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Patriarchs and Prophets Contains Secret Jewish Knowledge?
By Dirk Anderson, Apr. 2009
One of the most truly bizarre claims regarding Ellen White comes from an SDA artist named Elfred Lee. Lee apparently befriended a Jewish Rabbi who supposedly converted to Christianity after reading Ellen White's book Patriarchs and Prophets. Lee shared his "testimony" of this experience on an SDA web site, and he made some fantastic claims about Rabbi Kagan:
1. "He was amazed at her knowledge, saying that the information in this book (Patriarchs and Prophets) is Mishnaic. The Mishnah is part of the Hebrew scholarship. He said the Mishnah had only been translated into English 30 years ago [that statement being made in 1978, would mean it was translated in 1948] and that only high-level rabbis knew this information."
2. "This is the history of my people and it is very, very accurate. He also said that you have to know Hebrew to be able to write like this because her sentence structure is not English, it's Hebrew. The rhythm the meter, the arrangement of words and expressions are not English. He said it's as if she wrote in Hebrew and it was translated into English."
Are these fantastic claims true? Did Ellen White write in a mystical English translated from Hebrew?
Is Patriarchs and Prophets Mishnaic?
Brother Anderson submitted to a group of Jewish Hebrew scholars the claim that Ellen White's writings appear to be Hebrew translated into English. They scoffed at such a suggestion, saying the languages are so completely different that it did not even warrant an investigation. So, the burden is now upon Elfred Lee to supply some sort of proof that her writings appear to be Hebrew translated into English. To this day we have not seen any evidence to support that claim.
It is difficult to evaluate whether or not the book contains any secret Mishnaic information not available to Ellen White in the 19th century simply because Elfred Lee never tells us which parts of the book contain Mishnaic information.
What can be done is to examine the sources Mrs. White used for the book. While the earliest chapters rely upon The Book of Jasher and Milton's Paradise Lost, the majority of the book follows Alfred Edersheim's Bible History (a seven-volume history of the Old Testament published 1876-1887). Edersheim was raised as a Jew, educated in the Talmud and Torah, and converted to Christianity in the mid-1840s. Edersheim, became the pre-eminent Christian-Jewish scholar of the 19th century, and was undoubtedly familiar with the Mishnah, since he quotes from it in his writings.1
Mrs. White's reliance on Edersheim
Much of the book Patriarchs and Prophets mirrors the writings of Edersheim. This can be seen in both the overall structure of the book, and in individual quotes taken from Edersheim. First, let us compare the overall structures of both books:2
Ellen White, Patriarchs and Prophets; Mountain View, California, Pacific Press (1890,1913)
| Edersheim, Alfred, Bible History: Old Testament, vols. 14, (1876-1880)
| Page in 1958 edition (White)
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Page in volume 1 (Edersheim)
| 33 Why Was Sin Permitted? | xi Introduction
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44 The Creation | 17 Creation
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52 The Temptation and Fall
63 The Plan of Redemption
| 17 The Fall |
71 Cain and Abel Tested | 23 Cain and Abel-The Two Ways
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80 Seth and Enoch | 23 Seth and His Descendants
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90 The Flood | 44 The Flood
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105 After the Flood
111 The Literal Week
| 51 After the Flood |
117 The Tower of Babel | 57 Babel-Confusion of Tongues
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125 The Call of Abraham | 72 The Calling of Abram
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132 Abraham in Canaan | 72 His Arrival in Canaan
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145 The Test of Faith | 97 Trial of Abraham's Faith
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156 Destruction of Sodom | 88 The Destruction of Sodom
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171 The Marriage of Isaac | 106 The Marriage of Isaac
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177 Jacob and Esau | 106 Birth of Esau andJacob
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183 Jacob's Flight and Exile | 115 Jacob Is Sent to Laban
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195 The Night of Wrestling | 132 The Night of Wrestling
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204 The Return to Canaan | 132 Jacob Settles at Hebron
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213 Joseph in Egypt | 142 Joseph's Early Life
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224 Joseph and His Brothers | 161 Joseph Recognizes His brothers
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Page in 1958 edition (White)
| Page in volume 2 (Edersheim)
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241 Moses | 35 The Birth and the Training of Moses
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257 The Plagues of Egypt | 63 The Ten "Strokes," or Plagues
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273 The Passover | 78 The Passover and Its Ordinances
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281 The Exodus | 78 The Children of Israel Leave Egypt
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291 From the Red Sea to Sinai | 89 The Wilderness of Shur
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303 The Law Given to Israel
315 Idolatry at Sinai
| 105 The "Ten Words," and Their Meaning
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331 Satan's Enmity against the Law | 121 The Sin of the Golden Calf
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343 The Tabernacle and | 133 The Rearing of the Tabernacle Its Services
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359 The Sin of Nadab and Abihu | 137 The Sin of Nadab and Abihu
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395 The Rebellion of Korah | 171 The Gainsaying of Korah
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363 The law and the Covenants | 114 Civil and Social Ordinances- The "Covenant Made by Sacrifice"
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374 From Sinai to Kadesh | 156 [March into the Wilderness]
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387 The Twelve Spies | 163 The Spies Sent to Canaan
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406 In the Wilderness | 171 The Years in the Wilderness
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411 The Smitten Rock | 184 The Sin of Moses and Aaron
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422 The Journey around Edom 433 The Conquest of Bashan
| 193 Journey of the Children of Israel in the Land of Edom
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Page in 1958 edition (White)
| Page in volume 3 (Edersheim)
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438 Balaam | 11 Character and History of Balaam
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453 Apostasy at the Jordan | 23 The End of Balaam
