What the Bible says about Israel's Scattering
(From Forerunner Commentary)
This event took place during the reign of Rehoboam, son of Solomon, approximately two hundred years before Isaiah lived. To finance his massive building projects, Solomon had taxed the people heavily during his reign. Following his death, the ten northern tribes appealed for relief from the heavy tax burden, but Rehoboam refused. The Israelites returned home in rebellious anger. Rehoboam sent the head of that day's Internal Revenue Service to either collect some overdue revenues or negotiate. The Israelites assassinated him. Fearing the northern ten tribes' secession, the Jews raised an army and prepared to go to war against their northern brethren. At that point, God directly intervened by sending a prophet to deliver the message contained in verse 24.
God says He was personally maneuvering events to bring about His will. He wanted to divide Israel and Judah into two separate kingdoms with two separate histories—a situation that exists to this day. Israel was later scattered in captivity by Assyria. Judah followed Israel into captivity over one hundred years later but at the hands of Babylon. If God scattered Israel, why can He not scatter the church if somewhat similar conditions to Israel and Judah's appear in the church (Leviticus 26:33)? Should we presumptuously assume that the church is exempt from God's chastening? Moreover, why could He not scatter it for any number of other purposes He might have in mind?
John W. Ritenbaugh
God's Sovereignty and the Church's Condition (Part One)Related Topics: Assyrian Captivity | Babylonian Captivity | Captivity of Israel | Division of Israel and Judah | God's Chastening of the Church | God's Scattering of Israel | Israel's Captivity | Israel's Scattering | Northern Kingdom of Israel | Northern Tribes of Israel | Rehoboam | Rehoboam's Taxation | Scattering of Church | Scattering of Israel | Southern Kingdom of Judah | Southern Tribes of Judah
Because the Kingdom of Judah had seen the results of Israel's idolatry—had witnessed the catastrophe of her fall and mass deportation, but had refused to repent—God judges that "backsliding Israel has shown herself more righteous than treacherous Judah" (verse 11).
God, through a number of prophets, warns Judah not to follow Israel's course. For example, Hosea, using harlotry as an analogy for idolatry, pleads, "Though you, Israel, play the harlot, let not Judah offend" (Hosea 4:15).
With a few exceptions, notably Hezekiah and Josiah, the kings of Judah were more corrupt than their counterparts in the north. Israel set the pace into idolatry, and Judah enthusiastically followed. "Israel and Ephraim stumble in their iniquity; Judah also stumbles with them" (Hosea 5:5).
Charles Whitaker
Searching for Israel (Part Six): Israel Is Fallen, Is FallenRelated Topics: Corruption of Judah | Hosea | Israel's Idolatry | Israel's Scattering | Judah's Idolatry
God prophesies that the time will come when people will look back and remember how He "led the descendants of the house of Israel from the north country."
Charles Whitaker
Searching for Israel (Part Eight): The Scattering of Ten-Tribed IsraelRelated Topics: God's Scattering of Israel | Israel's Scattering | Regathering of Israel | Scattering of Israel
The "them" has to be the last of the third, those that he is to scatter in the wind. So we have three separate, distinct piles. He takes the third pile and throws it. However, before doing so, he just takes a small number of hairs from that pile and puts them into the folds of his garment, or as we might say, into his pocket. Then what remains he throws up into the air, and it just gets blown away. We understand this means people will be blown into all nations, that is, scattered and likely in captivity.
John W. Ritenbaugh
A Place of Safety? (Part 1)Related Topics: Captivity of Israel | Ezekiel' s Prophecies | Hair Metaphor in Ezekiel 5 | Israel's Captivity | Israel's Scattering | Scattering | Scattering of Israel