The headquarters, so to speak, of the house of Israel was located in Samaria, in the city of Shechem in mount Ephraim, named after the tribe of Ephraim.
1st Kings 12:25 (KJV)
Then Jeroboam built Shechem in mount Ephraim, and dwelt therein; and went out from thence, and built Penuel.
The Bible often speaks in Bible prophecy scriptures of "Samaria," and "Ephraim," and even "Shechem" all of which are direct references to the House of Israel, thus the ten tribes of "Israel."
The words "Israel" when used with word "Judah" in the same scripture, do not refer to the same group, rather they refer each to a different house.
This is the most common mistake by many Christians today.
Assuming that "Israel" and Judah" are synonymous, is a sure way to lead to a gross misinterpretation of the Holy Scriptures.
In some biblical contexts the case may be such—not all, but most of the time the two are not be read as the same entity.
A perfect example where they are not the same, but express two houses is Jeremiah 31:31.
Jeremiah 31:31 (KJV)
Behold, the days come, saith YHWH, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
Another example where they are not the same, but express both houses.
Hosea 5:11-14 (KJV)
Ephraim is oppressed and broken in judgment, because he willingly walked after the commandment. [12] Therefore will I be unto Ephraim as a moth, and to the house of Judah as rottenness. [13] When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah saw his wound, then went Ephraim to the Assyrian, and sent to king Jareb: yet could he not heal you, nor cure you of your wound. [14] For I will be unto Ephraim as a lion, and as a young lion to the house of Judah: I, even I, will tear and go away; I will take away, and none shall rescue him.
Note that Ephraim is used to identify the house of Israel and is here associated with the Assyrian—exactly where Israel was taken away.
Below is example of use of various identifying marks of both the ten tribes of Israel and Judah. Note the references to "Ephraim" and the "Virgin of Israel" (ten tribes)
Jeremiah 31:18-26 (KJV)
I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus; Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke: turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art YHWH my God. [19] Surely after that I was turned, I repented; and after that I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh: I was ashamed, yea, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth. [20] Is Ephraim my dear son? is he a pleasant child? for since I spake against him, I do earnestly remember him still: therefore my bowels are troubled for him; I will surely have mercy upon him, saith YHWH. [21] Set thee up waymarks, make thee high heaps: set thine heart toward the highway, even the way which thou wentest: turn again, O virgin of Israel, turn again to these thy cities.
[22] How long wilt thou go about, O thou backsliding daughter? for YHWH hath created a new thing in the earth, A woman shall compass a man. [23] Thus saith YHWH of hosts, the God of Israel; As yet they shall use this speech in the land of Judah and in the cities thereof, when I shall bring again their captivity; YHWH bless thee, O habitation of justice, and mountain of holiness. [24] And there shall dwell in Judah itself, and in all the cities thereof together, husbandmen, and they that go forth with flocks. [25] For I have satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul. [26] Upon this I awaked, and beheld; and my sleep was sweet unto me.
Ezekiel 37:16 (KJV)
Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions:
Ezekiel 37:19 (KJV)
Say unto them, Thus saith YHWH God; Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with him, even with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in mine hand.
Jeremiah 31:6 (KJV)
For there shall be a day, that the watchmen upon the mount Ephraim shall cry, Arise ye, and let us go up to Zion unto YHWH our God.
Isaiah 11:13 (KJV)
The envy also of Ephraim shall depart, and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off: Ephraim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not vex Ephraim.
Isaiah 17:3 (KJV)
The fortress also shall cease from Ephraim, and the kingdom from Damascus, and the remnant of Syria: they shall be as the glory of the children of Israel, saith YHWH of hosts.
Ephraim is also "the first born," or "the head" of Israel and of course the holder of the Birthright of the 12 tribes.
Note the reference to "women" and "daughter."
Jeremiah 31:9 (KJV)
They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn.
Isaiah 7:8-9 (KJV)
For the head of Syria is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin; and within threescore and five years shall Ephraim be broken, that it be not a people. [9] And the head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is Remaliah's son. If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be established.
Micah 2:13 (KJV)
The breaker is come up before them: they have broken up, and have passed through the gate, and are gone out by it: and their king shall pass before them, and YHWH on the head of them.
Often in Scriptures, Israel, that is both the two houses of the 12 tribes, are referred to as rival siblings or "daughters," or "women," even as "harlots" in the Scriptures. The House of Israel is usually designated by the term "Daughter of Zion."
