Judah and Israel

[Berean]

For years when I saw the terms "Israel and Judah" in the OT, I just thought it was referring to the same people. That is the Jews. As in: "For behold, days are coming, declares Yahweh, when I will restore the fortunes of My people Israel and Judah." (Jeremiah 30:3)
But then God opened my understanding to see, no, these Scriptures are referring to the two divided kingdoms of Israel. The ten exiled tribes of the northern kingdom of Israel (often referred to as Ephraim) and the southern kingdom of Judah with its two tribes of Judah and Benjamin. Which is why the books of Kings and Chronicles are constantly telling us about the king of Judah doing this. And the king of Israel doing that. I couldn't believe I never realized that! Am I the only one who was so confused? It really unlocked some profound understanding of end time events.

 

[Douggg]

Back at the time of Saul, David, Solomon, Israel was one united nation.

Following Solomon's death, Israel split into two nations. The northern nation retained the name of Israel. The southern nation became known as Judah.

In Ezekiel 37 is the prophecy of the those two nations reuniting back into one nation again. That prophecy was fulfilled in May 14, 1948 as Israel became a united nation again.

A person can google the northern kingdom and the southern kingdom and see a map of those two kingdoms. Modern day Israel covers both territories.

 

[Hol]

Am I the only one who was so confused?

I know how ignorant I was when I began reading my Bible 16-yrs ago! (I wasn’t raised in a church going family.)

This was a huge help: Rose Book of Bible Charts, Maps and Time Lines

https://www.tyndale.com/p/rose-book-of-bible-charts-maps-and-time-lines/9781596360228

 

[Berean]

Back at the time of Saul, David, Solomon, Israel was one united nation.

Following Solomon's death, Israel split into two nations. The northern nation retained the name of Israel. The southern nation became known as Judah.

In Ezekiel 37 is the prophecy of the those two nations reuniting back into one nation again. That prophecy was fulfilled in May 14, 1948 as Israel became a united nation again.

A person can google the northern kingdom and the southern kingdom and see a map of those two kingdoms. Modern day Israel covers both territories.

Back at the time of Saul, David, Solomon, Israel was one united nation.

Following Solomon's death, Israel split into two nations. The northern nation retained the name of Israel. The southern nation became known as Judah.

In Ezekiel 37 is the prophecy of the those two nations reuniting back into one nation again. That prophecy was fulfilled in May 14, 1948 as Israel became a united nation again.

A person can google the northern kingdom and the southern kingdom and see a map of those two kingdoms. Modern day Israel covers both territories.

Yes, following Solomon's death is when the nation spilt apart. However, I do not see the return of the Jews in 1948 as fulfilling the prophecies of the reunion of the two nations. The Jews are almost entirely the descendants of the southern kingdom of Judah. They were called Jews when they were exiled to Babylon 586 BC, which was about 100 years after the northern kingdom (called Israel or Ephraim) had been taken away by Assyria to assimilate into the nations as "gentiles". The ones God divorced and called "Not My people." So the "Jews" don't represent all 12 tribes.

Therefore, I believe Ezekiel two-stick prophecy has yet to be fulfilled. I believe the only way for the promised remnant of Ephraim's descendants can again be called "Ammi" (My People) is through faith in Messiah Yeshua. That's why I've come to believe we must be them. It means the church didn't replace the Jews as Israel (Replacement Theology) , and we're not separate from them as another Israel of God (Dispensationalism), but is simply the lost sheep of Israel (Ephraim) who Jesus went and redeemed with the gospel. And who will reunite us with a saved Jewish remnant in the land one day (soon). And then "all Israel will be saved." (Rom, 11:26).

 

[Margery]

I know how ignorant I was when I began reading my Bible 16-yrs ago! (I wasn’t raised in a church going family.)

This was a huge help: Rose Book of Bible Charts, Maps and Time Lines

https://www.tyndale.com/p/rose-book-of-bible-charts-maps-and-time-lines/9781596360228

Love the Rose Charts! I first saw the books at the homeschool curriculum fairs. Impressive way to show the relationships between events, the maps explain a lot and the charts explain concepts at a glance.