Hosea 1, Gomer, Edom, and the Ten Tribes (31 July, 2015, 15 Av, 5775)
Contents:
1. Introduction
2. Edom and Gomer
3. Hosea and Gomer
4. Hosea chapter 1 in Simple Terms
5. Conclusion
===============================
===============================
1. Introduction
We find the Lost Ten Tribes among Western peoples.
We have proven this from numerous sources including Scripture, Rabbinical Commentary, Archaeology, Mythology, History, etc.
In Scripture we bring proofs from all over the Bible and how they all point in the same direction.
We have quite a few articles and video clips discussing these issues.
See:
BIBLICAL EVIDENCE
Biblical Locations of the Lost Ten Tribes. Proof from Scripture
http://www.britam.org/Proof/ProofsIntro.html
The 12 Tribes of Israel split into 2 different sections. Ten of the Tribes were in the north. These were conquered by the Assyrians, taken into exile, and disappeared. It was prophesied that they would be Separate from Judah (Isaiah 11:12-13, 49:21) and Not Known to Judah (Isaiah 49:13-14, 21, Hosea 1:7).
We know that they were later to be found amongst western peoples because:
It was prophesied that the Israelites would possess the GATE(s) OF YOUR ENEMIES meaning International Strategic Points (Genesis 22:17, 24:60). This, at the international level, is what the British Empire and after them the USA has done.
They would be the Dominant World Power (Numbers 24:7-9 Micah 5:7-9, Deuteronomy 33:27, 33:29, Jeremiah 51:20-21); The Battle-Axe of the Almighty or "Police-Man of the Globe" (Jeremiah 51:20, Zechariah 10:7); as first the British then the USA were.
Defeat Edom meaning Germany and Europe (Ezekiel 25:14, Obadiah 1:18).
Peoples of West European origin especially those who are English-speaking have fulfilled all these.
They were to Rule Over OTHER Peoples (Genesis 27:29 48:19 Onkelos, Psalms 47:3); be Seafarers (Isaiah 42:10); an uplifting influence on other nations, a Light for the Gentiles (Genesis 12:2-3, 18:18-19, 22:18, Isaiah 42:1 42:6, Amos 5:14-15). They were to be symbolized by a Lion and Unicorn which is the Coat of Arms of Britain (Numbers 24:7-9).
They were to be located at the Ends of the Earth meaning the geographical extremities of the continental land masses (Isaiah 24:16, 26:15, 41:8-9 43:6 49:6); to be associated with the ships of Tarshish that was associated with the Atlantic Ocean Area (Isaiah 60:9); to be mainly in the west (Isaiah 24:14, Hosea 1:10); and Northwest (Isaiah 49:12); in the "North" Land (Jeremiah 3:18, 31: 6-10); in Australia and New Zealand ("Land of Sinim", Isaiah 49:12); and in Zarephath, meaning France and Britain (Obadiah 1:20). They would be in Many Waters i.e. Several Oceans (Numbers 24:7).
There would be a pathway of megalithic monuments, "Dolmens", showing a Pathway of Migration leading from where they were back to the Land of Israel (Jeremiah 31:21). Such a pathway exists leading from the British Isles, Western Europe, Scandinavia, and tracing a track back to the Middle East and the area of Ancient Israel.
Compared to other nations they would have numerous populations (Genesis 15:5, 22:17, 24:60, 32:12, Numbers 23:10, Isaiah 10:22, 24:16, 26:15, Hosea 1:10); Agricultural Plenty (Genesis 27:28, 49:25, Deuteronomy 33:13-16, Hoshea 2:8); Mineral Resources (Genesis 49:25, Deuteronomy 33:13, 15); There are numerous additional other identifying points.
Taking all these and other indications together we end up with West European populations especially those of the British Isles whose offshoots include the peoples of North America, Australia, New Zealand, and many in South Africa.
We could go on and on. In other places we have gone on and explained most of the above points at length.
Overall it is quite clear, when taking all the sources together as one composite whole, that the Ten tribes are int he west especially amongst Western Peoples.
It is not so simple however.
Another point concerns the non-Israelite nations whom the Ten tribes were to be intermixed (to some degree) with.
===============================
===============================
2. Edom and Gomer
We know where the Ten Tribes were to be.
We may to some degree consider peoples from these areas to be descended from Israelites.
This applies especially when they identify as Israelites and feel themselves to be such and have other pertinent attributes.
See:
Ephraimite Criteria
http://www.britam.org/criteria.html
Apart from this we also find evidence that the Ten Tribes would be intermixed (or federated, and dwelling alongside) with other peoples to some degree.
These were mainly those nations identified as Descendants of Gomer.
In addition to Gomer,
there were also Edomites who assisted the Assyrians in exiling the Ten Tribes and oversaw the settlement of part of them in the west, and also settled amongst them.
The proofs and explanations for all this are scattered over many sources and rely on a composite somewhat complicated picture
BUT
there is one short source in the Bible that, at least concerning Gomer, helps sum everything up quite succinctly.