Lament. 1:6 (KJV)
And from the daughter of Zion all her beauty is departed: her princes are become like harts that find no pasture, and they are gone without strength before the pursuer.
Lament. 2:1-2 (KJV)
How hath YHWH covered the daughter of Zion with a cloud in his anger, and cast down from heaven unto the earth the beauty of Israel, and remembered not his footstool in the day of his anger! [2] YHWH hath swallowed up all the habitations of Jacob, and hath not pitied: he hath thrown down in his wrath the strong holds of the daughter of Judah; he hath brought them down to the ground: he hath polluted the kingdom and the princes thereof.
Lamentations 2:13 (KJV)
What thing shall I take to witness for thee? what thing shall I liken to thee, O daughter of Jerusalem? what shall I equal to thee, that I may comfort thee, O virgin daughter of Zion? for thy breach is great like the sea: who can heal thee?
Zephaniah 3:14 (KJV)
Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem.
Isaiah 4:3-5 (KJV)
And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem: [4] When YHWH shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning. [5] And YHWH will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defence.
Zion was usually where God deals from in his Mountain of Zion. "Zion" is also the name used for Jerusalem at times (just like "Ariel" has been) .
The House of Judah
It is just as important to understand the defining marks of Judah, to correctly identify when God and His prophets are speaking about Judah.
As Israel (Ephraim) lived in the northern part of the land of Israel, Judah lived largely in the southern kingdom or the southern region of the land of Israel, or Palestine.
From Jerusalem on down, Judah's land inheritance is quite smaller in proportion in that of all Israel. It is interesting to note that the historical Edomite land of Idumea is later in Hellenistic times a part of Judah.
The House of Judah had its kingdom headquarters in Jerusalem.
"Jerusalem" in Bible prophecy scriptures, is many times used to identify the house of Judah only.
Israel, that is the ten tribes, is not used or associated with Jerusalem.
The temple was the main point of religious and political power for only the house of Judah.
The ten tribes were known to worship in mount Shechem— a sign of the kind idolatry which led to Israel's great sin and dispersion from off the land.
Thus when reading Bible prophecy the word "Jerusalem" is used only to denote the house Judah, as is the word "Judah."
This is evident when the words "O Jerusalem" or "Daughter of Jerusalem."
Micah 4:8 (KJV)
And thou, O tower of the flock, the strong hold of the daughter of Zion, unto thee shall it come, even the first dominion; the kingdom shall come to the daughter of Jerusalem.
This again depends on the Biblical context, and is not always easy to decipher as some times the text is speaking only of Judah when referring the "daughter of Zion." This is why one must have a Biblical context of the prophet and what he is describing and the time period in which it happens.
As shown earlier that the 12 tribes were united from the time Exodus to about the book of Samuel, but then rivalries and infighting causes the tribes to be grouped in different ways, each tribe doing what it felt needed to do. It's not until being unified again under David that the 12 tribes are one kingdom.
This extends to Solomon but ends with his son's reign and thus the two houses are created.
From then on it's very important understand the Biblical context of where and what happened to each house.
The 10 tribes sinned greatly against God and thus were destined to be cast way.
The ten tribes were taken away by Assyrian captivity removed. Not destroyed. God will keep a remnant of all ten tribes which will continue according to the blessing of Jacob to grow in the midst of the earth and become a multitude of nations. YHWH states in Hosea that Israel shall be as sand by the sea, a countless multitude who one day shall return back to God.
The remnant of Judah then was left, but soon they too greatly sinned and God brought an even greater judgment on Judah, for having greater sin. So Judah was cast away into Babylon for 70 years.
The Holy Bible also speaks of those who were taken and sinned against God who are "bad figs of Judah." These bad figs will be cast into all the earth as a curse and are also to be of those who remained in Babylon and who do not come back to the land of Israel after the 70 years of captivity.
It also speaks of those who shall come back from the 70 year captivity, whom God has mercy upon. These are the "good figs." So one can see that use of "figs" in Biblical imagery in most cases will be an identification with Judah, which Israel the ten tribes is identified by the marks of Ephraim and Manaesseh the children of Joseph, the two fruitful branches.
Jeremiah 24:1-10 (KJV)
YHWH shewed me, and, behold, two baskets of figs were set before the temple of YHWH, after that Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon had carried away captive Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, and the princes of Judah, with the carpenters and smiths, from Jerusalem, and had brought them to Babylon. [2] One basket had very good figs, even like the figs that are first ripe: and the other basket had very naughty figs, which could not be eaten, they were so bad. [3] Then said YHWH unto me, What seest thou, Jeremiah? And I said, Figs; the good figs, very good; and the evil, very evil, that cannot be eaten, they are so evil.
