Hebrews, Israelites and Jews

[~candice~]

Hi

I just want to check my understanding of these names.

1. Prior to the Jacob, God's people were known as Hebrews.
   
2. Between the time of Jacob and the time of the exile, the Israelites or Hebrews.
   
3. During the exile period (and for some time before)... the southern two tribes were known as Judah (from the larger tribe Judah, and Benjamin) and the northern 10 tribes known as Israel. These northern 10 tribes were then 'lost'. From Judah we get the name Jew.
   
4. After the exile, we see that Israel and Jew are usually used exchangeably. Paul called himself a Hebrew, from Israel, and from the tribe of Benjamin. Jew now does not necessarily only mean from the tribe of Judah, but from Israel.
   

In 1 & 2 Sam we often read of Israel and Judah as separate, and yet this is prior to the exile (1 Sam 18:16, 2 Sam 2:10 etc etc). When did this separation of names first occur? Perhaps I've placed the break in history at the wrong point in time.

Heb 8:8 separates Israel and Judah as in the naming convention during the exile?

The usual usage of Israel in the NT is the 12 tribes, do we still have passages referring to the house of Israel (e.g. Mat 10:6, Acts 2:36) referring to ALL Israel (12 tribes) not just the 10 lost tribes? [My current understanding is that this is true.]

I'm sure I've gotten this wrong somewhere (or multiple places, LOL).

Ta

Andy

[~candice~]

....^......... bump

[~candice~]

Do I have cooties? Haliotosis? Boys germs?

[Fez]

Do I have cooties? Haliotosis? Boys germs?

No, you don't

Maybe this will help?

From the Scriptural genealogical record comes some of the most well-known terms relating to Israelite people: Semite and Semitic originate from Noah's son Shem, and Hebrew is derived from Eber, the ancestor of Abraham. According to Bible History:

"The Sons Of Noah: Shem, Ham and Japheth...The sons of Shem: Elam, Asshur, Arphaxad, Lud and Aram. The sons of Aram: Uz, Hul, Gether and Meshech. Arphaxad was the father of Shelah, and Shelah the father of Eber. Two sons were born to Eber: One was named Peleg, because in his time the earth was divided; his brother was named Joktan. Joktan was the father of Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah, Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah, Obal, Abimael, Sheba, Ophir, Havilah and Jobab. All these were sons of Joktan. Shem, Arphaxad, Shelah, Eber, Peleg, Reu, Serug, Nahor, Terah and Abram (that is, Abraham). The sons of Abraham: Isaac and Ishmael." (1 Chronicles 1:4,17-28)

From two other people come two other very well-known identities: Israelites are the descendants of Isaac's son Jacob, who God renamed Israel, and from Jacob's son Judah come the terms Jew and Jewish.

So how do all of these designations relate to the people involved?

[~candice~]

Whaaa isn't that two house stuff?

Judah was also the name given to the two southern tribes (Judah and Benjamin) and Israel was the name given to the 10 northern tribes. So we have lots of names floating around here!

It is my understanding that this division has not (for the most part) carried through after the return from exile, since the 10 northern tribes were "lost" through interbreeding with gentiles.

[mizzdy]

Whaaa isn't that two house stuff?

Judah was also the name given to the two southern tribes (Judah and Benjamin) and Israel was the name given to the 10 northern tribes. So we have lots of names floating around here!

It is my understanding that this division has not (for the most part) carried through after the return from exile, since the 10 northern tribes were "lost" through interbreeding with gentiles.

Israel, Ephraim as they are called also are not lost but scattered, God scattered them into captivity because of their unbelief and idoltary. He has also blinded them also but will awaken them towards the end of the age which I think we are seeing all around today. Heres a site called Jew and Joes that has all kinds of info on who and what Israel and Judah are about, theres also a blog attached to it also. Some will automatically call some of this stuff two house stuff I would disagree, no one here is saying who Israel not like the US is Ephraim etc. I believe the owner of the site calls himself Messianic he is a really nice guy also.

Mizz

[~candice~]

Well it is true that Israel (the 10 tribes) is scattered, but Israel in the NT usually refers to all Israel [12 tribes / descendants of Jacob] does it not?

It is not just the 10 tribes of Israel that are blinded but all 12.

[sheya joie]

The split between Judah and Israel came at the end of the reign of Solomon/beginning of the reign of his son Rehoboam when the northern ten tribes rejected Rehoboam as king and followed Jeroboam instead.

Keep in mind that in the NT there were still people who knew from which tribe they came. In addition to Paul, who was from the tribe of Benjamin, there was also Anna from the tribe of Asher (as well as many from the tribe of Levi, still serving in the Temple).