[Sam Gamgee]

Israel was still commanded to keep the covenant laws of God. How is it that Judah was conquered and dispersed but still follows the commands given in the Old Testament, while there are no people of Israel that follow similar laws? My guess is that Israelis didn’t ghettoize themselves as the people of Judah did, and became racially mixed with the Assyrians, then the Persians and Greeks.

[topcat54]

Israel was still commanded to keep the covenant laws of God. How is it that Judah was conquered and dispersed but still follows the commands given in the Old Testament, while there are no people of Israel that follow similar laws? My guess is that Israelis didn’t ghettoize themselves as the people of Judah did, and became racially mixed with the Assyrians, then the Persians and Greeks.

There is no physical nation that follows the OT laws today. There is a secular nation called "Israel" that follows some form of the rabbinic traditions, but they are merely a perverted version of what God commanded the children Israel in the Old Testament.

The true nation of God today is the Christian church.

But you [the Church] are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy. (1 Peter 2:9,10)

Notice please how the apostle Peter, speaking by divine inspiration of the Holy Spirit, refers to the Christian church by all the titles once used by Israel under the old covenant. This is in fulfillment of Matthew 21:43, ""Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it."