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THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL
To do justice to this topic one would have to write a book and have far more knowledge than myself. I recommend two books (besides the scriptures, of course), in this order:
I relied on both of these books in creating this summary. I also picked the brains of several Jewish friends in writing the definitions you are about to read.
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FIRST - some definitions:
A covenant is a binding, two-way oath and promise made between two parties. Religiously, these two parties are the Lord and Mankind. A covenant includes what must be done and the resulting blessings for obeying - and usually also includes the resulting punishments for not obeying. The Lord gives a commandment and we covenant with Him to live it so that we may obtain the promised blessings.
As Israel became the inheritor and administrator of the Lord's covenants, those who come unto the Lord and become His through covenant become members of the "House of Israel".
The vast majority of Christians do not believe in the importance of covenants and prefer 'commitments', which are simply non-binding decisions to do or attempt something. The Lord expects more from us than that - by covenanting with the Lord we show far more determination to do good as we are not only accepting the promised blessings but the promised punishments as well. Talk about motivation ... !
1. Israel was the son of Isaac and grandson of Abraham in the Old Testament - his name was Jacob until the Lord changed it to Israel. He was the one who received the birthright and thus became the keeper and administrator of the covenants made with the Lord.
2. "Israel" was the name of the nation consisting of all the 'Children of Israel' - all the descendants of Jacob, whose name was changed to Israel.
3. After the death of King Solomon, the Children of Israel divided into two kingdoms - the northern kingdom of 'Israel', which consisted of ten of the twelve tribes, and the southern kingdom of 'Judah', made up mostly of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin and various Levites and other of small minorities from the other tribes.
4. A term used to describe those who have gathered unto the Lord and have entered into covenants with Him and are endeavoring to live those commandments
1. The extended family made up of the descendants of Israel (Jacob) and his twelve sons - also known as the "Twelve Tribes of Israel", or the "Children of Israel".
2. Any citizen of the kingdom of Israel, established when the Children of Israel divided into the kingdoms of Israel and Judah, no matter which tribe they were actually from. To differentiate between the ancient kingdom of Israel and the modern State of Israel, citizens of today's State of Israel are called "Israelis" - they will laugh if you call them 'Israelites'.
The son of Isaac and grandson of Abraham in the Old Testament. The Lord changed his name to Israel. There is also an important Book of Mormon person named Jacob; don't get them mixed up. Isaiah and other Old Testament prophets often used the name Jacob when referring to persons who are descendants of Israel, or "Israelites".
1. Judah was one of the twelve sons of Jacob (Israel). Those who are of the tribe of Judah were called Jews.
2. At the time of the Divided Kingdom (after King Solomon), anyone who was a citizen of the lower kingdom of Judah was also called a Jew, no matter which tribe they were an actual descendant of. The Book of Mormon prophet Lehi refers to himself as a Jew because he was a citizen of Judah - even though he was an actual descendant of Manasseh (2 Nephi 33:8; Alma 10:3).
3. By the time of the New Testament anyone who was of the House of Israel and/or practiced the Law of Moses was simply called a Jew.
Joseph was one of the twelve sons of Jacob (Israel) - he was the birthright son because Reuben was not worthy. His two sons - Manasseh and Ephraim - received the land inheritances in the place of Joseph and Levi. (Being the priesthood holders, Levi did not receive a land inheritance but lived among all the other tribes). Ephraim received the birthright in the place of his father - thus he became the head of the family and administrator of the inheritances and the covenants the Lord has made with Israel.
The Book of Mormon prophet Lehi and his sons are descendants of Manasseh (1 Nephi 5:14; 1 Nephi 6:2; Jacob 2:25; Alma 46:23-24; 3 Nephi 10:17; 3 Nephi 15:12). The man Ishmael and his family who accompanied them were of Ephraim (Erastus Snow, Journal of Discourses, 23:184-85). Hence the Book of Mormon peoples represent both branches of the tribe of Joseph and thus they are Israelites.
1. Racially, a gentile is anyone who is not an Israelite by birth. 2. Politically, a gentile is anyone who is not a citizen of the Nation of Israel. 3. Religiously, a gentile is anyone who has not made covenants with the Lord to follow His laws and ways. 4. Often, it is also used to simply denote anyone who is not a Jew. This is the most common definition today, but when reading the scriptures one must keep in mind all the other definitions... and maybe lean on the Holy Spirit to figure out which definition is being used in the particular passage you are reading.
