Lost tribes of Israel

[ralliann]

Odd isn't it that the Jews would choose to call their post 1948 land 'Israel' after purposely separating from Israel thousands of years before to become Judah. That's like the US suddenly calling itself England.

Why would that be odd? They were Israelite's still.

 

[timothyu]

Why would that be odd? They were Israelite's still.

True, but why would Judah separate itself, then later claim the name Israel of the northern kingdom while still rejecting the other ten tribes (gentiles) that originally inhabited it?

 

[ralliann]

True, but why would Judah separate itself, then later claim the name Israel of the northern kingdom while still rejecting the other ten tribes (gentiles) that originally inhabited it?

Those of the tribe Judah were also Israelites. Jerusalem belonging to Judah, was only made the capitol in the last few years. Israel when returning to the land did not have all the land of "Juda". So why not call themselves by their collective name?

 

[timothyu]

So why not call themselves by their collective name?

Because they are refusing so far to be collective?

 

[ralliann]

Because they are refusing so far to be collective?

What? They are all Jew's

 

[timothyu]

What? They are all Jew's

And the other ten tribes whose promised land it is? The ones the Jews called gentiles and looked down upon?

 

[ralliann]

And the other ten tribes whose promised land it is? The ones the Jews called gentiles and looked down upon?

They are all Isrealites!!! They do not even know their individual tribal status. Perhaps only certain Levites is all.
There is no reason to not call their nation Israel...

 

[timothyu]

They are all Isrealites!!!

Yet call themselves Jews? Jews are not the 12 tribes but only a combination of two. They rejected their brethren tribes to this day. Even Jesus told His apostles to go to the other tribes/nations and reunite the 12. It has not happened so any notion of the Kingdom to come can be put aside until they reunite.

 

[ralliann]

Yet call themselves Jews? Jews are not the 12 tribes but only a combination of two.

Who are you to decide what "Jew" should mean for them? Those Israelites from Judah were called judeans by their captors. The kingdom of Judah kept the Judaism of Levitical temple practice, while the kingdom of Israel created a rival religion. Jew also denoted the religious practice of Judea. Hence JUDA- ism

They rejected their brethren tribes to this day.

Not they did not reject their brethren tribes. The Ephraimite king created a rival religion to keep them from returning to Jerusalem to worship.

Even Jesus told His apostles to go to the other tribes/nations and reunite the 12. It has not happened so any notion of the Kingdom to come can be put aside until they reunite.

They are uniting in a land. You have no business judging their RELIGIOUS compliance to your religious views.

 

[timothyu]

Jew means Judah.

 

[ralliann]

Jew means Judah.

Jew comes from the word JUDA. Not every Jew is from the tribe of Judah. And as I said it has religious implications attached to it. JUDA-ISM.
Israel as a kingdom created a rival religion, to keep the people from returning to Jerusalem to worship.
1 kings 12:25 ¶ Then Jeroboam built Shechem in mount Ephraim, and dwelt therein; and went out from thence, and built Penuel.
26 And Jeroboam said in his heart, Now shall the kingdom return to the house of David:
27 If this people go up to do sacrifice in the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, then shall the heart of this people turn again unto their lord, even unto Rehoboam king of Judah, and they shall kill me, and go again to Rehoboam king of Judah.
28 Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold, and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
29 And he set the one in Bethel, and the other put he in Dan.
30 And this thing became a sin: for the people went to worship before the one, even unto Dan.
31 And he made an house of high places, and made priests of the lowest of the people, which were not of the sons of Levi.
32 And Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like unto the feast that is in Judah, and he offered upon the altar. So did he in Bethel, sacrificing unto the calves that he had made: and he placed in Bethel the priests of the high places which he had made. {offered … : or, went up to the altar, etc } {sacrificing: or, to sacrifice }
33 So he offered upon the altar which he had made in Bethel the fifteenth day of the eighth month, even in the month which he had devised of his own heart; and ordained a feast unto the children of Israel: and he offered upon the altar, and burnt incense.

 

[timothyu]

Sure

 

[Benaiah468]

Everyone knows that numbers in the Bible are no coincidence. We regularly see how they point to deeper revelations. And the number 12 is certainly one of the best known. There are...

- Twelve tribes
- Twelve apostles
- Twelve elders on twelve thrones
- Twelve springs of water in Elim
- Twelve spies
- Twelve gates with twelve pearls in the New Jerusalem
- Twelve stones on the altar of Elijah (and some others)
- Twelve cakes in the tabernacle
- Twelve baskets with collected pieces of bread
- Twelve silver bowls, twelve silver sprinkling bowls, twelve golden bowls in the sanctuary
- The day has 12 hours (John 11:9)
- A year has 12 months

The number 12 is considered to be the number of completeness. The disciples therefore felt it was very important, for example, to appoint a successor to Judas Iscariot.

The twelve sons of Jacob created 12 tribes in Israel. The aim was to create one nation with one king and one law.

But this took a long time.

Or maybe it didn't happen at all - at least not in the way we imagined?

Let's follow the story of the twelve tribes of Israel.

They leave Egypt together. In the desert they receive the law and 40 years later they take the land promised by G-d together. But what about the cohesion of the tribes afterwards?

After the people of Israel have entered the Promised Land, they are to exterminate the Canaanites. As long as Joshua is alive, this works very well. All twelve tribes fight together. Together they are strong.

But after Joshua dies, things look a little different. Certainly also due to the fact that the people have settled down, only some of the twelve now fight together against the enemy (cf. Jdg 1:3; 4:10; 5:14-18; 6:35; 8:1-2; 12:1-2). One has the feeling that the unity of Israel is not as it should be.

This can be observed well at the time of the judge Deborah:

Some came from Ephraim, whose roots were in Amalek; Benjamin was with the people who followed you. From Makir captains came down, from Zebulun those who bear a commander’s[a] staff. The princes of Issachar were with Deborah; yes, Issachar was with Barak, sent under his command into the valley. In the districts of Reuben there was much searching of heart. Why did you stay among the sheep pens[b] to hear the whistling for the flocks? In the districts of Reuben there was much searching of heart. Gilead stayed beyond the Jordan. And Dan, why did he linger by the ships? Asher remained on the coast and stayed in his coves. The people of Zebulun risked their very lives; so did Naphtali on the terraced fields. Judges 5:14-18

We see here that the people of Israel are anything but a unit!

This does not change in later times either. It culminates in the tribe of Benjamin almost being wiped out by the other tribes (Jdg 19-21).
We also recognize that the people rarely submit to Judah's leadership. Yet G-d confirms them again and again: He has given Judah royal leadership over the family/the people (see the previous post and Gen 49:8-9). Judah is to lead, to set a good example. The others are to follow him.

This can also be seen in the order in which the people went through the desert:

On the twentieth day of the second month of the second year, the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle of the covenant law. Then the Israelites set out from the Desert of Sinai and traveled from place to place until the cloud came to rest in the Desert of Paran. They set out, this first time, at the Lord’s command through Moses. The divisions of the camp of Judah went first, under their standard. Nahshon son of Amminadab was in command. Numbers 10:11-14

The tribe of Judah is also the first to go to war after the death of Joshua:

After the death of Joshua, the Israelites asked the Lord, “Who of us is to go up first to fight against the Canaanites?” The Lord answered, “Judah shall go up; I have given the land into their hands.” Judges 1:1-2

When Saul becomes the first king of the people of Israel, he tries to unite the people.

