Isaiah-49

Message from God , the Ten Tribes, and Judah (13 June 2016, 7 Sivan, 5776)

Contents:
1. Chapter 48 concerning the Jews as an Introduction.
2. The Ten Tribes have a Task. They are the Servant People of God!
3. Judah will be rewarded for its Faithfulness and Honored
4. The Ten Tribes Among Western Peoples!
5. God Acknowledges the Jews as HIS Chosen People. [The Ten Tribes likewise recognized.]
6. The Lost of Judah shall return to Judah
7. Judah will at First be Loath to Recognize the Ten Tribes in the End Times
8. The Acknowledgment of Judah and the Recognition of God Almighty
9. Summary
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Introduction and Overview
Isaiah chapter 49 speaks of the Ten Tribes and Judah.
This article gives an outline of Isaiah chapter 49.
In Hebrew language texts of the Tanaach chapter 49 is part of Section no. 20 which begins at Isaiah 48:2 and finishes at Isaiah 49:25.
in other words isaiah chapters 48 and 49 may be considered one section.

Isaiah 48 is directed mostly to descendants of Judah and of Israel who are found among Judah i.e. the Jews.
They are reminded that everything had been prophesied. God will not tolerate idolatry or disobedience from the Jews. They shall be tested and refined by tribulations.
They are called upon to draw closer to God. HE will direct them and teach them. In the end they will be saved and made into an immense multitude.
The wicked will be punished.
The prophet then (at the beginning of chapter 49) addresses the Ten Tribes. This whole sections flits from Judah to the Ten Tribes and back again several times over.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
2. The Ten Tribes have a Task.
They are the Servant People of God!

Isaiah 49:
1 LISTEN TO ME, O ISLANDS,
AND PAY ATTENTION, YOU PEOPLES FROM AFAR.
THE LORD CALLED ME FROM THE WOMB;
FROM THE BODY OF MY MOTHER HE NAMED ME.
2 HE HAS MADE MY MOUTH LIKE A SHARP SWORD,
IN THE SHADOW OF HIS HAND HE HAS CONCEALED ME;
AND HE HAS ALSO MADE ME A SELECT ARROW,
HE HAS HIDDEN ME IN HIS QUIVER.
3 HE SAID TO ME, 'YOU ARE MY SERVANT, ISRAEL,
IN WHOM I WILL SHOW MY GLORY.'
4 BUT I SAID, 'I HAVE TOILED IN VAIN,
I HAVE SPENT MY STRENGTH FOR NOTHING AND VANITY;
YET SURELY THE JUSTICE DUE TO ME IS WITH THE LORD,
AND MY REWARD WITH MY GOD.'
5 AND NOW SAYS THE LORD, WHO FORMED ME FROM THE WOMB TO BE HIS SERVANT,
TO BRING JACOB BACK TO HIM, SO THAT ISRAEL MIGHT BE GATHERED TO HIM
(FOR I AM HONORED IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD,
AND MY GOD IS MY STRENGTH),
6 HE SAYS, 'IT IS TOO SMALL A THING THAT YOU SHOULD BE MY SERVANT
TO RAISE UP THE TRIBES OF JACOB AND TO RESTORE THE PRESERVED ONES OF ISRAEL;
I WILL ALSO MAKE YOU A LIGHT OF THE NATIONS
SO THAT MY SALVATION MAY REACH TO THE END OF THE EARTH.'

