The tiny nation of Israel has become a focus of world attention. Who are they?
Jews have lived in `Palestine' for centuries, isolated and nationless - but mostly they are scattered around the world. After millennia of obscurity they edged onto the world scene as a nation in 1948, becoming known as `Israel'. Today they occupy the headlines, praised for their tenacity, vilified for their ferocious defence of their land.
For most, the term `Jew' is clouded by a long history of vague accusations of unethical behavior tempered by sympathy for their wholesale murderous extermination under the Hitler regime. But the perception of who they are is generally limited to a half-buried understanding that they feature in the Bible! And the Bible is indeed a rich source of archival material that identifies their origins. But it contains some shocking surprises.
Early history
The name of Abraham is revered by Jews, Christians and Muslims. This eighteenth century BC patriarch - descended from the famed Shem, a son of Noah - is a starting point for tracing Jewish origins.
Abraham's family migrated from ancient Babylon, and he and his wife Sarah heeded God's call to abandon that pagan civilization. They came to Canaan, in Roman times known as Palestine, where a son, Isaac, was born to them - followed by grandsons Jacob and Esau. God changed Jacob's name to Israel - our first encounter with that name (Genesis 32:28).
Jacob-Israel had twelve sons in Canaan. Most Bible readers are familiar with their flight to Egypt as refugees to escape widespread famine. They settled there for several centuries, each of the sons becoming a `clan' and retaining their distinct clan identity. The Egyptians enslaved them and around 1500 B.C. God inspired an Egyptian prince to release them. He was Moses - himself a descendant of Jacob-Israel who had been nurtured in the Egyptian royal family.
Forty years after their release (the `passover story') these twelve clans - or tribes - occupied Canaan, until then an area inhabited by a degenerate pagan people descended from Ham, a brother of Shem.
Separate Identity
On his death-bed, Jacob was inspired to pass on a prophetic vision of the destiny of each of his twelve sons. Each would retain a separate identity - even until `the last days' of human history, today (Genesis 49:1). The prophecy concerning Judah placed that tribe as central to a kind of `united states of Israel'. And for the next four centuries the twelve tribes cohabited as a theocracy in Canaan.
Not content with this divinely-appointed role as a `shop front' for God's way, the people demanded a ruler to unite them - to come under authoritarian rule just like the gentiles. Saul was their first king, followed by the renowned King David who was succeeded by his son Solomon. Under Solomon's rule the nation of Israel blossomed and prospered - at a cost: oppressive taxation. Discontent surged under Solomon's son Rehoboam who added to the burden. These kings were all from the dominating `House of Judah'. The people found a champion in a man from another tribe, Jeroboam. He led a revolt that resulted in ten of the tribes separating from Judah's authority.
A dynasty of kings from the tribe of Judah ruled from the city of Jerusalem over three tribes - Judah, Benjamin and Levi in a southern segment of Canaan. Jeroboam reigned from Samaria over what was known as the `House of Israel' - a federation of the other ten tribes (Joseph's two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, had become separate tribes).
In the three centuries following King David the two `Houses' were often at loggerheads - even, according to the Scripture record, to the point of open warfare. They clearly formed two separate nations, and are treated prophetically as such in Scripture.
The people known today as `Jews' are largely from the House of Judah.
Divine Dispersal
God, as Sovereign, had reserved the land of Canaan for Israel, having promised it to Abraham and his descendants through Isaac, though it was still occupied by various Canaanite tribes. Originally the latter had respect for the Creator, but became corrupt to such a degree that God commanded their expulsion. Israel - both Houses - were permitted to occupy the land on condition that they submit to the divine Law. Under Jeroboam the northern House of Israel established an alien religion. A string of corrupt leaders tested God's patience until in 721 BC they were swept from their inheritance by the Assyrians. The ten tribes - still maintaining their separate clan identities - were carried away eastwards into Media (modern Iran) never to return to their homeland: `None were left but the tribe of Judah only' (II Kings 17:18).
The ten tribes remain dispersed to this day. They - especially the Joseph tribes - feature strongly in prophecies about `the last days'. They were prophesied to - and have - become dominant on the world stage. A future article will identify them, trace their movements - and look at their future.