The King James Version of the Holy Bible as well as many other English-language versions have many places where the word "Lord" and "God" are fully-capitalized (as opposed to "Lord" and "God"). This is your clue that the original language actually says "Jehovah", but the translators followed the Hebrew custom of reverencing the holy name by not using it. It's entirely proper for you to insert this holy name in your mind wherever you see one of these two words fully-capitalized.
Jehovah is the name of the divine being who leads Israel and makes covenants with Mankind. He is the God of Israel; the Holy One of Israel.
See 'Jehovah' for more on this topic.
These are the two main groups of people in the Book of Mormon. The Book of Mormon prophet Lehi and his sons are descendants of Manasseh (1 Nephi 5:14; 1 Nephi 6:2; Jacob 2:25; Alma 46:23-24; 3 Nephi 10:17; 3 Nephi 15:12). The man Ishmael and his family who accompanied them were of Ephraim (Erastus Snow, Journal of Discourses, 23:184-85). Hence the Book of Mormon peoples represent both branches of the tribe of Joseph and thus they are Israelites.
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NEXT - An Historical Summary ...
You need to read all the discourses concerning Israel in the Book of Mormon, but here's a summary of what it teaches and prophecies, which compares with the words of the prophets in the Bible:
From Abraham to Ephraim:
Abram was called by the Lord to leave his family and to depart into a country the Lord promised to him for his posterity. (See Genesis 12; Abraham 2.) As part of this call the Lord made three promises:
As part of this covenant the Lord changed Abram's name to ABRAHAM, which means "Father/Chief of Multitudes". Others have translated it as "Father/Chief of Nations" and even "Father/Chief of Proselytes" - all of which fit the mission and purpose of the covenant.
As a sign of this covenant the Lord established the ordinance of Circumcision (Genesis 17). This was to be a sign that the circumcised man was one who heeded this covenant.
As a token of the covenant He gave Abraham a land of inheritance in which to establish his family as well as all those would gather unto the Lord through Abraham.
Abraham had two principle sons: Isaac by his first wife Sarah, and Ishmael by his second wife Hagar. Ishmael was oldest, but Isaac became the heir as he was the first son of the first wife. As part of his birthright the Lord made the same promises with him that He'd made with Abraham, along with the accompanying sign and token. Thus this covenant and its sign and token became part of the family birthright - which meant that the birthright son must be worthy to receive them.
Isaac married a second cousin, Rachel. They had two sons; paternal twins Esau and Jacob. Esau was not worthy of the birthright as he married Caananite women and his children would not have been raised within the Lord's covenants, so the birthright went to Jacob. As part of this birthright endowment, the Lord changed his name to Israel, which according to Strong's Concordance means "God prevails".
Although his name was changed to Israel, that name has so many different uses in Biblical history that my Jewish friends tell me they refer to him as Jacob just to make sure the listener knows who is actually being talked about.
Jacob had four wives and sons by each of
them:
Being the first son of the first wife, Reuben would have been the heir to the birthright, but he'd committed adultery with one of his father's wives, so the first son of the second wife - Joseph - became the birthright son.
When Jacob was ready to give Joseph the birthright blessing, Joseph brought his two sons - Manasseh and Ephraim - to his father to receive the birthright in his place. Jacob blessed Manasseh but gave the birthright to the younger brother Ephraim.
Genesis chapter 49 is a record of the blessings Jacob gave to each of his twelve sons before he died.
From Moses to Jesus
Three hundred and fifty years after Joseph, the Lord called Moses to liberate the Children (or, 'House') of Israel from slavery in Egypt and gave him the mission of returning them to Him and His covenants - and to the land promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Their first stop in their exodus from Egypt was Mount Sinai, where the Lord gave Moses basic laws and commandments to relay to the Children of Israel for them to accept by covenant in order to ready themselves to stand in His presence (Exodus 19-25). They accepted these laws by covenant. The Lord then gave instructions on building the tabernacle - His dwelling place among his Covenant People (Exodus 25-31). But while Moses went back up the Mount for further communion with Deity they lost faith he was going to return and, instead of building the tabernacle, they built the Golden Calf (Exodus 32-33).
Because of this infraction of their covenants, the Lord denied the Children of Israel the full blessings of the Abrahamic Covenant - the token of obtaining a promised land. He kept them 'wandering in the wilderness' for forty years, until the generation who had built the golden calf had all died off except for a few righteous exceptions. Circumcision, the sign of Abraham's covenant, was even halted until they arrived across the Jordan and into the promised land, when He was ready to give them a land in exchange for their obedience to His covenant. (See Joshua 5:1-8.)
