The Kingdom of Israel Is Divided and the Sheep Are Scattered

The Kingdom of Israel Divided: The Lost Sheep Scattered

"And Ahijah caught the new garment that was on him, and rent it in twelve pieces: And he said to Jeroboam, Take thee ten pieces: for thus saith Yahweh, the God of Israel, Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to thee." — 1 Kings 11:30-31
"For the children of Israel walked in all the sins of Jeroboam... until Yahweh removed Israel out of his sight, as he had said by all his servants the prophets. So was Israel carried away out of their own land to Assyria unto this day." — 2 Kings 17:22-23
"Call his name Lo-ammi: for ye are not my people, and I will not be your God." — Hosea 1:9

The Master Key to Understanding the Entire Bible

If you do not understand the division of Israel into two separate kingdoms, at least 70% of your Old Testament prophets and New Testament epistles will remain an unsolvable riddle.

Most Christians assume "Jew" and "Israel" mean the exact same thing. But in Scripture:

• All Jews are Israelites (from the tribe of Judah).
• Not all Israelites are Jews! Israel consisted of 12 distinct tribes.

The Civil War: Two Nations Formed

Following Solomon's idolatry, God split the nation into two distinct, competing kingdoms (1 Kings 12):

1. The Southern Kingdom (House of Judah): Composed of Judah, Benjamin, and the Levites. Capital: Jerusalem. They maintained the Davidic dynasty and the Temple.
2. The Northern Kingdom (House of Israel / Ephraim): Composed of the other 10 tribes. Capital: Samaria. Under Jeroboam, they fell into golden calf worship and abandoned Yahweh's Feasts.

The Great Divorce and the "Lost 10 Tribes"

Because the Northern House of Israel refused to repent, God gave them a legal bill of divorce (Jeremiah 3:8) and allowed the Assyrian Empire to conquer them in 722 BC.

• They were deported and scattered among all the Gentile nations.
• Over centuries, they intermarried, lost their Hebrew language, and forgot their lineage.
• God declared them Lo-Ammi—"Not My People" (Hosea 1:9).
• They became known throughout history as the Lost Sheep of the House of Israel.

Now you understand why Jesus made this shocking statement in Matthew 15:24:

"I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel."

Why Foundation 5 Changes Everything:

• Unlocks Romans 9–11 and Galatians: why the Gentiles were being grafted back into the covenant.
• Explains the Parable of the Prodigal Son (the younger brother Ephraim returning home to the Father).
• Reveals who the scattered sheep are and God's promise to regather them.

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