Judah and Joseph in the End Times according to Zechariah (13 February, 2015, 24 Shevet, 5775)
Main Source: "Chazon Ha-Naviim" [Vision of the Prophets] by Rabbi Chaim Chanon, Jerusalem, 5774
Contents:
1. Introduction by Yair Davidiy
2. Zechariah ch.10 describes the End times and the Return of the Ten Tribes.
3. The Three Steps (according to Chaim Chanon). Scripture gives Stages of Redemption
4. Zechariah and the Three Stages for both Judah and Joseph
5. Additional Articles Concerning the Future Redemption.
6. COMPLETE TRANSCRIPT OF VIDEO CLIP.
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1. Introduction by Yair Davidiy
Rabbi Chaim Chanon is a full-time Torah scholar and as such deserves to be called a Rabbi though he may prefer not to be.
He analyses the Prophets and explains their message. In dealing with the prophecy of Zechariah ch.10 he brings up some points pertinent to our studies concerning the Lost Ten Tribes.
We thought we would translate, summarize and slightly adapt his message for the sake of general interest.
After that we hope to prepare, later, an additional article discussing the said passages in which we shall integrate the explanations of Rabbi Chaim into our own appreciation of the subject.
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2. Zechariah ch.10 describes the End times and the Return of the Ten Tribes.
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(1. God is angry against the Gentiles nations who did not shepherd and protect Judah when the Jews were exiled amongst them. The Exiles of Judah shall return to the Land of Israel, war against the Heathen and defeat them.
Before then (Hosea 1:7) Judah will have abstained from armed might.
Zechariah 10:
MY ANGER IS HOT AGAINST THE SHEPHERDS,
AND I WILL PUNISH THE LEADERS;
FOR THE LORD OF HOSTS CARES FOR HIS FLOCK, THE HOUSE OF JUDAH,
AND WILL MAKE THEM LIKE HIS PROUD WARHORSE.
4 OUT OF THEM SHALL COME THE CORNERSTONE, -The "cornerstone", the main basis of the building.
OUT OF THEM THE TENT-PEG,
OUT OF THEM THE BATTLE-BOW,
OUT OF THEM EVERY COMMANDER.
5 TOGETHER THEY SHALL BE LIKE WARRIORS IN BATTLE,
TRAMPLING THE FOE IN THE MUD OF THE STREETS;
THEY SHALL FIGHT, FOR THE LORD IS WITH THEM,
AND THEY SHALL PUT TO SHAME THE RIDERS ON HORSES.
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(2. The Ten Tribes shall be Reconciled to God. The House of Joseph shall be reconciled to the God of Israel. It shall be as if they have never been separated. The LORD is their God and HE will answer them.
Zechariah 10:
6 I will strengthen the house of Judah,
and I will save the house of Joseph.
I will bring them back because I have compassion on them,
and they shall be as though I had not rejected them;
for I am the LORD their God and I will answer them.
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(3. The Ten Tribes shall come back. They shall rejoice in the Almighty. They shall increase greatly. They shall return at first to Gilead (Syria and Jordan) and Lebanon and settle in those places (Zechariah 10:10) until there be no more room for them there. The heathen are symbolized by the sea with its many waters and their numerous numbers. The Ten Tribes are destined to strike them down as if they were striking the waves of the sea (Zechariah 10:11).
Zechariah 10:
7 THEN THE PEOPLE OF EPHRAIM SHALL BECOME LIKE WARRIORS,
AND THEIR HEARTS SHALL BE GLAD AS WITH WINE.
THEIR CHILDREN SHALL SEE IT AND REJOICE,
THEIR HEARTS SHALL EXULT IN THE LORD.
8 I WILL SIGNAL FOR THEM AND GATHER THEM IN,
FOR I HAVE REDEEMED THEM,
AND THEY SHALL BE AS NUMEROUS AS THEY WERE BEFORE.
9 THOUGH I HAD SOWED THEM AMONG THE NATIONS,
YET IN FAR COUNTRIES THEY SHALL REMEMBER ME,
AND THEY SHALL REAR THEIR CHILDREN AND RETURN.
10 I WILL BRING THEM HOME FROM THE LAND OF EGYPT,
AND GATHER THEM FROM ASSYRIA;
I WILL BRING THEM TO THE LAND OF GILEAD AND TO LEBANON,
UNTIL THERE IS NO ROOM FOR THEM.
