Who Are the Israelites?
Israelites are descendants of Abraham through the 12 sons of Jacob. Also called Hebrews, they were chosen by God to receive the Law; to be guided by deliverer-judges, kings, and prophets; to endure God's judgement in the form of the Babylonian Exile; to be granted restoration into God's favor; and to receive the promise of a Messiah. The nation was divided in 930 BC. Two of its tribes formed the southern nation of Judah, and the other ten tribes formed the nation of Israel. Israel was also known as Ephraim, after its principle tribe, and Samaria, after its capitol city. The northern ten tribes were exiled and dispersed throughout the nations.
Genesis 15:4-5
Then the word of the Lord came to him: “This man will not be your heir (Eliezer of Damascus), but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.” He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” (The Israelites)
Genesis 15:18-21
On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram and said, “To your descendants I give this land, from the Wadi of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates— the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites, Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites and Jebusites.”
Exodus 6:4
I also established my covenant with them (Israelites) to give them the land of Canaan, where they resided as foreigners.
Exodus 23:31
“I will establish your borders from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea, and from the desert to the Euphrates River. I will give into your hands the people who live in the land, and you will drive them out before you.
Nehemiah 2:19-20
But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official and Geshem the Arab heard about it, they mocked and ridiculed us. “What is this you are doing?” they asked. “Are you rebelling against the king?”
I answered them by saying, “The God of heaven will give us success. We his servants will start rebuilding, but as for you, you have no share in Jerusalem or any claim or historic right to it.” (During the rebuilding of the Temple)
Psalm 44:11-14
You gave us up to be devoured like sheep and have scattered us among the nations. You sold your people for a pittance, gaining nothing from their sale. You have made us a reproach to our neighbors, the scorn and derision of those around us. You have made us a byword among the nations; the peoples shake their heads at us.
Then the word of the Lord came to him: “This man will not be your heir (Eliezer of Damascus), but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.” He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” (The Israelites)
Genesis 15:18-21
On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram and said, “To your descendants I give this land, from the Wadi of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates— the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites, Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites and Jebusites.”
Exodus 6:4
I also established my covenant with them (Israelites) to give them the land of Canaan, where they resided as foreigners.
Exodus 23:31
“I will establish your borders from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea, and from the desert to the Euphrates River. I will give into your hands the people who live in the land, and you will drive them out before you.
Nehemiah 2:19-20
But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official and Geshem the Arab heard about it, they mocked and ridiculed us. “What is this you are doing?” they asked. “Are you rebelling against the king?”
I answered them by saying, “The God of heaven will give us success. We his servants will start rebuilding, but as for you, you have no share in Jerusalem or any claim or historic right to it.” (During the rebuilding of the Temple)
Psalm 44:11-14
You gave us up to be devoured like sheep and have scattered us among the nations. You sold your people for a pittance, gaining nothing from their sale. You have made us a reproach to our neighbors, the scorn and derision of those around us. You have made us a byword among the nations; the peoples shake their heads at us.
Psalm 83:4
“Come,” they say, “let us destroy them as a nation, so that Israel’s name is remembered no more.” Isaiah 27:6 In days to come Jacob will take root, Israel will bud and blossom and fill all the world with fruit. Jeremiah 16:15 but it will be said, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, who brought the Israelites up out of the land of the north and out of all the countries where he had banished them.’ For I will restore them to the land I gave their ancestors. Hosea 3:4-5 For the Israelites will live many days without king or prince,without sacrifice or sacred stones, without ephod or household gods. Afterward the Israelites will return and seek the Lord their God and David their king. They will come trembling to the Lord and to his blessings in the last days. |
Zechariah 8:7-8
This is what the Lord Almighty says: “I will save my people from the countries of the east and the west. I will bring them back to live in Jerusalem; they will be my people, and I will be faithful and righteous to them as their God.”
Matthew 15:24
He (Jesus) answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”
Romans 2:28-29
A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God.
Romans 11:25-26
I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in, and in this way all Israel will be saved. As it is written: “The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.
James 1:1
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings.
Revelation 7:3-17
“Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.” Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel.
