Answers to Several ??? of Importance and Interest.
Questions:
1. How Numerous are the 10 Tribes today?
2. Who are the Ten Tribes Today??
3. How are they counted, i.e. who belongs and who does not to the Lost Ten Tribes?
4. The Jews are recognized as descendants of Israel. Nobody else is so recognized.Why Look Further?
5. Do the Ten Tribes have to be accepted by Judah?
6. Are Lost Ten Tribe Claimants really anti-Semites?
7. How are the Ten Tribes to be Identified?
8. Are the Tribal Groups destined to quarrel with each other?
9. Do "Jewish Rabbis and leaders have to go to the countries of Israelites exile, teach them Torah that they can turn to God of their fathers, repent, and bring them home to the Promised Land"?
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1. How Numerous are the 10 Tribes today?
We cannot say how many descendants of the Ten Tribes there are in the world today.
Indications however are that there are very many of them.
Brit-Am identifies the Lost Ten Tribes with groups who settled in Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Netherlands, Belgium, France, Switzerland, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, England, and Wales, and their offshoots in North America, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.
In some areas (such as South Africa today) the Ten Tribes are a minority, but elsewhere they could be very many possibly the majority.
They separated from Judah about 3000 years ago. A lot could happen in that time.
https://hebrewnations.com/articles/biblical-proof/blessings/billions2.html
Moses had blessed Israel:
Deuteronomy 1: 11 MAY THE LORD, THE GOD OF YOUR FATHERS, INCREASE YOU A THOUSAND-FOLD MORE THAN YOU ARE AND BLESS YOU, JUST AS HE HAS PROMISED YOU!
Our friend, Colbert ("Bert") Bryan, first pointed out to us that it was here prophesied that the number of Israelites as it then was (i.e. 600, 000 adult males plus their familes, etc) would be multiplied a thousand times over.
It was prophesied that the Israelites were to number vast numbers of people. They were to be as the dust of the earth (Numbers 23:10), as sand of the sea (Genesis 22:17, 32:12, Isaiah 10:22, Hosea 1:10), and as stars of the heavens (Genesis 15:5, 22:17) for multitude.
The Tribes of Joseph (Ephraim and Manasseh) especially was to be blessed in this way more than the others:
Jacob blessed Joseph, "THE BLESSINGS OF YOUR FATHER HAVE PREVAILED ABOVE THE BLESSINGS OF MY PROGENITORS UNTO THE UTMOST BOUND OF THE EVERLASTING HILLS: THEY SHALL BE ON THE HEAD OF JOSEPH, AND ON THE CROWN OF HIM THAT WAS SEPARATED FROM HIS BRETHREN" (Genesis 49:6).
A great Rabbi, the Chatam Sofer (1762-1839), suggested that the number of Israelites is destined to reach 1,000, 000, 000 (Torah Moshe, Devorim, p. 10) .
See:
Hundreds of Millions!-2
https://hebrewnations.com/articles/biblical-proof/blessings/billions2.html
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2. Who are the Ten Tribes Today??
The Lost Ten Tribes are identified with groups who settled in Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Netherlands, Belgium, France, Switzerland, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, England, and Wales, and their offshoots in North America, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.
The original 12 Tribes had separated into 2 sections. The Kingdom of Judah comprised the Tribes of Judah, Benjamin, Levi, and minority segments of the others. From this section emerged the Basic Core of the Jewish People as we now know it. The Tribes of the Northern Kingdom were Dan, Ephraim, Manasseh, Zebulon, Issachar, Naphtali, Gad, Reuben, Asher, and Simeon. Though the area of Simeon was in the south a portion of it had moved east of the Jordan. On addition to that most of Simeon in the south had been ruled by Samaria in the north and went with them into Exile. This is indicated by the Bible and by archaeological findings.
The Ten Tribes in practical terms were virtually pagans when they were exiled. They were taken away entirely by the Assyrians. They were then re-settled in different areas but mostly in homogeneous groups and physically stayed together. They moved to the west in different waves of migration and converged on the coastal areas and islands of Western Europe. Even recently, as late as the 1700s and 1800s CE, the Great Migrations to North America indicate the evacuation of disparate populations. These were local ethnic-social groupings who had always been separate separating themselves again and moving en masse overseas. They were ro a great degree of a different origin from those who stayed behind.
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3. Who Decides who Belongs to the 10 Tribes and who does not? How can we know?
