The Ten Tribes – Were They Lost?
The Ten Tribes – Were They Lost?
The Lost 10 Tribes
After King Solomon, the kingdom of Israel was divided into two parts.
The northern kingdom was called Israel.
That kingdom contained ten tribes: Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, Zebulun, Reuben, Gad, Asher, Naphtali, Dan, and Simeon.
The southern kingdom was called Judah.
The tribes of Judah and Benjamin belonged to this kingdom.
The Fall of the Kingdom of Israel
In 722 B.C., Shalmaneser, the king of Assyria, conquered Israel and carried the people away into captivity.
(2 Kings 17:5–6)
They were scattered into various parts of the Assyrian empire. From what we can understand, those taken away remained there and did not return.
(2 Kings 17:23)
1 Chronicles 5:26 also mentions that during the time of the Assyrian kings, the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh who lived in the eastern regions were also taken away by the Assyrians.
Furthermore, in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah, only Judah, Benjamin, and the Levites are mentioned as those who returned to their homeland (Ezra 1:5).
In this context, there is no record of those taken captive to Assyria returning.
Based on these verses, some conclude that the ten tribes have perished, and that Israel consists only of these two tribes. But this conclusion is not correct.
In the New Testament, what is said about them?
The northern kingdom with the ten tribes was taken captive by Assyria in 722 B.C. About 750 years later, Jesus Christ refers to Israel as having twelve tribes.
"I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on His glorious throne, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel."
(Matthew 19:28)
Paul also speaks of “our twelve tribes” (Acts 26:7).
James writes his epistle to the twelve tribes scattered abroad (James 1:1).
Therefore, to say that ten tribes are lost and only two tribes remain is not biblically correct. God knows His own, and in due time He will bring them together.
It is also possible that those who were carried away to Assyria later merged with the two remaining tribes as separate groups.
In Revelation this is made clear.
Among the 144,000 sealed in heaven, the ten tribes that were scattered are also included (Revelation 7:4).
And when describing heaven, John also refers to the twelve tribes:
"It had a great, high wall with twelve gates, and with twelve angels at the gates. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel."
(Revelation 21:12)
The Lesson God Teaches:
The twelve tribes that God has chosen cannot be destroyed or erased. Though to human eyes it may appear as if they were lost, God knows them and has preserved them.
For more than 2,000 years, no one has been able to wipe out the descendants of Abraham completely. Israel remains God’s chosen people. At the appointed time, He will discipline them and also unite them with us.
Therefore, to say that the ten tribes have vanished is wrong according to the Bible.
People speak of “the ten lost tribes of Israel,” but this is not a biblical concept. God knows where the children of Abraham are, and He will call them together at the right time. Some nations have claimed to be descendants of these so-called ten lost tribes, but these claims are unfounded. (Wiersbe)