When Jacob neared his death, he pronounced blessings on each of his sons. JudahвЂ™s large territory was south of BenjaminвЂ™s, west of the Dead Sea, and included Jerusalem.Д«enjaminвЂ™s was the smaller of the two Tribes of Judah and the least of the 12 Tribes as well. BenjaminвЂ™s descendants took up residence in a small area northwest of the Dead Sea. When Joseph threatened to keep Benjamin as a slave for stealing the planted silver cup, Judah pleaded to be held instead so the youngest brother could return to their father.ДЄfter Joshua led the Israelites in conquering the Promised Land, the Tribes of Judah and Benjamin settled near each other. When the families of Israel suffered a great famine, Judah promised his father that he would protect Benjamin on the journey to Egypt for grain. Benjamin was the youngest, and his mother, Rachel, died moments after he was born. Judah was JacobвЂ™s fourth son, born to Leah. Many Jewish people, however, remain scattered throughout the world. In 1948, He fulfilled this prophecy when Israel was reborn as a single nation (Ezekiel 37:15вЂ’17, 21вЂ’22). God promised the Jewish people that He would make the two nations one again and bring them back into the Land of Israel. This remnant was eventually taken captive or scattered along with the Southern Tribes.

While all historical occurrences that caused dispersals of the chosen people вЂ“ even to modern times вЂ“ are referred to as general diaspora, this specific event is called вЂњthe Diaspora.вЂќД«efore the Assyrian invasion of Israel, some from the Northern Tribes had migrated to the Southern Kingdom and joined the Tribes of Judah. Then, more than 500 years later after the time of Yeshua, in 70 C.E., the Romans destroyed the Second Temple and, again, Jewish people scattered into the world at large. Around 445 B.C.E., Nehemiah led a remnant of the Jewish people back to Jerusalem and rebuilt its walls and gates. The Temple was destroyed, and the Tribes of Judah were removed from the Land, largely to Babylon. Then, in approximately 586 B.C.E, the Southern Kingdom fell to Babylon. Some accounts say that the 10 Tribes, at this time, were вЂњlost to history.вЂќ In reality, they were scattered throughout the known world, including the significant number who settled in the Northern Kingdom. Although there are other terms used, this is commonly referred to as the Assyrian exile. In 722 B.C.E., Assyria conquered the Northern Kingdom of Israel, either taking captive or driving out members of the 10 Tribes. The Northern Kingdom was called Israel and comprised the tribes of Reuben, Simeon, Manasseh, Issachar, Zebulun, Ephraim, Dan, Asher, Naphtali and Gad. The Southern Kingdom was called Judah and included the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. After Solomon died, the Israelites divided into two separate kingdoms, each with its own king. The tribes lived as a united nation through the reign of King DavidвЂ™s son, Solomon.

God later changed JacobвЂ™s name to Israel (Genesis 32:25вЂ’32), and the descendants of his sons became known as the 12 Tribes of Israel. Jacob вЂ“son of Isaac and grandson of Abraham вЂ“ fathered 12 sons, including Judah. Judah, son of Jacob, founded the tribe of Judah, which in turn become the name of the Southern Kingdom of Judah, comprised of two family lines or the Tribes of Judah.

So who are the Tribes of Judah, and was Judah a person, a tribe or a kingdom?вЂќ The 12 tribes, southern tribes, northern tribes вЂ¦ It can be confusing.

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