Viking ships (Ai-generated)
Where might they have come from?
A large treasure of Viking-related silver coins has recently been discovered ──
May 04, 2026Archaeologists Found 3,000 Viking Coins Buried in a Field. There Could Be Even More.The Viking hoard is the largest ever discovered in Norway.A hoard of silver coins left by Vikings in Norway is so massive that even after more than 3,000 coins have been unearthed, the search is still on for more. Initially, a pair of registered metal detectorists uncovered 19 silver coins and called in local officials. By the end of one day of searching, the number of coins recovered had grown to 70. Just a few weeks later, that number passed 3,000, and now the haul is being called the largest Viking Age coin hoard ever located in the history of Norway.Experts from the University of Oslo’s Museum of Cultural History believe the treasure was deposited near Rena, in what’s now the county of Innlandet, around 1047, shortly after the time when coins started to be minted in the region. The coins found in the hoard come mostly from England and Germany, but a few examples are from those early days of coin-making in Denmark and Norway.
Wow! Since the early beginnings of my research into my roots, I have made wonderful discoveries! Having believed most of my life in being of Irish descent, it was exciting to learn the revelation that I am descended from John de Johnstone of Dumfriesshire, Scotland of 1120 – my 22nd great-grandfather – a direct descendant from Benjamin, a son of Jacob (though certainly there is some ethnic intermingling). 1
A great researcher and teacher, Bert Otten, wrote “Ten Prophetic Clues Concerning Benjamin - Western-Vikings.” Here I freely share part of his research for educational purposes, quotes are properly cited ──
“The tribal area of Benjamin was a buffer area between the House of Israel and the House of Judah. People tended to stay in their cities and homes and thus a number of the Benjamites were taken along into the Assyrian captivity of the Ten Tribes. …Benjamites:Saul – First king of Israel. Fought 40 years successfully against the neighbouring nations, especially against the Philistines. Lost God’s favour. Went to the witch of Endor. Died on the hills of Gilboa with his sons Jonathan, Abinadab and Malchishua (1Sam 9-31).Jonathan – Hero and successor to the throne. Loved David, with whom he made a covenant. They would look after each other’s children (1Sam 20).Abner – Saul’s cousin. Army commander of Saul and of Ishbosheth. Fought a hopeless civil war with Joab for some years. Abner had killed Joab’s brother with a single backwards thrust of his spear. Joab murdered Abner when he had come to surrender the northern tribes into David’s hands (1 Sam 14 – 2 Sam 3).Ishbosheth – Son of Saul. Abner put Ishbosheth on the throne in Mahanaim (is in the tribal area of Gad). He was a puppet of Abner. Ishbosheth blamed Abner for taking Rizpah, his father’s concubine. The angry Abner decided to end the civil war and to deliver the north into the hands of David (2Sam 2-4).Mephibosheth – Cripple son of Jonathan. Because of Jonathan’s covenant with David, Mephibosheth got a place at David’s court (2Sam 9, 16, 19).Baanah and Rechab – Two leaders of warrior bands for Ishbosheth, during the civil war. They killed their king Ishbosheth and cut off his head to take it to David. Instead of receiving a reward, they were executed (2Sam 4).Shimei – During Absalom’s rebellion Shimei expected a reinstating of the House of Saul. So during David’s flight, Shimei walked along with king David, cursing and throwing stones (2 Sam 16, 19).Sheba – Sheba called for a rebellion of the tribes against David. He fled to Abel of Bethmaachah, but the inhabitants chucked his head over the wall to Joab, David’s general (2 Sam 20).Esther & Mordecai – Jews of the tribe of Benjamin at the time of the Persians. They saved the Jewish people (Judah) in a valiant way (Book of Esther).Paul – At first Saul persecuted the Church with the sword; later as Paul he preached the cross and wrote 1Corinthians 13, an Ode to Love (NT). *1st Clue: Benjamin: Joseph’s full brotherThe sons of Rachel; JOSEPH, AND BENJAMIN (Gen 35:24).But BENJAMIN, JOSEPH’S [FULL] BROTHER, Jacob sent not with his brethren; for he said, Lest peradventure mischief befall him (Gen 42:4).And [Joseph] fell upon his brother Benjamin’s neck, and wept; and Benjamin wept upon his neck (Gen 45:14, Authorized Version throughout, unless mentioned otherwise).Joseph & BenjaminThere was a close tie between Joseph and Benjamin. All the other brothers were half-brothers to Joseph, but Benjamin was his only full brother. In Eretz Yisrael their tribal areas formed a whole. Benjamin lived south of Ephraim and Manasseh.In the time of the judges the tribe of Benjamin was extinguished, all but for 600 men. 200 of those 600 got their wives from the daughters of Shiloh, so of the tribe of Ephraim. Rachel genes of the tribe of Ephraim (Joseph) were added to the tribe of Benjamin.Vikings in the British IslesDuring the Viking Age many Vikings settled in the British Isles. Many Britons have some Viking blood. The Danes mainly settled in the Danelaw (East England). Vikings from Norway circled the whole and came from the north and settled in Scotland, Ireland (Dublin), Wales and the Isle of Man. Benjamin embraced Joseph in the Bible and in a sense, Benjamin embraced Joseph on the map and mixed with Joseph.Linguistic LoansNo wonder that the English language has many Old Norse loans: anger, awe, are, berserk, call, cast, egg, fellow, fog, gap, get, gun, happy, husband, ill, kid, kindle, knife, knot, law, leg, loft, low, mire, muck, odd, outlaw, wrong, wing, window, whirl, weak, until, ugly, trust, till, tidings, thwart, thrust, thrift, though, their, teem, take, sway, sick, etc.
Notice this from Wikipedia ──
Words of Old Norse origin have entered the English language, primarily from the contact between Old Norse and Old English during colonization of eastern and northern England between the mid-9th to the 11th centuries (see also Danelaw). 2
Continuing ──
2nd Clue: Benjamin: ... in the west ...ON THE WEST SIDE [of the Tabernacle] shall be the standard of the camp of EPHRAIM [son of Joseph] according to their armies ... And by him shall be the tribe of MANASSEH [son of Joseph] ... Then the tribe of BENJAMIN ... (Num 2:18-24).The TabernacleThere are three Rachel tribes: Ephraim, Manasseh and Benjamin. The Rachel tribes camped west of the Tabernacle, under Ephraim’s leadership. I believe that the western Vikings (from Denmark and Norway) are descendants of Benjamin and ended up in Denmark, Norway, Iceland and the Faeroe Islands. Ephraim and Manasseh ended up in the British Isles, all three far to the west. *Quite a few Vikings settled in the British Isles. Many Danes settled in Normandy, which got its name from the Norsemen. Many of these Normans (with Viking blood) crossed the Channel with William the Conqueror (1066) and settled in the British Isles too. So, in the Viking Age many Vikings went west.Norse VikingsAbout 500 years before Columbus (1492) and the English (1497), the Norse Vikings arrived in America. The Norse Vikings sailed their ships westwards to Iceland, Greenland and Vinland (Newfoundland, Canada). The Viking colony in Greenland survived for about 450 to 500 years. The Viking Benjamites were the first in the New World and the first of the Israelites to go west. Later on, to be followed by many others of the Lost Tribes.3rd Clue: Benjamin, FIVE TIMES as muchAnd Joseph sent food to them from his table, but he sent FIVE TIMES as much to BENJAMIN as to any of the others. And they took wine freely with him. (Gen 43:34, BBE, Bible in Basic English).To all of them he gave each man changes of raiment; but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver, and FIVE CHANGES OF RAIMENT (Gen 45:22).Five times as muchWhen the brothers came back to Joseph, Benjamin with them this time, they set down to eat with him. Benjamin’s portion of food was five times as much. The other brothers got a set of clothing and Benjamin got five sets of clothing. We see that the Benjamites got an extensive area of land in Europe. The Western Vikings spread out over Denmark, Skane, Norway, Iceland and Faeroe Islands. Their flags are all variations of the Danish flag. Red, white and blue …
In the article “Freedom - A True Blessing From God” I speak of THIRTEENS!
