The Split and Restoration of the House of Jacob
Encountering God’s Presence
The Split and Restoration of the House of Jacob
"What are the twelve tribes of Israel?"
There is a difference between the twelve tribes of Israel and the twelve sons of Israel.
“Israel” is the name that God gave Jacob (Genesis 32:28). His twelve sons are Reuben,
Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, and
Benjamin (Genesis 35:23-26; Exodus 1:1-4; 1 Chronicles 2:1-2). When the tribes
inherited the Promised Land, Levi's descendants did not receive a territory for
themselves. Instead, they became priests and had several cities scattered throughout
all of Israel. Joseph did not receive a tribe, either—Jacob had adopted Joseph’s two
sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, essentially giving Joseph a double portion for his
faithfulness in saving the family from famine (Genesis 47:11-12). This makes the tribes
as listed in Joshua: Reuben, Simeon, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar,
Zebulun, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh. Adding to the confusion, the tribe of
Ephraim is sometimes referred to as the tribe of Joseph (Numbers 1:32-33).
"Why was Israel divided into the Southern Kingdom and Northern Kingdom?"
Throughout their history in the Promised Land, the children of Israel struggled with
conflict among the tribes. The disunity went back all the way to the patriarch Jacob, who
presided over a house divided. The sons of Leah and the sons of Rachel had their
share of contention even in Jacob’s lifetime (Genesis 37:1-11).
The enmity among the half-brothers continued in the time of the judges. Benjamin (one
of Rachel’s tribes) took up arms against the other tribes (Judges 20). Israel’s first king,
Saul, was of the tribe of Benjamin. When David was crowned king—David was from the
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The Split and Restoration of the House of Jacob
Encountering God’s Presence
tribe of Judah (one of Leah’s tribes)—the Benjamites rebelled (2 Samuel 2–3). After a
long war (2 Samuel 3:1), David succeeded in uniting all twelve tribes (5:1-5).
The frailty of the union was exposed, however, when David’s son Absalom promoted
himself as the new king and drew many Israelites away from their allegiance to David (2
Samuel 15). Significantly, Absalom set up his throne in Hebron, the site of the former
capital (v. 10). A later revolt was led by a man named Sheba against David and the tribe
of Judah (20:1-2).
The reign of David’s son Solomon saw more unrest when one of the king’s servants,
Jeroboam, rebelled. Jeroboam was on the king’s errand when he met the prophet
Ahijah, who told him that God was going to give him authority over ten of the twelve
tribes of Israel. God’s reason for the division of the kingdom was definitive: “Because
they have forsaken me . . . and have not walked in my ways.” However, God promised
that David’s dynasty would continue, albeit over a much smaller kingdom, for the sake
of God’s covenant with David and for the sake of Jerusalem, God’s chosen city. When
Solomon learned of the prophecy, he sought to kill Jeroboam, who fled to Egypt for
sanctuary (1 Kings 11:26-40).
After Solomon’s death, his son Rehoboam was set to become the next king. Jeroboam
returned from Egypt and led a group of people to confront Rehoboam with a demand for
a lighter tax burden. When Rehoboam refused the demand, ten of the tribes rejected
Rehoboam and David’s dynasty (1 Kings 12:16), and Ahijah’s prophecy was fulfilled.
Only Judah and Benjamin remained loyal to King Rehoboam. The northern tribes
crowned Jeroboam as their king. Rehoboam made plans to mount an assault on the
rebel tribes, but the Lord prevented him from taking that action (vv. 21-24). Meanwhile,
Jeroboam further consolidated his power by instituting a form of calf worship unique to
his kingdom and declaring that pilgrimages to Jerusalem were unnecessary. Thus, the
people of the northern tribes would have no contact with the tribes of Judah and
Benjamin.
“So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day” (1 Kings 12:19).
The northern kingdom is called “Israel” (or sometimes “Ephraim”) in Scripture, and the
southern kingdom is called “Judah.” From the divine viewpoint, the division was a
judgment on not keeping God’s commands, specifically the commands prohibiting
idolatry. From a human viewpoint, the division was the result of tribal discord and
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The Split and Restoration of the House of Jacob
Encountering God’s Presence
political unrest. The principle is that sin brings division (1 Corinthians 1:13, 11:18;
James 4:1).
Read more: http://www.gotquestions.org/Israel-Northern-Southern-kingdoms.html#
What happened to the Northern and Southern Kingdoms?