[4] Again the word of YHWH came unto me, saying, [5] Thus saith YHWH, the God of Israel; Like these good figs, so will I acknowledge them that are carried away captive of Judah, whom I have sent out of this place into the land of the Chaldeans for their good. [6] For I will set mine eyes upon them for good, and I will bring them again to this land: and I will build them, and not pull them down; and I will plant them, and not pluck them up. [7] And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am YHWH: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart.
[8] And as the evil figs, which cannot be eaten, they are so evil; surely thus saith YHWH, So will I give Zedekiah the king of Judah, and his princes, and the residue of Jerusalem, that remain in this land, and them that dwell in the land of Egypt: [9] And I will deliver them to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth for their hurt, to be a reproach and a proverb, a taunt and a curse, in all places whither I shall drive them. [10] And I will send the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, among them, till they be consumed from off the land that I gave unto them and to their fathers.
It's very clear God has chosen good Judahites and has cursed Evil Judahites who yet may both still exist today.
Imagery, is often important to understand in its proper Biblical context. The "lion is often associated with Judah, but is also associated with Babylon, where as Eagle is associated with Israel but is also associated with Assyria.
The Four creatures depicted in Ezekiel 1 are actually also the four image standards for the four main camps of 12 the tribes of Israel as mention in the book of Numbers.
Ezekiel 1:10 (KJV)
As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right side: and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle.
The most overlooked animal in the Bible is the use of "sheep." Sheep in the Bible are exclusively used to identify the children of Israel, God's people Israel.
2nd Chronicles 18:16 (KJV)
Then he said, I did see all Israel scattered upon the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd: and YHWH said, These have no master; let them return therefore every man to his house in peace.
Psalm 78:52 (KJV)
But made his own people to go forth like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock.
Psalm 79:13 (KJV)
So we thy people and sheep of thy pasture will give thee thanks for ever: we will shew forth thy praise to all generations.
Psalm 95:7 (KJV)
For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice,
Psalm 100:3 (KJV)
Know ye that YHWH he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Psalm 119:176 (KJV)
I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; for I do not forget thy commandments.
Isaiah 53:6-7 (KJV)
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and YHWH hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. [7] He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
Jeremiah 23:1 (KJV)
Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith YHWH.
Jeremiah 50:17 (KJV)
Israel is a scattered sheep; the lions have driven him away: first the king of Assyria hath devoured him; and last this Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon hath broken his bones.
Ezekiel 34:6 (KJV)
My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them.
Ezekiel 34:11-12 (KJV)
For thus saith YHWH God; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out. [12] As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.
Micah 2:12 (KJV)
I will surely assemble, O Jacob, all of thee; I will surely gather the remnant of Israel; I will put them together as the sheep of Bozrah, as the flock in the midst of their fold: they shall make great noise by reason of the multitude of men.
Micah 5:8 (KJV)
And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles in the midst of many people as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep: who, if he go through, both treadeth down, and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver.
Ezekiel 34:8 (KJV)
As I live, saith YHWH God, surely because my flock became a prey, and my flock became meat to every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, neither did my shepherds search for my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my flock;
Ezekiel 34:12 (KJV)
As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.
Ezekiel 34:23 (KJV)
And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd.
Ezekiel 37:24 (KJV)
And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them.
John 10:7-8 (KJV)
Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. [8] All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.
John 10:11-16 (KJV)
I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. [12] But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. [13] The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. [14] I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. [15] As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. [16] And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
John 10:26-27 (KJV)
But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. [27] My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
God also uses "goats" to identify the opposite of the sheep; usually Israel's enemies. He uses lions and other animals to show that His people are a prey or in certain contexts this used to identify Israel as being lions who will devour his prey or as an animal that is captured by the hunters (Babylon or the Assyrains).
One of the greatest identifying marks of Israel (all 12 tribes) next to "sheep" is that of being "scattered afar" in to "the heathen" or "the Gentiles."
Leviticus 26:33 (KJV)
And I will scatter you among the heathen, and will draw out a sword after you: and your land shall be desolate, and your cities waste.
Leviticus 26:38 (KJV)
And ye shall perish among the heathen, and the land of your enemies shall eat you up.
Deut. 4:27 (KJV)
And YHWH shall scatter you among the nations, and ye shall be left few in number among the heathen, whither YHWH shall lead you.