11 THEY SHALL PASS THROUGH THE SEA OF DISTRESS,
AND THE WAVES OF THE SEA SHALL BE STRUCK DOWN,
AND ALL THE DEPTHS OF THE NILE DRIED UP.
THE PRIDE OF ASSYRIA SHALL BE LAID LOW,
AND THE SCEPTRE OF EGYPT SHALL DEPART.
12 I WILL MAKE THEM STRONG IN THE LORD,
AND THEY SHALL WALK IN HIS NAME, SAYS THE LORD.
NRSV except for [x]
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3. The Three Steps (according to Chaim Chanon)
Scripture gives Stages of Redemption
1. As described in Zechariah 10 The Exiles of Judah shall return to the Land of Israel, war against the Heathen and defeat them.
2. The Messiah son of David will rule and consolidate his rulership immensely.(It is not clear whether this will be before the Wars of Judah against the Heathen or after them). This (God willing) shall be discussed in a later article.
3. The Ten Tribes shall fight against the Gentiles, beat them, and their hearts will rejoice. They shall return from their places of Dispersion. The River Nile and the River Euphrates shall divide in two to allow them to pass through.
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4. Zechariah and the Three Stages for both Judah and Joseph
Chaim Chanon points out that in Zechariah 10 both Judah and Joseph independently of each other go through three stages:
1. God saves them.
2. They become warriors.
3. They overcome.
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Concerning Judah it says:
(1) God Saves Judah.
Zechariah 10:
3.....for the LORD of hosts cares for his flock, the house of Judah,
and will make them like his proud warhorse.
4 Out of them shall come the cornerstone,
out of them the tent-peg,
out of them the battle-bow,
out of them every commander.
(2) Judah become Warriors
Zechariah 10: - from Judah
5 TOGETHER THEY SHALL BE LIKE WARRIORS IN BATTLE,
TRAMPLING THE FOE IN THE MUD OF THE STREETS;
THEY SHALL FIGHT, FOR THE LORD IS WITH THEM,
AND THEY SHALL PUT TO SHAME THE RIDERS ON HORSES.
(3) Judah Shall Overcome
Zechariah 10:
6 I will strengthen the house of Judah,
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Regarding Joseph we are told:
(1) God Saves Joseph.
Zechariah 10:
6 ...AND I WILL SAVE THE HOUSE OF JOSEPH.
(2) Joseph becomes Warriors
Zechariah 10:
7 THEN THE PEOPLE OF EPHRAIM SHALL BECOME LIKE WARRIORS,
(3) Joseph Shall Overcome
Zechariah 10:
12 I WILL MAKE THEM STRONG IN THE LORD,
AND THEY SHALL WALK IN HIS NAME, SAYS THE LORD.
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5. Additional Articles Concerning the Future Redemption
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THE STAGES OF REDEMPTION
in Isaiah and Hosea:
http://www.britam.org/isaiah/Isaiah56to60.html#THE
The above passages are understood to mean that towards the End Times people from amongst Judah and Benjamin (i.e. the Jews) will go out and bring the Lost Ten Tribes back. In addition many of those amongst the Lost Ten Tribes who have began to realize the truth of Israelite Identity are descendants of Jews. Their ancestors frequently were those who were forced to change their religion (i.e. "Captive Jews") or for some other reason became lost amongst the nations. Brit-Am attempts to forge links both with the Captive Jews of Judah and with the Lost Ten Tribes of Ephraim.
We see from the above that Judah will prepare the way by establishing the infrastructure (Hosea 6:11) for the Ten Tribes who will follow after them (Isaiah 56:8). The Return will pass through several stages that involve both the initial participation of Ephraim encouraging Judah on the one had with Judah later going out to bring Ephraim back (Jeremiah 3:18) on the other.
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The Order of Return of the Lost Tribes in Ezekiel
http://www.britam.org/EzekielReturn.html
Ezekiel (11:18) hints that first the exiles will return to the Land of Israel and after that they shall put away their idols and keep the Law (11:20). Ezekiel says that Judah has an obligation to help the Lost Ten Tribes return. The complete return of Judah is dependent upon the return of "Samaria" (Ezekiel 16:53, 55, 61) meaning the Ten Tribes especially Manasseh. Manasseh today is mainly the USA. God will renew His covenant with Judah and with Israel (16:62).