After conquering this promised land, Joshua obeyed instructions given by Moses (Deuteronomy chapter 27-28) by calling all of Israel together:
All who were to be counted as part of Israel stood as a congregation, heard the Law of Moses read aloud, and covenanted to live it. They agreed to the blessings for obedience as well as the punishments for disobedience. This included the promise of a protected land of inheritance when they were righteous as well as the promise of harsh foreign rule and a scattering among other nations when disobedient.
The newly-conquered land was divided up by tribe - the Twelve Tribes of Israel being the descendants of each of the twelve sons of Jacob. However - Levi was not given a land inheritance as that tribe was called to be priests and to administer to all of Israel - they lived everywhere. Levi's and Joseph's land inheritances were given to the descendants of Joseph's two sons Manasseh and Ephraim, an act which basically established them as separate tribes.
Okay - at this point the great, extensive family descending from Jacob were known under several titles: Twelve Tribes of Israel; Children of Israel; House of Israel; Israelites; or simply Israel. They were also known by their respective tribes.
Also during this time we see a literal fulfillment of the covenant made when entering the promised land of inheritance - when they were righteous they had self-rule under the Law of Moses. When they were wicked they were invaded and carried the burden of foreign rule with all its degradation and persecution.
Israel was governed by various Judges for several hundred years until they got it in their head that they needed to have a king like everyone else. Their first king was Saul, a Benjamite (of the tribe of Benjamin). Their second King was David of Judah ( a 'Jew'). His son Solomon followed him on the royal throne and was the one who built the first great temple in Jerusalem.
After the death of Solomon, Israel
fractured into two kingdoms:
Those of you with electronic, searchable Bibles can search under "Jacob and Judah", "Israel and Judah" and even "Jerusalem and Zion" to catch how the prophets used these different names to refer to the two separate kingdoms. It is a testament to the fact that even though they were of the same family and racial and religious heritage they really were a separate people for the near-four-hundred years they were two separate countries.
During this time of the "Divided Kingdoms" we continue to see a literal fulfillment of the covenant - when they were righteous they had self-rule under the Law of Moses. When they were wicked they were invaded and carried the burden of foreign rule with all its degradation and persecution.
Two-hundred and fifty
years after their division into two kingdoms, the northern kingdom of
Israel was taken captive and carried into Assyria as slaves and captives.
From this point these "Ten Lost Tribes"
disappear as a group off the radar of History. Prophecy tells us they will
be gathered back when all of Israel is re-gathered in the final,
latter-days before or during the first part of the great Millennial Reign
of the Messiah.
Judah ceased to be its own kingdom with the final attack of Nebuchadnezzar and being carried captive into Babylon.
Seventy years later Cyrus allows a remnant of Judah - consisting of Jews, Benjaminites, and Levites, to return and rebuilt Jerusalem and the temple. From this point all of them are simply called 'Jews'.
The Book of Mormon as well as various Old Testaments prophets refer to two 'dispersions' of Israel into the world - this Babylonian Captivity was the first of these two dispersions.
From the Common Era to the Millennial Reign
In what is now called by Christians as the 'Meridian of Time' and by modern Jews as the beginning of the 'Common Era', Jesus of Nazareth came upon the scene. As the foretold Messiah He fulfilled and completed the ends, means, and purpose of the Law of Moses and established a 'new covenant' with Israel. (see Jeremiah 31:31-34; Matthew 5:17-18; 3 Nephi 12:17-20; 3 Nephi 15:1-10 ; see also Law of Moses.)
Although the purpose for the Law of Moses was fulfilled and completed, the Abrahamic Covenant still remained and continued with those of Israel who covenanted with and obeyed the Lord. (See 3 Nephi 15:8.) Only the old covenant (Law of Moses) had been completed - it was the new covenant (Gospel of Christ) that they needed to covenant to obey.
Yes, the Lord made a new covenant with Israel, having fulfilled the first one! (See Jeremiah 31:31-24; Hebrews 8:8-13; Hebrews 12:24-26; D&C 76:69; D&C 107:19.) (See Jesus Christ.) Many Jews received this new covenant and became known as 'Christians'. But most of the Jews rejected Jesus as the Messiah.
But what about the people of Israel who were not of those in the Holy Land? To the Jews in the Holy Land Jesus said -
So, He had "other sheep" who needed to hear His word and be gathered!