From the tribe of Judah 12,000 were sealed,
from the tribe of Reuben 12,000,
from the tribe of Gad 12,000,
from the tribe of Asher 12,000,
from the tribe of Naphtali 12,000,
from the tribe of Manasseh 12,000,
from the tribe of Simeon 12,000,
from the tribe of Levi 12,000,
from the tribe of Issachar 12,000,
from the tribe of Zebulun 12,000,
from the tribe of Joseph 12,000,
from the tribe of Benjamin 12,000.
After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying: “Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!” Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?” I answered, “Sir, you know.” And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore, “they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence.‘Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; ‘he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.
Israelites, Gentiles?
PAUL'S COMPARISON OF UNLOVED ISRAELITES TO GENTILES
Gentiles: heathen, cut-off, the nations separate from the Jews (Judah). May be the 10 lost tribes of the northern kingdom of Israel
Jews: Israelites of the southern kingdom that is comprised of Judah and Benjamin. These are the people we refer to as Israelites today.
First let's look at what Hosea chapter one says concerning God's feelings towards the Northern and Southern Kingdoms of Israel:
Hosea 1
The word of the Lord that came to Hosea son of Beeri during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and during the reign of Jeroboam son of Jehoashking of Israel:
When the Lord began to speak through Hosea, the Lord said to him, “Go, marry a promiscuous woman and have children with her, for like an adulterous wife this land is guilty of unfaithfulness to the Lord.” So he married Gomer daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son.
Then the Lord said to Hosea, “Call him Jezreel, because I will soon punish the house of Jehu for the massacre at Jezreel, and I will put an end to the kingdom of Israel. In that day I will break Israel’s bow in the Valley of Jezreel. ”
Gomer conceived again and gave birth to a daughter. Then the Lord said to Hosea, “Call her Lo-Ruhamah (which means “not loved”), for I will no longer show love to Israel, that I should at all forgive them. Yet I will show love to Judah; and I will save them—not by bow, sword or battle, or by horses and horsemen, but I, the Lord their God, will save them.”
After she had weaned Lo-Ruhamah, Gomer had another son. Then the Lord said, “Call him Lo-Ammi (which means “not my people”), for you are not my people, and I am not your God.
“Yet the Israelites will be like the sand on the seashore, which cannot be measured or counted. In the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ they will be called ‘children of the living God.’ The people of Judah and the people of Israel will come together; they will appoint one leader and will come up out of the land, for great will be the day of Jezreel.
Hosea 2:23
I will plant her for myself in the land;
I will show my love to the one I called ‘Not my loved one. ’
I will say to those called ‘Not my people,’ ‘You are my people’;
and they will say, ‘You are my God. ’”
Romans 9:24-25
even us, whom he also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles? As he says in Hosea:
“I will call them ‘my people’ who are not my people;
and I will call her ‘my loved one’ who is not my loved one,”
Romans 9:26
and, “In the very place where it was said to them,
‘You are not my people,’
there they will be called ‘children of the living God."
Paul is speaking about the Gentiles in this chapter and he implicitly refers back to the book of Hosea, remarking that the Gentiles he speaks of are the Israelites that God once rejected, but has now been merciful to by calling them back to him.) What was said in Hosea about Israel (Northern 10 Tribes) was actually starting to take place as the Gentiles (scattered, unbelieving pagans of the many nations who were once the scattered 10 tribes) began to come back to God as redeemed christians.
Gentiles: heathen, cut-off, the nations separate from the Jews (Judah). May be the 10 lost tribes of the northern kingdom of Israel
Jews: Israelites of the southern kingdom that is comprised of Judah and Benjamin. These are the people we refer to as Israelites today.
First let's look at what Hosea chapter one says concerning God's feelings towards the Northern and Southern Kingdoms of Israel:
Hosea 1
The word of the Lord that came to Hosea son of Beeri during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and during the reign of Jeroboam son of Jehoashking of Israel:
When the Lord began to speak through Hosea, the Lord said to him, “Go, marry a promiscuous woman and have children with her, for like an adulterous wife this land is guilty of unfaithfulness to the Lord.” So he married Gomer daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son.
