The Myth of 10 Lost Tribes of Israel

The Myth of 10 Lost Tribes of Israel is a perplexing idea among Bible students. This idea is not supported by the Bible or any historical documents. But it was perpetrated by the KJV Bible translators.

The idea started around the early part of the second century. It gained traction during the 17th century with the publication of the English translation of the King James Bible. This content centers on some purposefully mistranslated documents by the Masoretic Jewish scribes.

This study is twofold. It relates to the falsely interpreted passages in the KJV Bible. But one cannot do so effectively without at least mentioning the role played by Apocryphal documents, such as the book of 2 Esdras.

There is an ongoing contention between Hebrew Israelites groups. One of them contended that Israel left Assyria where they were exiled and headed to West Africa. But another group contends they Israel packed up and boarded ships and sailed to America. Therefore, this group now asserts that Israel is now Native American. Of course, they are both wrong. because they are influenced by Apocryphal documents. In particular the books of second Esdras.

The Myth of 10 Lost Tribes of Israel & Who are the main purveyors of these Idea?

It is amazing that people today still think that there were ten lost tribes of Israel. But they do so, despite commonsense and a mountain of evidence to the contrary. To understand how this plays out you need to understand the parts played by the various actors who are imbued in this charade.

Edomites & Early Christians

It was first invented by Edomites with unscrupulous motivations. They and the early Christians sought to write Israel out of existence by corrupting the text of the Hebrew document and writing various apocryphal publications.

The King James Bible Translation

The King James translators inherited the corrupted documents of the Masoretic and continued with the tradition of writing Israel into extinction.

19th Century Christians

In "View of the Hebrews" an 1823 book written by Ethan Smith, a congregationalist minister in Vermont. He argued that Native Americans were descended from the "Ten Lost Tribes of Israel". It was a commonly held view during the early nineteenth century.

Also, this same view also influenced Joseph Smith, founder of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints/Mormons. *The Book of Mormon (1830) * expressed similar beliefs of Native Americans being Israel.

This is interesting because Some groups of Hebrew Israelites, called (The Camps) adapted the Ideas of the Latter-day Saints/Mormons and others. Consequently, they incorporate a “12 Tribes of Israel” chart in their doctrine. This chart designates the 12 Tribes of Israel to Indian nations and countries in the Americas. These are the ones that say that the Ten lost tribes of Israel departed from Assyria to America in ships. So now you know where they got these ideas from. Consequently, these Hebrew Israelite groups are helping to destroy Israel's name from out of the nations.

Psa_83:4 They said, Come, for we should utterly destroy them from out of the nations; for in no way should the name of Israel be remembered any longer.

The Bible and historical documents should validate this claim

The fundamentals of "the 10 Lost Tribes of Israel myth" is that the people of Israel were carried off from their own land and exiled into Assyrian land. The Bible and Historical documents. must validate this claim for it to be effective. Fortunately, we have both. We have the uncorrupted Word of GOD. We also have verified information from the Assyrians themselves. Remarkably both concur. So, let us compare the Assyrian's view of the so-called Israel’s resettlement and the words of the Bibles.

The Assyrian view of Israel resettlement

The following is an inscription from a Stela commemorative monument of the Assyrian empire. The information is attributed to the Assyrian king, Sargon II. The one that completed the capture and deportation of Israel.

Israel's exile

The Bible’s view of Israel resettlement.

Let us go through the relevant scriptures, point by point.

2Ki 17:1  In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah, Hoshea son of Elah reigned in Samaria over Israel for nine years. 
2Ki 17:2  And he did the wicked thing in the eyes of the LORD, only not as the kings of Israel who were before him.
2Ki 17:3  Against him there ascended Shalmaneser king of the Assyrians; and Hoshea became to him as a servant, and he bore gifts to him.
 2Ki 17:4  And the king of the Assyrians found a plot by Hoshea, for Hoshea sent messengers to So king of Egypt, and did not bring gifts to the king of the Assyrians year by year. And the king of the Assyrians assaulted him, and tied him up in the house of the prison. 
2Ki 17:5  And the king of the Assyrians ascended unto all the land, and ascended unto Samaria, and assaulted it for three years.
2Ki 17:6  In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of the Assyrians seized Samaria, and he resettled Israel into Assyria, and he settled them in Halah and in Habor, the rivers of Gozan, in the mountains of the Medes.  