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6. COMPLETE TRANSCRIPT OF VIDEO CLIP.
We're about to very briefly describe a few points raised by The Prophet Zechariah, principally by the Prophet Zechariah concerning Judah, - that is the Jewish people, - and the Lost Ten Tribes. The Lost Ten Tribes are to be found amongst Western Nations. They are to be found amongst peoples in Europe, North America, Australia, New Zealand, and related Nations. That is where the Lost Ten Tribes are and that is where they are to be found! And we emphasize that. We should emphasize that. That is the main point. They have to know. They should know in these times, especially in these times, who they are. That is a beginning. That will be the beginning of a Process of Redemption. Or it will help it along and that is what we see as our main task. In addition to that it helps to know what the Prophets say concerning the future: Even if we don't really understand how things will play out, how they will be. The Prophets wrote these matters down in order to guide us to some degree. And therefore it's worth knowing what they said and what they have been understood to have said and how we understand them. Part of this lecture is based upon the work of Rabbi Chaim Chanon, who wrote a book not long ago called "Hazon Ha-Neviim," ("Vision of the propjets") written in Hebrew. And he has some points worth noting. So we'll point out what he says. He himself is a full-time Torah scholar and he does not necessarily agree with us, or disagree with us. He wrote what he wrote according to his understanding of the Prophets. In fact he never heard of us at the time he wrote what he wrote. So that is a point worth noting. he was entirely independent of us, independent of all, one can, independent of All foreign, of all external influences when he wrote down his understanding of the Prophets primarily according to the simple meaning of the passages in the Hebrew.
Concerning Zechariah chapter 10 he says: God is angry against the Gentile Nations - how he understands the passages - God is angry against the Gentile Nations and they who did not shepherd and did not protect Judah when the Jews were exiled among them. The Exiles of Judah shall return to the Land of Israel. They shall wage war against the heathen, against the pagans, and they shall defeat them. Before then Judah will have abstained during this period of Exile from armed might, from Warfare. This is mentioned in the Book of Hosea 1:7. Relevant verses in Zachariah 10 beginning with verse 3:
Zechariah 10:
3 MY ANGER IS HOT AGAINST THE SHEPHERDS,
AND I WILL PUNISH THE LEADERS;
FOR THE LORD OF HOSTS CARES FOR HIS FLOCK, THE HOUSE OF JUDAH,
AND WILL MAKE THEM LIKE HIS PROUD WARHORSE.
4 OUT OF THEM SHALL COME THE CORNERSTONE, -The "cornerstone", the main basis of the building.
OUT OF THEM THE TENT-PEG,
OUT OF THEM THE BATTLE-BOW,
OUT OF THEM EVERY COMMANDER.
5 TOGETHER THEY SHALL BE LIKE WARRIORS IN BATTLE,
TRAMPLING THE FOE IN THE MUD OF THE STREETS;
THEY SHALL FIGHT, FOR THE LORD IS WITH THEM,
AND THEY SHALL PUT TO SHAME THE RIDERS ON HORSES.
The Ten Tribes shall be reconciled to God. The house of Joseph shall be reconciled to the God of Israel. It shall be as if they have never been separated. The LORD is their God and he will answer them.
Zechariah 10:
6 I WILL STRENGTHEN THE HOUSE OF JUDAH,
AND I WILL SAVE THE HOUSE OF JOSEPH.
Remember "Judah" represents "Judah,"the Jewish People and "Joseph" primarily the Ten Tribes.
Judah was the main Tribe, or the Tribe of the House of David. David ruled over all of Israel, over all the 12 Tribes. After David came his son, King Solomon. After King Solomon came Rehoboam. In the time of Rehoboam 10 of the Tribes of Israel rebelled and set up their own "Kingdom of Israel" that was distinct from Judah. This "Kingdom of Israel" was also sometimes referred to as "Joseph," or as "Ephraim," as "Samaria" or as other terms. It all depends upon the context.
And they were in the north whereas in the South was the Kingdom of Judah. The kingdom of Judah comprised primarily the Tribes of Judah, of Benjamin, most of Levi, and minority representatives of all of the other Tribes.