The Almighty of course knows who HIS people are. The Messiah son of David will enable each and every Israelite know which Tribe they belong to (See Maimonides, Mishneh Torah, The Laws of Kings, ch. 12, no.3 based on the Talmud, Kiddushin 70;a).We cannot be absolutely certain at the individual level as to who is an Israelite and who is not. Nor can the people concerned be sure even if some of them come to feel certain about it.
Nevertheless, we may indicate the general areas they are to be found in.
We can find patterns of behavior and characteristics indicating Israelite descent among them. Other means of identification are also indicative.
It needs to be remembered that according to Biblical Indications and Rabbinical Law ("Halachah") the Ten Tribes are technically Gentiles (Talmud, Yevamot 17).
The Maharal (1512 (or 1526) -1629) - indicates that Gentiles should be judged not as individuals but in the aggregate and according to the Great Men who emerged from them. The same applies to descendants of the Lost Ten Tribes.
We also employ Criteria of our own:
Primary Criteria. Determinate Qualities Indicating Israelite Ancestry
https://hebrewnations.com/articles/biblical-proof/criteria/primarycriteria.html
The Criteria are:
1. Bible. Blessings: Economic and Physical Blessings as promised to Israel in Scripture, and
2. IN ADDITION TO THE BLESSINGS, other Indications of Scripture.
3. Groundwork: Historical, Archaeological, and Related Proofs showing paths of migration.
4. Judah: Affinity with the Jews. Relative lack of anti-Semitism.
5. The TASK OF JOSEPH. A Civilizing Influence and Social Justice -
6. Family. Proven Ancestral Connection with other Identified Groups.
7. Tribal Affiliation Possibility, i.e. specific Tribal groups they may belong to, as deligneated in our work "The Tribes".
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4. The Jews are recognized as descendants of Israel. Nobody else is so recognized. Why Look Further?
Judah was promised that the Staff of Tribal Identification would never depart from him, See MENASSEH Ben ISRAEL (1604-1657), ("Conciliator" on Genesis 48:10 "Lo Yasur Shevet Me-Yehudah").
The Lost Ten Tribes are so called because they LOST consciousness of their Identity.
They are referred to as those who were LOST in the Land of Assyria.
Isaiah (JPS) 27: 13 AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS IN THAT DAY, THAT A GREAT HORN SHALL BE BLOWN; AND THEY SHALL COME THAT WERE LOST IN THE LAND OF ASSYRIA...
Joseph and the Ten Tribes were destined to lose their identity (Isaiah 24:3, 49:13-14, 21 Hosea 1:8, Jeremiah 3:6-7) and so they did.
It was NEVER prophesied that Judah would lose his identity but rather Judah is referred to as ALWAYS being recognizable as Judah. In their places of exile the Ten Tribes led by Ephraim are called upon to examine the past and return to their sources (Jeremiah 31:21). In the Last Days they will indeed return and reunite with Judah (Ezekiel 37).
In the last days the righteousness of the faith of Judah will be acknowledged:
IN THOSE DAYS TEN MEN OUT OF ALL THE LANGUAGES OF THE NATIONS, EVEN SHALL TAKE HOLD OF THE SKIRT OF HIM THAT IS A JEW, SAYING, WE WILL GO WITH YOU: FOR WE HAVE HEARD THAT GOD IS WITH YOU ( (Zechariah 8:23).
See:
Why The Jews Are Judah!
https://hebrewnations.com/articles/jew/judah.html
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5. Do the Ten Tribes have to be accepted by Judah?
In the future the Ten Tribes will return.
Isaiah 49:21 describes Judah as being initially loath to accept the Lost Ten Tribes due (among other things) to having suffered and been persecuted and exiled from place to placewithout protection and alone.
Isaiah 49:21 THEN SHALT THOU SAY IN THINE HEART, WHO HATH BEGOTTEN ME THESE, SEEING I HAVE LOST MY CHILDREN, AND AM DESOLATE, A CAPTIVE, AND REMOVING TO AND FRO? AND WHO HATH BROUGHT UP THESE? BEHOLD, I WAS LEFT ALONE; THESE, WHERE HAD THEY BEEN?
That this is referring to the Lost Ten Tribes when they return, see the context in Isaiah 49, also the Zohar indicates it as do other sources.