It is interesting that Saul is a Benjamite. The tribe of Benjamin seems to play a special role, as we repeatedly see how this tribe tries to bring Judah and Ephraim together. Its geographical location also reveals this prophetically (directly between Judah and Ephraim; see map).

The differences among the people become very apparent as David gains popularity. He is revered and celebrated everywhere, but when Saul dies, it is initially only the tribe of Judah that accepts David as the new king:

Meanwhile, Abner son of Ner, the commander of Saul’s army, had taken Ish-Bosheth son of Saul and brought him over to Mahanaim. He made him king over Gilead, Ashuri and Jezreel, and also over Ephraim, Benjamin and all Israel. Ish-Bosheth son of Saul was forty years old when he became king over Israel, and he reigned two years. The tribe of Judah, however, remained loyal to David. The length of time David was king in Hebron over Judah was seven years and six months. 2 Sam 2:8-11

A major north-south conflict can already be seen here.

It takes over seven years before the other tribes finally join David/Judah's rule.

But a few decades later, the subordination (which perhaps never really happened in their hearts?) is already over.

David's son Absalom rebels against his father and attempts to overthrow and murder him in order to seize control of the kingdom. The people he attracts to his side are mainly the people from the other tribes of Israel.

When Absalom dies in battle against David's army, it is once again the tribe of Judah that first comes to meet King David to accompany him back to Jerusalem - thus confirming his rule once again:

Then the king returned and went as far as the Jordan. Now the men of Judah had come to Gilgal to go out and meet the king and bring him across the Jordan. 2 Sam 19:15

A little later, the other tribes come (and thus submit to the rule of David):

Soon all the men of Israel were coming to the king and saying to him, “Why did our brothers, the men of Judah, steal the king away and bring him and his household across the Jordan, together with all his men?” All the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, “We did this because the king is closely related to us. Why are you angry about it? Have we eaten any of the king’s provisions? Have we taken anything for ourselves?” Then the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, “We have ten shares in the king; so we have a greater claim on David than you have. Why then do you treat us with contempt? Weren’t we the first to speak of bringing back our king?” But the men of Judah pressed their claims even more forcefully than the men of Israel. 2 Sam 19:41-43

At this point, we gain an insight into the mood between the tribes at this time: there is jealousy!

The people of Israel are jealous of the leadership role given to the tribe of Judah. This seems to run very deep. And it looks as if this envy has not disappeared even centuries later. For in Isaiah we find the following prophecy:

Ephraim’s jealousy will vanish, and Judah’s enemies[a] will be destroyed; Ephraim will not be jealous of Judah, nor Judah hostile toward Ephraim. Isa 11:13

There are other interesting details in the story of David before the entry into Jerusalem.

For example, the “house of Joseph” is already mentioned as a synonym for the tribes of the later northern kingdom (2 Sam 19:20).

We also see how quickly this house of Joseph turns away from the king again:

Now a troublemaker named Sheba son of Bikri, a Benjamite, happened to be there. He sounded the trumpet and shouted, “We have no share in David, no part in Jesse’s son! Every man to his tent, Israel!” So all the men of Israel deserted David to follow Sheba son of Bikri. But the men of Judah stayed by their king all the way from the Jordan to Jerusalem. 2 Sam 20:1-2

However, this rebellion is quickly quelled.

In the scene we have just seen, in which the leaders of Israel complain, we find a reference to something that happens around 50 years later: “We have ten shares in the king” says the people of Israel. Here we can recognize a union of 10 tribes - more on this in a moment.

When David dies and his son reigns, the country experiences its heyday. There are only a few wars. Instead, there is peace, wealth and prosperity. The first temple is built and Solomon rules with wisdom and foresight.

But even under him, it seems that the people do not grow together as one (in their hearts). For we continue to read about the distinction between Judah and Israel (as with David in 2 Sam 12:8):

During Solomon’s lifetime Judah and Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, lived in safety, everyone under their own vine and under their own fig tree. 1 Kings 4:25

When Solomon forsakes some of G-d's ways, one of the most drastic events in the history of Israel takes place: the division of the kingdom!

Because of Solomon's sin, G-d takes the kingdom away from him - but not all 12 tribes:

So the Lord said to Solomon, “Since this is your attitude and you have not kept my covenant and my decrees, which I commanded you, I will most certainly tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your subordinates. Nevertheless, for the sake of David your father, I will not do it during your lifetime. I will tear it out of the hand of your son. Yet I will not tear the whole kingdom from him, but will give him one tribe for the sake of David my servant and for the sake of Jerusalem, which I have chosen.” 1 Kings 11:11-13

This happens through Jeroboam, a man from Ephraim (!) who worked under Solomon. The prophet Achijah comes to him and gives him authority over the 10 northern tribes of Israel:

And Ahijah caught the new garment that was on him, and rent it in twelve pieces: And he said to Jeroboam, Take thee ten pieces: for thus saith the Lord, the G-d of Israel, Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to thee: (But he shall have one tribe for my servant David's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake, the city which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel Because that they have forsaken me, and have worshipped Ashtoreth the g-ddess of the Zidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the g-d of the children of Ammon, and have not walked in my ways, to do that which is right in mine eyes, and to keep my statutes and my judgments, as did David his father. Howbeit I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand: but I will make him prince all the days of his life for David my servant's sake, whom I chose, because he kept my commandments and my statutes: 1 Kings 11:30-34

It is striking that 11 and not 12 tribes are mentioned here. Which tribe is missing here? We will see in a moment (the answer can be found in the next chapter - 1 Kings 12).

At this point, Israel begins to rebel against the house of David and the new king Rehoboam (Solomon's son). We know that G-d deliberately led it this way because Solomon had fallen into idolatry.

So Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day. And it came to pass, when all Israel heard that Jeroboam was come again, that they sent and called him unto the congregation, and made him king over all Israel: there was none that followed the house of David, but the tribe of Judah only. 1 Kings 12:19+20

And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he assembled all the house of Judah, with the tribe of Benjamin, an hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men, which were warriors, to fight against the house of Israel, to bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam the son of Solomon. 1 Kings 12:21

Rehoboam is the son of Solomon, who is now given rule over the southern kingdom, the house of Judah. At this point, Benjamin has joined Judah and subordinated himself to their leadership! That is why this tribe is not mentioned by Achijah (one can assume that this was already the case at the time of David - “Do we not have 10 shares?”).

It is G-d who divides the people into two kingdoms: Into northern kingdom and southern kingdom (cf. 1 Kgs 11:1-13 and 1 Kgs 11:27-43):

Thus saith the Lord, Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren the children of Israel: return every man to his house; for this thing is from me. They hearkened therefore to the word of the Lord, and returned to depart, according to the word of the Lord. 1 Kings 12:24

The (physically) united kingdom is now history for the time being. It is divided:

The Southern Kingdom consisting of the 2 tribes of Judah and Benjamin. And the northern kingdom consisting of the remaining 10.

The question is still what happens to the “thirteenth”, the Levites. They soon fled from the northern kingdom and joined the southern kingdom:

And the priests and the Levites that were in all Israel resorted to him out of all their coasts. For the Levites left their suburbs and their possession, and came to Judah and Jerusalem: for Jeroboam and his sons had cast them off from executing the priest's office unto the Lord: And he ordained him priests for the high places, and for the devils, and for the calves which he had made. And after them out of all the tribes of Israel such as set their hearts to seek the Lord G-d of Israel came to Jerusalem, to sacrifice unto the Lord G-d of their fathers. 2 Chronicles 11:13-16

Over the years, the two kingdoms were given further names:

- The tribes of Judah & Benjamin: Judah, House of Judah, Southern Kingdom or Jews (more on this soon)!
- The remaining 10 tribes: Ephraim, House of Joseph, Northern Kingdom or House of Israel/Israel!

