The Gate of His Enemies

The book of Genesis tells us that Abraham’s seed “shall possess the gate of his enemies.”[1] Anglo-Israelists see this as confirmation that Britain and the United States are ethnic descendants of Abraham since they have come to possess many strategic military sites within their enemies’ territories throughout the world.[2]

​

Anglo-Israelists again ignore moments when the Israelites themselves seized and then occupied land, particularly that of the promised land. Also, Britain and the United States are not the only countries throughout history that have occupied their enemies’ territories or strategic sites. One thinks of the Persian and Roman Empires as just two examples. Therefore, claiming that the United States and Britain are Israelites simply because they have possessed tactical military locations does not work since other people groups have accomplished this very same thing, including the Israelites themselves. This explanation offered by Anglo-Israelists ends up highlighting their narrow, egocentric view of history, which attempts to make their situation appear to be unique when it is not.

 

[1] Ibid., 22:17. (Genesis 24:60 also records the promise being given to Isaac’s soon-to-be wife, Rebekah.).

[2] “Gates of Your Enemies: Biblical Locations of the Lost Ten Tribes,” www.britam.org/Proof/Blessings/blessGates.html.