In the previous posting we learned that Jacob had officially given his spiritual name–“Israel”–to Joseph’s sons Ephraim and Manasseh. From that point onward the descendants of those two boys would carry the name “Israel” (Gen. 48:1-22; 49:1,22-26) and their descendants would be known to the world as “Israelites.” During his pre-death statement, Jacob prophesied that Ephraim would become the greatest commonwealth (group) of nations in the history of mankind. He also prophesied that Manasseh would become the world’s greatest single nation. Their descendants would begin their respective evolutions into greatness at the beginning of the 1800’s. But before that came to pass much sin-caused trouble would beset the House of Israel, eventually causing a split among the Israelite brethren that would only be healed by the return of Jesus Christ at the end of the age.

Following the nation’s division over a taxation issue both nations managed to stay free and solvent for about 200 years. Then the Northern Kingdom, called Israel, was defeated, enslaved and carried off by the Assyrians whom God had raised up for that purpose. As had been prophesied by the Old Testament prophets, they were later scattered throughout Europe where they settled in a number of Gentile nations. Over time they took on the social and moral characteristics of their host nations, resulting in the total loss of their Israelite identity, their language and their religion. With the passage of generations they became indistinguishable from the people among whom they lived. As a result they became known as “the Lost Tribes of the House of Israel.” To the world and to themselves they were Gentiles and remain so until this day. It was to those “lost” Israelites that Jesus commanded His apostles to go following His death (Mat. 10:6). Upon hearing the apostles’ message about their true identity and their Messiah’s life, death and message, those Israelites were to accept Him as their Messiah and serve as His lights to the Gentiles among whom they lived (Deut. 4:27; 28:64).

Some 120 years after the Northern Kingdom’s removal from the Promised Land, the Southern Kingdom (“Jews”) were defeated and enslaved by the Babylonians for the same reason as their brethren–rebellion against the Lord. But unlike the people of the Northern Kingdom who totally integrated with their host nations, the Jews kept their identity as Israelites, their language, religion, Law and identification as God’s people. Though they were later scattered throughout the world, they did not become “lost.” To this day they are known as “Jews.” L.J.