[Ancesthntr]

I thought is was the lost 12 tribes not 10. One for each of the apostles.

Really? There were 12 tribes, but only 10 were exiled - how else would there have been any continuity of the Jewish religion and culture if they were ALL lost?

And what relationship could they possibly have with the apostles of 7 centuries in the future?

No disrespect, but please read a bit more.

[edcoil]

I guess that makes sense. It’s why I asked your id since you seem to have the most informed replies.

[ChicagoHebrew]

Even the term "10 Lost Tribes" is ridiculously ignorant. Of the 12 Tribes, Judah, Benjamin & Shimon were part of the Southern Kingdom and Levi was scattered all over, including partially in the south. So only 8 tribes were "lost" (and even then, individual members of all tribes almost certainly made it to the south). The term 10 Lost Tribes originally meant not that the entire tribe was lost, but that the members of the tribes lost their tribal identity (hence Judah, Benjamin & Shimon became just "Jews," after the largest tribe -- Judah, while Levi maintains an independent tribal identity to this day).

Even among the 8 Lost Tribes, their fate is decidedly unsexy. Large numbers became the Samaritans, others became the Kurdish and Bukharian Jews (who have traditions of being from the so-called Lost Tribes), and most just assimilated.

The Ethiopian Jews almost certainly descend from a mix of Jews and early Jewish converts. The so-called Bnei Menashe have no genetic or historical connection to Israel (and had no tradition of being so until 50 years ago), but are of course welcome to convert.