Then the Lord said to Hosea, “Call him Jezreel, because I will soon punish the house of Jehu for the massacre at Jezreel, and I will put an end to the kingdom of Israel. In that day I will break Israel’s bow in the Valley of Jezreel. ”
Gomer conceived again and gave birth to a daughter. Then the Lord said to Hosea, “Call her Lo-Ruhamah (which means “not loved”), for I will no longer show love to Israel, that I should at all forgive them. Yet I will show love to Judah; and I will save them—not by bow, sword or battle, or by horses and horsemen, but I, the Lord their God, will save them.”
After she had weaned Lo-Ruhamah, Gomer had another son. Then the Lord said, “Call him Lo-Ammi (which means “not my people”), for you are not my people, and I am not your God.
“Yet the Israelites will be like the sand on the seashore, which cannot be measured or counted. In the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ they will be called ‘children of the living God.’ The people of Judah and the people of Israel will come together; they will appoint one leader and will come up out of the land, for great will be the day of Jezreel.
Hosea 2:23
I will plant her for myself in the land;
I will show my love to the one I called ‘Not my loved one. ’
I will say to those called ‘Not my people,’ ‘You are my people’;
and they will say, ‘You are my God. ’”
Romans 9:24-25
even us, whom he also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles? As he says in Hosea:
“I will call them ‘my people’ who are not my people;
and I will call her ‘my loved one’ who is not my loved one,”
Romans 9:26
and, “In the very place where it was said to them,
‘You are not my people,’
there they will be called ‘children of the living God."
Paul is speaking about the Gentiles in this chapter and he implicitly refers back to the book of Hosea, remarking that the Gentiles he speaks of are the Israelites that God once rejected, but has now been merciful to by calling them back to him.) What was said in Hosea about Israel (Northern 10 Tribes) was actually starting to take place as the Gentiles (scattered, unbelieving pagans of the many nations who were once the scattered 10 tribes) began to come back to God as redeemed christians.
Israel and Palestine: What's the Deal?
1947- U.N. voted to divide Palestine into two states- one Jewish- one Palestinian. A Jewish population of 600,000 was given large swaths of barren desert as a land reserve for numerous Jewish refugees waiting to arrive (holocaust survivors and Jews of all nationalities). A Muslim Palestinian population of 1.3 million was expected to grow through natural increase. More than 70% of fertile land was given to Palestinians. What they failed to realize was that the Jews and Muslims have always opposed each other and this opposition has been going on for thousands of years. The resettlement of the Jews to their original homeland only precipitated the rivalship of these ancient enemies, which caused an uprising among arab states bent on destrying the newly formed Jewish homeland.
1948 Israeli-Palestinian War- British withdrew from Israel. Muslim leaders told the Palestinians to leave their homes and "as soon as we drive out the Jews, you can return." Five Muslim armies from Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon as well as foreign volunteers from Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Pakistan, Sudan and Irregulars such as the Muslim Brotherhood, Holy War Army, and the Arab Liberation Army immediately attacked the Jews. They tried to murder the Zionist state in its infancy. To their shock they lost the war and 600,000 Palestinian refugees were displaced. Israel survived but Egypt occupied the Gaza Strip and Jordan held the West Bank. Although the surrounding Muslim armies were unsuccesful at destroying the Jews, it fueled more bitterness and hatred on both sides.
Jordan, Syria, Iran, and Iraq would not let the Palestinians immigrate to their land, even though they had plenty of land and money. The Muslim leaders basically used the Palestinians like pawns on a chessboard, giving the false perception of the Palestinian problem being Israel's fault. The Muslims created the Palestinian refugee problem- not the Israeli's. This "refugee problem" was created, sustained, and manipulated by Muslim leaders against their own people to portray the Jews of Israel as heartless. The refugees were a result of war that the Jews didn't start. Displaced Palestinians are more valuable politically as refugees than as prosperous, productive citizens in an Arab nation. The media has used this to brainwash the western world as well as the people of the middle east. The Israeli government and United Nations put up to $150 million to resettle any Arab families that wanted to return to their homes. Those who did were shot by the P.L.O. (Palestinian Liberation Organization), led by Yasser Arafat to scare off any more.
