Words from the Sages Pertinent to the Ten Tribes. Why the Ten Tribes and Judah Need to Come Together. Upgraded 2 September 2025, 9 Elul 5785.
Contents:
1. If it is Written it is as if it already has been done! Midrash. Redemption as Promised!
2. Messiah son of Joseph and Messiah son of David.
3. It is a Good Sign when Judah and Joseph are Together!
4. By Virtue of their Children the Ten Tribes Will be Saved!
5. Midrash. Israel to Defeat Persians and Others.
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1. If it is Written it is as if it already has been done! Midrash. Redemption as Promised!
Midrashim (singular: "Midrash") are mostly early Rabbinical commentaries on the Hebrew Bible. The word "Midrash" means "textual interpretation", "study", or "exegesis", derived from the root verb darash , which means "resort to, seek, seek with care, enquire, require".
The Midrashim we use date anywhere from ca. 200 BCE to ca 800 CE.
One of the best known Midrashim is the "Midrash Rabah" whose first part "Genesis Rabah" was probably written between 300 and 500 CE with some later additions.
"Midrash Rabah" is similar to the earlier "Midrash Tanchumah" parts of which it incorporates.
The Midrashim are considered inspired but not incontrovertible. They are not the same as the Bible but they provide insights into Scripture that should be valued.
Zechariah (NASB) 10: 8 I will whistle for them and gather them together, For I have redeemed them... [in the past tense.] Rabbi Hunna and Rabbi Dostai in the name of Rabbi Shmuel bar Nachman: The very word of the Almighty is the same as HIS action.
[Stern Commentary: For every word that the Almighty speaks is as if it was already carried out since there is nothing to prevent it from coming to pass]... As its says, 'I will whistle for them and gather them together, For I have redeemed them." It does not say, "I will redeem them," [in the future tense] but rather "For I have redeemed them." [in the past tense] (Midrash Breishit Rabah 44;27).
The Biblical Sources speaks of Judah (the Jews) and Joseph (the English-speaking peoples) uniting in the End Times:
Zechariah (NASB) 10:
6 And I will strengthen the house of Judah,
And I will save the house of Joseph,
And I will bring them back,
Because I have had compassion on them;
And they will be as though I had not rejected them,
For I am the LORD their God and I will answer them.
7 Ephraim will be like a warrior,
And their heart will be joyful as if from wine;
Indeed, their children will see it and be joyful.
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2. Messiah son of Joseph and Messiah son of David.
According to Tradition a Messianic Savior descended from Joseph will help save Judah and the Lost Ten Tribes headed by the tribes of Joseph (Ephraim and Manasseh). This person is referred to as the Messiah son of Joseph. He will appear prior to the Messiah son of David who will come from Judah.
Zechariah 10: 6 And I will strengthen the house of Judah... In the future the Messiah Anointed Leader for War is destined to emerge from Joseph. The Messiah [who will come after him] who comes out of Judah is even tougher [towards the Gentiles] than he is... (Midrash Tanchumah 2:3).
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3. It is a Good Sign when Judah and Joseph are Together!
Zechariah 10: 6 And I will strengthen the house of Judah, And I will save the house of Joseph, " It is a propitious for Israel when Judah is recalled together with Joseph (Midrash HaGadol, "VeYigash," p. 783).
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4. By Virtue of their Children the Ten Tribes Will be Saved!
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Zechariah 10:9... # They will remember Me in distant countries, And they with their children will live and come back.#
The Midrash Kehilat Rabah 4:1 points out that the Hebrew text may be read here is indicating that by virtue of their children the Hebrews will be revitalized and kept alive.
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5. Midrash. Israel to Defeat Persians, and Turks, and Others.
The Midrash says the verse Obadiah 1:15 is referring to Esau the villain out of whom emerged the Thracians, and the Persians.
Addition (August 2026): Thrace in Turkey
Obadiah (ESV) 1:
18 THE HOUSE OF JACOB SHALL BE A FIRE,
AND THE HOUSE OF JOSEPH A FLAME,
AND THE HOUSE OF ESAU STUBBLE;
Midrash:
This is Esau the villain out of whom emerged the Thracians and the House of Edom.
They are destined to fall at the feet of Israel as it says:
THEY SHALL BURN THEM AND CONSUME THEM,
AND THERE SHALL BE NO SURVIVOR FOR THE HOUSE OF ESAU,
FOR THE LORD HAS SPOKEN.
The Midrash says this verse is referring to Esau the villain out of whom (says the Midrash) emerged the Thracians, and the Persians. Other sources identify Edom with Ancient Rome ad with Germany.
The above note is correct. Germany did receive settlers from Thrace. Technically speaking eastern Thrace today is part of Turkey (see Map).
The verse could also refer to Turkey or to both Turkey and Germany. In the past the two polities were united and fought against Britain and the USA.
"Thracians" in this case may be the Germans who received settlers from Thracia. Germany is also included in other sources as part of the House of Edom descendants of Esau.
In Classical Antiquity, lands inhabited by ancient Thracians extended also in the north to modern-day Northern Bulgaria and Romania and to the west into Northern Greece, North Macedonia and Serbia.
German historians have speculated that migrations from Thrace were important amongst the early populations of Germany.
Thrace is commonly referred to as Rumeli, meaning "Land of the Romans", which was the name traditionally used by the Ottomans for the Byzantine Empire and Orthodox Christians (Rum millet).
East Thrace, also known as Turkish Thrace or European Turkey or Turkey in Europe, is the part of Turkey that is geographically in Southeast Europe.It accounts for 3% of Turkey's land area (an area of 23,764 km2) and 12% of the population.
Edirne Province is part of European Turkey. It includes the city of Edirne (Adrianople) which was once quite important.
The name "Edirne" is derived from the Latin "Hadrian" and is in honor of the Emperor Hadrian.
Edirne served as the third capital of the Ottoman Empire from 1363 to 1453
before the capital moved to Constantinople.
The original founding center of the Ottoman principality was the town of Sutt (1302 - 1326), but Bursa (1326-1365) served as the first major, official capital city after it was captured and established as the core administrative seat of the growing empire.
In the Bible "Batsra" (Basira, Basra) was an important Edomite city and is sometimes employed as synonymous with Edom. Bursa was followed by Edirne.
cf. Bosra, the capital of Edom, the territory settled by Jacob's twin brother Esau (Genesis 25:30, 36:8).
Czar Peter the Great, in some ways the founder of modern Russia, advised his successors, in his will of 1725:
# Approach as near as possible to Constantinople [i.e. Istanbul of Turkey] and India [Pakistan?].... excite continual wars, not only in Turkey, but in Persia ... Penetrate as far as the Persian Gulf, advance as far as India... #
Tim Marshall, "Prisoners of Geography", 2015, p. 13.