The prophet Isaiah addressed himself frequently to the Lost Ten Tribes of Israel. One of his several addresses to the Ten Tribes is found in chapter 49:
"Isles" and "isles of the sea" meaning mainly Isles in the Atlantic Ocean (Isles of Britain and coastlines of northwest Europe and North America) are several times mentioned in Scripture in a context recalling the Lost Tribes of Israel.
"The Tribes of Jacob" (recalled above in ISAIAH 49) remind one that the flag of Britain is called the UNION JACK (i.e. union or covenant of Jacob) and the nickname "YANKEE" for North American is derivable from a Hebrew form of Jacob.
"A light to the Gentiles" is what the British descended peoples and West European peoples comparatively speaking have been despite frequent moral mistakes. On the whole these nations have been the best civilizing influence the world has ever known and they still are despite everything!
"End of the earth", or "ends of the earth" is a frequent expression in the Prophets concerning the Lost Ten Tribes and nearly all of these peoples dwell at the geographical extremities of Continental masses when the Biblical view of the Holy Land of Israel as the center is taken into account.
The Land of Israel - Center of the World
Ezekiel refers to the Land of Israel as being at the center of the world. The King James renders the Hebrew "Tabor Ha-Aretz" as "IN THE MIDST OF THE LAND" (38:12) which is a valid rendering though somehat limited. Ezekiel was in fact referring to those dwelling in the Land of Israel at the CENTER OF THE EARTH and the expression may be so understood as referring to the Geographic Central position of the Land of Israel from the Biblical viewpoint.

Ends of the Earth and Joseph
Moses prophesied concerning Joseph:

DEUTERONOMY 33: 13-17 "AND OF JOSEPH HE SAID, BLESSED OF THE LORD BE HIS LAND (FOR THE PRECIOUS THINGS OF HEAVEN, FOR THE DEW, AND FOR THE DEEP THAT CROUCHETH BENEATH, AND FOR THE PRECIOUS FRUITS...AND FOR THE CHIEF THINGS OF THE ANCIENT MOUNTAINS OF THE EVERLASTING HILLS...OF THE EARTH AND FULLNESS THEREOF...THE GOOD WILL OF HIM THAT DWELT IN THE BUSH.. HIS GLORY IS LIKE THE FIRSTLING OF HIS BULL, AND HIS HORNS, ARE LIKE THE HORN OF A UNICORN WITH THEM HE SHALL PUSH THE PEOPLE TOGETHER UNTO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH: AND THEY ARE THE TEN THOUSANDS OF EPHRAIM, AND THEY ARE THE THOUSANDS OF MENASSEH"

In this (and other) blessings Joseph was promised agricultural bounty, mineral resources, favorable climate; He was associated with a people being pushed together unto the ends of the earth.

"Ends of the EARTH" when considered from the Land of Israel means: The continents of America and Australia, and the geographical extremities of South Africa and Northwest Europe.

Ends of the Earth and Britain
The very name of England (Angleterre in French) can be understood as meaning "Corner of the Land", i.e. Angle-Land, or "End of the Earth". The prophet Isaiah appears several times to have located the Lost Tribes of Israel in the "Ends of the Earth" e.g. England, in the French language is called 'Angleterre', or literally 'End of the Earth.' We have shown how 'end of the earth' and 'ends of the earth' were one of the descriptions applied to the location of the Lost Ten Tribes in the End Times - according to the Prophets.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
3. Judah will be rewarded for its Faithfulness and Honored

The next verse in ISAIAH (49:7) has the nature of an aside and refers to Judah:

7 THUS SAYS THE LORD, THE REDEEMER OF ISRAEL AND ITS HOLY ONE,
TO THE DESPISED ONE,
TO THE ONE ABHORRED BY THE NATION,
TO THE SERVANT OF RULERS,
KINGS WILL SEE AND ARISE,
PRINCES WILL ALSO BOW DOWN,
BECAUSE OF THE LORD WHO IS FAITHFUL, THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL WHO HAS CHOSEN YOU.

This verse is arranged in the Hebrew (Masoretic Traditionally scripted) Bible as a Paragraph in its own right having the equivalent significance of parentheses.
The expression "To the One abhorred by the nation" in Hebrew "Mita-aev goi" can be understoood to mean "He whom other peoples despise", i.e. the people of Judah as a whole from the historical perspective.
Other peoples despised the Jews and still do even though there is no justification for this.
Most peoples of the earth are against the State of Israel and against the Jews.
They seem to assume that the Jews should lie down and allow themselves to be killed by whoever wishes to kill them.