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462 The Law Repeated | 33 The Second Census of Israel
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469 The Death of Moses | 42 Death and Burial of Moses
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481 Crossing the Jordan | 53 The Miraculous Parting ofJordan
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487 The Fall of Jericho | 58 The Miraculous Fall of Jericho
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499 The Blessings and the Curses | 73 The Blessing and the Curse on Gerizim and Ebal
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505 League with the Gibeonites | 72 The Deceit of the Gibeonites
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510 The Division of Canaan | 87 Final Division of the Land
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521 The Last Words of Joshua
525 Tithes and Offerings
530 God's Care for the Poor
| 96 Joshua's Farewell Addresses |
537 The Annual Feasts | 33 Sacrificial Ordinances
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543 The Earlier Judges | 105 Summary of the Book of Judges
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560 Samson | 163 The History of Samson
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Page in 1958 edition (White)
| Page in volume 4 (Edersheim)
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569 The Child Samuel | 1 Birth of Samuel
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575 Eli and His Sons | 10 The Sin of Eli's Sons
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581 The Ark Taken by the Philistines | 16 Taking of the Ark
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592 The Schools of the Prophets | 26 Samuel's Administration
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603 The First King of Israel | 26 The Demand for a King
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616 The Presumption of Saul | 56 Saul's Disobedience
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627 Saul Rejected | 56 The Rejection of His Kingdom
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637 The Anointing of David | 79 The Anointing of David
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643 David and Goliath | 79 Combat between David and Goliath
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649 David a Fugitive | 94 David's Flight to Samuel
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660 The Magnanimity of David | 109 David end Jonathan
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675 The Death of Saul | 147 Death of Saul
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683 Ancient and Modern Sorcery | 136 Saul... the Witch of Endor
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690 David at Ziklag | 136 Capture of Ziklag by the Amalekites
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697 David Called to the Throne | 147 David King at Hebron
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703 The Reign of David | 163 David... King over All Israel
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717 David's Sin and Repentance | 190 David's Great Sin... Repentance
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Following are a sample of the many places where Mrs. White incorporates the ideas and writings of Edersheim into Patriarchs and Prophets
Bible History
| Patriarchs and Prophets
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Everything as it proceeded from the hand of God was "very good," that is, perfect to answer the
purpose for which it had been destined. "And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had
made; and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had made. And God blessed the
seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it He had rested from all His work which God created
and made." (vol. 1, chap. 1)
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And God "rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it He had rested from all His work which God created and made." God looked with satisfaction upon the work of His hands. All was perfect... (PP 47)
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Accordingly He gave to Adam and Eve another son, whom his mother significantly called "Seth," that is, "appointed," or rather "compensation;" "for God," said she, "hath appointed me ('compensated me with') another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew." '
(vol. 1, chap. 3)
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To Adam was given another son, to be the inheritor of the divine promise, the heir of the spiritual birthright. The name Seth, given to this son, signified "appointed," or "compensation;" "for," said the mother, "God hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew." (PP 80)
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Even so, "the long-suffering of God waited" for one hundred and twenty years, "while the ark was a preparing;" and during this time, especially, Noah must have acted as "a preacher of righteousness." (vol. 1, chap. 5)
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For a hundred and twenty years the preacher of righteousness warned the world of the coming destruction, but his message was rejected and despised. (PP 102)
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As Luther says, "Ham would not have mocked his father, when overcome with wine, if he had not long before cast from his soul that reverence which, according to God's command, children should cherish towards their parents." It is a relief to find the other sons of Noah, so far from sharing their brother's sin, reverently defending their father from the unnatural vileness of Ham. (vol. 1, chap. 7)
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The unnatural crime of Ham declared that filial reverence had long before been cast from his soul, and it revealed the impiety and vileness of his character. (PP 117)
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No wonder that the worldly pride of that age should have wished to make such a place the world-capital of a world-empire, whose tower "may reach unto heaven!" (vol. 1, chap. 8)
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...Babel builders determined to keep their community united in one body, and to found a monarchy that should eventually embrace the whole earth. Thus their city would become the metropolis of a universal empire; its glory would command the admiration and homage of the world and render the founders illustrious. The magnificent tower, reaching to the heavens... (PP 119)
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Samson offered no resistance, on condition that his own people should not attack him. Bound with two new cords, he was already within view of the hostile camp at Lehi; already he heard the jubilant shout of the Philistines, when once more "the Spirit of Jehovah came mightily upon him." Like flax at touch of fire, "flowed his bonds from off his hands." This sudden turn of affairs, and manifestation of Samson's power, caused an immediate panic among the Philistines. Following up this effect, Samson seized the weapon readiest to hand, the jawbone of an ass, and with it slew company after company, "heap upon heap," till, probably in various encounters, no less than 1000 of the enemy strewed the ground.