1967- Six Day War- The city of Jerusalem was again restored to it's rightful people after almost 2,000 years by a supernatural victory over invading Arab armies that surrounded the nation once more. Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Algeria, Libya, Kuwait, Tunisia, Sudan, and the PLO lost again to a land war against a small Israeli army. Afterwards, Jews still had to live alongside Muslims and the Israeli government turned control of Islamic religious sites back to the Muslims. Islam considered the Temple Mount one of the three holiest sites in the world (although Muslims call it the Al-Aqsa Mosque). Jewish authorities issued a warning to the Jews to not tread upon the Temple Mount. The Jews claim that this ancient place was the original spot where Abraham was tested by God with his son Isaac. It is also common knowledge and a fact of history that the Muslim claim to the Temple Mount is invalid because historians agree that the Temple Mount was originally the Jewish Temple used by Israelites that was destroyed by King Herod after the death of Jesus of Nazareth more than 2,000 years ago.
Today- The current obstacles to peace between Muslim countries and Israel is actually the same obstacle that it was during the time of Abraham of the bible. The Jewish homeland was based on a promise made to Abraham by God that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the sky and they would take possesion of the cities of their enemies (Genesis 22). Abraham had two sons, each from seperate wives. The first son was Ishmael of whom the Arabs trace their lineage. The second son was Isaac, of whom the Israelies trace their lineage. The blessing of God's promise was given to Isaac. From that time until now, the ancient rivalship has persisted. The partitioning of the land will never bring peace and will ultimately further the cause of both sides to fight one another.
1948 Israeli-Palestinian War- British withdrew from Israel. Muslim leaders told the Palestinians to leave their homes and "as soon as we drive out the Jews, you can return." Five Muslim armies from Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon as well as foreign volunteers from Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Pakistan, Sudan and Irregulars such as the Muslim Brotherhood, Holy War Army, and the Arab Liberation Army immediately attacked the Jews. They tried to murder the Zionist state in its infancy. To their shock they lost the war and 600,000 Palestinian refugees were displaced. Israel survived but Egypt occupied the Gaza Strip and Jordan held the West Bank. Although the surrounding Muslim armies were unsuccesful at destroying the Jews, it fueled more bitterness and hatred on both sides.
Jordan, Syria, Iran, and Iraq would not let the Palestinians immigrate to their land, even though they had plenty of land and money. The Muslim leaders basically used the Palestinians like pawns on a chessboard, giving the false perception of the Palestinian problem being Israel's fault. The Muslims created the Palestinian refugee problem- not the Israeli's. This "refugee problem" was created, sustained, and manipulated by Muslim leaders against their own people to portray the Jews of Israel as heartless. The refugees were a result of war that the Jews didn't start. Displaced Palestinians are more valuable politically as refugees than as prosperous, productive citizens in an Arab nation. The media has used this to brainwash the western world as well as the people of the middle east. The Israeli government and United Nations put up to $150 million to resettle any Arab families that wanted to return to their homes. Those who did were shot by the P.L.O. (Palestinian Liberation Organization), led by Yasser Arafat to scare off any more.
1967- Six Day War- The city of Jerusalem was again restored to it's rightful people after almost 2,000 years by a supernatural victory over invading Arab armies that surrounded the nation once more. Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Algeria, Libya, Kuwait, Tunisia, Sudan, and the PLO lost again to a land war against a small Israeli army. Afterwards, Jews still had to live alongside Muslims and the Israeli government turned control of Islamic religious sites back to the Muslims. Islam considered the Temple Mount one of the three holiest sites in the world (although Muslims call it the Al-Aqsa Mosque). Jewish authorities issued a warning to the Jews to not tread upon the Temple Mount. The Jews claim that this ancient place was the original spot where Abraham was tested by God with his son Isaac. It is also common knowledge and a fact of history that the Muslim claim to the Temple Mount is invalid because historians agree that the Temple Mount was originally the Jewish Temple used by Israelites that was destroyed by King Herod after the death of Jesus of Nazareth more than 2,000 years ago.
Today- The current obstacles to peace between Muslim countries and Israel is actually the same obstacle that it was during the time of Abraham of the bible. The Jewish homeland was based on a promise made to Abraham by God that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the sky and they would take possesion of the cities of their enemies (Genesis 22). Abraham had two sons, each from seperate wives. The first son was Ishmael of whom the Arabs trace their lineage. The second son was Isaac, of whom the Israelies trace their lineage. The blessing of God's promise was given to Isaac. From that time until now, the ancient rivalship has persisted. The partitioning of the land will never bring peace and will ultimately further the cause of both sides to fight one another.