Where is the original nation of israel?

Answer 1

1) Geographically, the original country of Israel is where the modern country of Israel exists today. The borders are not identical, but Israel overlays its ancient location to a large degree.

2) In terms of genealogy, the descendants of the ancient Tribes of Israel today are the Jewish people worldwide. 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. 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:

Jewish history timeline

Are Hebrews Israelites and Jews the same people?

Debunking the "From the Khazars" canard

Answer 2

Ancient Egyptian records mention Habiru as pastoralists and bandits in the Judean Hills.