So that is what we have. So when he it refers to Judah, he is referring to the Jewish people, the descendants of of the Kingdom of Judah. From the Kingdom of Judah came the core element, the basic element of the Jewish people today. In the course of time there was joined onto them, others were added into them perhaps. But it doesn't matter. They are "Judah" as the Bible refers to them. The Bible refers to the Jews as Judah all the time, all the time, as we were shown on several occasions. So no matter what you want to say, what others say, the Bible, as far as the Bible is concerned, the Jewish people are "Judah" of the Bible.
in addition to the Judah of the Bible we also have Joseph. Joseph was a main Tribe, or a major Tribe of the Ten Tribes and sometimes the term "Joseph" refers to the Tribes of Joseph. The two Tribes of Joseph were Ephraim and Manasseh the two sons of Joseph. They provided us with two Tribes, Ephraim and Manasseh. So when Joseph is referred to it may refer to the Tribes. of Joseph or it may refer to all of the Ten Tribes. This too depends upon the context. He apparently is referring to all of the Ten Tribes when he says:
Zechariah 10:
6 I WILL STRENGTHEN THE HOUSE OF JUDAH,
AND I WILL SAVE THE HOUSE OF JOSEPH.
I WILL BRING THEM BACK BECAUSE I HAVE COMPASSION ON THEM,
AND THEY SHALL BE AS THOUGH I HAD NOT REJECTED THEM;
FOR I AM THE LORD THEIR GOD AND I WILL ANSWER THEM.
So he says the Ten Tribes shall come back. They shall rejoice in their Almighty. They shall increase greatly. They shall return at first to Gilead, that is Syria and Jordan, and to Lebanon, - the Land of Lebanon. They will settle in those places, See Zechariah 10:10. Till there will be no more room for them. What will happen to the present inhabitants, we do not know. This is in the future but anything could happen. There could be Wars. There could be devastations. There a lot of different eventualities that are possible. Even now we just saw that the State of Syria was greatly diminished, a good portion of its population in our time in the last three years migrated and went to Europe and there are many more wanted to go and many of them moved into Turkey and there are refugees in their own country. And if the USA had not stepped in and after that Russia that could have happened. The whole of Syria could have been devastated. The same applies to Lebanon. The same applies to many countries in this area. But it hasn't happened. So we don't know how it will happen and when and if it will happen but the Bible indicates that the Ten Tribes will come to this area and will settle there at some time in the future. And this could be very shortly according to certain indications but we don't really know. We only know in general what is predicted, what is prophesied and this will come to eventuate. This will come to term when the time comes.
Zechariah 10:
7 THEN THE PEOPLE OF EPHRAIM SHALL BECOME LIKE WARRIORS,
AND THEIR HEARTS SHALL BE GLAD AS WITH WINE.
THEIR CHILDREN SHALL SEE IT AND REJOICE,
THEIR HEARTS SHALL EXULT IN THE LORD.
8 I WILL SIGNAL FOR THEM AND GATHER THEM IN,
FOR I HAVE REDEEMED THEM,
AND THEY SHALL BE AS NUMEROUS AS THEY WERE BEFORE.
9 THOUGH I HAD SOWED THEM AMONG THE NATIONS,
YET IN FAR COUNTRIES THEY SHALL REMEMBER ME,
AND THEY SHALL REAR THEIR CHILDREN AND RETURN.
10 I WILL BRING THEM HOME FROM THE LAND OF EGYPT,
AND GATHER THEM FROM ASSYRIA;
I WILL BRING THEM TO THE LAND OF GILEAD AND TO LEBANON,
UNTIL THERE IS NO ROOM FOR THEM.
11 THEY SHALL PASS THROUGH THE SEA OF DISTRESS,
AND THE WAVES OF THE SEA SHALL BE STRUCK DOWN,
AND ALL THE DEPTHS OF THE NILE DRIED UP.
THE PRIDE OF ASSYRIA SHALL BE LAID LOW,
AND THE SCEPTRE OF EGYPT SHALL DEPART.
12 I WILL MAKE THEM STRONG IN THE LORD,
AND THEY SHALL WALK IN HIS NAME, SAYS THE LORD.
