I had kind of hoped that YOU would "shoot at the target [I had]provided." Oh, well, since you have decided to set the "rules of engagement," here goes:
The story of the "Lost Tribes of Israel" is a fascinating one, yet so tangled in myth, mysticism and tradition, plus cultural and religious self-interest that for a designated time they really were believed lost to history. However, the Lost Tribes "lost time" is over, and the implications of their "return" are profound.
I propose that we discard ALL of the "...myth, mysticism and tradition, plus cultural and religious self-interest..." and look to the ONLY legitimate authority, at least for those of us who believe the Bible.
1. Is there any textual evidence, From the Bible, which indicates that "...the Lost Tribes "lost time" is over,..."?
...Abraham (a great-great grandson of Shem...
(Actually, a great, great, great, great, great, grandson of Shem.)
...Abraham...and a small group of Hebrews (of which there were & are many varieties) migrated from southern Iraq to Canaan (~Palestine).
Actually, the Bible calls Abram a "Hebrew," but the next time people are called "Hebrews" is in the story of Joseph, in Egypt. I am unaware of any Biblical reference to ANY "varieties" of "Hebrews." Do you have a reference which I have missed?
...Canaan (~Palestine).
If memory serves, Canaan was not known as "Palestine," until after 70 AD, and never, in the Bible.
... As offspring of Shem, they were called "Shemites" or "Semites"...
But, not in the Bible-this is from secular sources.
~1450 BC, now as the 12 Tribes of the 12 Sons of Israel, and over 3 Million strong, these Semites bailed out of Egypt in the well-documented EXODUS and fled back to Palestine. But the Tribes “couldn't all get along” there, so ~922 BC these 5 Million Israelites split into the Northern and Southern Kingdoms.
...over 3 Million strong,
I think a more accurate number is :from twenty years old and upward, 603,550 men.
(In actual numbers, 5 Million people is about the same size as Ireland, Norway, Denmark or Israel today, and was 10% of the estimated 50 Million world population at that time.
I am unable to find any Biblical reference to either of these figures. Where did you get them?
...Known also as the Kingdom of Israel or House of Israel,...
The "Kingdom of Israel" is mentioned three times, in the Bible--twice referring to the Kingdom, BEFORE the division, and once, to the Northern kingdom, by Jezebel, to Ahab.
In the Old Testement,the phrase "House of Israel is used for both the entirety of Israel, and sometimes for the northern kingdom. In the New Testament, the "House of Israel," is only used once WITH the "House of Judah," and then they were BOTH to be given a new covenant.
Mostly, (in the New Testament) Israel clearly means the people of God, living in the Holy land, and occasionally, outside the Holy land.
...They were not good about keeping up with changes in their eMail addresses, thus were called, by some, the "Lost Tribes", or "Lost Sheep" or "Lost Children" of the Kingdom of Israel.
I am unable to find this in the Bible. Can you give the verse?
A hundred years later, this "lost" Northern Kingdom of Israel with now over 6 Million Israelites defeated the Assyrians and escaped north through the Caucasus Mountains and past the Black and Caspian Seas, to appear in history ~610 BC as The Celts. These Celts mixed with (and fought) other scattered Israelites (proto-Celts) who had escaped from Egypt by sea a thousand years earlier and established many outposts in Europe and elsewhere.
Again, I am unable to substantiate any of these "facts," in the Bible. Where did you get these?
These Millions of Celts grew over time to become Hundreds of Millions as they migrated in waves westward and northwest to Galatia, Ephesus, Corinth, Phillipi, to what is today Hallstadt, Austria and Neuchatel, Switzerland (where exist major Celtic digs and museums) and beyond, to dominate Northern and Western Europe. They are the rootstock of today’s Europeans, and Americans.
Again, I am unable to find any of this information in the Bible. Where does it come from?
...also known as the Kingdom of Judah or House of Judah,...
The "House of Judah" is often used in the Old Testament, to signify the Southern Kingdom. It is used only once, in the New Testament (see above).
The "Kingdom of Judah" is only used once, and that is in the Old Testament, apparently signifying the Southern Kingdom.
I think the above is enough for now. Time to get some rest.
DG
>The rules of engagement are simple; you shoot at the target provided.
And the rules of defense are simple; you control the angle of the target and the distance from it. I have willingly provided you a target. You have provided nothing, and have nothing at risk.
>I had kind of hoped that YOU would "shoot at the target [I had]provided." Oh, well, since you have
decided to set the "rules of engagement," here goes:
Sorry, but you didn't provide a worthy target, let alone one of interest.
>I propose that we discard ALL of the "...myth, mysticism and tradition, plus cultural and
religious self-interest..." and look to the ONLY legitimate authority, at least for those of us who
believe the Bible.
My Profile clearly states:
This site is about HISTORY, both Archeological and Biblical.
If you insist on modifying the premises behind my site and excluding Archeological evidence of HISTORIC historic events, then this discussion of HISTORY is unfortunately over. I do believe the Bible, but do not agree it is the SOLE reference for ALL HISTORIC truth, and will not agree to that restriction on our discussion.
Please advise before I spend any more time responding to the balance of your questions.
-LT