The whole verse is a momentary aside and is referring to the Jews of JUDAH who were despised and persecuted but in the END TIME will be rehabilitated in the eyes of the nations and recompensed for the indignity they were forced by others to suffer ultimately BECAUSE THEY REFUSED TO DENY THE ONE TRUE GOD!

Judah will be recompensed.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
4. The Ten Tribes Among Western Peoples!

Isaiah turns again to the Ten Tribes:

8 THUS SAYS THE LORD,
'IN A FAVORABLE TIME I HAVE ANSWERED YOU,
AND IN A DAY OF SALVATION I HAVE HELPED YOU;
AND I WILL KEEP YOU AND GIVE YOU FOR A COVENANT OF THE PEOPLE,
TO RESTORE THE LAND, TO MAKE THEM INHERIT THE DESOLATE HERITAGES;

A Covenant of the People [Hebrew: "BRIT-AM" i.e. Britain], to establish the earth [or in the Hebrew: "to found a country", e.g. the U.S.A., the State of Israel], to cause to inherit the desolate heritages".

"Desolate heritages" relatively speaking were the regions of North America, Australia and New Zealand, and South Africa before the nations here spoken of colonized them. Also, on a long-term geo-political and economical level the Zionist Jewish re-settlement of part of the Land of Israel was made possible (like and/or believe it or not), in some measure, due to the policies of Britain (sic!) and America!!

9 SAYING TO THOSE WHO ARE BOUND, 'GO FORTH,'
TO THOSE WHO ARE IN DARKNESS, 'SHOW YOURSELVES.'
ALONG THE ROADS THEY WILL FEED,
AND THEIR PASTURE WILL BE ON ALL BARE HEIGHTS.
10 'THEY WILL NOT HUNGER OR THIRST,
NOR WILL THE SCORCHING HEAT OR SUN STRIKE THEM DOWN;
FOR HE WHO HAS COMPASSION ON THEM WILL LEAD THEM
AND WILL GUIDE THEM TO SPRINGS OF WATER.
11 'I WILL MAKE ALL MY MOUNTAINS A ROAD,
AND MY HIGHWAYS WILL BE RAISED UP.

THE MIDRASH CONCERNING THE THREE EXILES

Proof that the gist of this present chapter (ISAIAH 49) really is concerned with the Lost Ten Tribes or not, is obtainable from the Midrashic explanation of the above verses:

The Midrash (Numbers Rabah 1;6, Eichah Rabah 2;9, Jerusalemi Sanhedrin ch.17, L.6,29) on these verses, comments:

~RABBI BERACHIAH AND RABBI CHELBO IN THE NAME OF RABBI SHMUEL BAR NACHMAN SAID: TO THREE PLACES WAS ISRAEL EXILED, ONE TO BEYOND THE SAMBATION RIVER, ONE TO DAPHNEH OF ANTIOCHIA, AND ONE TO WHERE THE CLOUDS CAME DOWN AND COVERED THEM; IN THE SAME WAY THAT THEY [I.E. THE NORTHERN ISRAELITES WEST OF THE JORDAN RIVER] WERE EXILED TO THREE PLACES, SO TOO WERE THE TRIBES [EAST OF THE JORDAN RIVER] OF REUBEN, GAD, AND HALF MENASSEH, EXILED TO THREE PLACES. WHEN THEY SHALL RETURN SO TOO WILL REUBEN, GAD, AND HALF MENASSEH RETURN WITH THEM. HOW DO WE KNOW ALL THIS?

~` FROM THE VERSE, " "SAYING TO THOSE WHO ARE BOUND, 'GO FORTH,' " (ISAIAH 49:9),
THESE ARE THOSE EXILED BEYOND THE SAMBATION RIVER.