After His death and Resurrection in the Holy Land, the Book of Mormon gives us the account of his post-Resurrection visitation to the branch of the tribe of Joseph living in the Ancient Americas. Among the many things He taught, He taught about these "other sheep":
Testimony from the New Testament and the Book of Mormon both show the Resurrected Christ had other groups to visit and to bring into His fold.
Because the majority of the Jews in the Holy Land rejected Christ and His new covenant, the apostles were commanded by revelation to take His message to the gentiles (Acts chapter 10). It was widely received by the gentile nations. Because they entered into the New Covenant they became part of the House of Israel by their conversion and the making of covenants.
We must note here that the sign of the Abrahamic Covenant - circumcision - was done away with at this time (Acts chapter 15; Moroni 8:8). This mark was meant to separate Israel from other nations as the Lord had set them apart. But the new covenant was to be taken to all nations and peoples, so there was no one to set apart one from from another.
Meanwhile, having rejected the New Covenant and by not living the Old Covenant righteously, the Lord's protection was withdrawn from the Jews in Jerusalem and they were enslaved and dispersed into the gentile world. This is the second Dispersion prophesied of by the prophets. It is also known by the Hebrew word 'Diaspora'. It is only with the return of Jews in the last one-hundred years to their ancient homeland that this 'Diaspora' is beginning to end.
The prophets have declared two great events to occur in the latter-days before the Messiah's Millennial Reign. And here we go into 'word-game' mode once more. We're going to use the words "Gather" and "Return".
There is no question that the tribe of Judah is returning to their land of inheritance. And it is glorious to see. But there are eleven other tribes yet to gather, with ten of them still "lost" to our knowledge. The Book of Mormon prophecies that the Americas is where the tribe of Joseph will gather and be given their inheritance, so now when we start reading in the Prophets about Judah and Joseph and lands of promise, there is another visual we are given - Judah returning to the traditional Holy Land and Joseph to the Americas. Keep this picture in mind when reading the Prophets concerning the days before the Millennial Reign!
But what of the word "Gather?" This will be a calling of Israel out of the world to 'spiritually' gather into one fold - no matter where they live... a return of the Lord's New Covenant in its purity and those who hear His call gathering to it. This gathering will be administered by representatives of the Tribe of Ephraim, as it is the birthright tribe - the Book of Mormon contains prophecies of this (listed below). Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believe that one of the main missions of Christ restoring His church and establishing Joseph Smith as His prophet was to build up a church which would have His authority and power to send messengers into the world and declare His message - his covenant! - so those of Israel who are dispersed out in the world would hear it and gather. So 'Mormon' missionaries aren't just looking for new members - they are shepherds sent to gather Israel so that it might once again become "one fold" with "one shepherd". Hence Latter-day Saint converts aren't just joining a new church - they are gathering to Israel to prepare the world for His Coming.
As the Book of Mormon teaches, this gathering happens when a people hear the words of Christ and follow. For instance: although the Jews are "returning" to Jerusalem and the rest of their lands of inheritance, they will not be "gathered" back into Israel (meaning, the Lord's fold) until they recognize Jesus as the God of Israel - the great Jehovah; the holy Messiah - and gather unto Him and His 'New Covenant'. Of course, none of the other eleven tribes will be gathered until they do the same thing, so let's not point a finger at any one tribe ...
Some time just before or during the first few years of Christ's Millennial Reign, all the tribes will be gathered and given their lands of inheritance. Jerusalem has been rebuilt and will become one of two centers from which the Lord will administer to Mankind - the other is talked about on the New Jerusalem page.
All peoples who accept and follow Christ through covenant will be gathered into the House of Israel. Thus through the dispersion of Israel out in to the gentile world the entire world has been blessed as promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob - their descendants have been out in the four corners of the world, waiting to hear the Shepherd's call and respond - and to bring others with them as they gather to the Gospel standard.
Okay - you've had the summary ... Now let's read the scriptures to support the summary ...
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Major Discourses on ISRAEL in the Book of Mormon:
The last association the Book of Mormon peoples had with "Jews" and "Israel" in the Holy Land was in the first year of King Zedekiah of Judah - about eleven years before the destruction of Jerusalem and the beginning of the Babylonian Captivity - so it is with this understanding and memory that these discourses speak of the House of Israel in general and of the Jews in particular. The Jews in Lehi’s time were a wicked people, and it is with that memory that Lehi, Nephi, and other Book of Mormon prophets spoke of them.
1 Nephi chapters 10-15 … Nephi prays to receive the vision his father Lehi received - he gives his account of the vision, much of which involves the House of Israel.