Can we not trust this guy when he says that he resettled 27,280 from Samaria? Yes people, only 27,280. But that makes sense. Any experts will show that at that time, Israel would have consisted of at least 4 million people. Why didn’t he say that he carried three to four million Israelites? Because he must be accurate because this is a factual record.

The entire idea comes from a few verses in the Bible that seems to suggest that the Assyrians took up 4 million men, women, and children from out of the Northern kingdom of Israel. They then walked them hundreds of miles away into Assyria and dumped them in some cities there. This idea originated in some intentionally mistranslated verses of the King James Bible.

If "the 10 Lost Tribes of Israel" is a Myth, then explain Bible verses that say Israel were exiled into Assyria?

The KJV translation is anathema to the people of Israel. Ever since the start of Christianity in Rome, these people have falsely immersed themselves into Israel’s heritage. They used the erroneous and corrupted documents of the Masoretic text as well as the Textus Receptus documents of Erasmus to compile the King James Bible translation. Today we will concentrate on the Masoretic text, as it is the source of the KJV Old Testament translation.

With that in mind let us look at some of the verses that say the Assyrians carried Israel away and put them in Assyria.

2 Kings 18:11 And the king of Assyria did carry away Israel unto Assyria, and put them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes: (KJV)

Did you notice the emphatic “did” in this verse? The writers were trying to counteract the truth you may have read in other documents. But there is only one way to interpret this verse. The author is emphatic that the children of Israel were exiled into Assyria. But the problem is, is there no truth in this statement as I have shown earlier?

Furthermore, the term “carry away” is a term for exile. Therefore, the translators are saying that despite what you may have read elsewhere, Israel was in fact exiled into Assyria.

Strong’s' carry away (H1540)
A primitive root; to denude (especially in a disgraceful sense); by implication to exile (captives being usually stripped); figuratively to reveal: -  + advertise, appear, bewray, bring, (carry, lead, go) captive (into captivity), depart, disclose, discover, exile, be gone, open, X plainly, publish, remove, reveal, X shamelessly, shew, X surely, tell, uncover.

The Hebrew term for “carry away H1540” by implication means to exile

The Septuagint Translations of same verse compared

Let us do a comparison of two Septuagint translations of the same verse:

2Ki_18_11 And the king of Assyria did carry away Israel unto Assyria, and put them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes: (KJV)
2Ki 18:11  And the king of the Assyrians resettled the Samarian into Assyria, and he put them in Halah, and in Habor by the river Gozan, and in the mountains of the Medes; (Septuagint) 

See the difference here? The KJV translation says the king of Assyria carried away (Exiled) Israel into Assyria.

However, this version of the Septuagint says that the King of Assyria resettled The Samarian. But that is exactly what we read in the Nimrud Prisms earlier. He says he took away 27,280 Samarians and relocated them to other parts of his empire. Not convinced, then let us look at the "Brenton", another Septuagint translation:

(2 Kings 18:11) And the king of the Assyrians carried away the Samaritans to Assyria, and put them in Alae and in Abor, by the river Gozan, and in the mountains of the Medes; (Brenton) 

It is remarkable “Samaritan” sticks out in the Septuagint. You see the KJV simply substituted Israel for Samarians. This was the original translation until the Masoretic changed it to “Israel.” But in both Septuagint translations there is no reference to “Israel” because the original Bible had “Samaritans” which historical documents support. Therefore, this is a deliberate mistranslation of the verse.

