Notes by Alex Zephyr (1 June 2017, 7 Sivan, 5777)
Hello Yair,
Here is my respond to an Article in Breaking Israel News,
"Demographic Shifts Indicate Israel Will Soon Redivide Into 12 Tribes" by Adam Eliyahu Berkowitz, May 18, 2017:
https://www.breakingisraelnews.com/88316/explosive-population-growth-proves-prophesied-third-inheritance-israel-imminent/#HVMQlAllVWo8uIrc.97'Possibly the biggest change will be the redistribution of land and the return of Jewish tribal identity,' explained Rabbi Weiss. 'When most of the Jews live in Israel we will be required to divide the land into tribal territories.'
He cited Ezekiel to illustrate that this is a necessary part of the prophesied redemption.
And it shall come to pass that ye shall divide it by lot for an inheritance unto you and to the strangers that sojourn among you Ezekiel 47:21-22
This may seem an impossible task since most Jews have lost the tradition of identifying them as part of a specific tribe. Rabbi Weiss explained that not only is this possible without divine help, but it will be a legal requirement incumbent upon the rabbis to assign tribal territories, as was done in the time of Joshua.
'We are required to have twelve tribes,' Rabbi Weiss said. 'The land will be divided according to the Biblical territories. Every Jew living in that territory will receive an inheritance and be considered as if he is from that tribe.'
This is a very misleading Article. No wonder many readers disagree and argue that in order to divide the Holy Land among the Twelve Tribe of Israel, it is imperative to have them present in the land of Israel. The author completely ignores the subject of the 'Lost' Ten Tribes in exile. According to him, it is OK to divide the land by lot for an inheritance among Jews because they represent all 12 Tribes of Israel. He even tries to prove his point that the Jewish people are as multitudinous as the stars of the heaven (Genesis 15:5), which he counts as 9,000 and compare it to the fact that it is only approximately 15-16 million Jews in the World. But he somehow forgets that God also said that He will multiply the seed of Israelites 'as the sand which is upon the seashore' (Genesis 22:17). Surely, such words could not apply to Judah, whose population (due to constant killings and holocausts) cannot approach the description of 'the stars of the sky and the sand of the seashore' which properly fits the Ten Tribes of Israel.
Can one calculate the sand of the beaches? I think there are 500-600 million Israelites of the 10 Tribes, and that is more pertinent to the God idea of multiplication of the whole House of Israel. By quoting another Biblical passage, the author wants us to believe that Hashem speaking of returning to the land the Jews only (Ezekiel 20:42). Meanwhile, in the previous verse, God stated that 'all the house of Israel, all of them will be in the land to serve Him' (verse 40).
Many historians and researchers have verified that the 'Lost' Ten Tribes of Israel are in our midst. It is the word of God that all Twelve Tribes of the House of Israel will be represented among the nations at the end of days. In order to fulfill this prophecy, the entire House of Jacob has to be reunited. As the Midrash says: 'And you find that Israel will not be redeemed until they become one unity' (Tanchuma, Nitzavim 1:18, reflecting on Jeremiah 3:18 and Ezekiel 37:22). What we have to realize is that the majority of the Ten Tribes have never reunited with the Jewish people. They are still living in exile. Their future destiny is a prophesied reunion with their brother Judah and redemption in the times of Messiah.
Most people do not understand the difference between the people of Judah and the people of Israel. Despite the fact that these nations are of the same Semitic stock being twelve sons of the Patriarch Jacob, they are different nations now, living in the different countries of the World, having different histories, cultures, languages, traditions, and religions. The Jews are part of Israel, just two [and a half] tribes among twelve. By no means is it correct to substitute them for the Ten Tribes of Israel. Today the two terms are not synonymous. Likewise, the Israelites are not the Jews. It is safe to say that all Jews technically can be called 'Israelites', whereas not all Israelites can be called Jews. Throughout the Scripture, the Almighty speaks separately of the house of Judah and the house of Israel.
'Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, I will perform those good things which I have promised unto the house of Israel and to the house of Judah' (Jer. 33:14).
The return of the Jews (Judah, Benjamin, and most of Levi) in 1948 is not final. First of all, this return was partial because not all of Israel was involved and not all the land of Israel taken. This is the just first stage of redemption as physical regathering of the Jews to the land in unbelief when God did not require them to repent and know their God. The final stage of return does require national repentance and spiritual belief in the God of Israel. The Ten Tribes in exile will find the way to reject sin, to repent of their idolatries, depart from evil and do righteousness and justice.
God will not leave Israel until everything was written and spoken will be done. Judah and Israel will be as though I had not cast them off (Zechariah 10:6). The return of the tribes is fundamental and is an essential dimension of Judaism. This union equals peace, prosperity, and fulfilled prophecy. The reunification of all the families of Jacob will be the beginning of a new Messianic age of Liberation and Redemption. The best description concerning the destiny of Israel and Judah in the last days can be found in the famous Two Sticks prophecy of Ezekiel:
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).
Those who reject these numerous prophecies reject the sacred Word of the Almighty.
Alexander Zephyr