Because of their forsaking of Him, God permitted the two kingdoms to be destroyed.
First, the northern kingdom of Israel was gradually conquered by the Assyrians and by
721 B.C. they had practically all been taken into exile to Assyria (2 Kings 17:1-23). The
vast majority of them never returned, and have become known as the "Lost Ten Tribes
of Israel."
Then, about 135 years later, in 586 B.C., the southern kingdom of Judah was
conquered by the Babylonians (and the Jews were taken into captivity to Babylon. The
original Temple of God in Jerusalem was destroyed at that time) The people of the
southern kingdom of Judah however did return after the Babylonians fell to the Persians
and their descendants have become the Jewish people of today.
An important point to realize here is that since that return, the religious practices of the
Jewish people have evolved into something somewhat different than their ancestors
practiced in earlier times. Many traditions and customs were gradually added by
authorities such as the Pharisees and Sadducees. By the time of Jesus Christ, when
the Jewish authorities accused The Lord of breaking the law, much of which was merely
their law, not God's, He rebuked His own people for worshiping God according to their
own traditions:
"And He said to them, "Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, 'This
people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me; in vain do they worship
Me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.' You leave the commandment of God,
and hold fast the tradition of men." And He said to them, "You have a fine way of
rejecting the commandment of God, in order to keep your tradition!" (Mark 7:6-9 RSV)
The Lord's condemnation was aimed at their religious leadership of that time, not at the
people themselves, since most of the first Christians, including Jesus Himself, were
Jews.
www.keyway.com
All Jews (house of Judah, Benjamin) are Israelites, but not all Israelites are
Jews(northern tribes).
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The Split and Restoration of the House of Jacob
Encountering God’s Presence
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The Split and Restoration of the House of Jacob
Encountering God’s Presence
In Scripture Nations were often referred to as "houses" or referred to as female.
So, who does the House of Jacob specifically refer to?
BOTH Kingdoms
House of Israel & Foreigners/ Companions (northern
kingdom-Jeroboam lead
Judah & Present Day Jews (southern kingdom-Rehoboam
lead)
Because Jacob was the Father of ALL before the split.
Exodus 19 is actually where the "Church" and "Bride" were born. This group of
people consisted of the Israelites along with "foreigners" who had chosen to
follow Jehovah. It is Hebrew custom for one who is betrothed to be referred to as
a wife and one who is already married. It is possible to divorce one to whom you
are betrothed during the “engagement” if unfaithfulness/adultery is an issue.
The Proposal & Betrothal:
Exodus 19:3-10
And Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain, saying,
“Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel: “You have
seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles ’ wings and brought you
to Myself. Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then
you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. And you
shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. ’ These are the words which you
shall speak to the children of Israel.”
So Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before them all these
words which the Lord commanded him. Then all the people answered together and
said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do.” So Moses brought back the words of the
people to the Lord. And the Lord said to Moses, “ Behold, I come to you in the thick
cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with you, and believe you forever.”
So Moses told the words of the people to the Lord.
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The Split and Restoration of the House of Jacob
Encountering God’s Presence
Then the Lord said to Moses, “ Go to the people and consecrate them today and
tomorrow, and let them wash their clothes.
This was the proposal and the following chapters in Exodus were the stipulations for the
wedding contract/Ketubah.
The Divorce:
Jeremiah 3:6-18
The Lord said also to me in the days of Josiah the king:“Have you seen what
backsliding Israel has done? She has gone up on every high mountain and under every
green tree, and there played the harlot. And I said, after she had done all these things, ‘
Return to Me. ’ But she did not return. And her treacherous sister Judah saw it. Then I
saw that for all the causes for which backsliding Israel had committed adultery, I had put
her away and given her a certificate of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah did not
fear, but went and played the harlot also. So it came to pass, through her casual
harlotry, that she defiled the land and committed adultery with stones and trees. And yet
for all this her treacherous sister Judah has not turned to Me with her whole heart, but in
pretense,” says the Lord.
Then the Lord said to me, “ Backsliding Israel has shown herself more righteous than
treacherous Judah. Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say:
‘ Return, backsliding Israel, ’ says the Lord;
‘I will not cause My anger to fall on you.
For I am merciful, ’ says the Lord;
‘I will not remain angry forever.
Only acknowledge your iniquity,
That you have transgressed against the Lord your God,
And have scattered your charms
To alien deities under every green tree,
And you have not obeyed My voice, ’ says the Lord.