The latter makes it a bit confusing, because in the Bible the House of Israel/Israel sometimes means all 12 tribes and sometimes only the 10 from the Northern Kingdom!

So there is a very important difference between Judah and Israel. Some verses in the Bible can be viewed in a completely different light. The new covenant, which Christians refer to, is particularly interesting:

Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: Jer 31:31

Because who reads this verse like that?

Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the [‬northern kingdom], and with the [‬southern kingdom]: Jer 31:31

Find out more here.

G-d Himself decided to divide Israel. It was a punishment. But He also has a plan for it. Nothing happens by chance. He has higher thoughts and there will come a time when Judah and Ephraim will be reunited: One people. One king. One Torah.

He has promised it. He will restore His people.

Say unto them, Thus saith the Lord G-d; Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with him, even with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in mine hand. Ez 37:19-20

Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living G-d. Then shall the children of Judah and the children of Israel be gathered together, and appoint themselves one head, and they shall come up out of the land: for great shall be the day of Jezreel. Hos 1:10-11

And that is a mighty thing. Especially when we see what happens to the two houses. For the punishment of division was not the only punishment that the people had to bear. But we will come to that next.

 

[ralliann]

Everyone knows that numbers in the Bible are no coincidence. We regularly see how they point to deeper revelations. And the number 12 is certainly one of the best known. There are...

- Twelve tribes
- Twelve apostles
- Twelve elders on twelve thrones
- Twelve springs of water in Elim
- Twelve spies
- Twelve gates with twelve pearls in the New Jerusalem
- Twelve stones on the altar of Elijah (and some others)
- Twelve cakes in the tabernacle
- Twelve baskets with collected pieces of bread
- Twelve silver bowls, twelve silver sprinkling bowls, twelve golden bowls in the sanctuary
- The day has 12 hours (John 11:9)
- A year has 12 months

The number 12 is considered to be the number of completeness. The disciples therefore felt it was very important, for example, to appoint a successor to Judas Iscariot.

The twelve sons of Jacob created 12 tribes in Israel. The aim was to create one nation with one king and one law.

But this took a long time.

Or maybe it didn't happen at all - at least not in the way we imagined?

Let's follow the story of the twelve tribes of Israel.

They leave Egypt together. In the desert they receive the law and 40 years later they take the land promised by G-d together. But what about the cohesion of the tribes afterwards?

After the people of Israel have entered the Promised Land, they are to exterminate the Canaanites. As long as Joshua is alive, this works very well. All twelve tribes fight together. Together they are strong.

But after Joshua dies, things look a little different. Certainly also due to the fact that the people have settled down, only some of the twelve now fight together against the enemy (cf. Jdg 1:3; 4:10; 5:14-18; 6:35; 8:1-2; 12:1-2). One has the feeling that the unity of Israel is not as it should be.

This can be observed well at the time of the judge Deborah:

Some came from Ephraim, whose roots were in Amalek; Benjamin was with the people who followed you. From Makir captains came down, from Zebulun those who bear a commander’s[a] staff. The princes of Issachar were with Deborah; yes, Issachar was with Barak, sent under his command into the valley. In the districts of Reuben there was much searching of heart. Why did you stay among the sheep pens[b] to hear the whistling for the flocks? In the districts of Reuben there was much searching of heart. Gilead stayed beyond the Jordan. And Dan, why did he linger by the ships? Asher remained on the coast and stayed in his coves. The people of Zebulun risked their very lives; so did Naphtali on the terraced fields. Judges 5:14-18

We see here that the people of Israel are anything but a unit!

This does not change in later times either. It culminates in the tribe of Benjamin almost being wiped out by the other tribes (Jdg 19-21).
We also recognize that the people rarely submit to Judah's leadership. Yet G-d confirms them again and again: He has given Judah royal leadership over the family/the people (see the previous post and Gen 49:8-9). Judah is to lead, to set a good example. The others are to follow him.

This can also be seen in the order in which the people went through the desert:

On the twentieth day of the second month of the second year, the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle of the covenant law. Then the Israelites set out from the Desert of Sinai and traveled from place to place until the cloud came to rest in the Desert of Paran. They set out, this first time, at the Lord’s command through Moses. The divisions of the camp of Judah went first, under their standard. Nahshon son of Amminadab was in command. Numbers 10:11-14

The tribe of Judah is also the first to go to war after the death of Joshua:

After the death of Joshua, the Israelites asked the Lord, “Who of us is to go up first to fight against the Canaanites?” The Lord answered, “Judah shall go up; I have given the land into their hands.” Judges 1:1-2

When Saul becomes the first king of the people of Israel, he tries to unite the people.


View attachment 359338

It is interesting that Saul is a Benjamite. The tribe of Benjamin seems to play a special role, as we repeatedly see how this tribe tries to bring Judah and Ephraim together. Its geographical location also reveals this prophetically (directly between Judah and Ephraim; see map).

The differences among the people become very apparent as David gains popularity. He is revered and celebrated everywhere, but when Saul dies, it is initially only the tribe of Judah that accepts David as the new king:

Meanwhile, Abner son of Ner, the commander of Saul’s army, had taken Ish-Bosheth son of Saul and brought him over to Mahanaim. He made him king over Gilead, Ashuri and Jezreel, and also over Ephraim, Benjamin and all Israel. Ish-Bosheth son of Saul was forty years old when he became king over Israel, and he reigned two years. The tribe of Judah, however, remained loyal to David. The length of time David was king in Hebron over Judah was seven years and six months. 2 Sam 2:8-11

A major north-south conflict can already be seen here.

It takes over seven years before the other tribes finally join David/Judah's rule.

But a few decades later, the subordination (which perhaps never really happened in their hearts?) is already over.

David's son Absalom rebels against his father and attempts to overthrow and murder him in order to seize control of the kingdom. The people he attracts to his side are mainly the people from the other tribes of Israel.

When Absalom dies in battle against David's army, it is once again the tribe of Judah that first comes to meet King David to accompany him back to Jerusalem - thus confirming his rule once again:

Then the king returned and went as far as the Jordan. Now the men of Judah had come to Gilgal to go out and meet the king and bring him across the Jordan. 2 Sam 19:15

A little later, the other tribes come (and thus submit to the rule of David):

Soon all the men of Israel were coming to the king and saying to him, “Why did our brothers, the men of Judah, steal the king away and bring him and his household across the Jordan, together with all his men?” All the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, “We did this because the king is closely related to us. Why are you angry about it? Have we eaten any of the king’s provisions? Have we taken anything for ourselves?” Then the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, “We have ten shares in the king; so we have a greater claim on David than you have. Why then do you treat us with contempt? Weren’t we the first to speak of bringing back our king?” But the men of Judah pressed their claims even more forcefully than the men of Israel. 2 Sam 19:41-43

At this point, we gain an insight into the mood between the tribes at this time: there is jealousy!

The people of Israel are jealous of the leadership role given to the tribe of Judah. This seems to run very deep. And it looks as if this envy has not disappeared even centuries later. For in Isaiah we find the following prophecy:

Ephraim’s jealousy will vanish, and Judah’s enemies[a] will be destroyed; Ephraim will not be jealous of Judah, nor Judah hostile toward Ephraim. Isa 11:13

There are other interesting details in the story of David before the entry into Jerusalem.

