†John, Yes I am of the house of Israel.The house of Israel is made up of the sons of Jacob, Gen.35:10. Jacob had 12 sons, each the head of his own family. These families developed into the 12-tribed nation of Israel. Later this nation was divided, as God warned them it woulld be, if they had walked contrary to his will. Lev.26:28-46.
That is how we got the "House of Israel" which is made up of ten tribes, and the "House of Judah" which is made up of two tribes, Judah and Benjamin. The house of Judah formed what was known as the Southern Kingdom of Judah, with their capitol located at Jerusalem. The tribe of Levi in a large proportion also formed with Judah. Levi received no inheritance with Israel, Deut.18:1-12, This did not remove Levi from being a distinct tribe, only from being numbered among the landed tribes.
The House of Israel and the House of Judah are two distinct Kingdoms, they are seperate and in opposition to one another.
The House of Israel later came to be what we know as "the ten lost tribes". They are not lost to God however, they are lost to themselves. Most do not know that tey are Jews.Rom.11-7-8
In spite of the terrible experiencecs of the House of Israel, the House of Judah did not learn it's lesson, or heed the warning, for scripture states that they continued in sin even more than the Northern Kingdom Jer.3:6-11. So we find the same punishment being meeted out to them, when a greater part of Judah was also carried away to Babylon until finally they had been removed from the land of Palastine 2 Kings 24:1-4 and 24:11-14. The final removal 2 Kings 25:22-26 fulfilled God's warning in Lev, chapter 26
As it is important to understand that in Scriptures, the terms "Israel", "Judah", and "Jew", are not synonymous, it is equally important to understand that the House of Israel is not synonymous with the House of Judah.
When God speaks in prophecy to the House of Israel or the House of Judah, He does not refer to the modern "Jewish" nation of Israel.
Christ openly declared, " I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of Israel" Matt. 15:24
John it is a very interesting study. If you have further interest in this, I would highly recommend a detailed study done in a 48 page book titled, "Abrhamic Covenant", a study outline of the idenity of God's people, by E. Raymond Capt.
You will, with open eyes, have a remarkable truth revealed to you.
Baruch Tihyeh, means may you be blessed.
Shalom <><
Rom.11:25 |