More Biblical proof for those not convinced the 10 Lost Tribes of Israel is a myth

For those still not convinced that the 10 Lost Tribes of Israelis are a myth, there is more proof. Notice that the KJV Bible follows the previous pattern in the following verses. They are sticking to their story; they want the sons of Israel to disappear from the face of the earth. But let us make a comparison with two Septuagint translations:

(2 kings 17:6)  In the ninth year of Hoshea the king of Assyria took Samaria, and carried Israel away into Assyria, and placed them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes. (KJV)
(2 kings 17:6) In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of the Assyrians seized Samaria, and he resettled Israel into Assyria, and he settled them in Halah and in Habor, the rivers of Gozan, in the mountains of the Medes. (Septuagint)
(2 kings 17:6) In the ninth year of Osee the king of the Assyrians took Samaria, and carried Israel away to the Assyrians, and settled them in Alae, and in Abor, near the rivers of Gozan, and in the mountains of the Medes. (Brenton)

At first, this may sound a little complicated. But a closer look will reveal it is more understandable when you break it down into parts. You’ll notice it has three parts.

The sum of the parts

The king of the Assyrians seized the capital city (Samaria)

1)The first part read; the king of the Assyrians seized the capital city (Samaria) of the sons of Israel.

The king of the Assyrians resettled the Samaritans in Assyria

The second part reads: "settled them in Alae, and in Abor, near the rivers of Gozan, and in the mountains of the Medes" Obviously, this can only be about the 27280 people taken from Samaria. It cannot be the sons of Israel. We know from historical documents and the uncorrupted Word of GOD that the sons of Israel never left up to the time of YESHUA and after.

He resettled Israel into Assyria.

The third part of the verse reads, and he resettled Israel into Assyria. We also see the same word: “resettled” used here also. It is the Greek G599. It has the same kind of connotation of dying off or assimilating. Literally, this is saying that the king of Assyria died off Israel into Assyria. Another more direct way to say this is that the King of Assyria incorporated Israel into Assyria. Israel as a sovereign (Northern) kingdom no longer exists. It is now part of the Assyrian empire.

This references the kingdom called Israel. Not the Sons of Israel. They were now literally Assyrian nationals. It ties in with seizing Samaria. You seize the capital then you conquered the whole country.

This is a widespread practice in Empire buildings. The victor would take away the important people and the men of wealth as well as everything of value in the city.

Let us test yet another verse (2 kings 17:18) that shows the Myth of 10 Lost Tribes of Israel

(2 Ki_17:18) Therefore the LORD was very angry with Israel, and removed  them out of his sight: there was none left but the tribe of Judah only. (KJV)
(2 kings 17:18) And the LORD was enraged exceedingly with Israel, and he removed  them from his face. He did not leave any behind except the tribe of Judah alone. (Septuagint)
(2 Ki_17:18) And the Lord was very angry with Israel, and removed them out of his sight; and there was only left the tribe of Juda quite alone. (Brenton)

The fact is that no one or thing can be hidden from GOD’s face, even more so, the children of Israel. It is simply saying that GOD turned HIS back on them. They no longer have an independent state and worst of all HE stopped all communication with them. He no longer has prophets or HIS word among them.

Only the tribe of Judah will remain as a polity of GOD. The Southern kingdom (Judah and Benjamin) will continue to have HIS word among them. The reason is that CHRIST will have to come out of Judah.

There is no doubt that KJV translators intentionally lied and changed the Bible (Word of GOD) to spread the idea of a “Ten Lost Tribes of Israel”.

The 10 Lost Tribes of Israel is a myth because they were in Israel during the times of CHRIST?

The sons of Israel never went anywhere. They were in full view all the time. At least up to the times of YESHUA. We read the following:

(2 Ki_18:1) And it came to pass in the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, Hezekiah son of Ahaz king of Judah reigned.

This verse shows that Hoshea, the last king of Israel reign coincides with that of Hezekiah king of Judah. We know that Hoshea came to the throne in 718BC. Then obviously Hezekiah's first year of reign would be 715BC. Hezekiah kept the Passover in Israel and Judah many years after the supposed exile of Israel. Furthermore, we read.

(2 Ki_18:9) And it came to pass in the fourth year to king Hezekiah, this is the seventh year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, ascended Shalmaneser king of the Assyrians against Samaria, and assaulted it

This again confirms that Hezekiah and Hoshea’s reign is three years apart. We know the year also when Shalmaneser king of the Assyrians invaded Israel was 711BC. Remember, It took him three years to finally overcome Samaria in 709BC, which would be the sixth year of Hezekiah.