See Also:
Ezekiel (NKJV) 11: 14 AGAIN THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME TO ME, SAYING, 15 SON OF MAN, YOUR BRETHREN, YOUR RELATIVES, YOUR COUNTRYMEN, AND ALL THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL IN ITS ENTIRETY, ARE THOSE ABOUT WHOM THE INHABITANTS OF JERUSALEM HAVE SAID, 'GET FAR AWAY FROM THE LORD; THIS LAND HAS BEEN GIVEN TO US AS A POSSESSION.'
These verses are referring to Judah and the Ten Tribes when they are about to re-unite in the End Times.
Nevertheless, despite an initial reticence of Judah the Ten Tribes will be accepted and return (Ezekiel 37:16-24).
"YET THE NUMBER OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL SHALL BE AS STARS OF THE HEAVEN, AS THE SAND OF THE SEASHORE, WHICH CANNOT BE MEASURED NOR NUMBERED" (Hosea 1:10; Genesis 22:17; 48:19).
Hosea (NKJV) 2:
23 THEN I WILL SOW HER FOR MYSELF IN THE EARTH, AND I WILL HAVE MERCY ON HER WHO HAD NOT OBTAINED MERCY; THEN I WILL SAY TO THOSE WHO WERE NOT MY PEOPLE, 'YOU ARE MY PEOPLE!' AND THEY SHALL SAY, 'YOU ARE MY GOD!'
The initial question however may have been referring to the Present.
Do the Jews at Present have to accept non-Jewish claimants to be descended from the Ten Tribes who come to them today?
The answer is: Probably Not!
The Jews are justified in requiring all those who come to them to first convert to Judaism.
For their part, the Lost Ten Tribes at this stage do not have to convert. The knowledge of their Israelite Ancestry is not sufficiently conclusive at the individual level.
In the future they will be led back firstly by Messiah son of Joseph and after that by Messiah son of David.
For now they should do what they can, spread knowledge of their Hebrew Ancestry and encourage more research concerning it, and draw closer to Judah. Judah is fulfilling a role and preparing the way (both in Religion and in the Land of Israel) for the Ten Tribes.
We too, in Brit-Am do what we can as we can.
cf.
"BEHOLD, THE DAYS COME, SAITH THE LORD, I WILL PERFORM THAT GOOD THINGS WHICH I HAVE PROMISED UNTO THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AND TO THE HOUSE OF JUDAH" (Jeremiah 33:14).
"I WILL CAUSE THE CAPTIVITY OF JUDAH AND THE CAPTIVITY OF ISRAEL TO RETURN, AND WILL BUILD THEM, AS AT THE FIRST" (Jeremiah 33:7).
"AND I WILL MAKE THEM ONE NATION IN THE LAND UPON THE MOUNTAINS OF ISRAEL; AND ONE KING SHALL BE KING TO THEM ALL; AND THEY SHALL BE NO MORE TWO NATIONS, NEITHER SHALL THEY BE DIVIDED INTO TWO KINGDOMS ANYMORE" (Ezekiel 37:16-24).
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6. Are Lost Ten Tribe Claimants really anti-Semites?
Is this question referring to which of the following:
(a) A claim that the peoples we identify as descended from the Ten Tribes are anti-Jewish?
or
(b) Organizations often referred to as "Identity" groups that claim the Ten Tribes are among Western Peoples sometimes have anti-Jewish agendas?
In reply to (a) it is true that anti-Semites are to be found in the countries concerned as well as enemies of the State of Israel. Nevertheless, compared to other countries the rate is lower. Numerous philo-Semites and friends of Israel are among them. Historically those few Gentiles who have helped the Jewish People throughout history have often come from them. They also according to reports make the best converts, and are more ready to keep the commandments. This deserves a separate study in its own right but it is pertinent.
In reply to (b) a similar reply applies. There are "Identity" groups in some of the said countries that claim they are descended from the Ten Tribes. Some of them are Judeophobic (Hate Jews). These however are a minority and most of those who believe they come from the Ten Tribes are pro-Israel and pro-Jewish.
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7. How are the Ten Tribes to be identified?
See the answer to no.3,
(3. Who Decides who Belongs to the 10 Tribes and who does not? How can we know?
In addition to the answer given there we have work to do.
We have to do more research.
Encourage others to do research of their own.
Spread knowledge of research findings.
Internalize the significance of this.
Learn the Old Testament more and at a deeper level and with greater dedication.