But what of the `House of Judah' - the Jews? What befell them? House of Judah
After the separation of the two Houses, the House of Judah maintained a loose hold on the `divine constitution'. They retained at least the outward form of the divinely-revealed religion which had been abandoned in the north. But as the centuries rolled by they became corrupt and introduced heathen practices, even abandoning the Sabbath - the perpetual sign of the people of God. They, too, were invaded and virtually the whole nation killed or taken captive - removed to Babylon. This was about the tail end of the seventh century BC, over a century after their brother tribes in the north had been taken captive by the Assyrians.
Seventy Years
Through His young prophet Jeremiah and others, God had repeatedly urged Judah to turn back from stamping over His Laws. Finally it was prophesied that they would be removed from the land for seventy years - so the land could `fulfil its [missed] Sabbaths'.
A young man, Daniel, was among the captives taken to Babylon. He rose high in the Babylonian administration - yet remained faithful to the God of Israel. In vision and through study of the prophecies he, as an older man, foresaw the approaching end of the seventy years. And when Babylon was unexpectedly invaded by the Persian King Cyrus the Jews were permitted, as prophesied, to return to their land.
Prophesied Return
It was a powerful lesson for the Jews of that day. The old religion was restored and carefully maintained, and the Temple re-built. The Sabbath was hedged around by numerous regulations. Piety was encouraged. By the time Jesus came along, however, there was a mix of religious fervor and irreligion. Though expectation was high of the imminence of the long-awaited Messiah, yet the majority of Jews rejected him - Jesus - despite `many infallible proofs'.
The consequence was the destruction of their Temple and mass deaths at the hands of the Romans in 70 A.D. The `House of Judah' was again exiled - this time to wander nationless through all nations for nearly two thousand years, subjected to countless false accusations and indignities largely at the behest of the apostate Christian church. But always the hope burned bright: `next year in Jerusalem' - a return to the Land of Promise.
The late nineteenth century saw the birth of the Zionist movement which lobbied for a Jewish homeland. In 1917 the dream was conceded in principle following the conquering of Jerusalem from the Turks. And in 1948 it became reality with the founding and almost universal recognition of the State of Israel. Judah had returned to its ancient heritage.
The House of Israel - the other ten tribes - however, remains in exile. To understand Bible prophecy it is essential that we note this distinction between the two Houses. The Jews are but a portion of `Israel'.
Cause For Concern
The young nation of Israel is, clearly, struggling. It is enveloped by several hostile Arab nations and their allies -all intent of `driving her into the Sea' (Psalm 83). She is, too, plagued within her borders by physical and social challenges and by irreligion. The nation is on a downward secular spiral though there is a core of ardent religious Jews dedicated to imposing their brand of what is seen by many as extremist views - and intent on building a Third Temple and restoring the old Temple worship.
Bible prophecy indeed foretells Aliyah, a return to the Land. Not only for Jews - the `House of Judah' - but also for their brother tribes, the House of Israel who exist today under other names - notably the United States and the Anglo-Saxon-Celtic nations. The implication of these prophecies is that both Houses would return together - at that time acknowledging Jesus as Messiah - and then to enter a `new covenant' with God.
A further strand of the prophecies predicts that this Return will follow a time of terrible persecution on all Israel with literal population decimation.
These terrible events are yet future!
Factors such as these invite the questions, Has Judah returned too soon, and without God? and Why is a portion of Israel - Judah - intent on occupying territory earmarked for its brother tribes?
Jesus spoke of a time, just prior to his future coming, when Jerusalem will be `surrounded by armies'. Other prophecies speak of `Jacob's trouble' - an end-time persecution, destruction and exile of all Israel, including the brother nations of the Jews. If Judah's occupation of the Land is premature she can expect continuing conflict with her neighbors! When the Messiah leads them back, however, He will cause all her enemies to cease. There will be peace in Israel.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!
To comment on this article or request more information, please contact James McBride by e-mail at the comment form below.
For PDF or mailed copy, see CGOM. Excerpt from New Horizons Volume 5 No. 6, November/December 2001. Edited by James McBride of the Churches of God, United Kingdom.
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