Jeremiah 18:13 (KJV)
Therefore thus saith YHWH; Ask ye now among the heathen, who hath heard such things: the virgin of Israel hath done a very horrible thing.
Jeremiah 49:14-15 (KJV)
I have heard a rumour from YHWH, and an ambassador is sent unto the heathen, saying, Gather ye together, and come against her, and rise up to the battle. [15] For, lo, I will make thee small among the heathen, and despised among men.
Lamentations 1:3 (KJV)
Judah is gone into captivity because of affliction, and because of great servitude: she dwelleth among the heathen, she findeth no rest: all her persecutors overtook her between the straits.
Ezekiel 11:16 (KJV)
Therefore say, Thus saith YHWH God; Although I have cast them far off among the heathen, and although I have scattered them among the countries, yet will I be to them as a little sanctuary in the countries where they shall come.
Ezekiel 22:15-16 (KJV)
And I will scatter thee among the heathen, and disperse thee in the countries, and will consume thy filthiness out of thee. [16] And thou shalt take thine inheritance in thyself in the sight of the heathen, and thou shalt know that I am YHWH.
Ezekiel 28:25 (KJV)
Thus saith YHWH God; When I shall have gathered the house of Israel from the people among whom they are scattered, and shall be sanctified in them in the sight of the heathen, then shall they dwell in their land that I have given to my servant Jacob.
Ezekiel 36:19-24 (KJV)
And I scattered them among the heathen, and they were dispersed through the countries: according to their way and according to their doings I judged them. [20] And when they entered unto the heathen, whither they went, they profaned my holy name, when they said to them, These are the people of YHWH, and are gone forth out of his land.
[21] But I had pity for mine holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the heathen, whither they went. [22] Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith YHWH God; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name's sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went. [23] And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am YHWH, saith YHWH God, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes. [24] For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.
Isaiah 42:1 (KJV)
Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.
Isaiah 42:6 (KJV)
I YHWH have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;
Isaiah 49:6 (KJV)
And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.
Isaiah 60:16 (KJV)
Thou shalt also suck the milk of the Gentiles, and shalt suck the breast of kings: and thou shalt know that I YHWH am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob.
Isaiah 61:6 (KJV)
But ye shall be named the Priests of YHWH: men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves.
Isaiah 61:9 (KJV)
And their seed shall be known among the Gentiles, and their offspring among the people: all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which YHWH hath blessed.
Isaiah 62:2 (KJV)
And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of YHWH shall name.
Lamentations 2:9 (KJV)
Her gates are sunk into the ground; he hath destroyed and broken her bars: her king and her princes are among the Gentiles: the law is no more; her prophets also find no vision from YHWH.
Ezekiel 4:13 (KJV)
And YHWH said, Even thus shall the children of Israel eat their defiled bread among the Gentiles, whither I will drive them.
Hosea 8:8 (KJV)
Israel is swallowed up: now shall they be among the Gentiles as a vessel wherein is no pleasure.
Micah 5:8 (KJV)
And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles in the midst of many people as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep: who, if he go through, both treadeth down, and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver.
Just about all of these Scriptures allude not to "non-Jews" or "non-Israelites", but to the children of Israel who were taken away and "scattered" as "lost sheep" among the heathen, among "the Gentiles."
Having a proper biblical understanding of the Scriptures will help you to understand not only prophecy, but further understand the mystery in the New Testament writings in regards to "the Jews and the Gentiles," which the modern day church would interpret as "Israel and non-Israel".
It's clear that God is working only with Israel (the offspring of the 12 sons of Jacob) in the new covenant and through Israel He will bring salvation to rest of the lost world.
Jeremiah 31:31-36 (KJV)
Behold, the days come, saith YHWH, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: [32] Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith YHWH: [33] But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith YHWH, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. [34] And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know YHWH: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith YHWH; for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.
[35] Thus saith YHWH, which giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar; YHWH of hosts is his name: [36] If those ordinances depart from before me, saith YHWH, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me for ever.
Hebrews 8:8 (KJV)
For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith YHWH, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:
Hebrews 8:13 (KJV)
In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.
Hebrews 12:24 (KJV)
And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.
Why? because His people Israel are still lost in the heathen and the Gentiles and most likely today, do not even realize they are Israelites, and their ancestors are of His own chosen people!
Matthew 10:6 (KJV)
But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Matthew 19:28 (KJV)
And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Matthew 15:24 (KJV)
But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Luke 22:30 (KJV)
That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Acts 1:6 (KJV)
When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
Acts 9:15 (KJV)
But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