1 Nephi chapters 19-22 … Isaiah 48-49 quoted and commentated.
2 Nephi chapter 3 … Lehi quotes a prophecy made by the Old Testament patriarch Joseph concerning the House of Israel and the tribe of Joseph specifically.
2 Nephi chapters 6-10 … Nephi's brother Jacob recounts Israelite history and prophecies; Isaiah 49-52:2 is quoted and commentated.
2 Nephi chapters 11-30 … Nephi quotes Isaiah 2-14 & 29 - and he also commentates and prophesies.
Jacob chapter 5-6 … The teacher/priest Jacob delivers a lengthy parable that tells the entire future (from his time) of the nation/house/people of Israel, and then he commentates the parable.
3 Nephi 15:11- 16:20 … The Resurrected Savior's "Other Sheep" discourse to the Nephites
3 Nephi chapters 20-26:2 …The Resurrected Christ's teachings concerning the future of the House of Israel; quotes several passages from Isaiah, including Isaiah 54; gives the prophecies had in Malachi chapters 3 & 4; expounds on it all
3 Nephi chapters 29-30 … The coming forth of the Book of Mormon a sign the Lord has begun to gather Israel; Those who reject latter-day manifestations will be cursed.
"Land of Promise" - See Land of Promise.
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OTHER IMPORTANT SCRIPTURES FROM THE BOOK OF MORMON:
2 Nephi 5:20-26 … surely shall he again bring a remnant of the seed of Joseph to the knowledge of the Lord their God.
3 Nephi 10:3-7 ...After the death of the Savior in the Old World, the prophesied, destructive signs of His death occur in the New World, after which a voice is heard, lamenting the destruction of so much of the House of Israel.
Mormon 3:17-20; 5:10-15 ... the prophet Mormon confirms he is writing this book to the House of Israel and to the Gentiles to prepare them to meet Jesus
Mormon chapter 7 ... Mormon's plea to the descents of the Book of Mormon peoples who live in our time
Mormon 9:37 ... Mormon's final plea
Ether 4:13-14 ... Moroni's plea to the gentiles and to Israel
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What Happens to Those Who Fight Against Israel?
... which is a very good question, remembering that, according to the Book of Mormon, groups included in the list of 'Who Is an Israelite?' include the Jews, the modern-day State of Israel, the Native American, any other group the Lord has led away from the main group of Israelites, and anyone who has joined the Church of Jesus Christ and entered into covenants with Him (not just 'commitments' or 'promises') ...
But first, let's look at part of the covenant made with Abraham and passed to all the Children of Israel:
Now to the Book of Mormon...
1 Nephi 21:26 - (quoting Isaiah) "And I will feed them that oppress thee with their own flesh; they shall be drunken with their own blood as with sweet wine; and all flesh shall know that I, the Lord, am thy Savior and thy Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob."
1 Nephi 22:14 - "And every nation which shall war against thee, O house of Israel, shall be turned one against another… all that fight against Zion shall be destroyed… shall tumble to the dust and great shall be the fall of it."
2 Nephi 6:12-13 - they that fight against Zion and the covenant people of the Lord shall lick up the dust of their feet
2 Nephi 10:13-22 … he that fighteth against Zion shall perish… I will fulfil my promises which I have made… great are the promises of the Lord unto them who are upon the isles of the sea;
2 Nephi 20:24-27 … O my people that dwellest in Zion, be not afraid
2 Nephi 27:3-5 … (quoting Isaiah 29) all the nations that fight against Zion, and that distress her, shall be as a dream of a night vision; yea, it shall be unto them, even as unto a hungry man which dreameth, and behold he eateth but he awaketh and his soul is empty; or like unto a thirsty man which dreameth, and behold he drinketh but he awaketh and behold he is faint… ye shall be drunken but not with wine, ye shall stagger but not with strong drink… the Lord hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep.
2 Nephi 29:4-5, 14 - what thank they the Jews for the Bible which they receive from them? … but ye have cursed them, and have hated them, and have not sought to recover them. But behold, I will return all these things upon your own heads; for I the Lord have not forgotten my people... And I will show unto them that fight against my word and against my people, who are of the house of Israel, that I am God, and that I covenanted with Abraham that I would remember his seed forever.
3 Nephi 29:8-9 … ye need not any longer hiss, nor spurn, nor make game of the Jews, nor any of the remnant of the house of Israel… the Lord remembereth his covenant |
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