(vol. 3, chap. 19)
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Samson consented to be bound and delivered to the Philistines, but first exacted from the men of Judah a promise not to attack him themselves, and thus compel him to destroy them. He permitted them to bind him with two new ropes, and he was led into the camp of his enemies amid demonstrations of great joy. But while their shouts were waking the echoes of the hills, "the Spirit of Jehovah came mightily upon him." He burst asunder the strong new cords as if they had been flax burned in the fire. Then seizing the first weapon at hand, which, though only the jawbone of an ass, was rendered more effective than sword or spear, he smote the Philistines until they fled in terror, leaving a thousand men dead upon the field. (PP 564)
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From all their cities have the princes of the Philistines come up; from all the country around have the people gathered. The temple of the god Dagon - the fish-god, protector of the sea - is festively adorned and thronged. Below, the lords of the Philistines and all the chief men of the people are feasting at the sacrificial meal; above, along the roof, the gallery all around is crowded by three thousand men and women who look down on the spectacle beneath. It is a feast of thanksgiving to Dagon, of triumph to Philistia, of triumph against Jehovah and His people, and over captive Samson. ... And now the mirth and revelry have reached their highest point: Samson is brought in, and placed in the middle of the temple, between the central pillars which uphold the immense roof and the building itself. A few words whispered to his faithful Hebrew servant, and Samson's arms encircle the massive pillars. And then an unuttered agonizing cry of repentance, of faith from the Nazarite, once more such, who will not only subordinate self to the nation and to his calling, but surrender life itself! ... With all his might he bows himself. The pillars reel and give way. With one terrible crash fall roof and gallery, temple and image of Dagon; and in the ruins perish with Samson the lords of the Philistines and the flower of the people.
(vol. 3, chap. 20)
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A feast was appointed in honor of Dagon, the fish god, "the protector of the sea." From town and country throughout the Philistine plain the people and their lords assembled. Throngs of worshipers filled the vast temple and crowded the galleries about the roof. It was a scene of festivity and rejoicing. There was the pomp of the sacrificial service, followed by music and feasting. Then, as the crowning trophy of Dagon's power, Samson was brought in. Shouts of exultation greeted his appearance. People and rulers mocked his misery and adored the god who had overthrown "the destroyer of their country." After a time, as if weary, Samson asked permission to rest against the two central pillars which supported the temple roof. Then he silently uttered the prayer, "O Lord God, remember me, I pray Thee, and strengthen me, I pray Thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines." With these words he encircled the pillars with his mighty arms; and crying, "Let me die with the Philistines!" he bowed himself, and the roof fell, destroying at one crash all that vast multitude. "So the dead which he slew at his death were more than they which he slew in his life." The idol and its worshipers, priest and peasant, warrior and noble, were buried together beneath the ruins of Dagon's temple.
(PP 567)
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Conslusion
If there is indeed any secret knowledge of the Mishnah embedded within Patriarchs and Prophets, then it is most likely that knowledge was obtained from the writings of Albert Edersheim, and not by any supernatural means. Mrs. White copied heavily from his book when writing her book. While it is wonderful that Rabbi Kagan accepted Christ, it would seem the real credit for his conversion is due more to Albert Edersheim than Ellen White.
Citations
1. For examples of references to the Mishnah, see Alfred Edersheim, Sketches of Jewish Social Life, (1876). Example chapter 4: "But the Mishnah already directs that..."; Example chapter 18: "the Mishnah maintains that those who loved God...". Wikipedia article on Edersheim indicates he was trained in the Torah and Talmud.
2. Walter Rea, White Lie, Chapter 5. Page numbers are from the 1958 printing of Patriarchs and Prophets, and from volumes 1-4 of Bible History.
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