30/09/2024
🙌🏻♥️
How and why the Jews became a nation, a people:
The history of the 13 tribes of the nation of Israel can be traced back to the time of the patriarch Jacob, also known as Israel. According to the Hebrew Bible, Jacob had twelve sons who became the eponymous ancestors of the twelve tribes of Israel. These tribes were Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Benjamin, and Joseph. However, Joseph's portion was divided between his two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, resulting in thirteen tribes.
The twelve sons of Jacob were born from his wives Leah, Rachel, and their handmaidens Bilhah and Zilpah. Each son became the progenitor of a tribe, and over time, these tribes grew and formed a cohesive nation. They later moved to Egypt to escape a famine and resided there for about four centuries.
During their time in Egypt, the Israelites multiplied greatly and eventually faced harsh oppression from the Egyptians. This led to their liberation through the leadership of Moses and the subsequent Exodus, marking a pivotal event in their history.
Following the Exodus, the Israelites wandered in the wilderness for 40 years before entering the Promised Land, Canaan. Once settled, the twelve tribes divided among the land, with each tribe being assigned its territory, except for Levi. The Levites were designated as the priestly tribe and did not receive a specific land allocation, as they were to reside in different cities throughout the other tribal territories and serve in religious duties.
Over time, differences emerged between the tribes, including variations in customs, religious practices, and political alliances. Eventually, these divisions led to the split of the nation into two separate kingdoms: the Northern Kingdom of Israel, consisting of ten tribes, and the Southern Kingdom of Judah, comprising the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, along with parts of Levi. This division occurred in the 10th century BCE due to political tensions and rivalries.
The ten tribes forming the Northern Kingdom were eventually conquered by the Assyrians in 722 BCE, leading to their forced exile and dispersal. They became known as the "Lost Tribes of Israel" because their historical whereabouts are no longer known with certainty.
The Southern Kingdom, centered around Jerusalem, survived for a longer duration and maintained a more distinct identity. However, it also experienced periods of conquest and exile, notably by the Babylonians in 586 BCE. After the Babylonian captivity, some members of the ten tribes likely reunited with the exiled population of the Southern Kingdom.
