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
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1. Introduction by Yair Davidiy
Rabbi Chaim Chanon is a full-time Torah scholar and as such deserves to ba 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.
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,
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 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:
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).