many place names and groups linked to Israeli origins, such as "Zebulistan," the "Yusufzai" tribe, etc. There might be real connections among them. The "Rabani" tribe likely included David Reubeni's ancestors.

According to Ben Zion Yehoshua (who researches Afghan history), Afghans practice "an eye for an eye, a life for a life" according to the Torah's literal sense, without rabbinic interpretation. Afghan chronicles speak of their Israelite origin. They circumcise their children on the eighth day; observe levirate marriage; abstain from eating horse and camel meat, or meat with milk; smear blood on doorposts and mezuzot during epidemics; build temples on mountain tops for pilgrimage; offer sacrifices; allocate land by lots; sew four garments, two front and two back, with two white threads through each; they do not cut side locks; and they swear by the name of Moses (Shachan provides evidence of amulets with "Shema Yisrael" inscribed in block script).

Various reports exist of wars between these tribes and Persian kings. Historian Procopius of Caesarea (5th century), advisor to General Belisarius on his Persian campaign, journeyed with him and described the "Nephtalites": "They are not as dark as their neighbors, they resemble Jews. Their complexion is light, stature tall, and they have good manners. Unlike their neighbors who discard their dead in the fields, the Naphtalites treat their deceased with great respect" (quoted by Shachan, page 48).

Famous medieval maps note a "Naphtali-land" in the region, copied by the well-known cartographer Abraham Ortelius. The Persian king's war with Naphtali is detailed in historian Agathias's book (born in 536), one of the reliable sources on Justinian's era.