Understanding the Myth of the Ten Lost Tribes and the Tribe of Judah

The History of the Israelite Kingdoms

The Israelite kingdom history dates back to the division of the United Kingdom of Israel and Judah in 922 BC (during the reign of Rehoboam), following the revolt against Solomon’s son. This introduced two separate kingdoms: the Kingdom of Judah in the south and the Kingdom of Israel in the north.

The northern Kingdom of Israel consisted of 10 tribes, namely Reuben, Simeon, Issachar, Zebulon, Ephraim, Manasseh, Gad, Asher, Dan, and Naphtali. The southern Kingdom of Judah comprised two tribes: Judah and Benjamin. (2 Kings 15:17-20)

The Assyrian Conquest and Deportation

The Assyrian conquest and deportation of the northern Kingdom of Israel (the 10 tribes) is a complex historical event. According to the account in 2 Kings 17:6-8, the Assyrians deported the northern tribes to Assyria around 722 BC. However, some historical evidence casts doubt on this narrative. Scholars and ancient records indicate that not all the northern Israelites were deported.

An Assyrian record by Sargon II (ca. 722 BC) mentions the conquest of Samaria, stating, "I besieged and conquered Samaria and led away 27920 inhabitants of it." (Ancient Near Eastern Texts Relating to the Old Testament, Princeton U Press, 1969, pp. 284f)

This account suggests that a significant number of people remained in the region, becoming part of the Samaritan and Palestinian communities. The idea of 'Ten Lost Tribes' as fictional is well-supported by historical and archaeological evidence.

Further Evidence from the Book of Chronicles

The Book of Chronicles (2 Chronicles 30:1-5, 10) mentions that King Hezekiah (reigning from 715 to 687 BC) invited the tribes of Ephraim, Manasseh, Dan, and Zebulon to Jerusalem for the Passover. This event implies that members of these tribes remained in the region after the Assyrian conquest (2 Chronicles 30:11-18).

These accounts from 2 Kings and Chronicles contradict the idea that all northern tribes were deported. They suggest that a substantial portion of the northern Israelites stayed in the region, contributing to the formation of the Samaritan and Palestinian communities.

Chronological Analysis of Hezekiah’s Reign

The chronology of Hezekiah’s reign has been a subject of scholarly debate. Some scholars argue his reign spanned 727 to 698 BC based on 2 Kings 18:10, while others suggest it was from 715 to 687 BC based on 2 Kings 18:13 (referring to the invasion by Sennacherib, who must have ascended the throne around 705 BC).

Historical records and contextual analysis indicate that Hezekiah's reign was indeed from 715 to 687 BC. This timeline supports the existence of the northern Israelite communities in the region post-Assyrian conquest, contrary to the idea of their complete deportation.

In conclusion, the narrative of the Ten Lost Tribes is a myth not supported by historical evidence. Instead, archaeological and historical records indicate that the majority of the northern Israelites remained in the region, contributing to the formation of the Samaritan and Palestinian communities.

Keywords: Ten Lost Tribes, Tribe of Judah, Israelite Kingdoms