Friday, November 30, 2007




Bina Mene:Connecting the Hebrews

A book – launched by Governor-General Sir Paulias Matane on Thursday, February 1, 2007 – claims the Bine tribe of the Western Province of Papua New Guinea is related to the Hebrew race of Israel.

Author Samuel Were provides no sound anthropological, archaeological, linguistic or academic evidence to support his claim, however, draws on the oral traditions of his people as well as his spiritual experiences as the basis for the book Bine Mene: Connecting the Hebrews.

The book adds to a common belief among Western Province villagers, particularly of the South Fly, that they are related to the Hebrews.

The 28-page book is also an experiment in self-publishing, given that Were wrote and did the page layout himself, with Star Printers printing the cover and Summer Institute of Linguistics printing the inside pages.

Were, a petroleum geoscientist who graduated from the University of Papua New Guinea, also relies greatly on the Bible to support his claim.

He compares the similarities between Bine and Hebrew words for different subjects, people and places.

For example, Adam (mankind) in Hebrew is Ada in Bine; Eve (living community) is Ewe; galeed (father-in-law, son-in-law) is Galiame; Immanuel (God is with us) is Inama; Joseph (may he give me) is yo seba aa; Judah (praise) is alajuta; Manasseh (being present) is Mana agesate; and many others.

The book is a product of cumulative recording and compilation of events, episodes and research by the writer starting in 1972 with the arrival of translators from the Summer Institute of Linguistics to his Western Province village of Kunini.

The translators were assisted by his father, the Reverend Kibani Were, and that led to the completion of the Bine New Testament Bible and Bine Hymn Book.

Were claims he had a divine dream and vision in 1984 while attending Aiyura National High School, regarding what he calls “remnant Hebrew people in PNG”.

He says he acquired a great deal of oral history from his grandparents and his father as a teenager that his Bliutope (Hornbill) Clan were people from the East, great sailors and navigators, who conquered Australia before landing in their present location.

Were claims the history of his people goes as far back as the 1300s, and that he has family members living in Australia to this day.

Whatever critics, including me, may say, he staunchly sticks by what he writes in his book.

I raise this issue of credibility with Were.

“Basically, look at the Bible,” he replies.

“So far, I have used my own information, as well as that from the Bible.

“Because of the comparisons we have in language and prophecies, I’ve gone back to the scriptures to dig out certain messages from the prophets of the Old Testament, regarding people of God who are ‘remnant Hebrews’.

“It (book) originates from the traditional stories of my father and grandfather, about the movement of our people across the sea to our present location.

“…apart from being warriors, traders and sailors, we were also people who feared God.

“According to the story, we were the original people from the beginning.

“This was also true for the language we spoke.

“The other biggest force that made me take this story very seriously was the arrival of the Bible translators from the Summer Institute of Linguistics.

“Another thing prior to this was a stranger who came to my village, Kunini, went to Boze, and he was seen around the Bine tribe, Wipi and Kiwai tribes, and he was also in Daru.

“Nobody actually knew who he was.

“Even though he was locked up by police, he would come out.

“After some time, he vanished and we never saw him again.

“That’s when they started saying that he was an angel of God because we were ‘remnant Hebrews’.

“After this guy left, SIL came in with their Bible translators.

“After all these, I started to develop an interest in finding out if there was a language connection between my Bine language and the Hebrew language, people’s names and place names.

“Being a child of a pastor, this was actually part and parcel of my life, because I always had a Bible with me.

“I went to Aiyura (National High School, in 1984).

“I had a dream in which I was told about the ‘remnant Hebrews’ of this nation.

“I saw a bright light.

“That’s when I knew there were Hebrews here.

“I started doing my own write-ups, especially looking at the names of people, places and cultural comparisons.”

Were says he dug deep into encyclopaedias and the Bible to find similarities between the Bine and Hebrew languages.

Along the way, he found that the Greek language also had similarities to the Bine language.

“One of the main objectives of the book is to tell the truth and to make it known that we are a race of people for God’s service,” Were continues,

“Having that in mind, we believe that even in our present state in terms of social and economic life, we have a treasure of wealth in our land.

“It will be developed according to God’s timetable and plan.

“Many of my tribe people do not know their exact origins, where we come from.

“Only a few of them have records and evidence, in terms of passed-on stories, and some historical artefacts.

“Generally speaking, many of them do not know of our identity, but the language comparison we have between Hebrew language, Greek language, is now telling us that we need to think deep and accepted that if we are connected by language, then we must be related and our origin is one.”

Were says he has also met Israelites who have pointed out to him the similarities between Hebrew and Bine languages.

Some of his writings in the book may seem far-fetched; however, the comparison between Hebrew and Bine words did get my attention.

Were plans to write more books which probe further into the relationship between the Hebrew and Bine languages.

Bine Mene: Connecting the Hebrews. By Samuel Were. Bright Star Morning Corporation. Port Moresby, 2006. 20 pages. K20.

6 comments:

  1. Anonymous6:38 PM

    There are many tribes all over the world claiming to have their roots connected with the Jews in the Bible.For instance the Masai Tribe of Kenya have their legend similar to that of the old testament in the Bible and they claim to be the lost Tribe of Israel, that is the tribe of Benjamin. The Yangoru people of East Sepik province of Papua New Guinea also claim to be the lost tribe of Isreal.They claim to be of such origin because of their customs and traditions are very similar to those of the Jews and there was also a claim of Olive Tree being found in the high mountains of this district. There are also others who still claim to be related to Jewish in some sort. The point is why claiming to be somebody else,well its good to do research to see similarities between your cultures and others, but the fact is even if your customs and traditions are similar to those of the Jewish; or you have the same legends; similar names or whats over it wont change anything, Jews will be Jews and Yangoru will still be Yangoru.

    Yangoru meri

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  2. michaelmondus@gmail.com9:51 PM

    I would like to make it known that before posting comments please review you history thoroughly. Having given priviledge to enter most sacred places and experience the history revealed is not something to bluff about. What amazed me most was that I was refered back to the bible for clarification which I least expected of. We are all one people who came on one vessel. Languages broke us in groups in search for settlement. The temple was sunk and awaiting twelve blood decendents to reopen. If there's anyone there who knows something along this line, please share with us.

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  3. Many Peoples who are living throughout the Pacific Islands -- "the uttermost part of the earth" -- are, in fact, descendants of the Biblical Ten Northern Tribes of Ancient Israel, also known as, "the House of Israel".
    Go to the following "Tenable Truth Seminars" website for further Biblical Proof. http://tenabletruth.info/biblical-black-history
    http://tenabletruth.info/kingdom-and-righteousness
    http://tenabletruth.info
    http://tenabletruth.info

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  4. Many South Pacific Islanders are descendants of the Biblical Hebrew Patriarch called "Jacob" who was renamed "Israel". For further study go to the following website: "Our Inspiration and Our Passion of the Christ"
    http://inspirationpassion.wordpress.com

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  5. How may i buy, or read, a copy of the book: Bine Mene: Connecting the Hebrews, by geoscientist Samuel Were ? Please let me know by email: revdrkelvin.brown@gmail.com

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  6. yes i would like to buy a copy of this book too please. my email is end.times.vibrations@gmail.com..thanks

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