Ten Lost Tribes?
Background:
The northern tribes of Israel were taken into captivity by their enemies the powerful Assyrians around 722 BC (the southern tribes were not). The idea is that this world power somehow "lost" hundereds of thousands of their slaves and these slaves fled into Europe and created European states like the Dan-ish (and whatever other fantasy connections these people can connect to Europe). These ideas come from misreading certain Bible passages like: 2 Kings 17:7-23; 2 Chronicles 6:6-11, etc.
In reality many of the Jews that were taken captive into Assyria came back to the area of Israel (the northern area) as half-breeds, they were half Jew and half Gentile. They were despised by the pure Jews of the south as we see in Jesus time (Luke 10:30-37, John 4).
Other refutations of the 10 lost tribes myths:
- The faithful Israelites of the 10 tribes moved to Judah and therefore were never lost.
"But as for the children of Israel which dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them." - 1 Kings 12:17
"Speak unto Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying," - 2 Chronicles 11:3
"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" - 2 Chronicles 11:14
"And after them out of all the tribes of Israel such as set their hearts to seek the LORD God of Israel came to Jerusalem [which is in Judah], to sacrifice unto the LORD God of their fathers. So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and made Rehoboam the son of Solomon strong..." - 2 Chronicles 11:16-17
"And Jehoshaphat dwelt at Jerusalem [which is in Judah]: and he went out again through the people from Beersheba to mount Ephraim, [the 10 tribes] and brought them back unto the LORD God of their fathers." - 2 Chronicles 19:4
"And Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, to keep the passover unto the LORD God of Israel." - 2 Chronicles 30:1
"So the posts passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh even unto Zebulun: but they laughed them to scorn, and mocked them. Nevertheless divers of Asher and Manasseh and of Zebulun humbled themselves, and came to Jerusalem." - 2 Chronicles 30:10-11
"And all the congregation of Judah, with the priests and the Levites, and all the congregation that came out of Israel, and the strangers that came out of the land of Israel, and that dwelt in Judah, rejoiced. So there was great joy in Jerusalem: for since the time of Solomon the son of David king of Israel there was not the like in Jerusalem." - 2 Chronicles 30:25-26
"And when they came to Hilkiah the high priest, they delivered the money that was brought into the house of God, which the Levites that kept the doors had gathered of the hand of Manasseh and Ephraim, and of all the remnant of Israel, and of all Judah and Benjamin; and they returned to Jerusalem." - 2 Chronicles 34:9
"And the children of Israel that were present kept the passover at that time, and the feast of unleavened bread seven days. And there was no passover like to that kept in Israel from the days of Samuel the prophet; neither did all the kings of Israel keep such a passover as Josiah kept, and the priests, and the Levites, and all Judah and Israel that were present, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem." - 2Chronicles 35:17-18
- New Testament References
During the New Testament period all 12 tribes are accounted for:
Anna knew her tribal ancestry as being of the tribe of Asher (one of the 10 tribes):
"And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser"
- Luke 2:36
Paul knew his tribal ancestry as being of the tribe of Benjamin (one of the 10 tribes):
"I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin." - Romans 11:1
"...ye men of Judaea...Ye men of Israel... all the house of Israel" - Acts 2:14-36
"James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting." - James 1:1
The New Testament speaks of "Israel" 75 times and uses the word "Jew" 174 times.
- Last day references
Ezekiel 35-37 declares that Judah (Judah, Simeon Jews) and Israel (10 tribes) shall be joined as one in the regathering. This has been fulfilled in our day.
Revelation 7:4 says:
"And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel."
When does Israel mean Israel? Who determines this? The Jehovah's Witness would have you believe these 144,000 are an elite group of Jehovah's Witnesses. Others try to say these are the Church. When does a word mean what it says? Only when it doesn't contradict someones false teachings I guess. God says what He means and means what He says these are literal 144,000 Jews specifically from each of the tribes that are mentioned here.
Revelation 7:5-8 says:
"Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nepthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand."
The fact that this list is here proves the idea of the ten lost tribes is a myth. The myth is propagated by antisemites and heretics of replacement theology (the idea that the Church replaced Israel). If God doesn't keep His one-sided covenant with Abraham (Genesis 15) then He is not a faithful and true God. Again either God is a liar or these antisemites and replacement theologians are liars. As for me and my house we have decided the theologians and antisemites are the liars.
When does 12,000 of the tribe of Judah mean 12,000 of the tribe of Judah?
When does 12,000 of the tribe of Reuben mean 12,000 of the tribe of Reuben?
When does 12,000 of the tribe of Gad mean 12,000 of the tribe of Gad?
When does 12,000 of the tribe of Asher mean 12,000 of the tribe of Asher?
When does 12,000 of the tribe of Naphtali mean 12,000 of the tribe of Naphtali?
When does 12,000 of the tribe of Manasseh mean 12,000 of the tribe of Manasseh?
When does 12,000 of the tribe of Simeon mean 12,000 of the tribe of Simeon?
When does 12,000 of the tribe of Levi mean 12,000 of the tribe of Levi?
When does 12,000 of the tribe of Issachar mean 12,000 of the tribe of Issachar?
When does 12,000 of the tribe of Zebulun mean 12,000 of the tribe of Zebulun?
When does 12,000 of the tribe of Joseph mean 12,000 of the tribe of Joseph?
When does 12,000 of the tribe of Benjamin mean 12,000 of the tribe of Benjamin?
Why would the Holy Spirit be SO SPECIFIC if these tribes were not literal? Again The True and Living God says what He means and means what He says. We are never to take any text of the Bible metaphorically unless the text demands that we do (using terms: "like" or "as").
Does this text say 12,000 were like the tribe of: Judah, Reuben, Gad, Asher, Naphtali, Manasseh, Simeon, Levi, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, Benjamin? No it does not and therefore we are to take it literally. Whenever a prophet reads another prophets writings in the Bible they ALWAYS read the text literally!
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