4th Clue: Benjamin: a ravenous wolfBenjamin is A RAVENOUS WOLF, in the morning devouring the prey, and at even dividing the spoil.” (Gen 49:27, RSV).Jewish EncyclopediaThe Jewish Encyclopedia states about this: “[According to the rabbis]: His comparison to the ravening wolf (Cant. R. to viii. 1), “who devours his enemy” (Gen. xlix. 27) is referred to the men of Shiloh who stole their wives (Judges xxi.) or to Ehud or to Saul. By others it is referred to Mordecai and Esther (Gen. R. xcix. and Tan., Wayeḥi, 14; so also in the original text of the Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs [Benjamin ii]; whereas a Christian interpolation refers it to Paul). …
photo by Pixel-mixer (Pixabay)
Vikings – wolvesThere is no people that fulfilled this verse as the Vikings did during the three centuries of the Viking Age. In gangs they attacked early in the morning in hit-and-run style, and at evening they divided the spoil. The common sword of the time was the Ulfberht sword. Ulfberht probably was the name of a bladesmith or of a group of bladesmiths. Ulfberht translates into English as Bright Wulf. …5th Clue: Benjamites: fearlessAnd EHUD put forth his left hand, and took the dagger from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly (Judg 3:21).And the children of Benjamin were ... 26,000 that drew sword ... Among all this people there were 700 chosen men lefthanded ... And the men of Israel, beside Benjamin, were numbered 400,000 men that drew sword ... (Judg 20:15-17).And JONATHAN said to his young servant who had his arms, Come, let us go over to the armies of these men who have no circumcision ... the Lord is able to givesalvation by a great army OR BY A SMALL BAND (1Sam 14:6, BBE).And all the king’s servants, that were in the king’s gate, bowed, and reverenced Haman ... But MORDECAI BOWED NOT, nor did him reverence (Esther 2:3).But some Jews came to that place from Antioch and Iconium, and got control over the people; AND AFTER STONING PAUL, they had him pulled out of the town, taking him for dead. But when the disciples came round him, HE GOT UP AND WENT INTO THE TOWN: and the day after he went away with Barnabas ... (Acts 14:19-20, BBE).Fearless BenjamitesBenjamites are often fearless fighters, think of Ehud, the civil war against the Benjamites (11 tribes against 1), Saul, Abner, Jonathan, Mordecai, Esther and Paul.Left-handed Ehud went back alone and killed the Moabite king single-handedly (Judg 3). The Benjamites went to war 27,700 against 400,000, 1 tribe against 11 tribes (Judg 20). Saul, his cousin Abner, and Jonathan were great warriors. Jonathan once took an Philistine outpost together with his servant. Mordecai refused to bow for Haman. The Apostle Paul was a fearless Benjamite too. After having been stoned he went back into the city of the people who had just stoned him! …
A Viking sword (Ai-generated)
6th Clue: Benjamin: sword / violenceTherefore, my children, I tell you, flee the malice of Beliar; for he giveth A SWORD to them that obey him. And THE SWORD is the mother of seven evils … and first there is BLOODSHED; secondly, RUIN; thirdly, TRIBULATION; fourthly, EXILE; fifthly, DEARTH; sixthly, PANIC; seventhly, DESTRUCTION [THE TESTAMENT OF BENJAMIN, THE TWELFTH SON OF JACOB AND RACHEL 7:1-2]. 3So Ehud made himself A TWO-EDGED SWORD ... 21 And Ehud put out HIS LEFT HAND, AND TOOK THE SWORD FROM HIS RIGHT SIDE, and sent it into his stomach; 22 And the hand-part went in after the blade, and the fat was joined up over the blade; for HE DID NOT TAKE THE SWORD OUT of his stomach. And he went out ... (Judg 3:16, 21-22, BBE).And the Levite, the husband of the woman who was murdered, answered and said, “I came to Gibeah that belongs to Benjamin ... And the men of Gibeah rose against me THEY MEANT TO KILL ME, AND THEY RAVISHED MY CONCUBINE, AND SHE IS DEAD” (Judg 20:4-5, RSV).So that all which fell that day of Benjamin were 25,000 men that drew THE SWORD; all these were men of valour (Judg 20:46).Now when Saul had taken his place as ruler of Israel, HE MADE WAR ON THOSE WHO WERE AGAINST HIM ON EVERY SIDE ... and whichever way he went, HE OVERCAME THEM (1Sam 14:47, BBE). …Benjamin & Violence (Sword)There are tribes that are quite peaceful, like Asher, Zebulun and Issachar. Then there are militaristic tribes like Ephraim, Gad and Manasseh. The tribe of Benjamin was often involved in