Does Rastafarianism have a case?

[ST88]

How much legitimacy do Rastafarians have claiming that they are the lost children of Israel? They believe their rulers are descended from a union of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, and that they, themselves are possibly part of the tribe of Dan.

It may have to do with the translation of Isaiah 18. It seems curious that in the middle of denouncing other nations of the region, Isaiah would suddenly give Ethiopia a special place of honor. Yet this is the claim. The KVJ clearly establishes Ethiopia as a land of "woe" that will become "trodden under foot". But other translations are more generous, or at least more circumspect, some implying that this area of the world ("Cush") holds the Ark of the Covenant and will return it at the end times.

What do you think about Rastafarianism?

[n16]

crap religion, good weed.

[Corvus]

Is it a Rastafarian claim that their rulers are descended from Solomon and the Queen of Sheba? The first time I encountered the claim was while reading Gerard de Nerval's book from 1850, Voyage en Orient. In one particular scene:

During the pause which followed, there were heated arguments among the audience. Some denied the truth of the tradition elaborated by the storyteller; they claimed that the queen of Saba (Sheba) did in fact beget a son from Soliman and nobody else. Owing to his religious convictions, the Abyssinian, above all, was highly offended at the assumption that his sovereigns were nothing but the descendants of a workman.

'You lied!' he shouted to the storyteller. 'The first of our Abyssinian kings was called Menilek, and he was definitely the son of Soliman and Belkiss-Makeda. One of his descendants still reigns over us at Gondar.

The tale the storyteller told - or retold, rather, since he added and changed a great deal - was this one:

1 Kings 10, 1-13:

[1] And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to prove him with hard questions.
[2] And she came to Jerusalem with a very great train, with camels that bare spices, and very much gold, and precious stones: and when she was come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart.
[3] And Solomon told her all her questions: there was not any thing hid from the king, which he told her not.
[4] And when the queen of Sheba had seen all Solomon's wisdom, and the house that he had built,
[5] And the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel, and his cupbearers, and his ascent by which he went up unto the house of the LORD; there was no more spirit in her.
[6] And she said to the king, It was a true report that I heard in mine own land of thy acts and of thy wisdom.
[7] Howbeit I believed not the words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it: and, behold, the half was not told me: thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard.
[8] Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and that hear thy wisdom.
[9] Blessed be the LORD thy God, which delighted in thee, to set thee on the throne of Israel: because the LORD loved Israel for ever, therefore made he thee king, to do judgment and justice.
[10] And she gave the king an hundred and twenty talents of gold, and of spices very great store, and precious stones: there came no more such abundance of spices as these which the queen of Sheba gave to king Solomon.
[11] And the navy also of Hiram, that brought gold from Ophir, brought in from Ophir great plenty of almug trees, and precious stones.
[12] And the king made of the almug trees pillars for the house of the LORD, and for the king's house, harps also and psalteries for singers: there came no such almug trees, nor were seen unto this day.
[13] And king Solomon gave unto the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatsoever she asked, beside that which Solomon gave her of his royal bounty. So she turned and went to her own country, she and her servants.

The Abyssinians have a legend that during her stay with Solomon, the king enticed the Queen of Sheba to lay with him, and in the slumber that ensued, he dreamt that she would fall pregnant and give birth to a child that would be blessed. When she returned to her land, she begot Menilek I, who was proclaimed the Emperor of Abyssinia by Solomon, which, although a rather dull title these days, would, I am sure, have been very impressive then. From what I understand, each of their kings claims descent from this notable figure. Whether the legend is true or not, I can't say, but I don't believe there is any evidence to corroborate. Every aristocracy requires some sort of history to distinguish it above other men, and where we Europeans claimed it from whether or not our ancestors fought at such and such a battle or crusade, it would be a small thing to fabricate a special lineage.

[Rancid Uncle]

The Rastas themselves don't say they're related to Soloman. They just believe the former emperor of Ethiopia Haile Selassie, or Ras Tafari, is. Their connection to Haile Selassie is more of a connection to Africa and their race, of which he was the chief representative.

I personally think Rastafarianism is a fun religion. Reggae is 1000 times better than Christian Rock. The ideas don't make a whole lot of sense, but there's absolutely no more proof that Jesus is the son of God than that Haile Selassie is.