From Genesis 17:6 to Ezekiel 37:24
- Abraham is given the Promise of Kings AND Nations (Genesis 17:6). These two promises are like “Two Sticks” in Abraham’s hand, which are later passed down to his heirs.
- Jacob deceived Esau and obtained the Two Sticks of Abraham via Isaac (although he would have received the promises honorably had he waited and trusted in YHVH).
- As punishment, Jacob’s Uncle Laban deceived him and obtained the Promise Inheritor as a temporary servant/slave.
- Jacob obtained two wives (Rachel and Leah) when he only wanted one.
- Jacob’s house is divided at its onset.
- Leah gives birth to Judah, the heir of the future Southern Kingdom of Judah
- Rachel gives birth to Joseph, the heir of the future Northern Kingdom of Israel.
- Judah receives the Promise of KINGS (Genesis 49:10), first given to Abraham.
- Ephraim (son of Joseph) receives the Promise of NATIONS (Genesis 48:19), first given to Abraham.
- King David (of Judah) unites all twelve tribes of Jacob/Israel.
- As punishment for King Solomon’s idolatry, the Almighty tears the Ten Northern Tribes away from him, leaving him only the Kingdom of Judah (1 Kings 11:9-13).
- The Northern Kingdom of Israel forms under King Jeroboam I (Ephraimite, descendant of Joseph).
- The Southern Kingdom of Judah forms under King Rehoboam (son of Solomon).
- The two kingdoms go to war with each other repetitively. Much hatred and bloodshed.
- The Southern Kingdom remains more faithful to the Torah while the Northern Kingdom turns to great Idolatry and Wickedness (Prodigal Son – Luke 15 ramifications).
- The Northern Kingdom (and parts of the Southern Kingdom – 2 Kings 18:13) are scattered and deported by the Assyrian Empire between 740-700 BCE.
- Ezekiel prophesies that the two kingdoms/houses will be reunited under One Shepherd (Ezekiel 34:23; 37:24).
- The Southern Kingdom is deported by the Babylonian Empire between 597-586 BCE.
- The Babylonians are conquered by the Persians in 539 BCE.
- Upon the decree of Cyrus (537 BCE), some of the descendants of the Southern Kingdom return to Judea to rebuild Zion and the Temple under Zerubbabel in 535 BCE, and then with Ezra in 458 BCE, and Nehemiah in 444 BCE (Ezra 2 and Nehemiah 7).
- No record of any Israelites from Ephraim or Judah returning from the Assyrian Captivity, though some minuscule remnants may have returned at later undocumented times.
- Yeshua (Jesus) comes to the Southern Kingdom of Judah, teaching His JEWISH disciples to go to “the Lost Sheep of the House of Israel” (Matthew 10:6).
- Yeshua (Jesus) tells His JEWISH disciples that He is the “One Shepherd” that Ezekiel prophesied about (John 10:16).
- The Romans destroy the Temple in 70 AD/CE and remove the JEWS of the House of JEWdah from JEWdea.
- The historian Flavius Josephus records that the House of Joseph (10-Israel) is NOT under the rule of the Roman Empire, but are east of the Euphrates River (Antiquities of the Jews – Book XI Ch. 5).
- Rabbi Akiva and Eliezer disagree about the return of 10-Israel. Eliezer agrees with the Prophets that they will return eventually (Babylonian Talmud, Sanhedrin 110b).
- Between about 1880 and 1939, the Fishermen (e.g., Zionists) of Jeremiah 16:14-19 fished some of Judah back to the Land of Judah (nearly half a million returned).
- Between about 1939 and 1948, the Hunters (e.g., Nazis, Soviets, Arab Muslims) of Jeremiah 16:14-19 hunted Judah down in the most terrible Holocaust known to human history.
- In 1948, the JEWS of Judah re-form into a Nation, almost naming their country “Judah”, but instead chosing the name “Israel”.
- The Fishermen are currently fishing for Joseph (e.g., yours truly). The Hunters are on their way (e.g., the same Hunters Judah already faced).
The House of Joseph (10-Israel) consists of more than just legend or fairytale. In the article The Promise of Hebrew Multitudes, I list a myriad of prophetic Scripture promises made directly to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, and Ephraim… where in no uncertain terms are they unconditionally promised to be fathers of multitudes (i.e. “the sands of the sea”). This means that those non-Jews who are reading this short article right now, may actually be descended from or connected to Joseph (10-Israel) in some profound way, even if you are completely oblivious to the historical points listed above. If you read the Prodigal Son story of Luke 15:11-32, you’ll notice that things become very difficult (e.g., Jacob’s Trouble) for the Prodigal BEFORE he “comes to himself” (i.e., remembers who he is).
For a more detailed description of the Two-House Reality of Israel and Judah, see the articles: Two-House Theology (Reality) defined and defended and 10 Reasons the Jews are from Judah.