This is the Book of Hosea, chapter 1.
Let us take a short look at this source.
===============================
===============================
3. Hosea and Gomer
According to Hosea (ch.1) the Lost Ten Tribes would be identifiable as the Sons of Gomer which seemed to hint at the possibility of amalgamation with Gomer son of Japhet (Genesis ch.10).
Let us quickly look at key verses from the relevant chapter:
Hosea 1:
3 So he went and took Gomer the daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son. 4 And the LORD said to him, Name him Jezreel...
6 Then she conceived again and gave birth to a daughter. And the LORD said to him, Name her Lo-ruhamah [she has not obtained compassion], for I will no longer have compassion on the house of Israel, that I would ever forgive them. 7 But I will have compassion on the house of Judah and deliver them by the LORD their God...
8 When she had weaned Lo-ruhamah, she conceived and gave birth to a son. 9 And the LORD said, Name him Lo-ammi [Not My People], for you are not My people and I shall not be for you.
10 Yet the number of the sons of Israel
Will be like the sand of the sea,
Which cannot be measured or numbered;
And in the place
Where it is said to them,
You are not My people,
It will be said to them,
You are the sons of the living God.
11 And the sons of Judah and the sons of Israel will be gathered together,
And they will appoint for themselves one leader,
And they will go up from the land,
For great will be the day of Jezreel [Ingathering by God].
What has happened here?
The Prophet Hoseas receives a message from the Almighty. Hosea does as commanded. He takes a woman named GOMER (1:3). They have a son named Jezreel whose name may connote either scattering or ingathering. At first it is given the negative implication which we are told applies to all 'Israel' (1:4).
Then comes a daughter whose name indicates that God will not have compassion on 'Israel' (1:6).
We are then told that Judah is not in the equation (1:7). This reminds us that when Hosea prophesied the Tribes of Israel were divided into two. There was one section, referred to as 'Israel', comprising 10 Tribes.
The second portion comprised the Tribes of Judah and Benjamin along with Levites (2-Chronicles 11:14) and others who had attached themselves to the group. Together they were all known as 'Judah'. Judah is NOT being spoken about in this Prophecy. Hoseas has gone out of his way to emphasize this. The prophecy only concerns the Ten Tribes of 'Israel'.
After that a son arrives. His name means that "Israel" (i.e. the Ten Tribes) shall be disowned and not considered as belonging to the God of Israel.
Nevertheless these Ten Tribes of Israel will grow into an immense multitude (1:10).
They shall, at some stage, be accepted anew.
The Almighty shall be reconciled to them apparently after they have become an immense multitude and done whatever else was required of them.
They shall be re-united with Judah BUT until then they will have been separated from her.
We haven noted that their mother was named Gomer. They therefore could be consider Sons of Gomer.
We already have however a group of peoples named after Gomer. These were Ashkenaz, Riphat, and Togarmah sons of Gomer son of Japhet son of Noah.
Genesis 10:
1 Now these are the records of the generations of Shem, Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah; and sons were born to them after the flood.
2 The sons of Japheth were Gomer and Magog and Madai and Javan and Tubal and Meshech and Tiras.
3 The sons of Gomer were Ashkenaz and Riphath and Togarmah.
We find regions mentioned in the Bible and in the Sages as those to which the Ten Tribes were exiled (Afriki, Habor, Media, etc) as the same as those which the same sources allocate to descendants of Gomer (Habor, Afriki, Media, etc). We also encounter a group of peoples referred to in Assyrian sources as 'Gimirri' and other similar names which we are told are all variants of the name Gomer. And we then discover Israelites identified with this group.
What is more later traditions identify Gomer son of Japhet with peoples in Western Europe and the Bible predicts that the Ten Tribes will be found on the fringes of Western Europe.
We are therefore justified in interpreting the Prophecy of Hosea as saying that the exiled Ten Tribes will become associated with a group of other peoples otherwise identified as Gomer.
What exact form this association will take (union, federation, domination, subjection, ?) or how long it is expected to last for is not known.
It will however take place so we make take this into cognizance in our researches concerning the whereabouts of the Lost Ten Tribes of Israel.
===============================
===============================
4. Hosea chapter 1 in Simple Terms
Hosea in simple terms speaks of the Exiled Israelites intermixing somehow with Descendants of Gomer.
They will be disowned and not recognized by the Almighty for a period.
During this very time of Disengagement from God however they shall become very numerous and receive other blessings.
After that they shall be recognized anew by the Almighty and once more become HIS people and they shall be re-united with Judah.
===============================
===============================
5. Conclusion
Hosea chapter 1 helps us identify the Lost Ten Tribes with Western Peoples.
It also however warns us to be careful since other elements are also present and involved with the Ten tribes and amongst them..
These additional parties may be inimical to the Biblical message and against anything that could lead to ultimate Re-Union with Judah.