[goldstategop]

They're two tribes left out of the original 12: Judah and Levi. But these days they're all Jews.

(Go Israel, Go! Slap 'Em Down Hezbullies.)

[Blogger]

I wouldn't be so sure of that. Several world communities have claims to being Israelites of various tribes (and I'm not talking British Israelitism). Considering the traditions they hold and the context of their setting, I think they very well may be
on to something.

[Alouette]

They're two tribes left out of the original 12: Judah and Levi.

Levi was not counted in the division of the Land of Israel as their inheritance was the Temple. The Tribe of Joseph was counted twice as Ephraim and Menassah.

The tribes that returned after the Babylonian exile were Benjamin, Judah and Levi.

[rightwingcrazy]

And Benjamin.

Those claiming to be remnants of other tribes (notably Dan and Menashe) have also been making the news lately.

[Alexander Rubin]

You're forgetting Benjamin.

Generally confused with Judah, but they are still around, I believe. Slightly different burial practices.

Also, the Indian Jews were recently recognized as descendents of Menashe.

[tang-soo]

They're two tribes left out of the original 12: Judah and Levi. But these days they're all Jews.

Just to be clear. There are several references to Israelites who left the apostate northern kingdom prior to it being "carried away" by the Assyrians.

As an example, this passage from Luke 2 when Jesus is brought to the Temple to be blesses ...

There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher.

Also, in Revelation 7 is the passage detailing the 144,000 sealed ...

1)After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth to prevent any wind from blowing on the land or on the sea or on any tree.

2) Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, having the seal of the living God. He called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea:

3) "Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God."

4) Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel.

5)From the tribe of Judah 12,000 were sealed,
from the tribe of Reuben 12,000,
from the tribe of Gad 12,000,

6) from the tribe of Asher 12,000,
from the tribe of Naphtali 12,000,
from the tribe of Manasseh 12,000,

7)from the tribe of Simeon 12,000,
from the tribe of Levi 12,000,
from the tribe of Issachar 12,000,

8)from the tribe of Zebulun 12,000,
from the tribe of Joseph 12,000,
from the tribe of Benjamin 12,000.

It is interesting to note that there are actually 14 divisions. The 12 "sons" and the sons of Joseph - Manasseh and Ephraim, resulting from their father's double blessing. So there were actually 13 tribes or groups traveling the desert.

In this Revelation passage, Joseph is mentioned while Dan and Ephraim are not. This is believed by some because in Genesis 49 Dan has this said about him ...

Dan will be a serpent by the roadside,
a viper along the path,
that bites the horse's heels
so that its rider tumbles backward.

During the blessing given by his father which is odd because the proceeding verse says ... "Dan will provide justice for his people as one of the tribes of Israel.

Finally the tribe of Ephraim led the apostasy of the Northern Kingdom and in many passages, the entire apostate nation was given the title Ephraim.

[Zionist Conspirator]

They're two tribes left out of the original 12: Judah and Levi. But these days they're all Jews.

Actually, I believe that many from the "lost" Ten Tribes returned later so that the Jews today include all twelve tribes. One of Mashiach's tasks will be to indentify the tribe of each Jew.

Much as I'd love the irony of us rednecks being Israelites, I've never put much stock in the "lost tribes" thingie.