For example, the “house of Joseph” is already mentioned as a synonym for the tribes of the later northern kingdom (2 Sam 19:20).

We also see how quickly this house of Joseph turns away from the king again:

Now a troublemaker named Sheba son of Bikri, a Benjamite, happened to be there. He sounded the trumpet and shouted, “We have no share in David, no part in Jesse’s son! Every man to his tent, Israel!” So all the men of Israel deserted David to follow Sheba son of Bikri. But the men of Judah stayed by their king all the way from the Jordan to Jerusalem. 2 Sam 20:1-2

However, this rebellion is quickly quelled.

In the scene we have just seen, in which the leaders of Israel complain, we find a reference to something that happens around 50 years later: “We have ten shares in the king” says the people of Israel. Here we can recognize a union of 10 tribes - more on this in a moment.

When David dies and his son reigns, the country experiences its heyday. There are only a few wars. Instead, there is peace, wealth and prosperity. The first temple is built and Solomon rules with wisdom and foresight.

But even under him, it seems that the people do not grow together as one (in their hearts). For we continue to read about the distinction between Judah and Israel (as with David in 2 Sam 12:8):

During Solomon’s lifetime Judah and Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, lived in safety, everyone under their own vine and under their own fig tree. 1 Kings 4:25

When Solomon forsakes some of G-d's ways, one of the most drastic events in the history of Israel takes place: the division of the kingdom!

Because of Solomon's sin, G-d takes the kingdom away from him - but not all 12 tribes:

So the Lord said to Solomon, “Since this is your attitude and you have not kept my covenant and my decrees, which I commanded you, I will most certainly tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your subordinates. Nevertheless, for the sake of David your father, I will not do it during your lifetime. I will tear it out of the hand of your son. Yet I will not tear the whole kingdom from him, but will give him one tribe for the sake of David my servant and for the sake of Jerusalem, which I have chosen.” 1 Kings 11:11-13

This happens through Jeroboam, a man from Ephraim (!) who worked under Solomon. The prophet Achijah comes to him and gives him authority over the 10 northern tribes of Israel:

And Ahijah caught the new garment that was on him, and rent it in twelve pieces: And he said to Jeroboam, Take thee ten pieces: for thus saith the Lord, the G-d of Israel, Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to thee: (But he shall have one tribe for my servant David's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake, the city which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel Because that they have forsaken me, and have worshipped Ashtoreth the g-ddess of the Zidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the g-d of the children of Ammon, and have not walked in my ways, to do that which is right in mine eyes, and to keep my statutes and my judgments, as did David his father. Howbeit I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand: but I will make him prince all the days of his life for David my servant's sake, whom I chose, because he kept my commandments and my statutes: 1 Kings 11:30-34

It is striking that 11 and not 12 tribes are mentioned here. Which tribe is missing here? We will see in a moment (the answer can be found in the next chapter - 1 Kings 12).

At this point, Israel begins to rebel against the house of David and the new king Rehoboam (Solomon's son). We know that G-d deliberately led it this way because Solomon had fallen into idolatry.

So Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day. And it came to pass, when all Israel heard that Jeroboam was come again, that they sent and called him unto the congregation, and made him king over all Israel: there was none that followed the house of David, but the tribe of Judah only. 1 Kings 12:19+20

And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he assembled all the house of Judah, with the tribe of Benjamin, an hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men, which were warriors, to fight against the house of Israel, to bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam the son of Solomon. 1 Kings 12:21

Rehoboam is the son of Solomon, who is now given rule over the southern kingdom, the house of Judah. At this point, Benjamin has joined Judah and subordinated himself to their leadership! That is why this tribe is not mentioned by Achijah (one can assume that this was already the case at the time of David - “Do we not have 10 shares?”).

It is G-d who divides the people into two kingdoms: Into northern kingdom and southern kingdom (cf. 1 Kgs 11:1-13 and 1 Kgs 11:27-43):

Thus saith the Lord, Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren the children of Israel: return every man to his house; for this thing is from me. They hearkened therefore to the word of the Lord, and returned to depart, according to the word of the Lord. 1 Kings 12:24

The (physically) united kingdom is now history for the time being. It is divided:

The Southern Kingdom consisting of the 2 tribes of Judah and Benjamin. And the northern kingdom consisting of the remaining 10.

The question is still what happens to the “thirteenth”, the Levites. They soon fled from the northern kingdom and joined the southern kingdom:

And the priests and the Levites that were in all Israel resorted to him out of all their coasts. For the Levites left their suburbs and their possession, and came to Judah and Jerusalem: for Jeroboam and his sons had cast them off from executing the priest's office unto the Lord: And he ordained him priests for the high places, and for the devils, and for the calves which he had made. And after them out of all the tribes of Israel such as set their hearts to seek the Lord G-d of Israel came to Jerusalem, to sacrifice unto the Lord G-d of their fathers. 2 Chronicles 11:13-16

Over the years, the two kingdoms were given further names:

- The tribes of Judah & Benjamin: Judah, House of Judah, Southern Kingdom or Jews (more on this soon)!
- The remaining 10 tribes: Ephraim, House of Joseph, Northern Kingdom or House of Israel/Israel!

The latter makes it a bit confusing, because in the Bible the House of Israel/Israel sometimes means all 12 tribes and sometimes only the 10 from the Northern Kingdom!

So there is a very important difference between Judah and Israel. Some verses in the Bible can be viewed in a completely different light. The new covenant, which Christians refer to, is particularly interesting:

Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: Jer 31:31

Because who reads this verse like that?

Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the [‬northern kingdom], and with the [‬southern kingdom]: Jer 31:31

Find out more here.

G-d Himself decided to divide Israel. It was a punishment. But He also has a plan for it. Nothing happens by chance. He has higher thoughts and there will come a time when Judah and Ephraim will be reunited: One people. One king. One Torah.

He has promised it. He will restore His people.

Say unto them, Thus saith the Lord G-d; Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with him, even with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in mine hand. Ez 37:19-20

Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living G-d. Then shall the children of Judah and the children of Israel be gathered together, and appoint themselves one head, and they shall come up out of the land: for great shall be the day of Jezreel. Hos 1:10-11

And that is a mighty thing. Especially when we see what happens to the two houses. For the punishment of division was not the only punishment that the people had to bear. But we will come to that next.

Mr 3:24 And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.
Mr 3:25 And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.

 

[Benaiah468]

Mr 3:24 And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.
Mr 3:25 And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.

This words of Jesus offer a timeless truth: division, whether in a kingdom, a household, or a society, can lead to its downfall. So the ancient Israelites experienced the consequences of division and disobedience. The divided kingdom of Israel and Judah has faced internal strife and eventually fell to external enemies. G-d has a future for his people despite all enemies and opposition. The time will come when He will bring Israel back from the side track of history to the main track.

 

[Benaiah468]

Israel is certainly on the main track of redemption history today. It is a fact that a new awareness of what G-d is doing with Israel is gaining momentum in the church worldwide. We see it in the global ministry of ICEJ that wherever the Spirit of G-d is at work, He is also placing a new and unprecedented emphasis on Israel. Even entire denominations are choosing to bless Israel today.

At the same time, Israel recognizes that there is now a global evangelical community that has become a very important strategic partner for the State of Israel. There is probably no government in the world today that has as many conversations and relationships with evangelical leaders as the State of Israel.