“ Return, O backsliding children,” says the Lord; “for I am married to you. I will take you,
one from a city and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion. And I will give you
shepherds according to My heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.
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The Split and Restoration of the House of Jacob
Encountering God’s Presence
“Then it shall come to pass, when you are multiplied and increased in the land in those
days,” says the Lord, “that they will say no more, ‘The ark of the covenant of the Lord. ’
It shall not come to mind, nor shall they remember it, nor shall they visit it, nor shall it be
made anymore.
“At that time Jerusalem shall be called The Throne of the Lord, and all the nations shall
be gathered to it, to the name of the Lord, to Jerusalem. No more shall they follow the
dictates of their evil hearts.
“In those days the house of Judah shall walk with the house of Israel, and they shall
come together out of the land of the north to the land that I have given as an inheritance
to your fathers.
House of Judah
tribe of Judah, Benjamin
(parts of Simeon and Levi)
Jerusalem located in Judah
Judah=Jewdah=Jews
Why wasn’t Judah Divorced? Judah was not divorced because of God's love for
Jerusalem and David. This is often referred to as the "Sure Mercies of David" covenant.
2 Samuel 7:12-17
“When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after
you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a
house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his
Father, and he shall be My son. If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of
men and with the blows of the sons of men. But My mercy shall not depart from him, as
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The Split and Restoration of the House of Jacob
Encountering God’s Presence
I took it from Saul, whom I removed from before you. And your house and your kingdom
shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever.” ’”
According to all these words and according to all this vision, so Nathan spoke to David.
Psalm 89:20
What is the Meaning of the Name "Jew"?
The term "Jew" is derived from the name of Jacob's fourth son, Judah--Yehudah, in the Hebrew--and may have originally applied
only to Judah's descendents, who comprised one of the twelve tribes of Israel. On his deathbed, Jacob assigned Judah the role of
leader and king--a prophesy that was fulfilled in 869 BCE when all twelve tribes submitted to the reign of King David of the tribe of
Judah.
After the death of David's son, King Solomon, a civil dispute split the twelve tribes of Israel into two kingdoms: the Kingdom of Judah
in the south, which included the tribes of Judah and Benjamin (and some Levites and priests) and was centered around the capital
Jerusalem and the Holy Temple; and the northern Kingdom of Israel, which included the other ten tribes.
In the 5th century BCE, the Kingdom of Israel was conquered by Assyrian King Sennaherib, and the ten tribes were exiled and lost.
The only remaining Israelites were the residents of the Kingdom of Judah, and the term "Yehudi" or "Jew" came to refer to all the
Israelites, regardless of their tribal ancestry. BY ROCHEL CHEIN Mrs. Rochel Chein is a member of the chabad.org
House of Israel
Known as all of Israel before the split or only the 10 tribes. It depends on context. For this lesson
we will refer mainly to it as Israel after the split. It is often called by other names=Joseph,
Ephraim, Isaac, Samaria etc it refers to 10 tribes of the Northern Kingdom and foreigners and
companions
The House of Israel was divorced by God for her adultery. Israel divorced because
they broke ketubah/betrothal/engagement of Exodus 19. This was the proposal and the
following chapters in Exodus were the stipulations for the wedding contract/Ketubah.
The Northern Kingdom taken captive to Assyria. Throughout history the 10 Northern
Tribes were dispersed and the people assimilated into the pagan nations.
Hosea 1
Terms of the Divorce
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The Split and Restoration of the House of Jacob
Encountering God’s Presence
The Kingdoms were still Divided in Jesus’ Time
When Zechariah was praying in holy of holies it was not for a son! It was a
traditional prayer called "amidah" (the 18 benedictions) part of that is for the
restoration of all of Israel. Gabriel said that prayer had been heard!
That's why disciples said "restore the kingdom" vs. Bring the kingdom
Acts 1:6
Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “ Lord, will You at
this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”
Luke 15
Look at the parables from this perspective (prodigal son) from this perspective. Northern
kingdom is younger son than Judah.
Isaiah 54
Israel=barren woman
Judah=married
Romans 11 is the New Testament Ezekiel 37
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The Split and Restoration of the House of Jacob
Encountering God’s Presence
ONE OF THE PRIMARY REASONS FOR JESUS’ DEATH, BURIAL AND
RESURRECTION WAS TO RESTORE THE HOUSE OF JACOB.
Luke 1:28-33 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with
you!” But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of
greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have
found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and
you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most
High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign
over the House of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.
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