The teachings of Brit-Am need to be learned.
Brit-Am needs to be supported.
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8. Are the Tribal Groups destined to quarrel with each other?
MANASSEH EPHRAIM, AND EPHRAIM MANASSEH, AND TOGETHER THEY ARE AGAINST JUDAH. This is on one hand a parable using familiar names for how people act (or will act) on an individual level.
On the other hand it may indicate fiction between Ephraim and Manasseh against each other and the two together against Judah.
AND TOGETHER THEY ARE AGAINST JUDAH. Increased anti-semitism? Negative policies towards the State of Israel?
On the other hand,
Rabbi Moshe David Valli (1697 - 1777) explains the Hebrew text differently. He says that Manasseh, Ephraim, AND Judah will all be helping each other!
# This later verse (9:21) comes to help explain the previous one (9:20). Ephraim is on the righthand side, Manasseh on the left. They are feeding off each other and finding it insufficient. Because of this they go to Judah to eat from him. Judah is the strength of arm feeding the other Tribes. This is the secret of the saying, "The Man of Strength possesses the earth." The strength of Judah is great. YET JUDAH PREVAILED OVER HIS BROTHERS, AND FROM HIM CAME A RULER, ALTHOUGH THE BIRTHRIGHT WAS JOSEPHS" (1-Chronicles. NKJV, 5:2).
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9. Do "Jewish Rabbis and leaders have to go to the countries of Israelites exile, teach them Torah that they can turn to God of their fathers, repent, and bring them home to the Promised Land."
In an ideal situation this may be the case.but it is not pertinent at present.
It may happen in the future as indicated in the sources:
Jeremiah 3:18 IN THOSE DAYS THE HOUSE OF JUDAH SHALL WALK WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL, AND THEY SHALL COME TOGETHER OUT OF THE LAND OF THE NORTH TO THE LAND THAT I HAVE GIVEN FOR AN INHERITANCE UNTO YOUR FATHERS.
The Midrash says:
'Behold thou art fair, my love, yea pleasant, also our bed is green' (Song of Solomon 1;16).
Israel says: Behold thou art fair, my love:- When you will take retribution from the worshippers of idols. Yea pleasant:- When you pay the reward of those who fear you. Also our bed: - These are the Ten Tribes. [In Biblical Hebrew a word for bed is 'eres,' while ten is 'eser' and uses the same letters, and the expression 'our bed' ("erseynu") sounds like 'our ten' ("esereynu").] These are those who were exiled beyond the Sambation River. The exiles of Judah and Benyamin [i.e. the present-day 'Jews'] are destined to go unto them and bring them back in order to merit with them the Messianic Era and life in the World-To-Come. This is as it says, 'In those days the house of Judah shall go unto the house of Israel and they shall come together out of the land of the north unto the land that I have given for an inheritance unto your fathers' (Jeremiah 3:18).
-Midrash Yalkut Shimeoni, Song of Solomon 905.
Note: Jeremiah 3:18 should be read according to the above as:
THE HOUSE OF JUDAH SHALL GO UNTO [rather than 'WALK WITH'] THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL. People from Judah and Benjamin (i.e. legal Jews) shall go unto the Lost Ten Tribes who are beyond the Sambation River. In our works ('Ephraim' and 'The Tribes') we explained that the Sambation River means Israelite Exiles who migrated to the west. The simple meaning is that Jews from Judah will go unto the Lost Tribes to bring them back. It could be said that the Jewish members of Brit-Am Israel is doing this to some degree.
A Torah Codes Search indicated that the Sambation River referred to the Ten Tribes and the areas of Denmark and America. See: SAMBATION.
There are Jewish enthusiasts who have been misled into thinking that the Ten Tribes are in other places such as Burma, Afghanistan, parts of Africa, etc. They have looked into the possibility of trying to convert some of these people to Judaism. To a small degree they have succeed regarding Tribesmen from Burma and several hundred of these not live in Israel. We think this is mistaken. In individual cases however it may be worthwhile. Two acquaintances of Yair Davidiy married girls from this group and the marriages seem OK.
At all events our evaluation is that the Ten Tribes are to be searched for among Western Peoples.
They will return when the time comes.
At present the most important aim should be to spread knowledge to them and to others as to who they are.
Let us all do as well as they can, learn the subject at hand, and ask the Almighty to guide us.
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