The restitution of Israel must be understood as a process that develops over time. It begins with a physical restitution to their land. The Hebrew prophets foretold that Jews from the four corners of the earth would return to their ancient homeland, rebuild the cities and cultivate the land, even in difficult times.

Then comes the spiritual restitution. Most of the same prophets proclaim that G-d will pour out His Spirit on the people of Israel. They foresaw that G-d would give them a new heart and write His law in their hearts. This will be so radical that Paul describes it as being resurrected to life.

An important aspect of all this is Israel's restitution to its own national calling. It is this final facet of Israel's restitution that will lead to the most powerful transformations on earth. The result of G-d's dealings with Israel will not only be that Israel will live in peace and tranquility in her land, but also that the calling G-d originally gave Israel through Abraham - “by you all the families of the earth shall bless themselves.” - will come to its full fulfillment.

The apostle Paul hints at this in his letter to the Romans: “Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?” (Rom 11:12) This means that, according to Paul, the greatest blessing that Israel will bestow on the world is linked to “their fulness”; that is, they will see the full calling given to Israel come to its fulfillment.

This spiritual restitution of Israel will lead into the time of Messianic rule on earth. The prophets saw the day coming when “a righteous Branch will raise unto David” who will rule over his people. Jesus himself proclaimed that Israel would only see him again when they welcomed him back to the city. Both the Hebrew prophets and the apostle John see Israel at this time “shall look upon whom they have pierced” (Zec 12:10; Rev 1:7).

This will lead to a time of unprecedented restitution of the world. In fact, many powerful announcements in the Bible refer to this glorious future for Israel and the world. Geographically, it will be centered in the city of Jerusalem. Both Isaiah and Micah understood that the city of Jerusalem will one day be the global focal point that will impact individuals as well as entire nations.

And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the G-d of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. (Isaiah 2:3-4)

From a restituted Jerusalem, a new era of peace and justice will spread across the earth. Nations will be taught how to govern their own peoples in righteousness and truth. The ultimate effect of this transformation will be that military academies and training bases will no longer be needed, as armed conflicts will be dark relics of the past.

This will happen because the “righteous branch” will have established His kingdom, for “he shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land. In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, The Lord our righteousness.” (Jeremiah 33:15-16)

It is highly significant that this new time of restitution will bring peace to a region that is one of the most conflict-ridden areas on earth - the Middle East (see Isaiah 19:23 ff). It will also lead to a new time of restitution for all the neighboring countries around Israel and even “the Palestinians” will be considered “as a governor in Judah” (Zechariah 9:7).

The establishment of this messianic kingdom will also have an impact on the whole of creation. Hosea foresaw a time when G-d will even make a covenant with the whole of creation (Hosea 2:20). As a result, the wolf and the lamb, the lion and the calf will live together in harmony. Nature will be tamed and the sting of violence removed. This means that creation will be restored to its original purpose and calling in order to give glory to its Creator. Or as Paul writes: “the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption” (Romans 8:21). Creation therefore awaits this transformation with “earnest expectation”.

There will also be a worldwide recognition of the G-d of Israel. “the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.” (Isaiah 11:9; Habakkuk 2:14) Both Isaiah and Habakkuk see this future reality for our world. Isaiah also gives the reason why this will happen: the blindness that Paul sees over both the nations (2 Cor 4:3ff) and Israel (2 Cor 3:14ff) will finally be taken away from humanity. “And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the vail that is spread over all nations.“ (Isaiah 25:7) Indeed, nations will recognize God and serve Him, and He will dwell among men on earth.

But the greatest promise is that the restitution of Israel will lead to the defeat of the power of death. “He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord G-d will wipe away tears from off all faces;...” (Isaiah 25:8).

Paul refers to this when he talks about the resurrection from the dead (1 Cor 15:54). This means that Israel's restitution will finally put an end to man's greatest fear to this day - the fear of death. Its poisonous sting will be broken and death will not have the last word, rather this will belong to the resurrection life of Jesus Christ.

This is why Paul could triumphantly proclaim over Israel: “For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?” (Romans 11:15)

This means that Israel's greatest calling is still ahead of us. The present return serves as a harbinger of amazing days to come. But the outcome should be more than just rejoicing about the days to come. We are called to act. We must recognize that G-d is restuting His people in their inheritance, in their relationship with Him, and in their destiny. It is an extraordinary work that we are involved in, as His vision and purpose has to do with the “restitution of all things”. Let us join hands and labor together for this great purpose.

As we see G-d bringing us into this new and exciting season of restitution, let us become His co-laborers in this prophetic work. These are truly days of restitution and we must be a people of restitution.

 

[ralliann]

This words of Jesus offer a timeless truth: division, whether in a kingdom, a household, or a society, can lead to its downfall. So the ancient Israelites experienced the consequences of division and disobedience.

Agreed. But, it is what the law predicts.

The divided kingdom of Israel and Judah has faced internal strife and eventually fell to external enemies.

Agreed. I believe these things are spoken of in the law. Especially in Leviticus and Deuteronomy. To the Jew first and then the nations.

G-d has a future for his people despite all enemies and opposition. The time will come when He will bring Israel back from the side track of history to the main track.

Some Jew's have faith, some don't. Just like some gentiles have faith some don't. The Jew first will be judged as the law says first. Then the nations...
Leviticus speaks of (prophesies) a series of Gods wrath on Israel. Each event having a period between giving opportunity for repentance. When they don't, seven times more the punishment.
Le 26:21 And if ye walk contrary unto me, and will not hearken unto me; I will bring seven times more plagues upon you according to your sins. {contrary … : or, at all adventures with me }
Le 26:24 Then will I also walk contrary unto you, and will punish you yet seven times for your sins.
Le 26:28 Then I will walk contrary unto you also in fury; and I, even I, will chastise you seven times for your sins.


John's baptism was for an escape of the prophesied wrath coming upon Israel according to the Prophetic utterances in the law. They went out to him confessing their sins, for remission
Mth 3:6, Mrk 1:5 .

40 If they shall confess their iniquity, and the iniquity of their fathers, with their trespass which they trespassed against me, and that also they have walked contrary unto me;
41 And that I also have walked contrary unto them, and have brought them into the land of their enemies; if then their uncircumcised hearts be humbled, and they then accept of the punishment of their iniquity:
Promise made to Abrtaham, Isaac, and Jacob
42 Then will I remember my covenant with Jacob, and also my covenant with Isaac, and also my covenant with Abraham will I remember; and I will remember the land.
43 The land also shall be left of them, and shall enjoy her sabbaths, while she lieth desolate without them: and they shall accept of the punishment of their iniquity: because, even because they despised my judgments, and because their soul abhorred my statutes.
44 And yet for all that, when they be in the land of their enemies, I will not cast them away, neither will I abhor them, to destroy them utterly, and to break my covenant with them: for I am the LORD their God.
45 But I will for their sakes remember the covenant of their ancestors, whom I brought forth out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the heathen, that I might be their God: I am the LORD.
46 These are the statutes and judgments and laws, which the LORD made between him and the children of Israel in mount Sinai by the hand of Moses.

He remembers the covenant of circumcision for them. People of the nations will be cursed...
Deuteronomy
30:6 And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live.
7 And the LORD thy God will put all these curses upon thine enemies, and on them that hate thee, which persecuted thee.
Jew first, Then the gentile. Both have prophetic judgement found in the law.

 

[Benaiah468]

Israel is divided.

What had been cooking in their hearts for a long time now became reality. The ten tribes in the north of Israel cut themselves off from the House of David - from the tribe of Judah and Benjamin. Benjamin is the only tribe that places itself under the leadership of Judah. There are also some Levite defectors from the northern kingdom.