Hezekiah reigned between 715BC to 686BC. Obviously, he called for Passover observance during that time, most certainly after 709BC, the period Israel was exiled to Assyria. But as we read that Hezekiah proclaimed a Passover to all Israel.

(2 Ch_30:1) And Hezekiah sent unto all Israel and Judah, and he wrote letters unto Ephraim and Manasseh to come into the house of the LORD in Jerusalem, to observe the passover to the LORD God of Israel.

Here it says that Hezekiah wrote letters unto Ephraim and Manasseh to come into the house of the LORD in Jerusalem, to observe the Passover to the LORD God of Israel.

(2 Ch_30:5) And they established a communication to go through by proclamation in all Israel, from Beer-sheba unto Dan, to come and to observe the passover to the LORD God of Israel in Jerusalem. For the multitude did not do according to the scripture.

In this verse, King Hezekiah ascertains that only the few thousand men of Israel were exiled. Obviously in reference to the 27,280 Samarians taken captives.

(2 Ch 30:6) And the ones running went with the letters from the king and from the rulers, into all Israel and Judah, according to the order of the king, saying, Sons of Israel, return to the LORD God of Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob! and he will return to the ones having escaped, surviving from the hand of the king of Assyria

Here we ascertained that as early as in the times of King Hezekiah, Israel knew that only 27280 men were taken out of Samaria by the Assyrians and everybody else remained there.

(2 Ch 30:7) And do not be as your fathers and your brethren! the ones who revolted from the LORD God of their fathers, and he delivered them into desolation, as you see. 

That is proof that GOD delivered 27,280 to desolation (killed and destroyed). But all the rest of Israel remained.

(2 Ch 30:10) And the runners were traveling city by city in mount Ephraim and Manasseh, and unto Zebulun. And they became as victims of ones ridiculing them and deriding them. But men from Asher, and Manasseh, and from Zebulun felt shame, and they came unto Jerusalem.

The facts speak for themselves, that Israel was never exiled into Assyria as is rumored by the Hebrew Israelites today.

Where was Israel at the time of YESHUA and Disciples?

This is a stupid question because everyone knows that they lived in the Roman provinces of Galilee, Samaria, and Judah. This area approximates the old Israelite kingdoms of the Northern and Southern Kingdoms.
The Bible tells us that even before and after the Assyrian conquest of Samaria in 723Bc, many Israelites had left Israel for other lands. Most of these were economic migrants.

Most of the Hebrew Israelites cults will tell you that Israel always flees to Africa, which is a lie. The Bible shows you that they migrated to Europe and other places too. These people do not have an answer as to why their presence of us in these lands is small today, so they lie to you and say they only went to Africa. The fact is that Israel had a large presence in European lands as well. See my video in the description:

How the European Gentiles destroyed The Israel of GOD

From its inception, Israel’s diaspora stretched Worldwide

The myth of the "10 lost tribes of Israel" was propagated during the third and eleventh centuries. Apparently, Israel was unaware of their status as exiled in Assyria. Of course, this is a tongue-in-cheek statement, because, during their lifetime, CHRIST and the Apostles made references to Israel. Here are the words of the Apostles.

Act_4:27 For they gathered together in truth against the holy one, your servant Jesus, whom you anointed -- both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with nations, and peoples of Israel,

Here the Apostle Peter is admonishing the people of Israel for their part in the responsible for murdering CHRIST.

Act_4:8 Then Peter, filled of holy spirit, said to them, Rulers of the people, and elders of Israel.

Peter is referencing the leaders of Israel in this verse.

Act_2:36 With certainty then let all the house of Israel know! that God made him both Lord and Christ -- this Jesus whom you crucified.

Peter is referencing Israel in this verse.

Mat_10:5-6 These twelve Jesus sent, exhorting them, saying, Unto the way of the nations you should not go forth, and unto a city of Samaritans you should not enter. But you go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel!
Mat_15:24 And responding he said, I was not sent except unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Therefore, Israel was there in the land through the millennium leading up to CHRIST ministry. YESHUA and his decuples are Israelites who dwelt in Galilee, comprising the area of Zebulun and Naphtali and other parts of the old Northern Kingdom. They also lived in Samaria. The woman at the well at Sychar and her brethren were Israelites, not Samaritans. See my video: Who are the Samaritans?

