Did the Northern Kingdom of Israel return from captivity in Assyria?

Answer 1

The people of the northern kingdom did not go into captivity in Assyria. Their aristocracy was sent to rule a province in Assyria, and that province's aristocracy was imported to rule Israel. This was a technique used by the Assyrians to ensure that aristocracies were not friendly with the inhabitants and lead uprisings, rather they would keep the people quiet. The Israelite aristocracy remained in Assyria, absorbed into the population. The ten tribes of Israelites remained in Israel.

The Babylonians who took over Assyria did the same thing when they captured southern Judea - deported the aristocracy to Babylon and brought in an unsympathetic replacement one. When Persia took over from Babylon, Cyrus gave the Judean aristocracy the option of returning to try to reclaim their estates. Some did, the remainder stayed in Babylon where they were comfortably established.

Answer 2

NO. The Northern Kingdom of Israel had its population dispersed throughout Assyria and they lost their unique culture and religious beliefs, becoming inseparable from the Assyrian and Aramean people among whom they lived. It was the Southern Kingdom of Judah, whose people retained their unique culture and religion in exile in Babylon, who were eventually able to return from captivity to their homeland.

Answer 3

No. They were exiled and then migrated or dispersed to points now unknown. As to their present location, 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:

Jewish history timeline