The Watchman

In the prophetic books of the Bible are the Israelites and Jews different peoples?

In many instances the Jews, the peoples of Judah, are included with the nation of Israel. In other cases the Jews and Israel are considered as two separate nations.

The first time the word Jews is used in the KJV Bible (2 Kings 16:5-6), Rezin king of Syria and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel are at war with the Jews. Then, Ahaz king of Judah, sends a bribe to Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria asking for support and Assyria responds by attacking Syria, sacking Damascus and killing Rezin.

In prophesy, Yahweh tells Ezekiel to build a model of Jerusalem and lay on his left side for three hundred and ninety days for the sins of the people of Israel. Then, to turn and lay on his right side for an additional forty days, for the sins of the people of Judah. Thus, showing that Yahweh considers the nations of Israel and the nation of the Jews to be two different peoples, and to show that the peoples of Israel will be driven into captivity, suffer famine and disease; but, the peoples of Jerusalem, the Jews, only suffer famine and disease. (Ezekiel 4)

In the latter verses of Ezekiel 37, Yahweh tells Ezekiel to take one stick, writing on it, For Judah and for the children of Israel who are in his company; then, take another stick, writing on it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and all the children of Israel who are in his company. This illustrates that, at the time of the end, at the return of Messiah, Yahweh is still considering the Israelites as two separate groups of peoples. (Eze 37:15-28)

Jacob, whose name was changed, by Yahweh, to Israel, had twelve sons, each became the progenitor of one of the tribes of the nation of Israel. The Jews are descendants of Israel’s forth son, Judah; So, all the Jews are Israelites; but not all of the Israelites are Jews.

When Yahshua sent out the twelve to announce the gospel to Israel he gave them the following instruction:

“… go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” (Matthew 10:6)

And again when confronted by the Canaanite woman, concerning her demon-possessed daughter, He said to her:

“Have I not been sent except to the sheep which went astray from the house of Israel?” (Matthew 15:24)

It is evident that he was in Jerusalem or in the vicinity when he spoke to the twelve and in the Lebanon area when he spoke to the Canaanite woman. So why identify the peoples he was sent to as the “lost sheep of the House of Israel”? If he was talking about being sent to the Jews why not just say “go to the Jews” or “I was sent to the House of Judah”?

To resolve this conundrum we can examine the locations where the twelve went after the crucifixion of Yahshua and the day of Pentecost. Peter went to Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. Thomas went to Egypt, others went to Mesopotamia and Anatolia. In Acts we find Philip in Samaria, then on to Azotus and traveling to Caesarea. In summary, they left Judah and, as instructed, went to the lost sheep (tribes) of the House of Israel.

Since Yahshua specifically instructed the twelve to go to the lost tribes of Israel we can conclude that they obeyed the Master and knew where the tribes were. Acts 2:9-11 specifically names countries from which those keeping Pentecost hailed from and were undoubtable from other Israelite tribes.

What’s more those twelve tribes are in existance, today. Yahshua said, “ … for truly, I say to you, You will not have gone through the towns (of the lost sheep) of Israel before the Son of man comes.” (Mat 10:23)

In Genesis Chapter 48 during the blessing of Joseph’s two sons, Jacob (Israel) performs an interesting and seemingly special action:

14 And Israel sent forth his right hand and put it on the head of Ephraim; and he was the younger. And he put his left hand on the head of Manasseh, crossing his hands; for Manasseh was the first-born. 15 And he blessed Joseph and said, The Elohim before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the Elohim who has fed me since I was born until today; 16 The Messenger that redeemed me from every evil, may He bless the youths; and may my name be called on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac, and may they like fishes grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth. 17 And Joseph saw that his father was putting his right hand on the head of Ephraim; and it was evil in his eyes. And he took hold of his father’s hand to turn it from Ephraim’s head to the head of Manasseh. 18 And Joseph said to his father, Not so, my father! For this one is the first-born; put your right hand on his head. 19 And his father refused and said, I know, my son, I know. He also shall be a people, and he shall become great. But his younger brother shall become greater than he, and his seed shall become the fullness of the nations.

I would like the readers of this blog to make comments as to the significance of this event and why it would make a difference which son “shall become greater” … “and his seed shall become the fullness of the nations.”

Please comment,