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Originally Posted by Nell
"Jews" would include "Children of Israel", "Israel", "the House of God", and other designations which I have always believed to be the same group of people. Now I'm rethinking this assumption.
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Some Audiences related to Israel: Jacob, Israel, Judah (Jehudi/Jew), Ephraim, House of God/Yahweh, House of Jacob, House of Israel, children of Israel, House of Judah, House of Levi, House of Joseph
There is a lot of intricacy here in the names which is very relevant to interpreting prophecies of the Old Testament. It is helpful (but not always critical) to understand the name reference (i.e. House of Judah, House of Israel) at the time it was spoken and who the name reference is pointing to for future fulfillment.
This subject moves into the topic of "Who is Israel?". Most christians lump everything into one name, "Israel" and then think in terms of "Israel" versus the "Church".
Using your example of "Jew", it comes from Jehudi which comes from Judah or the Southern Kingdom (aka House of Judah). Judah is a single tribe which rises to preeminence in Israel by the time of David. Judah WAS NOT preeminent before the time of David. Ephraim was the preeminent tribe. Ephraim bore the title of House of Israel at multiple stages in the history of Israel. House of Israel is an overarching title that still has relevance today beyond what most people think of when they say "Israel". I have multiple scriptural proofs of the preeminence of Ephraim until the time of David which can be reviewed as needed. Ephraim's standing as the preeminent tribe in Israel starts in Genesis 49 and goes all the way into the time of Samuel. Here is one passage that helps to understand both the preeminence of Ephraim and the transition to Judah in the time of David. It is from Psalm 78 that reviews some of the history of Israel up to the point the Psalm was written. Even after this point, Ephraim is distinctly spoken to prophetically in ways that could only apply to the future (at or after Jesus Christ's first coming). If you sum it all up and think of all the various references as "Israel", then you miss a lot.
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Psalm 78:56–60 (LEB)
56 But they tested and rebelled against God Most High and did not keep his statutes. 57 And they turned and were treacherous like their ancestors. They twisted like a crooked bow. 58 For they provoked him to anger with their high places, and made him jealous with their images. 59 God heard and he was very angry and rejected Israel utterly. 60 So he abandoned the dwelling place at Shiloh, the tent he had placed among humankind. ... 67 And he rejected the tent of Joseph, and did not choose the tribe of Ephraim, 68 but chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion that he loved.
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There is quite a bit more intricacy here if you trace the title "House of Israel" through the course of Old Testament history. The ownership of this title moves around as their history progresses.
For now, I will leave this with a few questions (with answers) to consider. When we say, "Jew" does that mean ALL of Israel? (No, it doesn't.) When we say "Israelite" does this cover ALL Jews? (Yes, it does.) Are their other "Israelites" that are NOT "Jews"? (Yes, there are.)
This isn't just an exercise in name research. It has direct bearing on End Times prophecy. I'm going to stick with going over the rapture next, but your comment provoked a preview related to "Who Is Israel?".
Matt