"TO THOSE WHO ARE IN DARKNESS, 'SHOW YOURSELVES ' " (ISAIAH 49:9),
THESE ARE THOSE WHOM THE CLOUD DESCENDED UPON AND COVERED.

"ALONG THE ROADS THEY WILL FEED,
AND THEIR PASTURE WILL BE ON ALL BARE HEIGHTS" (ISAIAH 49:9),
THESE ARE THOSE WHO WERE EXILED TO DAPHNE OF ANTIOCHEA.~'

We have examined these verses and the Midrash and proven
http://www.britam.org/isaiah/Isaiah46to50.html
that the verses and the Midrashic explanation pertain to different regions to which the Ten Tribes were exiled.

There were three areas listed:
1. Beyond the Sambation River; 2. To within the Clouds of Darkness; and to 3. Daphne of Antiochea.

1. Beyond the Sambation River: These are the Ten tribes who linked up with the Scythians, moved to southern Russia, and from there went westward to Western Europe and the British Isles via Central Europe.
2. To within the Clouds of Darkness: This is also referred to in other sources as "Mountains of Darkness" (Numbers Rabah 17;16). It applied mainly to that section of the Ten Tribes who joined the Cimmerians and moved to Denmark, Ireland and the British Isles, and among the Celtic peoples in general.
3. Daphne of Antiochea. These are the Exiles who were taken by boats across the sea to Spain, the British Isles, and Scandinavia. They were ruled over at first by Edomite taskmasters wrking on behalf of their Assyrian allies and masters.

Isaiah 49:
12 Behold, these will come from afar;
And lo, these will come from the north and from the west,
And these from the land of Sinim.

One Midrashic source (Tanchuma, Genesis, VaYatzay b: cf. Lev.Rabah 29;2) implies that those exiled "AFAR" or in a "faraway land" means those who were exiled to Gaul (i.e. France) (Gallia) and its neighbours.
"FROM FAR: AND, LO, THESE FROM THE NORTH AND FROM THE WEST" : "from distant places such as Spain" (Pesikta Rabati 32;10).
Part of the Israelite Exiles were taken overseas in ships by Phoenicians acting as agents for the Assyrians.
They were settled in Spain and also in Gaul and Britain and in Scandinavia. Those in Spain later mostly moved to Ireland, Britain, and Gaul (France).
The Israelites will return "FROM THE NORTH AND FROM THE WEST", i.e. from areas to the northwest of the land of Israel.
They will also return "FROM THE LAND OF SINIM". This means (says Rashi and the Aramaic transliteration of Yehonathan) "From the Land of the South". According to the Latin Vulgate translation the intention is that they will return "From Australia" (or "Australis"): "Australia" is a Latin translation for "the land of the south". Sinim is an Ancient Hebrew and Phoenician term for Australia. The Phoenicians sailed to every corner of the globe. They circumnavigated Africa and Britain. They also reached Scandinavia and the Americas. The Phoenician script was introduced to Indonesia from before 600 BCE. The Ancient Egyptians, Phoenicians, and Hebrews had knowledge of Australia.
When Isaiah referred to the Land of Sinim he intended the Continent of Australia and New Zealand.
This is confirmed by the Bible Codes:
http://www.britam.org/BibleCodes.html

Australia and New Zealand were destined to be an area from which part of the Lost Tribes will return in the Messianic Era.
We are therefore justified on this point alone in searching for the rest of the Lost Ten Tribes in areas whose inhabitants are kinfolk of the people of Australia.
One proof reinforces another.

Evidence that the Lost Ten Tribes settled in the British Isles is proof that offshoots of Britain in North America, Australia, New Zealand, and Soth Africa are also from the Ten Tribes.
Proof (from prophecy etc) that the Ten Tribes are in such areas as Australia, North America, etc, is also proof that they are in the British Isles since a good portion of the people in the said countries came from the British Isles and have relatives there.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
5. God Acknowledges the Jews as HIS Chosen People. [The Ten Tribes likewise recognized.]

