By Terry Cropper and Joe Daniels.

The kingdom of Israel reached its height at the time of David and Solomon, approximately 1,000 years before the time of Jesus. During the reign of Solomon's son, Rehoboam, the northern ten tribes of Israel split away from the two southern tribes of Judah and Benjamin. Thus the kingdom was divided into the northern tribes of Israel and the southern tribes of Judah.
The northern tribes of Israel were taken into captivity by the Assyrians in the eighth century in the year of 722 B.C. With the fall of Samaria, and the southern tribes of Judah were taken into captivity in the sixth century in 586 B.C. With the fall of Jerusalem by the Babylonians. History records that the captives of Judah returned to the land of Israel in three waives. The first waive of Jews left Babylon in led by Zerubbabel, a waive was led by Ezra, and Nehemiah led a final group back to Jerusalem. 
Since there was no major description of the restoration of the northern tribes, much speculation and curiosity have arisen over the years as to the question, "Where are the lost ten tribes?" The meaning of lost varies with the different claims. Some claim that the “lost tribes” completely died away without descendants. More often, the tribes are said to have been lost through assimilation with other non-Jewish people groups, having remained separated from the other tribes indefinitely.

It is the Israel Only cult assertion that no one from the 10 Scattered Northern Tribes was ever called a "Jew", especially after the from Babylonian Exile is a historically refutable assertion!  Jews & Gentiles in *THEIR IDEOLOGY* are BOTH "Israelites"!

The first essential point that must be understood if one hopes to understand the truth about the Northern Ten Tribes is that they were never "lost" to the Jews living in Palestine in a geographical sense. The narrative, that they were lost is based on false assumption rather than on direct biblical teaching. The simple truth is that the 10 tribes of Israel” were never lost to the Jews who remained in Palestine.

There are several basic biblical evidences in scripture that prove this position.  The Testimony of Anna (Luke 2)  In Luke 2:36 the prophetess Anna is listed as coming from the tribe of Asher, one of the most northern and least populated tribes of Israel. In other words, we have a clear statement in the New Testament that people who were considered Jews in the time of Jesus included people from the northern ten tribes of Israel, and that they had genealogical documentation as to which tribe they originated from. How could the tribe of Asher, for instance, be "lost" from 700 years before Jesus, if Anna knew her tribal descendancy from Asher during the time of the New Testament?

The New Testament itself shows that all twelve tribes of Israel were well-known to the Apostles in the first century.  Let us start with the writings of James, the son of Joseph and Mary who was born after the birth of Christ. James's identity is already known to the church at large. He is writing to Christian Jews (the twelve tribes) who are scattered among the nations.   James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes scattered abroad, greeting" (James 1:1).

The reference speaks of a literal “diaspora”, of these twelve tribes.  James knew exactly where the members of the twelve tribes of Israel are in the first century and he addressed the diaspora in his letter to them. James is not speaking to Jews that were dispersed among the gentiles and became gentiles or some of the lost tribes, but rather to the scattered audience of Jewish believers in Jesus of the first century. Notice that James clearly states that he was writing to the twelve tribes scattered abroad.  This greeting is not used by any other writer in the New Testament in the commencement of their writing.

The contents of James' letter to the twelve tribes scattered abroad, tells us much about these twelve tribes of Israel. Instead of them all being wild and barbarous heathen because they were dispersed among the nations these twelve tribes of James were attending synagogues (and synagogue services were conducted on the seventh day Sabbath).   

James 2:2 (NKJV) My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality. 2 For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes, 3 and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, “You sit here in a good place,” and say to the poor man, “You stand there,” or, “Sit here at my footstool,” 4 have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?  5 Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?

The word "assembly" Gk. συναγωγὴν is actually our word for "synagogue" an assembly, congregation, an official meeting place that Jews attended throughout the world.   

These scattered tribes of Israel were also familiar with what the Ten Commandments as stated he mentions to them in James 2:8-12. In fact James used spiritual illustrations concerning fig and olive trees with which they were also well familiar with in James 3:12.  James (who lived in the city of Jerusalem) knew where the twelve tribes of Israel were located in the first century and his letter to them shows they themselves were in constant touch with Jerusalem and the teachings of the Holy Scriptures.   These twelve tribes that were scattered abroad were "Israelites" who know the law and not “gentiles”.