Now, Rabbi Chaim Channon' pronounced "Hanon, " in Hebrew and he analyzes the words of Zechariah in these passages. and he gives us his impressions of what is being spoken of. He says that in Zechariah 10 he speaks about the Exiles of Judah and the Exiles of Joseph. He says the Exiles of Judah of Judah shall return to the Land of Israel and war against the Heathen and defeat them. The Messiah son of David shall rule and consolidate his rulership immensely. And the 10 Tribes shall fight against the Gentiles, beat them, and their hearts shall rejoice. They shall return from their places of Dispersion. The River Nile and the River Euphrates shall divide in two to allow them to pass through.
What this means and how it will happen we don't know but it's there. It's worth noting. Who knows how things will eventuate. So here is spoken of both Judah and Judah.
Zechariah 10:
5 TOGETHER THEY SHALL BE LIKE WARRIORS IN BATTLE,
TRAMPLING THE FOE IN THE MUD OF THE STREETS;
THEY SHALL FIGHT, FOR THE LORD IS WITH THEM,
AND THEY SHALL PUT TO SHAME THE RIDERS ON HORSES.
Judah shall overcome.
6 I WILL STRENGTHEN THE HOUSE OF JUDAH,
AND I WILL SAVE THE HOUSE OF JOSEPH
So, Zechariah 10 begins to speak of Joseph. Up until now he has spoken of Judah and now he begins to speak of Joseph separately. It's a separate case but a parallel to Judah and he says: Zechariah 10:7 THEN THE PEOPLE OF EPHRAIM SHALL BECOME LIKE WARRIORS, He goes on and then in Zechariah 10:
12 I WILL MAKE THEM STRONG IN THE LORD,
AND THEY SHALL WALK IN HIS NAME, SAYS THE LORD.
So that is what we gathered from the commentary of Rabbi Chanon. There are other points in other portions of the Prophets, in the Bible. We understand that Judah will prepare the way by establishing the infrastructure (see Hosea 6:11) for the Tribes to return, for their own, for others, of their people including the Ten Tribes to return, see Hosea 6 11, and the 10 Tribes will follow after them, see Isaiah 56:8.
The return will pass through several stages involving the initial participation of Ephraim encouraging Judah on the one hand with Judah later coming out to bring Ephraim back, see Jeremiah 3:18. So first Judah will return then Ephraim will begin to put feelers out and initiate a process of returning perhaps through the outskirts of the Land of Israel, Greater Land of Israel, and then Judah will go unto them and bring them back. That is what is indicated here. It may not turn out that way entirely but in principle that is what will happen.
At all events, first Judah will return as he has returned to the State of Israel. And Judah will become a Warrior Nation as to some degree he already has become whereas in Exile, the Diaspora, the Jews were not known as great soldiers, great warriors. They had to survive so they went to survive and they could not fight because they didn't have their own Homeland and it was not their task to fight at that stage but when they return it will happen according to Prophecy and it is happening to some degree already. And they have already returned with help from the 10 Tribes especially from Joseph, from Ephraim and Manasseh. We see Joseph, the descendants of Joseph now to be found amongst the English-speaking peoples. Ephraim is prominent in Britain and its offshoots whereas Manasseh is more dominant in the USA but both entities both Britain and the USA contain elements from both Ephraim and Manasseh, from all of the Tribes of Joseph. So that is something worth taking into account. Ezekiel 11:18 also indicates at first the Exiles will return to the Land of Israel and after that they shall put away their idols and keep the Law (Ezekiel 11:20). And Ezekiel says that Judah has an obligation to help the Lost Ten Tribes to return. He says the complete return of Judah is dependent upon the return of Samaria. "Samaria" is another name for the Ten Tribes, see Ezekiel 16: 53, 55, 61, and by the 10 Tribes in this case especially Manasseh is referred to. Manasseh was dominant in Samaria. Manasseh is in the USA mainly. And God will renew his Covenant with Judah and with Israel, according to Ezekiel 16:62. So that is what we have. It's worth noting. It's worth thinking about and it is similar to some degree for the first time in history, in known histories to what is happening now. It is what the Bible, what the Prophets, prophesied would happen. And this is the first time it has happened. It has not completely come to fruition but indications are that they're on the way and we are told to learn the Prophets, to look in the word of God Almighty and to understand from it so that is what we may understand from it. So to all the essentials the Ten Tribes and all those who fill out they are of essence from the Ten Times they should help Brit-Am. They should help us.