The Apocrypha-Do not add or take away from GOD’s Word-2nd Esdras

Another part of the equation is that of the part played by Apocryphal books to spread this lying hoax. These ideas are common among most people that call themselves Hebrew Israelites. These people attest that the King James translation of the Bible is correct for doctrine. Consequently, they read verses that convinced them that Israel was exiled into Assyria and destroyed forever.

Some of them realize that they are in fact Israel because of the curses outlined in Deuteronomy and elsewhere. They were unwilling or unable to be obedient to the law that stipulates they shouldn’t add to the Word. So, they went to the Apocryphal book of 2 Esdras for answers.

The lying Apocryphal book of 2nd Esdras

Verses in this Apocryphal book states that Israel was exiled to Assyria. It further states that they later packed up and left Assyria and went to a place called Arsareth. Now split into competing camps. One believes Arsareth is America and the other West Africa.

2nd Esdras 40 Those are the ten tribes, which were carried away prisoners out of their own land in the time of Osea the king, whom Salmanasar the king of Assyria led away captive, and he carried them over the waters, and so came they into another land.

2nd Esdras 43-47 And they entered into Euphrates by the narrow places of the river. For the most High then shewed signs for them, and held still the flood, till they were passed over. For through that country there was a great way to go, namely, of a year and a half: and the same region is called Arsareth. Then dwelt they there until the latter time; and now when they shall begin to come, The Highest shall stay the springs of the stream again, that they may go through: therefore, sawest thou the multitude with peace

Up to the time of CHRIST, Israel was always in the Roman-created provinces of Samaria, Judea, and Galilee. This equated to the combined Northern and Southern Kingdoms. But having read the King James Bible they wouldn’t know that. They fail to understand that at the same time their enemies were corrupting the KJV Bible they were writing these lying Apocryphal books such as 2nd Esdras and others. So, they went from the sublime to the ridiculous.

What is an “Isrealitish” in the Bible Lev 24:10

Related Posts

December 14, 2022
Rape & The Impact on Black Y-DNA

Rape & The Impact on Black Y-DNA. From late 2017 to 2019 the interest in DNA testing exploded. People were buying DNA testing kits and sharing the result on the internet and YouTube. The DNA boom has made genetic testing one of the hottest conversations worldwide and especially in America. There are three types of […]

Read More
April 18, 2022
What is the Final Affliction in the Bible?

What is the Final Affliction in the Bible? Thayer Definition: Affliction (G2347) 1) a pressing, pressing together, pressure 2) metaphorically oppression, affliction, tribulation, distress, straits. However, In the King James Bible, they substituted the word “Tribulation”. It means the same thing. Christian eschatology, says that the Tribulation is a time when everyone will experience worldwide […]

Read More
March 26, 2022
King Solomon of Israel was an evil unsaved man

King Solomon of Israel was an evil, unsaved man. This world focuses on great men and women. They need heroes to serve and glorify themselves with. Throughout the ages, many of these heroes have cropped up on the world stage. But once glorious heroes of the nation are now dead forever. Men like Winston Churchill; […]

Read More
March 12, 2022
Was Paul Apostle to the Gentiles or Israel?

Was Paul Apostle to the Gentiles or Israel? According to the Christian teaching and secular tradition, the Apostle Paul ministered to Gentile people. They will even point to verses such as (Gal_1:2) to substantiate these claims. But there is big problem with this idea. The Bible is consistent with the fact that all the Apostles, […]

Read More

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

2 comments on “The myth of 10 Lost Tribes of Israel”

  1. If there are no Lost Tribes of Israel, then to whom did Yasha refer to in Matthew 10 :5-6 when He tells the disciples not to go the way of the Gentiles, but to the Lost Sheep of the House of Israel?

    1. an excellent question!
      There are no reference in the Bible about lost tribes. At no time in history was any tribes lost. JESUS referred to "LOST SHEEP"
      Every Israelite that is born for salvation is lost and need to hear the gospel. these are whom CHRIST refer the disciples to. They are his sheep that need the gospel of salvation

Copyright © The Infallible Word of God.