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Bible Question: Who are the twelve tribes in James 1:1? Where did they migrate
and where did they end up? Did they cross the Caucasus mountains?
Bible Answer: The first verse of the book of James reads as follows:
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James, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad, greetings. (NASB) James 1:1 |
Twelve Tribes. The twelve tribes refers to the Jewish people. The Jewish people
are the offspring of Abraham, Issac, Jacob and Jacob's twelve
sons: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Zebulun, Issachar, Dan, Gad,
Asher, Naphtali, Joseph, Benjamin (Gen. 49:1-28; 50:24; Ex. 1:1-5).
The descendants of these twelve brothers are the twelve tribes
or the nation of Israel,
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. . .that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. (NASB) Luke 22:30
It had a great and high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels; and names were written on them, which are those of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel. (NASB) Revelation 21:12 |
Migration. The Old Testament tells us the Jews (Israel) were deported into
Egypt (Exodus 1:1-15), Babylon (2 Kings 24) and Rome (Romans 1:7;
15:3-4). We know from historical records that many of the Jews
returned to Israel after their 70 years of captivity in Babylon
(Jer. 29:8-10; Dan. 9:2) but not all. Historical records also
indicate the Jews were forcibly deported and voluntarily emigrated
to Egypt and Greece. James 1:1 refers to this as the tribes who
were "dispersed." The Greek word for "dispersed" is DIASPORA.
This word simply means 'scattered." Today we know there are Jews
in almost every part of the world. They also crossed the Caucasus
mountains which are north of the modern country of Turkey and
just inside the border of Russia.
Conclusion: God has scattered His special people, Israel, throughout the world
because of their sin (Jer. 25:8-9). But God has already started
to gather His people back to Palestine as evidenced by the revival
of the nation of Israel. Scripture tells us that God will bring
them all back someday before His second coming. Israel is special
to God. |
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