violence. That’s why Jacob prophesied Benjamin to be a devouring wolf. *9th Clue: Benjamin: kingdom buildersThen Samuel took the bottle of oil, and put the oil on his head and gave him a kiss and said, Is not the Lord with the holy oil MAKING YOU RULER OVER ISRAEL, HIS PEOPLE? ... (1Sam 10:1a). …Now when Saul had taken HIS PLACE AS RULER OF ISRAEL, he made war on those who were against him on every side, Moab and the Ammonites and Edom and the kings of Zobah and the Philistines: and WHICHEVER WAY HE WENT, HE OVERCAME THEM (1Sam 14:47, BBE). …Saul of the OT & Saul of the NTBenjamites are good organizers and kingdom builders. At the time of the judges Israel was a loose confederation of tribes. There was no central governance, no king. God used the Benjamite Saul to build the kingdom, which was later taken over by the House of David. …… Paul was instrumental in building that Church with his missionary journeys and his epistles. Paul wrote 13 of the 26 NT books. Paul was an able organizer, and he was of the tribe of Benjamin.Vikings – organizers & kingdom buildersVikings were not just plunderers in hit-and-run actions, but also good organizers. Otherwise, they would never have been able to make these long journeys. The Danish Vikings plundered the coasts of Frisia and Frankish State. They rowed around Spain and plundered Lyon and the Roman State. Vikings from Norway founded colonies on Iceland, Greenland and Newfoundland (Canada).
The LORD God’s living word records for us various promises made to the tribes of Israel in Genesis chapters 48 & 49, along with Deuteronomy 33. Sadly, most people completely overlook these great promises, yet many of those prophecies have been and will be fulfilled!
The controversial Dr. Herman L Hoeh, in his research wrote ──
“8: Benjamin constitutes Norway and Iceland. The Icelandic people in reality a colony of Norwegians. Benjamin was given to David because Jerusalem, David’s capital, was in the tribe of Benjamin, not Judah. God said He would give David light in Jerusalem (I Kings 11:36). This verse could not refer to Judah which did not have to be given to the Jewish House of David. Benjamin was told to flee the destruction of Jerusalem (Jer. 6:1) which many of them did.Benjamin is compared to “a wolf that raveneth; in the morning he devoureth the prey, and at even he divideth the spoil” (Gen. 49:27). This is certainly an apt description of the Vikings who pillaged Northern Europe, and even Mediterranean regions. Almost all Viking raids came from Norway. It is also significant that Benjamin, the smallest tribe, still is the smallest today. There are fewer Norwegians (plus 148 thousand from Iceland) than any other Israelite nation. (Moses’ blessing in Deut. 33 has particular reference to this fact that Jerusalem was in the tribe of Benjamin).” 4
Now certainly, and I have had long conversations regarding this with AI ── which calls “British-Israelism” ─ “a fringe theory by most historians and biblical scholars, as there’s no concrete evidence supporting these claims. The theory emerged in the 19th century and has been largely discredited by mainstream academia” 5 let me say that I do believe that those of Iceland and Norway are essentially descended from Benjamin, and as I said of myself ── though they are ethnically intermingled. (Be sure to read and study as well, “Judah's Sceptre and Joseph's Birthright” by J.H. Allen).
With all that being said, and as Mr. Allen wrote on the front page of his book, “yours in Christ, ── “The Truth,” it is IMPORTANT to properly understand and know where our peoples around the world originated to help us better understand God’s living word in prophecy. □
Sources:
1. Note: Some additional research might suggest a direct descendant from Simeon (the second-born son of Jacob).
2. Wikipedia contributors. "List of English words of Old Norse origin." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 27 Apr. 2026. Web. 12 May. 2026.
3. R. H. Charles, The Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs Vol. II , From The Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha of the Old Testament, Oxford Press.
4. Hoeh, Herman, L., Location of the Tribes of Israel, https://www.friendsofsabbath.org/ , Circa. 1957. PDF.
5. Amazon.com (13 May 2026).
*. bolded, italicized and or underlined for emphasis.
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