JOSEPH W. TKACH
PASTOR GENERAL

February 1988

Dear Friend:

Thank you for your question concerning the origin of the Polish peoples.

The people of eastern Europe are usually called "Slavs," a word meaning "slaves." (Many of these people were once sold as slaves into western Europe by the Germans.) But what is their true origin?

The Germans often called them "Wends." The Latins called them "Eneti" or "Veneti." Other tribes among them were called "Pol," and "Elimaei," or "Elymaei," and "Kashub." (See "Smith's Greek and Roman Classical Dictionary".)

Where, in ancient Bible lands, were these tribes located?

In the land of Elam!

Elam was a son of Shem who settled east of the ancient city of Babylon (Gen. 10:22). Daniel the prophet spent some time in Elam (Dan. 8:2). The Elamites named the most famous mountain in their land Elwend ("Seven Great Monarchies" by Rawlinson). No wonder the Elamites were called the "Wends" in Europe.

Elam early invaded the Palestinian coast of the Mediterranean (Gen. 14:1). There they named a river Elwend; the Greeks called it the Orontes. Some of them migrated into Asia Minor where they were named the people of Pul (Isa. 66:19). From the word "Pul" comes Poland -- the land of Pol or Pul. From Asia Minor they migrated into southern Russia, then into eastern Europe.

Another tribe in ancient Elam was called Kashu ("Encyclopaedia Biblica," map, p. 4845). In Poland we find the Kashub living today ("Encyclopaedia Britannica," article "kashubes"). The Greeks in ancient times said that the Elimaei dwelt northwest of them -- in what is southern Yugoslavia today ("Smith's Classical Dictionary," article "Elimea"). The word "Elimaei" was also used by the Greeks to refer to the ancient land of "Elam" near Babylon.

The Latins called the Elamites or Wends "Eneti." Strabo, the Roman geographer, wrote about the migration "of Enetians from Paphlagonia in Asia Minor to the Adriatic" -- modern Yugoslavia ("Geography of Strabo," p. 227). Surely, there is no mistaking where the people anciently called Elam are today and that the inhabitants of Poland comprise many of their descendants.

Poland is experiencing trouble for the same reason all peoples and nations are experiencing trouble. This earth is cursed and under the sway of Satan the devil. This curse, along with its ultimate cure, is explained in our booklet NEVER BEFORE UNDERSTOOD -- WHY HUMANITY CANNOT SOLVE ITS PROBLEMS. We would be happy to send you a copy upon your request.

Whenever we may assist you further with your study of the Bible, we hope you will let us know. It is our pleasure to serve you.

PERSONAL CORRESPONDENCE DEPARTMENT