The idea of the “Ten Lost†tribes of Israel is popular within a variety of corners in the Messianic and “Hebraic†movements, for a variety of reasons. Part of it may lie in the ability of such a view to provide an relatively “easy†resolution to questions of identity for many non-Jewish individuals. It may also reflect the tendency towards the eschatological leanings of many.
The idea of “Lost Tribes†is attested to in various apocryphal sources including Tobit and the Testament of the Twelve Patriarchs. The idea also exists in various Aggadic sources and it is from these passages that the Messianic and “Hebraic†movements which endorse these views often feel their interpretation of the biblical text as accurate and justified. One problem with this, is the fundamental misunderstanding and misapplication of Haggadic literature in the realm of Jewish thought. Haggadic literature includes a wide range of parables and stories, proverbs and tales, commentaries on Biblical verses and on every subject imaginable. The comments need not be taken literally and often serve a pedagogical purpose. Sometimes they bear memory of the past; other times they preserve the particular views of one voice. This is important to keep in mind.
Different pictures of the exile and the subsequent restoration are presented in various biblical passages. This has led some to adopt the idea of the “Ten Lost†tribes despite a number of problems that quickly become apparent after a review of the biblical texts in question.
The destruction or dissolution of the two Israelite kingdoms can be summarized as follows. The Northern Kingdom suffered two successive incursions or conquests in its territory. The first as recorded in 2 Kings 15:29 reveals that:
“In the days King Pekah of Israel, King Tiglat-Pilneser of Assyria came and captured Ijon, Abel-beth-maacah, Janoah, Kedesh, Hazor- Gilead, Galilee, the entire region of Naphtali; and he deported the inhabitants to Assyria.â€
The second stage occurred under Sargon II during the reigns of Hosea, King of Israel, and Hezekiah, king of Judah. This event also stands recorded in the biblical text of II Kings 17:5-6.
“Then the King of Assyria marched against the whole land; he came to Samaria; and besieged it for three years. In the ninth year of Hosea the of Assyria captured Samaria; he deported the Israelites to Assyria and settled them in Halah, at the [River] Habor, the River of Gozan, and in the towns of Media.â€
The author of II Kings then relates that the King of Assyria transplanted people from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath, and Sepharvaim and settled them in the Northern King of Israel in place of the people that had been exiled. The account presented in Chronicles, however, differs significantly and reduces the extent of the Assyrian aggression considerably. According to I Chronicles 5:25-26:
“But they [the Israelites of the Northern Kingdom] trespassed against the G-d of their fathers by going astray after the gods of the people of the land, whom G-d had destroyed before them. So the G-d of Israel roused the spirit of King Tiglat-Pilneser of Assyria-and he carried them away, namely, the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, and brought them to Halah, Habor, Haram and the river Gozan, to this day.â€
The difference is clear. According to the text of Chronicles the principal tribes affected were Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh. According to the Chronicler, the rest of the northern tribes remained in the land.
The view that holds that there are “Ten Lost†tribes is further challenge in part by the fact that according to II Chronicles 30: 1-5, King Hezekiah extended an offer throughout the entire lands of Israel and Judah to participate in a Passover celebration:
“Hezekiah sent word to all Israel and Judah; he also wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasseh to come to the House of the L-rd in Jerusalem to keep the Passover of the L-rd G-d of Israel…. The king and the whole congregation thought it proper to issue a decree and proclaim throughout all Israel from Beer-Sheba to Dan that they come and keep the Passover for the L-rd G-d of Israel in Jerusalem-not often did they act in accord with what was written…The couriers went out with the letters from the king and his officers through all Israel and Judah …proclaiming, “O you Israelites! Return to the L-rd G-d of your fathers…and He will return to the remnant of you who escaped from the hand of the kings of Assyria. “
For Hezekiah, the tribes are still in existence in the north.
We must also look to the Chronicler’s statement found in chapter nine for additional insight: “All Israel was registered by genealogies; and these are in the book of the kings of Israel. And Judah was taken into exile in Babylon because of their trespass. I Chronicles 9:1.†The key is all Israel.
The Chronicler’s statement is extremely bold in light of the later views held by Ezra and Nehemiah; Israel or “All Israel†as the text states was never truly exiled and never left the land. Israel as a whole, however, remained in the land and this exile existed only as a mark in the overall history of Jacob’s descendants.
