What theories are there on possible locations of the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel?

Answer 1

Answers from various contributors:

There seems to be a theory based on a religion that started in the carribean, according to them they are descendants of one the tribes of israel the religion that i speak of is the rasatafarin religion. Some historians believe the lost 10 tribes of Israel migrated west to populate what we know as Europe, Australia and the United States. However, there is a branch of the Tribe of Judah that is in Ethiopia that are the descendents of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba.

Answer 2

Several years ago in Biblical Archaeological Review, an article appeared that discussed this question. Apparently there are towns in northern Iran and Iraq where family names exist similar to those from Israel, which the Assyrians conquered in 722 BCE. Most of the residents of the towns of Israel were carried off and dispersed throughout Assyria, and the remnants of these people apparently still live in these remote regions of Iran and Iraq.

Jewish Answer:

When they were carried into captivity (traditional date: 555 BCE), the Ten Tribes were brought at first to Assyria, but later spread further afield, to points now unknown.

As to the location of the bulk of the lost Ten Tribes, because of the lack of a continuous tradition in this particular matter, we can only speculate. Some well-known claims, such as the suggestion that the Native Americans or African Americans are the Lost Israelite Tribes, we can confidently dismiss offhand. Other claims, such as that which has been suggested concerning the Pathani (Pashtun), are less far-fetched but must for the time being remain nothing more than a guess.

Answer 2

When they were carried into captivity (traditional date: 555 BCE), the Ten Tribes were brought at first to Assyria, but later spread further afield, to points now unknown.

The Tribes of Israel today are the Jewish people. The great majority of Jews today, some 80% or so, are descended from the tribe of Judah (plus converts and descendants of converts). The remaining 20% include Levites (from the tribe of Levi), Cohanim (also a part of the Levites), the entire Tribe of Benjamin, and a small percentage from every one of the remaining tribes. (When the Ten Tribes were carried off into Assyria and didn't return, a few of them had already mixed into the tribe of Judah before that, through marriage. Also, the Talmud relates [Megillah 14b] that, one century after the Ten Tribes were exiled [and their location was still known], Jeremiah journeyed to where they were and brought some of them back to Judea. Thus, today's Jewry includes a small percentage of every one of the Lost Tribes. See for example the Talmud, Pesachim 4a.)
As to the location of the bulk of the lost Ten Tribes, because of the lack of a continuous tradition in this particular matter, we can only speculate. Some well-known claims, such as the suggestion that the Native Americans or African Americans are the Lost Israelite Tribes, we can confidently dismiss offhand; and DNA analyses have also debunked such ideas. Other claims, such as that which has been suggested concerning the Pathani (Pashtun), are less far-fetched but must for the time being remain nothing more than a guess.

See also the Related Links.

Link: Jewish history timeline

Link: Are Hebrews Israelites and Jews the same people?

Link: Debunking the "From the Khazars" canard