G-d has led it this way and He has everything in His hands: “this thing is from me.” He says (cf. 1 Kgs 12:24).

However, the new king in the southern kingdom, Rehoboam, does not yet see it that way. He summons his army and is about to launch a military attack on the northern kingdom.

But G-d intervenes and rebuffs the king:

Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren the children of Israel: 1 Kgs 12:24b

But what happens next with the two houses?

Today we take a closer look at the northern kingdom, Ephraim.

We read how Jeroboam, the king of the Northern Kingdom, is afraid of losing his power and his kingdom immediately. He thinks that the people of the House of Israel will defect to Judah if they continue to go to Jerusalem three times a year.

Out of this concern, Jeroboam makes a huge mistake that will cost the northern kingdom dearly in the centuries that follow - perhaps even to this day:

After the political division that has already taken place, he also carries out a religious division (cf. 1 Kgs 12:28ff) by

- setting up idols (two golden calves!),
- proclaiming new holy places (as a replacement for Jerusalem: Dan and Bethel),
- erecting high shrines,
- new priests (who did not come from the line of the Levites) and
- introduces new feast days.

In general, this approach can be described with one term: Replacement theology! Nothing else is happening here. A detachment from the ordinances given by G-d.

Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold, and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. 1 Kgs 12:28

Of course, this deliberate and unpunished sin was not without consequences. The consequences are extremely far-reaching - very few people are aware of their extent.

G-d confronts Jeroboam:

Go, tell Jeroboam, Thus saith the Lord G-d of Israel, Forasmuch as I exalted thee from among the people, and made thee prince over my people Israel, And rent the kingdom away from the house of David, and gave it thee: and yet thou hast not been as my servant David, who kept my commandments, and who followed me with all his heart, to do that only which was right in mine eyes; But hast done evil above all that were before thee: for thou hast gone and made thee other gods, and molten images, to provoke me to anger, and hast cast me behind thy back: Therefore, behold, I will bring evil upon the house of Jeroboam, and will cut off from Jeroboam him that [bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse]eth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel, and will take away the remnant of the house of Jeroboam, as a man taketh away dung, till it be all gone. […] For the Lord shall smite Israel, as a reed is shaken in the water, and he shall root up Israel out of this good land, which he gave to their fathers, and shall scatter them beyond the river, because they have made their groves, provoking the Lord to anger. And he shall give Israel up because of the sins of Jeroboam, who did sin, and who made Israel to sin. 1 Kgs 14:7-10; 15-16

The sins of Jeroboam were worse than anything that had been done in Israel before him. As a result, the entire house of Jeroboam was wiped out and the house of Israel was already promised at this point that it would have to leave the holy land.

If we look at the history of the Northern Kingdom in the Bible, we can see why these sins were so serious. All subsequent kings do not desist from these sins! Almost every successor to the throne is said to walk in the “sins of Jeroboam”!

Below is an overview of the kings of the Northern Kingdom. The Bible passage in which it is said that the king practised the “sins of Jeroboam” is in brackets.

- Jeroboam
- Son Nadab becomes king (1 Kgs 15:26)

- Baasha (1 Kgs 15:34) wipes out the house of Jeroboam

- Son Elah

- Zimri (1 Kgs 16:19) wipes out the house of Baasha

- Omri (1 Kgs 16:26) is responsible for the extermination of Zimri; establishes Samaria, the new capital of the northern kingdom
- Son of Ahab (1 Kgs 16:31)
- Son Ahaziah (1 Kgs 22:53); had no son
- Joram - son of Ahab (2 Kgs 3:3)

- Jehu (2 Kgs 10:29) wipes out Ahab's house
- Son of Jehoahaz (2 Kgs 13:2)
- Son of Jehoash (2 Kgs 13:11)
- Son of Jeroboam II (2 Kgs 14:24)
- Son of Zechariah (2 Kgs 15:9)

- Shallum kills Zechariah

- Menahem (2 Kgs 15:18) kills Shallum
- son of Pekahiah (2 Kgs 15:24)

- Pekah (2 Kgs 15:28) kills Pekahiah

- Hosea kills Pekah

Jeroboam's sins were therefore fatal! We read that there was never a change in “replacement theology” during this time! In my opinion, the consequences of this are still visible today. But we will come to that elsewhere.

We recognize a second huge offence of the northern kingdom at the time of Ahab and his sons: The complete turning away from G-d to the cult of Baal.

And they left all the commandments of the Lord their G-d, and made them molten images, even two calves, and made a grove, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served Baal. And they caused their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire, and used divination and enchantments, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger. Therefore the Lord was very angry with Israel, and removed them out of his sight: there was none left but the tribe of Judah only. 2 Kgs 17:16-18

At this point we also get a - not really nice - insight into the practices of the Baal cult.

The third serious failure of this kingdom is its relationship with its “big brother” - the House of Judah:

It is noticeable that there are always wars between the Northern Kingdom and the Southern Kingdom. Isn't that violent? G-d had a people in mind that was supposed to form a unity. And now? How far has it come?

As early as the time of Jeroboam, G-d says that He will tear the northern kingdom from the land and scatter it. However, He does not yet announce a date.

When the Northern Kingdom now (once again) goes to war against the Southern Kingdom - together with one of Judah's worst enemies (Aram) - the barrel is full to overflowing:

For the head of Syria is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin; and within threescore and five years shall Ephraim be broken, that it be not a people. Isa 7:8

G-d has had enough and gives a specific remaining time. And in doing so, He shows that this warlike conflict against the House of Judah is one of the greatest sins of the House of Israel!

In the year 722 BC, the time has come. The Assyrian people take the people of Israel - the northern kingdom (not Judah, which lives in the southern kingdom) - captive and resettle them:

In the ninth year of Hoshea the king of Assyria took Samaria, and carried Israel away into Assyria, and placed them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes. For so it was, that the children of Israel had sinned against the Lord their G-d, which had brought hem up out of the land of Egypt, from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and had feared other g-ds, 2 Kgs 17:6-7


Instead, the Assyrians settled other peoples in the land, who we encounter later in the NT as “Samaritans” (cf. 2 Kgs 17:24ff).

The word of G-d gives us security.

Why?

It is eternal and irrevocable. Even G-d has bound Himself to it. This means that He cannot act against His own law.

And that is exactly what we recognize here. The Torah gives G-d the legal right to disperse the Northern Kingdom! He has anchored this in His own law:

When thou shalt beget children, and children's children, and ye shall have remained long in the land, and shall corrupt yourselves, and make a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, and shall do evil in the sight of the Lord thy G-d, to provoke him to anger: I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that ye shall soon utterly perish from off the land whereunto ye go over Jordan to possess it; ye shall not prolong your days upon it, but shall utterly be destroyed. And the Lord shall scatter you among the nations, and ye shall be left few in number among the heathen, whither the Lord shall lead you. And there ye shall serve g-ds, the work of men's hands, wood and stone, which neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell. Deu 4:25-28

On the one hand, this is reassuring, because it helps us to assess G-d and understand His actions. On the other hand, however, we also see (and this is at least as important) that we would be completely lost without mercy.

And G-d has also shown mercy to the Northern Kingdom for many centuries. We read from many prophets in the Bible how often G-d warned His people. He called them to repent. But they would not listen. And then, at some point, enough is enough.

The northern kingdom overdid it.

