Published by: Biblical Geographical Research Group
In a recent investigation conducted by the Biblical Geographical Research Group, several Maronite Christian families from Byblos (ancient Gebal) and surrounding regions of Mount Lebanon were studied and interviewed. These families have maintained strict endogamy within the Maronite community for generations. The genetic results reveal unusually strong ties to Jewish populations from Morocco, Iraq, Iran, Syria, and Lebanon, shedding light on the forgotten biblical and ancestral heritage within this Levantine Christian group.
These findings are interpreted by researchers as dominant evidence of direct Israelite genetic inheritance among some Maronite families in Mount Lebanon, surpassing any Phoenician or generic Levantine classification. The dominant similarity to Jewish diaspora groups was confirmed through independent genetic platforms and corroborated by population genetics experts.
This case opens several plausible historical explanations:
In 722 BCE, the Assyrian Empire exiled the northern tribes of Israel. However, historical sources and rabbinical texts suggest not all Israelites were deported. Some remained in the northern territories—such as the regions around Byblos and Mount Lebanon—and may have converted to Christianity in later centuries.
Historical records confirm long-standing Jewish communities in Damascus and Aleppo. During various periods of persecution or economic transition, some Jewish families migrated westward to the Lebanese coast and interior, eventually integrating into Christian rural populations, especially in the Maronite mountains.
Some Israelite families may have never left the region at all. Over centuries, they adapted religiously and culturally, eventually adopting Christianity while maintaining genetic continuity. This hypothesis is supported by specific genetic clustering among Maronites not seen in other Levantine Christian groups.
"The observed genetic purity in these families can be attributed to centuries of endogamy within isolated Maronite communities in Mount Lebanon."
Such preservation is rare in the Levant, where most populations have experienced extensive mixing over time. This isolation allowed certain families to retain a genetic profile closely tied to ancient Israelites.
The findings suggest that Israelite ancestry may be far more common among Maronites than previously acknowledged. However, it may only be visibly detectable in families who remained endogamous across generations. The study offers a glimpse into what may have once been a more widespread ancestral connection among northern Levantine Christians.
"This isn’t a matter of pride or politics; it’s a matter of ancestral truth. While Maronites are often described as Phoenician or Aramean, this research highlights another thread in our heritage: a living Israelite origin."
This investigation provides a rare genetic and historical insight into the ancient Israelite legacy preserved within select Maronite families. It calls for a broader scholarly review of Maronite origins, not just through cultural or linguistic lenses, but through empirical genetic and biblical evidence.