Let’s examine truth about the ancient Israelites and their journey out of Egypt, as well as their later exile. These are two important points in their history.
Who is Mansa Musa? Considered to be one of the greatest and most influential African monarchs in history, Mansa Musa was a Muslim medieval king who ruled over the Mali Empire in West Africa from 1312 – 1337. Best known for his extravagant wealth and his Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca in 1324, during which he distributed so much gold that it caused inflation in Egypt. A historical figure of immense wealth and influence, Mansa Musa is renowned for having expanded the trade of gold and salt throughout the region.
The regions that now comprise modern-day Mali are Senegal, Gambia, Guinea, Mauritania, and parts of Niger, Burkina Faso, and the Ivory Coast. The Mali Empire covered a vast area across the Sahel region, which is the transitional zone between the Sahara desert to the north and the savannas to the south. A narrow band of semi-arid land, which spans across the African continent from the Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea. It is home to a variety of ecosystems, including grasslands, savannas, sparse forests, and diverse ethnic groups inhabit it, and could have been along the very route taken by the Hebrew Israelites on their Exodus.
The term Yahwism is used to refer to the religious practices and beliefs of the ancient Israelites. The worship of Yahweh can be traced to the route, and HE was worshiped as the God of Israel. Those who followed this belief adhered to a strict moral code based on the Ten Commandments, and the belief in the coming of a messiah to bring salvation to the Jewish people.
Yahweh worship, involves the worship of the Hebrew God Yahweh. The name Yahweh is found throughout the Bible, particularly in the Old Testament. It is one of the names used to refer to God in Hebrew Scriptures. Yahweh is revered in various ways; HE is honored through prayer, sacrifice, obedience, worship, and the following of HIS Commandments. The name Yahweh is often translated as LORD or GOD. In the Hebrew Bible only four Hebrew letters make up the name of God. Written using the four consonants YHWH. Known as a Tetragrammaton, this means the name of God is considered too sacred to be pronounced and therefore is usually substituted with YHWH or other words like, “Adonai” meaning “LORD”.
There is YHWH and there is YAHU and they are not exactly the same in Holy Biblical belief but are related. In Hebrew, YHWH is the four-letter name of God, and YAHU is a Hebrew shortened form of the name, often spelled “Yah” or “Yahu”. Scholars believe that the shortened form YAHU was originally used in ancient Hebrew worship and prayer, and that the full name YHWH developed later. There are some who will argue that the shorter form is a poetic variation of the longer one. The names are both considered important in Biblical belief and are generally understood to refer to the same God.
YAHU worship has been associated with various groups throughout history, including ancient Israelites and some African, and/or African American religious travels or geographic movements.
In Hebrew “יה הוא האב שלי“, translates to English as, “Yah is my FATHER”. In (Psalm 50:23) we are told that true praise is a worthy sacrifice and that it honors God, HE says, “Those who walk my paths will receive salvation from the Lord”. In (Deuteronomy 6:5), Moses is commanded to teach the Israelites to love the Lord with all their hearts, soul, and strength. While, in (Psalm 119:7) we are told to praise with an upright heart as we learn HIS righteous laws. We are to worship HIM with the belief that Yahweh is the only true God, and that other deities worshipped by other religions are false gods.
The name Azaniah is a Hebrew name composed of two parts. Azan means “to hear” or “to listen”, “iah” means God. Therefore, Azaniah means, “heard by God” or “whom God has heard”.
In the Bible the Jeshua mentioned as the son of Azaniah, is not specifically declared as being in the lineage of King David, however, he is known as a Levite. One of the Levite leaders who helped supervise the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem and participated in its dedication after the Babylonian exile. Jeshua’s ancestry is not explicitly connected to King David; however, as a Levite, he may have been a descendant of David through his forefathers. (Nehemiah 10:9)
Psalm 50:23
New International Version
23 “Those who sacrifice thank offerings honor me, and to the blameless I will show my salvation.” ”
Psalm 50:23
King James Version
23 “Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God.”
Psalm 50:23
Living Bible
23 “But true praise is a worthy sacrifice; this really honors me. Those who walk my paths will receive salvation from the Lord.”
Deuteronomy 6:5
New International Version
5 “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.”
Deuteronomy 6:5
King James Version
5 “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.”
Deuteronomy 6:5
Living Bible
5 “You must love him with all your heart, soul, and might.”
Psalm 119:7
New International Version
7 “I will praise you with an upright heart as I learn your righteous laws.”
Psalm 119:7
King James Version
7 “I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments.”
Psalm 119:7
Living Bible
7 “After you have corrected me, I will thank you by living as I should!”
Nehemiah 10:9
New International Version
9 “The Levites:
Jeshua son of Azaniah, Binnui of the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel,”
Nehemiah 10:9
King James Version
9 “And the Levites: both Jeshua the son of Azaniah, Binnui of the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel;”
Nehemiah 10:9-13
Living Bible
9-13 “These were the Levites who signed: Jeshua (son of Azaniah), Binnui (son of Henadad), Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Hodiah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan, Mica, Rehob, Hashabiah, Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah, Hodiah, Bani, Beninu.”