We read further warnings in the Torah:

The Lord shall bring thee, and thy king which thou shalt set over thee, unto a nation which neither thou nor thy fathers have known; and there shalt thou serve other g-ds, wood and stone. […] Thou shalt beget sons and daughters, but thou shalt not enjoy them; for they shall go into captivity.
Deu 28:36 .41

But the people did not keep the Torah. They broke His commandments over and over again. So the people had to go into captivity in Assyria.

For he rent Israel from the house of David; and they made Jeroboam the son of Nebat king: and Jeroboam drave Israel from following the Lord, and made them sin a great sin. For the children of Israel walked in all the sins of Jeroboam which he did; they departed not from them; Until the Lord removed Israel out of his sight, as he had said by all his servants the prophets. So was Israel carried away out of their own land to Assyria unto this day. 2 Kgs 17:21-23

They walk in the sins of Jeroboam and are therefore led into captivity. But that is not all.

Not only did the Northern Kingdom have to leave the land and was scattered, but G-d made a huge cut: He separated from the Northern Kingdom! He handed over the letter of divorce and was now officially no longer considered her husband! It flew out of the covenant that HE had made with His people!

The Northern Kingdom (the House of Israel) committed fornication with other G-d's and that was the logical consequence.

The Lord said also unto me in the days of Josiah the king, Hast thou seen that which backsliding Israel hath done? she is gone up upon every high mountain and under every green tree, and there hath played the harlot. And I said after she had done all these things, Turn thou unto me. But she returned not. And her treacherous sister Judah saw it. And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also. Jer 3:6-8

Then said G-d, Call his name Loammi: for ye are not my people, and I will not be your G-d. Hos 1:9

The Northern Kingdom is history. It did not follow the instructions of the Torah and did not consider it necessary to repent. G-d therefore dissolves the covenant He had made with them and dismisses them.

They are now considered a people like any other on earth: a heathen nation!

They are also scattered. In all directions on this earth.

And I scattered them among the heathen, and they were dispersed through the countries: according to their way and according to their doings I judged them. Ez 36:19

Ephraim's prophecy - or rather destiny - is now being fulfilled in the most remote parts of the world: The Northern Kingdom, the ten tribes under the leadership of Ephraim, will become the “fulness of the Gentiles”. They mix with all the nations of the earth:

Ephraim, he hath mixed himself among the people; Ephraim is a cake not turned. Hos 7:8

We can already see this prophetically in their progenitor. From a spiritual point of view, Egypt stands for “the world” in which we live before we “repent”. And who was Joseph married to? To an Egyptian woman. He had two sons with her: Ephraim and Manasseh.

And now?

What happens next with the ten tribes?

The biblical account of the House of Israel - i.e. the Northern Kingdom - ends here. For the time being, we have no further obvious information from the word of G-d.

But if we sharpen our focus, we notice hundreds of passages that shed light on their history. There are also many important prophecies in the Bible that apply to the Northern Kingdom:

Promises for the people in the dispersion

Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; Hos 1:10a

That alone is fascinating. A people that is no longer a real people mixes with other peoples and the number of their descendants will be as great as the sands of the sea!

and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living G-d. Hos 1:10b

They will again be children of G-d and, moreover, G-d will again become the G-d of the Northern Kingdom:

And I will sow her unto me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my G-d. Hos 2:23

The Torah also talks about turning back to His ways - including the timing:

But if from thence thou shalt seek the Lord thy G-d, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul. When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the Lord thy G-d, and shalt be obedient unto his voice; (For the Lord thy G-d is a merciful G-d , he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them. Deu 4:29-31

And last but not least: even the return to the country is prophesied...

And it shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon thee, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before thee, and thou shalt call them to mind among all the nations, whither the Lord thy G-d hath driven thee, And shalt return unto the Lord thy G-d, and shalt obey his voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thine heart, and with all thy soul; That then the Lord thy G-d will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations, whither the Lord thy G-d hath scattered thee.
If any of thine be driven out unto the outmost parts of heaven, from thence will the Lord thy G-d gather thee, and from thence will he fetch thee:
And the Lord thy G-d will bring thee into the land which thy fathers possessed, and thou shalt possess it; and he will do thee good, and multiply thee above thy fathers. And the Lord thy G-d will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the Lord thy G-d with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live. Deu 30:1-6

Isn't that grace?

G-d is consistent. He judges according to His commandments and His Torah. And yet He is merciful. He longs for His people. He will restore them. They will walk in His ways again and G-d Himself will bring them back to the Promised Land.

We will look next at what happens to the other kingdom, the southern kingdom of Judah.

 

[timothyu]

This is where is started to sound like the same claim in Christianity of the one true church, not on fact but on PR

 

[Benaiah468]

The great goal of a united kingdom of Israel with all 12 tribes seems to have receded into the distance. The people did not follow G-d's instructions and were subsequently divided into the Northern and Southern Kingdoms.

Now the jealousy between Judah and Ephraim repeatedly manifested itself in bitter warfare.

Finally, in 722 BC, the northern kingdom is defeated by the Assyrians, displaced and scattered. The house of Joseph is uprooted from the noble and beautiful olive tree and assimilates among the pagans.

So was that it for the great dreams of a united kingdom?

Having last examined the history of the Northern Kingdom, today we are looking at the Southern Kingdom.

We want to know: What is Judah doing in the meantime?

In contrast to the House of Joseph, some kings from the Southern Kingdom succeed in walking in the ways of G-d and living according to His commandments.

As a result, there are some defectors from the Northern Kingdom. For example here:

And he [King Asa] gathered all Judah and Benjamin, and the strangers with them out of Ephraim and Manasseh, and out of Simeon: for they fell to him out of Israel in abundance, when they saw that the Lord his G-d was with him. 2 Chronicles 15:9

This is important to know, because in the course of the Bible accounts we occasionally encounter people from the other tribes:

And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; Lk 2:36

But in the end, kings of the southern kingdom also follow other gods and fall prey to idolatry.

This is why the House of Judah is also conquered and deported. Whereas 120 years earlier it was the Assyrians who had conquered the brothers in the north, this time it was the Babylonians who conquered Judah and finally even destroyed Jerusalem.


There were three captive transports:

- 605 BC - people of royal seed and of the noblest (Dan 1:3) - including Daniel and his friends

- 597 BC - 10,000 captives; leaders of the people; including Ezekiel

- 586 BC - after a long siege, Jerusalem is destroyed and almost all the remaining people are led away captive


Unfortunately, the southern kingdom does not learn from the northern kingdom. In fact, it should have seen that the house of Joseph's unfaithfulness would be its undoing.

Therefore the Lord was very angry with Israel, and removed them out of his sight: there was none left but the tribe of Judah only. Also Judah kept not the commandments of the Lord their G-d, but walked in the statutes of Israel which they made. 2 Kings 17:18-19

However, idolatry and apostasy from the law occur again and again. G-d sends the Chaldeans/Babylonians, who defeat Judah and deport them to Babylon. They also destroy the whole of Jerusalem and the temple and take all the treasures with them.

Actually, no one should have been surprised, because G-d has announced it often enough. But instead of learning, the House of Judah did even worse:

The Lord said also unto me in the days of Josiah the king, Hast thou seen that which backsliding Israel hath done? she is gone up upon every high mountain and under every green tree, and there hath played the harlot. And I said after she had done all these things, Turn thou unto me. But she returned not. And her treacherous sister Judah saw it. And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also. And it came to pass through the lightness of her whoredom, that she defiled the land, and committed adultery with stones and with stocks. And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah hath not turned unto me with her whole heart, but feignedly, saith the Lord. And the Lord said unto me, The backsliding Israel hath justified herself more than treacherous Judah. Jer 3:6-11

Isn't that a lot?

