We have seen that the ten tribes were sent into exile by YHVH because of their sin and unrepentance. Some of the ten tribes were deported by the Assyrians. Others, in order to flee from the Assyrians, emigrated on Phoenician-Israeli ships and settled in Phoenician colonies such as Carthage, Spain, and the British Isles.
Stephen M. Collins goes on to describe in his book that a large number of the ten tribes moved from Palestine to the Eurasian steppes north of the Black Sea in what is now southern Russia and settled there and in Ukraine from the lower Volga and Kuban to the Dniester in 721 BCE. Shortly thereafter, they became known as the Scythians. They did not sacrifice pigs and did not keep pigs in the countries where they lived.
The Israelites were descendants of Isaac, and the Scythians, as they now called themselves, also took their name from Isaac: Scyth, Saka, Sakae, Sacae, Sai, Iskuzai, or Askuzai. In other words, the Israelites lost their identity and took on other names.
The Scythians then migrated westward and later to Scandinavia, which was first called Scath-anavia, and then to Germania.
In medieval terminology, Vikings, Germanic peoples, Slavs, and Sarmatians were also defined as Scythians.
The Parthians were probably originally a sub-tribe of the Scythians. The Parthian Empire was a large empire and included areas of present-day Iran. The Encyclopedia Britannica writes that the alphabet used in Persia at that time was based on Aramaic. Josephus wrote that he had many readers among the Parthians who were interested in his writings because they were part of their history as former tribes of Israel.
Some interesting facts about the Parthian Empire: The first king to be crowned there was named Asaak, which of course is reminiscent of Isaac. The emperors of the Parthians were all called
King of Kings. The Parthian calendar began in the spring, and the first month was called
Nisanu.
Another interesting connection:
Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Mt 2:1
When this statement is placed in the context of the Parthians, it takes on a whole new meaning, according to Stephen M. Collins.
The wise men or magicians were powerful and influential members of one of the two bodies that appointed the Parthian monarchs. One body of the assembly consisted of members of the royal family and the other of priests, the magi. The wise men and magi were called
Megistanes (dignitaries). The wise men mentioned in Matthew can be regarded as the Megistane of the Parthians. The Greek word for
wise man is
magos and literally means Persian astronomer or priest. Nowhere does the Bible say that there were three wise men who set out to visit the newborn king. It is assumed that a much larger number of Parthians embarked on this long journey.
As we have seen, the Parthians are descended from the ten tribes, and their priests most likely from the tribe of Levi. Thus, these wise men who set out on their journey were descended from the ten tribes of Israel. Since there were also descendants of the tribe of Judah in the Parthian Empire, they may have been represented in the journey of the wise men from the East. It is possible that up to 12 magi were traveling, representing the various tribes.
The report of the wise men
Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. Mt 2:2
Herod was alarmed:
When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. Mt 2:3
This suggests that it was not only three wise men who came.
And since the wise men were high-ranking statesmen from Parthia, an entire escort of soldiers traveled with them to protect them and the precious goods they brought as gifts. Since the journey was also very long, many servants such as cooks, animal keepers, and animals certainly traveled with them. It could have been a caravan of thousands. This is no exaggeration, according to Collins, as Josephus reports that caravans from the Parthian Empire carrying treasures to Jerusalem were escorted by tens of thousands.
That is why all of Jerusalem was in an uproar and frightened when they arrived. The Jews also understood that the Parthians had come because they wanted to welcome the Messiah, their new king of the ten tribes. Who else but the ten tribes would be looking for a king in Israel?
In this context, the miracle of Pentecost among those present is also easier to understand:
Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Acts 2:9
All these provinces belonged to the Parthian Empire. And what were these people doing there?
They had come to Jerusalem for the festival.
Others also came to the festival: from
Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, and Asia”.
One of the tribes of the Scythians was called Asii or Asier. Since the Scythians (Sacae or Saka) bore the name of Isaac, Scripture mentions here that people from Asia were also present at the festival. The pagan population of Asia had no interest in worshipping the G-d of Israel and coming to the festivals. Only the ten tribes of Israel could have done so. And as already mentioned, Josephus reported that there were always large caravans from the Parthian Empire traveling to Jerusalem.
S.: Stephen M. Collins: The Lost Ten Tribes of Israel – found! Chapter: The Childhood Years
And the first letter of Peter is written
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 1 Pe 1:1
The apostles were well aware of the dispersion of the ten tribes.
Or James:
James, a servant of G-d and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. James 1:1
When the Parthian Empire fell apart, many moved on. The Scythians were then also called the Saxons and Germans.
Hosea predicted that the ten tribes would be among the Gentiles:
Israel is swallowed up: now shall they be among the Gentiles as a vessel wherein is no pleasure. Hos 8:8
The ten tribes became a large mixed people without their own identity. But YHVH promised that he would and will gather them and bring them back
For, lo, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will bring again the captivity of my people Israel and Judah, saith the Lord: and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it. Jer 30:3
The fierce anger of the Lord shall not return, until he hath done it, and until he have performed the intents of his heart: in the latter days ye shall consider it. Jer 30:24
And we have now arrived at the end times and are in the process of recognizing this.
The following verses 1 and 2 from the next chapter in Jeremiah
At the same time, saith the Lord, will I be the G-d of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people. Thus saith the Lord, The people which were left of the sword found grace in the wilderness; even Israel, when I went to cause him to rest. Jer 31:1-2
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