It is pretty clear from scripture that the Diaspora never entirely lost their identity. Jesus tells the crowd that He will be with them for a little while longer, but then He would go to the one who sent Him. He knew that His hour was rapidly approaching. But then, after He was gone, they would seek Him. And they could not come where He had gone.  Jesus is speaking concerning his death, resurrection, and ascension, but the Jews did not understand him. Some of the Jews in the crowd wondered among themselves, “Where does He intend to go that we shall not find Him? Does He intend to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks?  Jesus does not respond to their confusion, but leaves them wondering about what He means.

It is pretty clear to us that the Diaspora never entirely lost their identity. The Jews knew where they were and who they were. And notice in John that the Jews around Jesus distinguished between the Diaspora and the Gentiles!

The word for “dispersion” in the Greek is (Διασπορὰν diaspora) is used figuratively of the Jews in New Testament times. They were literally scattered throughout the Roman empire.   In John 7:35 we have “the dispersion among the Greeks,” where it clearly means “those of the dispersed Jews who live among the Greeks.”   Their identity was not entirely lost according to scripture some of the Jews in the crowd wondered among themselves, if Jesus was going to the Dispersion living among the Greeks.   In both of these passages Dispersion could be represented by the English word “scattered.”

The apostle Paul was also quite knowledgeable of their whereabouts. When Paul was being tried in judgment before Festus and King Agrippa, he speaks of “the promise” the twelve tribes are hoping to see fulfilled as they earnestly serve God day and night” (Acts 26:7)—note the present tense.  Paul was also knowledgeable that the twelve tribes of Israel were earnestly serving God day and night and not practicing utter heathenism. 

The fact is, both the apostle James, and Paul (head of the Jerusalem ekklesia) and the Jews in the crowd were well aware where the people of the Northern Ten Tribes of Israel were then located in a geographical sense. They were then living north and east of Jerusalem. We have the precise statements of Josephus (the Jewish priest and historian of the first century) that the Northern Ten Tribes were in no way "lost." "There are two tribes in Asia and Europe subject to the Romans, while until now there have been ten tribes beyond the Euphrates who number into the countless myriads whose number cannot be ascertained" (Antiquities XI. 133).

It couldn't be stated more clearly that there were members of the Israeli tribes living in the territory of Judah. 2 Chronicles 11:3 states that Rehoboam was the king not only of Judah but to "ALL" Israel living "IN" Judah and Benjamin. 2 Chronicles 11:16-17 states that members of "ALL" the tribes of Israel who were loyal to God came down to Jerusalem and strengthened the kingdom of Judah. 

2 Chronicles 15:9 tells us that during the revival of King Assa that there were "great numbers from Israel" who came over to Judah. 2 Chronicles 24:5 speaks of members gathered from all the tribes of Israel. 2 Chronicles 30:21 and 25 speak of the children of the Israelite tribes who came to Judah during the time of King Hezekiah. 2 Chronicles 31:6 speaks again of the children of Israel who dwelt in the cities of Judah.

2 Chronicles 30:10 speaks of members of the tribes of Ephraim, Menassah, Zebulun, and Asher coming to Jerusalem. 2 Chronicles 30:18 mentions also the tribe of Issachar. 2 Chronicles 34:6 adds to that list members of the tribes of Simeon and Naphtali. 2 Chronicles 34:9 states clearly that there were members of "ALL THE REMNANT OF ISRAEL" who were living in Jerusalem after the time of the Assyrian captivity. 2 Chronicles 35:3 again mentions that there were members of "all Israel" who were part of Judah.

Captivity Restored (Ezra and Nehemiah) After the Babylonian captivity, the nation of Israel was restored under the leadership of Ezra and Nehemiah. In those books are extensive genealogical records. The fact that there were careful genealogical records proves that not only were the northern Israelites part of the restoration, but that they kept records of their families and they knew which tribe they were from. Ezra 2:2 starts the records of "the number of the men of the people of ISRAEL." Ezra 2:59 states that people had specific genealogical records not only to which of the northern tribes they were part of, but even as to which household: "identify their father's house or their genealogy, whether they were of Israel." Those who had records but were not perfectly documented were disqualified and had to wait for supernatural verification by the urim and thumin (should they ever arise). This proves how meticulous and well documented were the great majority of the family records (Ezra 2:62-63). Ezra 2:70 again speaks of "all" Israel dwelling in Judah after the restoration of Ezra and Nehemiah.