The Book of Ezra further states “Then the people of Israel—the priests, the Levites and the rest of the exiles—celebrated the dedication of the house of God with joy. 17 For the dedication of this house of G-d they offered a hundred bulls, two hundred rams, four hundred male lambs and, as a sin offering for all Israel, twelve male goats, one for each of the tribes of Israel.
Additional comments can be made regarding this issue. For those that remain unconvinced as to the problems underlying the lost “10 tribes” we can also point to the following. Which Ten Tribes are missing? All agree that Judah and Benjamin were not exiled. So now either 10 or 11 tribes remain (if Manasseh and Ephraim are counted as two tribes). The Levites were not exiled so now the number is reduced to either 9 or 10. The tribe of Simeon was located geographically within the boundaries of Judah. So now the number is further reduced to either 8 or 9. Luke 2 mentions a certain Anna from the tribe of Asher. Without delving further the point is clear.
All Israel is present with the community of Israel known to Ezra and Nehemiah.
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1 Daniel // Jun 26, 2008 at 1:36 pm
According to Moshiach.com:
Will the Lost 10 Tribes Return?
Author: Mendy Elishevitz
Of the first things that come to mind when thinking about Moshiach, is the Return of the Ten Lost Tribes who were exiled and separated from the rest of Jewry, thousands of years ago.
The Ten Tribes were exiled during the First Temple Era - over 2,000 years ago, and have been separated from the rest of Jewry ever since. But ultimately, they will be redeemed, and join the rest of Jewry - at the time of Moshiach.
This essay addresses the various opinions expressed in the Talmud regarding the fate of the Ten Tribes, and the big question: Will the Ten Tribes actually return?
* * *
Let’s start from the beginning:
Over 1,000 years before the Ten Tribes were exiled, Jacob’s beloved son Joseph was kidnapped by his brothers - and was sold as a slave. Ultimately, after many years of separation, he was reunited with his father and brothers. The Torah describes how when Joseph revealed his identity to his brothers “Joseph could not restrain himself . . and He cried in a loud voice…” (Genesis, 45:1-2)
This phenomenon was going to repeat itself on a much larger scale - with the children of Joseph along with the another nine tribes.
(Joseph represents the Ten Tribes, since the Ten Tribes’ capital was Mt. Ephraim [1]. (Ephraim was Joseph’s son)).
This reunion will also be a tearful one, “With cries they will come, and with mercy I will lead them” (Jeremiah 31:8) [2].
The Prophet Ezekiel (33: 19:22) speaks of this reunion:
“I am taking the rod of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel - his friends, and I will put on them the rod of Judah, and I will make them into one rod, and they will be one in my hand . . Now I am taking the sons of Israel from the nations to which they went, and I will gather them from around and bring them to their land. And I will make them into one nation, in the land, in the mountains of Israel. And one king will rule over them, and no longer will they be two nations, and they will not separated into two kingdoms anymore.”
I.e. until now there has been separation within Jewry. First in the form of two kingdoms and later they were separated completely. When Moshiach comes, G-d will make us “into one nation and no longer will we be divided into two nations.”
Rabbi Akivah: The Ten Tribes will not return
Although it seems so clear that the Ten Tribes will return, when we take a look at the sources, we see that it’s not quite as simple as it seems.
Let us quote the Mishnah in Sanhedrin (110b):
“The Ten Tribes will not return as it says (Nitzovim 29:8) “And he threw them to a different land like this day”. Just as a day passes and will never return, they too will be exiled never to return, these are the words of Rabbi Akivah.
“Rabbi Eliezer says, just like a day is followed by darkness, and the light later returns. So too, although it will become “dark” for the Ten Tribes, G-d will ultimately take them out of their darkness.”
Thus, we have two opinions regarding the destiny of the Ten Tribes. The Talmud cites an additional view which is one of the opinions that their destiny is dependent on their behavior, “Rabbi Shimon ben Judah of Kfar Ako says in the name of Rabbi Shimon: ‘If their behavior continues as it is today (”this day”) they will not return [3], if they repent, they will indeed return.
Representatives from Each Tribe
Let us begin with an analysis of Rabbi Akivah’s opinion that the Ten Tribes will forever be lost. Such an opinion demands explanation: If Jewry will consist entirely of the remaining two tribes (Judah & Benjamin) How can the verses refer to the union of the “tree of Judah” and the “tree of Joseph”.
In addition, doesn’t the prophet Ezekiel speak of dividing the Land of Israel among 13 tribes?