The Prophet again turns to speak of Judah:

13 SHOUT FOR JOY, O HEAVENS! AND REJOICE, O EARTH!
BREAK FORTH INTO JOYFUL SHOUTING, O MOUNTAINS!
FOR THE LORD HAS COMFORTED HIS PEOPLE
AND WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON HIS AFFLICTED.
14 BUT ZION SAID, 'THE LORD HAS FORSAKEN ME,
AND THE LORD HAS FORGOTTEN ME.'

God will have compassion on those of his people who were afflicted. He will comfort Judah.
Zion stands for Judah and the Jews and for Jerusalem. Jerusalem was the capital of all Israel at first and later of the remnant of Judah. Zion and Jerusalem in Scripture are usually synonymous with Judah.

15 CAN A WOMAN FORGET HER NURSING CHILD
AND HAVE NO COMPASSION ON THE SON OF HER WOMB?
Even these may forget, but I will not forget you.

Due to persecutions and oppression the Jews often could have felt as if they had been abandoned. God says it is not so.

16 BEHOLD, I HAVE INSCRIBED YOU ON THE PALMS OF MY HANDS;
YOUR WALLS ARE CONTINUALLY BEFORE ME.

Assisting the Jews and assisting the Zionist aims of rebuilding the Land of Israel embodies the will of God.

17 YOUR BUILDERS HURRY;
YOUR DESTROYERS AND DEVASTATORS
WILL DEPART FROM YOU.

Conventional versions usually translated Isaiah 49:17 above according to the simple meaning that the oppressors and destroyers of Judah will depart. Actually, the Hebrew original can also be understood to say that the destroyers of Judah came out from them themselves and so, in Jewish tradition, the verse is often traditionally understood and quoted. Instead of "THOSE WHO LAID YOU WASTE GO FORTH FROM YOU" it can be translated to say "THOSE WHO LAID YOU WASTE CAME FORTH FROM YOU". The enemies of the Jewish people have often found friends and allies amongst the Jews themselves. Every nation has its traitors only the Jews historically were always more vulnerable to treacherous influences since they lacked their own kingdom. Also their real self-interest was often not sufficiently clear-cut even to themselves and wherever they turned enemies surrounded them. Negative influences from outside were much greater.

Even so vengeance will be taken against those who oppressed the Jews and many peoples who had wronged them will be ashamed of themselves: The exiles of Judah and descendants of Jewish captives shall return to Judah.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
6. The Lost of Judah shall return to Judah

18' LIFT UP YOUR EYES AND LOOK AROUND;
ALL OF THEM GATHER TOGETHER, THEY COME TO YOU.
AS I LIVE,' DECLARES THE LORD,
'YOU WILL SURELY PUT ON ALL OF THEM AS JEWELS AND BIND THEM ON AS A BRIDE.'

Newcomers and those who were "lost" will be ingathered.

19 FOR YOUR WASTE AND DESOLATE PLACES AND YOUR DESTROYED LAND
SURELY NOW YOU WILL BE TOO CRAMPED FOR THE INHABITANTS,
AND THOSE WHO SWALLOWED YOU WILL BE FAR AWAY.

There will be so many people that at first it will feel as if there is not enough room for all of them.

20 THE CHILDREN OF WHOM YOU WERE BEREAVED WILL YET SAY IN YOUR EARS,
'THE PLACE IS TOO CRAMPED FOR ME;
MAKE ROOM FOR ME THAT I MAY LIVE HERE.'

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
7. Judah will at First be Loath to Recognize the Ten Tribes in the End Times

21 THEN YOU WILL SAY IN YOUR HEART,
'WHO HAS BEGOTTEN THESE FOR ME,
SINCE I HAVE BEEN BEREAVED OF MY CHILDREN
AND AM BARREN, AN EXILE AND A WANDERER?
AND WHO HAS REARED THESE?
BEHOLD, I WAS LEFT ALONE;
FROM WHERE DID THESE COME?'