Ezra 6:16 and 21 speaks specifically of "the children of Israel who had returned from the captivity." Ezra 7:7, 9:1, 10:1 and 10:25 speak of the problem that the Israelites had with inter-marriage. 

Nehemiah 7:7 to 73 repeat the genealogy of the Israelite tribes that were recorded in Ezra 2. Nehemiah 9:2, 11:3 and 11:20 speak of "the rest of Israel in all the cities of Judah." Nehemiah 13:3 speaks of separating Gentiles so as not to confuse the genealogical records of Israel.

The entire Israel Only Salvation cult puts forth the argument that the Northern Tribes became Gentiles. The IO folks are totally distorting the language and the contexts of Scripture.  Certainly these people from the Northern Ten Tribes had not changed from an Israelite into a Gentile because they were living among heathen nations.

Truth be known when we read that God commanded the prophet Hosea to marry a whore and have children by her named Jezreel meaning “scattered by God”, and Lo-ruhamah meaning “no mercy”, and a third named Lo-Ammi meaning “Not my people”, they were already lost!

The wickedness of the nation, the ten tribes, and it's kings were a stench that rose upon the land of the northern kingdom. Sadly, the Southern kingdom was not far behind them! In the eyes of God, they were then already not his people, lost, without mercy, and in that sense scattered from the presence of God! Just as Adam, an Eve hid from the presence of God after their fall, and were expelled from the land, so it was with Israel as they thought that they could hide their sin from God, and were also expelled from the land!

“But like men they transgressed the covenant; There they dealt treacherously with Me.” Hosea 6:7 The word hear translated as “Men” in the NKJV in the Hebrew is the word אָדַם which is the word “Adam”. Even the Jewish Orthodox Bible, and Young's Literal Translation renders this as 'Adam' and not “man” or “men” seeing the connection of the northern kingdom being separated from God by sin like Adam! We call this condition as being “lost in sin”! The physical casting out from the land is a physical consequence due to the spiritual condition. 

Have you ever noticed that everyone loves to point out that Jesus ministered to sinners. He ate with them, drank with them, and healed them. Yet seldom does anyone point out that these people were Jews! These most of the time, were people of the so-called lost northern and southern kingdoms! Jesus absolutely said that he was sent to the lost sheep of Israel.

(Matthew 15:24) He told His disciples to not go into the way of the Gentiles, and not to enter a city of the Samaritans. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. (Matthew 10:5-6) Oh and since we are here, notice that the so called Samaritans who most people believe were a group of people being the offspring from the Assyrian and northern tribe mixed marriages as a result of the Assyrian captivity, are not considered “The house of Israel” by Jesus!

Let's repeat that … many like to point out that the Assyrian captivity of the northern tribes in 722 B.C. Resulted in mixed marriages between the two and that this is where the Samaritans came from. Okay fine, but now notice that Jesus is not referring to them as of the “Lost sheep or house of Israel”! The Samaritan and gentile distinction apart from the Lost tribes/sheep of Israel glaringly stands out for the authors of this article!

Therefore although you can't claim that when the gospel went out to the gentiles, the Samaritans were not considered gentiles who were actually of the lost tribes of Israel although they were a mixed Jewish and Jewish race from the Assyrian captivity. Jesus already sent his apostles to preach to the Lost tribes, and He excluded the Samaritans who had Jewish blood running through their veins! The truth is clear, Jesus and His disciples spent a large part of their ministry in Galilee, Galilee of the Gentiles as it was called. (Matthew 4:15) It had such a bad reputation that when Philip found his brother Nathan, and said that he needed to come see Jesus the Messiah from Nazareth, a city in Galilee … Nathanael's response was, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth”?

The main concept we want you to see is that Jesus and His disciples preached the good news of the kingdom to the house of Israel in Galilee not having to travel very far. The entire area was about 60 miles long and 40 miles wide geographically, yet the lost sheep of Israel were reached! They weren't lost, the Messiah found them right there in the land. It wasn't until many years later that the light of the gospel would go to all gentiles as the apostle Paul, and eventually the apostles, traveled far and wide to bring the light to all Jews, Greeks, barbarians, any gentile who God would call unto Himself!