Rabbi Dan Isaac Abarbanel explains (Yeshuos Meshicho 1:4):
At Rabbi Akivah’s time the Ten Tribes have been lost for over 600 years and there wasn’t the slightest hint that they still existed.
Consider: If the Ten Tribes have still remained loyal to Judaism, why haven’t they sent at least one messenger to Jerusalem during Temple Era - to verify the rumors that the Jews have returned to their land and rebuilt the Temple?!
This argument convinced Rabbi Akivah that the Ten Tribes must have assimilated into the pagan nations and would no longer be considered part of the Jewry.
And in regard to the prophecies which imply that all the tribes will exist in the Messianic Era, Rabbi Akivah might argue that while most the Ten Tribes were exiled and will never return, some may have escaped and live among us today. Thus we will have representatives of all the missing Ten Tribes, and the prophecies will be fulfilled through them.
The Halacha: The Ten Tribes will return
After discussing Rabbi Akivah’s view, let us discuss the opposing view of Rabbi Eliezer (that is accepted as Halacha) - that the Ten Tribes will return.
[A Talmudic sage even used the sharp expression “Rabbi Akivah has lost his piousness” - when referring to R. Akivah’s harsh statement about the Ten Tribes. Thus, the Halacha remains as Rabbi Eliezer - that the Ten Tribes will ultimately return.]
The Talmud explains that this view is based on the verse (Isaiah 27:13) “and it will be on that day, a great Shofar will be blown, and the lost will come from the land of Ashur” - this verse refers to the Ten Tribes who were exiled to the land of Ashur.
One point still has to be clarified: Amos (5:1) said in reference to the Ten Tribes: “Hear this thing, upon which I am mourning: The Virgin of Israel fell, and will never get up”. How would R. Eliezer explain the words “It will never get up?”
A possible explanation is that it will not “get up” as an independent entity, but it will get up as an entity totally incumbent to the kingdom of Judah.
Underground Tunnels; Mt. of Olives; and the Three Resorts
The Midrash tells us that the Ten Tribes were exiled to three places: Some were exiled to the land behind the Sambatyon River. Another group was exiled to a distant land behind the River (this land was twice the distance from Israel than the first Land); the 3rd group was “swallowed in Rabbeslah.”
The Midrash then describes the manner in which some of the 3rd Group (who were “swallowed”) will return:
“G-d will make them underground tunnels and they will travel through them, until they reach the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem. G-d will stand on the mount causing it to split, and the Ten Tribes will emerge from within.” (Yalkut Shimoni, Isaiah 469)
Obviously, this Midrash is not to be taken literally, it rather alludes to the severe spiritual exile which this group is now enduring and the spiritual transformation which they will undergo when Moshiach comes:
The Ten Tribes were taken to exile and “were swallowed”, i.e. they have totally forgotten their Jewish Identity, as if it has been “swallowed” by some external force. Their energy remains only in potential form. When Moshiach comes, G-d will take them through tunnels (symbolizing the process of refinement) and will lead them to the Mount of Olives (a mountain which was (originally) dedicated to the growing of fruit - a symbol of utilization of potential energy. Finally the mountain will split, and they will emerge - their Jewish identity will reemerge from the present state of “potential” and will be fully realized.
Updated: 2003-11-25
Comments
Will the Lost 10 Tribes Return
Re. a term which you use repeatedly: “the Ten Lost Tribes who were exiled and separated from the REST OF JEWRY, thousands of years ago.” Is it not rather that 10-Israel got separated from 12-Israel, of which Judah (Jewry) are simply a “part” - albeit an important part: i.e. the “Ruling Scepter” Gen. 49:10 It is enlightening to note your explanation of how 10-Israel will probably not be revived as an independent entity but rather by way of consolidating with Judah (Jewry) - who after all has guarded the One True Religion of HaShem throughout the ages. Perhaps Jewry’s realization that it does NOT represent 10-Israel (except for a small section which has already integrated - Ezek.37:16 (by the way, your article has the ref. wrong, ch 30, should be 37)- may (this realization) hasten the ultimate and much needed unification of the 2 woods (Houses).
2 Objector // Jun 30, 2008 at 10:34 am
All these conspiracy theories lead to outrageous stuff, like the book I came across which speaks of the” Heritage Of The Anglo-Saxon Race
From Adam to the throne of England!”
it claims to trace the geneology from Adam, through Abraham and the sons of Jacob. Giving the complete geneology from Judah and the Royal House of David through to the Irish, Scottish and English monarchies to Queen Elizabeth the Second.
Sounds white supremacist to me!
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