In other words, the Jews will ask where were all those now identified as Israel when the Jews needed help and were alone?
According to the Midrash (Pesikta Rabati 32;10) this reaction of the Jews will take place WHEN THEY SEE THE THREE EXILES OF THE LOST TEN TRIBES RETURNING!
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
8. The Acknowledgment of Judah and the Recognition of God Almighty

The rest of Isaiah 49 is directed to Judah but it concerns all of Israel as well as the rest of humanity..
The dispersed of Judah will be gathered in (49:22-23).
They who oppressed Judah will be punished (49:22-23)..
They who oppressed the Jews had in effect denied the existence of the LORD God of Israel (49:24-26).

22 THUS SAYS THE LORD GOD,
'BEHOLD, I WILL LIFT UP MY HAND TO THE NATIONS
AND SET UP MY STANDARD TO THE PEOPLES;
AND THEY WILL BRING YOUR SONS IN THEIR BOSOM,
AND YOUR DAUGHTERS WILL BE CARRIED ON THEIR SHOULDERS.
23 KINGS WILL BE YOUR GUARDIANS,
AND THEIR PRINCESSES YOUR NURSES.
THEY WILL BOW DOWN TO YOU WITH THEIR FACES TO THE EARTH
AND LICK THE DUST OF YOUR FEET;
AND YOU WILL KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD;
THOSE WHO HOPEFULLY WAIT FOR ME WILL NOT BE PUT TO SHAME.
24 CAN THE PREY BE TAKEN FROM THE MIGHTY MAN,
OR THE CAPTIVES OF A TYRANT BE RESCUED?'
25 'SURELY,' THUS SAYS THE LORD,
'EVEN THE CAPTIVES OF THE MIGHTY MAN WILL BE TAKEN AWAY,
AND THE PREY OF THE TYRANT WILL BE RESCUED;
FOR I WILL CONTEND WITH THE ONE WHO CONTENDS WITH YOU,
AND I WILL SAVE YOUR SONS.
26 I WILL FEED YOUR OPPRESSORS WITH THEIR OWN FLESH,
AND THEY WILL BECOME DRUNK WITH THEIR OWN BLOOD AS WITH SWEET WINE;
AND ALL FLESH WILL KNOW THAT I, THE LORD, AM YOUR SAVIOR
AND YOUR REDEEMER, THE MIGHTY ONE OF JACOB.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
9. Summary
Chapter 48 served as an introduction warning the Jews to behave, learn Torah, and take heed of prophecy. Then in chapter 49 we receive the Prophecy. The ten Tribes are spoken of as well as the Jews (Judah).
The Isles are called upon to listen to God (49:1). Israel is the servant of God (49:3). Israel will raise up the Tribes of Jacob and restore the preserved of Israel, to be an enlightening influence on the Gentiles unto the geographical extremities of the earth (49:6). God calls to the Jews who were despised ands says HE will save them (49:7). The Ten Tribes will be made into a Brit-Am or covenant of peoples. They will settle and civilize wasted heritages (49:8) and free the prisoners while converging together along their paths of migration (49:9). Judah will be consoled (49:13-16). Much of the troubles of Judah were caused by her own wayward sons (49:17). Judah will be compensated greatly (49:18-20). When the Lost Ten Tribes return Judah will be reticent about receiving them. The Jews will ask where were all those now identified as Israel when the Jews needed help and were alone? According to the Midrash (Pesikta Rabati 32;10) this reaction of the Jews will indeed take place WHEN THEY SEE THE THREE EXILES OF THE LOST TEN TRIBES RETURNING! (49:21). Judah will be elevated and her former oppressors will come bowing down to her (49:22-26).