Judah committed the same sins as Ephraim. And because Judah saw how the other 10 tribes were punished for this and yet did not turn back, Ephraim is more righteous than Judah.

Judah's sins cry out to heaven. In addition, the people sacrifice their own children and even eat them during the siege (both of which the northern kingdom also did - cf. 2 Kgs 6:28; Jer 19:9; Deu 28:52ff)!

Nevertheless, there is a huge difference to the Northern Kingdom:

G-d does NOT divorce Judah (which He did with the Northern Kingdom). Also because of His promise to David, Judah remains in covenant with G-d. This is almost spectacular (think of all those fierce sins) and we need to keep this in mind!

This is also the reason why the biblical account does not end at this point. Even more: this is the reason why we have a Bible at all!

G-d has not separated Himself from Judah! He continued to regard them as His people. He had to chastise them, but they turned back.

Our Creator has not forgotten the Northern Kingdom either. He leads them. However, we don't read anything about this in the Bible at first. Later, however, we will see the wonderful way in which He will use the ten scattered tribes. He has a wonderful, all-encompassing plan. This is ingeniously thought out and in many ways G-d accomplishes it in secret.

Judah, on the other hand, has a different mission. They continue to have the leadership role and responsibility in the family of Israel. In this respect, they are responsible for preserving the Torah and bringing it through the ages. What a challenging but exposed calling! Everyone knows how much persecution and suffering the Jews have had to endure for this.

Perhaps you have noticed! “The Jews” are synonymous with the House of Judah. We see how the Bible itself talks about them in this way. For the first time in 2 Kgs 16:6 and 25:25, but then regularly since the captivity in Babylon (cf. Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther).

We know who is in captivity in Babylon, namely the house of Judah. And that makes it very clear: the southern kingdom corresponds to the Jews.
When we talk about Jews today, very few people think about the fact that Israel is a divided people. Everyone thinks that the Jews are the people that the Old Testament is about. But that is only half the truth. In fact, Israel consisted of 12 tribes and, for a long time, a northern and a southern kingdom!

(Nevertheless, we have in mind that “the Jews” do not only represent the tribes of Judah, Benjamin and Levi. We have read in the verses above that many from the other tribes also joined the house of Judah - but they are a minority).

With this knowledge of history, it suddenly becomes understandable what the prophet Isaiah meant when he wrote that G-d would “set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.” (Isa 11:10-12)

The time that Judah is imprisoned in Babylon is also certainly very prophetic. It is 70 years, which the prophet Jeremiah foretold in advance:

And this whole land shall be a desolation, and an astonishment; and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years. And it shall come to pass, when seventy years are accomplished, that I will punish the king of Babylon, and that nation, saith the Lord, for their iniquity, and the land of the Chaldeans, and will make it perpetual desolations .Jer 25:11-12

For thus saith the Lord, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place. Jer 29,10

The reason for this period is recorded in the Book of Chronicles:

To fulfil the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her sabbaths: for as long as she lay desolate she kept sabbath, to fulfil threescore and ten years. 2 Chr 36:21

It is fascinating that the prophet Daniel comes across these words of Jeremiah in the dispersion and then begins to repent for the guilt of the fathers.

Something very decisive happens in this context: The house of Judah repents!

They understand the reason for their exile. They have not lived according to the will of G-d - according to His Torah.

In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem. And I set my face unto the Lord G-d, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes: Dan 9:2-3

Nehemiah also prays such a prayer of repentance because of the guilt of the forefathers (Nehemiah 1).

As a result, Judah remembers its roots. It begins to ask again about the will of G-d and to live accordingly. They live in the Creator's orders again.

And it also means that the Jewish people are allowed to return!

Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, All the kingdoms of the earth hath the Lord G-d of heaven given me; and he hath charged me to build him an house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all his people? The Lord his G-d be with him, and let him go up. 2 Chr 36:22-23

Equipped with many treasures from Solomon's former temple, they travel to Jerusalem and make a new start. They erect the city wall, build their own houses and finally even a new temple.

Incidentally, a city wall brings about preservation. It creates boundaries and is therefore a wonderful image for the Torah. This is certainly one reason why so much emphasis is placed on it.

Here are some interesting details about the construction of the Second Temple:


- The decree of King Cyrus is issued in 538 BC (cf. also Ezra 1:1-3 + 5:13-14)

- Two years later, construction of the temple begins (Ezra 3:8 - see also 6:14-15)

- Herod later enlarged and embellished this temple (John 2:18-20).

- The temple is built within 70 (!) years.


So we see a huge difference in the history of the southern kingdom and the northern kingdom: Judah repented, turned back and returned to the land!

Ephraim (the ten tribes in the dispersion), on the other hand, did not! Such a return would have been documented historically if it had taken place. But even today's rabbis confirm that the lost tribes have not returned to this day.

In the account of the Jews returning from Babylon to their homeland, it is noticeable that many Jews did not return at all. Many of them stayed there. Isn't that amazing?

How quickly do people adapt and make themselves at home?

When will the Messiah come?

The former southern kingdom is now in a state of expectation at the time of Ezra and Nehemiah. They have witnessed the miracle of G-d leading the people back from captivity.

Isn't it the northern kingdom's turn next?

When will the complete restoration of Israel, of which the prophets have spoken, follow?

When will the kingdom be re-established?

The writings of the prophets are a great help here. After all, wonderful connections can be found in them:

1 When the Messiah comes, the united kingdom will be restored!

This can be read, for example, in Ez 37:15-28, or again in the prophet Jeremiah:

Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, The Lord Our Righteousness. Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that they shall no more say, The Lord liveth, which brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt; But, The Lord liveth, which brought up and which led the seed of the house of Israel out of the north country, and from all countries whither I had driven them; and they shall dwell in their own land. Jer 23:5-8

What hope is conveyed in these verses! They give the people support and strength. They encourage them to rebuild the land. The walls are rebuilt. Judea (as the land will later be called) will be repopulated.

And in all of this, they wait for the Messiah to appear.

He will restore the kingdom! He will re-establish His Torah. He will bring the northern kingdom home!

But even more can be read from the prophets: Specific dates!

2 The coming of the Messiah

In the writings of the prophet Daniel, there are many prophecies that revolve around the Messiah. They not only describe which world empires will reign, but also which wars will take place. Statements are made about when the Messiah will appear:

Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. Dan 9:25-26

It is fascinating that all these prophecies about the wars (Dan 11) were actually fulfilled. The books and reports of the Maccabees confirm the predictions made.

So the Jews are eagerly awaiting the Messiah. They keep the Torah. And they also prepare the land for His reception.

They fulfill their mission: Judah, their progenitor, was granted the royal blessing by Jacob. They have the leading role in the “family of Israel” and they try to fulfill it. They lead the way for their brothers by being the first to repopulate the land.

The whole view of the two houses (northern and southern kingdoms) helps immensely when you start reading the biblical books of the prophets. Again and again they deal with G-d calling His people (northern and southern kingdoms) back into His ways (living in the Torah). In addition, it is often prophesied that the Northern and Southern Kingdoms will be scattered, come back and be reunited.

But there are also wonderful treasures and clues in it that we absolutely need to know before we want to study the two houses in the NT.

And with that, you already know what happens next.