Israelites

In the biblical narrative, the term Israelites refers to the direct descendants of the patriarch Jacob, who was also called Israel. Historians use the term to refer to the population of the (possibly mythical) United Kingdom of Israel and Judah. The Jews are named after the southern Israelite Kingdom of Judah. The citizens of the modern state of Israel are referred to as Israelis.

The history, religion, and genetics of the ancient Israelites and their relationships to current politics, religions, and population genetics are for a variety of reasons very controversial and extensively debated topics.

History

The Old Testament while having some historical value, contains many geneaological fabrications. Some modern theologians and archaeologists argue that Israelites, a Semitic ethno-religious people of the Levant, who inhabited Canaan from the 2nd millenium BC, mostly emerged as a monotheistic ethno-religious sect from the earlier Canaanites who were the indigenous Semitic-speaking inhabitants of the same region.

Israel Finkelstein and Neil Asher Silberman in their 2001 book, The Bible Unearthed: Archaeology's New Vision of Ancient Israel and the Origin of Its Sacred Texts claim that:

"...the emergence of early Israel was an outcome of the collapse of the Canaanite culture, not its cause. And most of the Israelites did not come from outside Canaan - they emerged from within it. There was no mass Exodus from Egypt. There was no violent conquest of Canaan. Most of the people who formed early Israel were local people – the same people whom we see in the highlands throughout the Bronze and Iron Ages. The early Israelites were – irony of ironies – themselves originally Canaanites!"

The name "Israel" itself first appears c. 1209 BC from an inscription. According to the Book of Genesis, the Israelites were split into 12 tribes, having descended from Jacob. The tribes are further described as having been once unified under a single monarchy, but later split during the 10th century BC into the Kingdom of Israel and Kingdom of Judah (after 10 of the tribes refused to accept Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, as their king). The rebelling 10 tribes founded the Kingdom of Israel, to the north. After the split, only these 10 tribes throughout the later Old Testament are called Israelites. The remaining two tribes from the south (Judah and Benjamin) renamed as Judahites. However collectively prior to the split, all the tribes are called Israelites, as well as Hebrews. Some archaeological discoveries have verified the existence of the tribes. However they were not powerful or majestic as the Old Testament describes.

The Assyrians invaded the Kingdom of Israel during the late 8th century. Many inhabitants were captured and deported to Assyria, subsequently becoming known as the "ten lost tribes". Judahites however existed until the Kingdom of Judah was conquered by the Babylonians in c. 586 BC. While the Judahites are described as having returned to their land after being captured, the ten tribes are never described as such. Many different theories over the years have been offered as to their fate and who their current descendants are.

Physiognomy

The Old Testament describes the Israelites or Hebrews hair as black (Song of Solomon. iv. 1, v. 11, vii. 5). In the Targum Ecclesiastes xi. 10 black hair is designated as a sign of typical youth. That the ancient Israelites were rarely fair haired is explained in Leviticus 13: 30 which describes a particular disease in the hair or beard that causes the appearance of thin yellow hair, but the appearance of black hair growing in the lesion was a sign that the disease was cured, an indicator that black or dark brown was the "normal" hair color.

Intermixture among Hittites may have though introduced fairer hair among a minority of Israelites (see King David).

Twelve Tribes of Israel

Tribe	Progenitor	Comments
Tribe of Reuben	Reuben son of Leah.	According to the Book of Joshua, they held territory alongside the Dead Sea, north of Moab. Deported to Assyria in 723 BC.
Tribe of Simeon	Simeon son of Leah.	According to the Book of Joshua, they held territory around Beersheba, surrounded by Judah. Like the Levites they were scattered throughout Israel, as teachers. Slaughtered the Amalekites. Numbers dwindled early on and after Babylonian Captivity were assimilated with Judahites.
Tribe of Levi	Levi son of Leah.	Priesthood caste, served at the Temple in Jerusalem. According to the Book of Joshua, they were given cities, but not land; unique amongst the Israelites. Notables include Moses, Aaron, Ezekiel, Jeremiah, Samuel, Miriam, Ezra, Anne and John the Baptist.
Tribe of Judah	Judah son of Leah.	According to the Book of Joshua, they held most of the Israelite territory in the south, bordering alongside Philistina and the Dead Sea. According to the Book of Samuel, they overtook the Benjaminites as the regal tribe. They ruled the United Israel and then Judah. Notables include David, Solomon, Isaiah, Virgin Mary, Joseph and Jesus Christ.
Tribe of Dan	Dan son of Bilhah.	The mother of Dan was said to be Bilhah, a handmaiden of Rachel. Some scholars have speculated that they may be the non-Hebrew originated Denyen Sea Peoples. According to the Book of Joshua, held territory north of Philistina, around Jaffa. The most notable member of their tribe was Samson. Deported to Assyria in 723 BC.
Tribe of Naphtali	Naphtali son of Bilhah.	The mother of Naphtali was said to be Bilhah, a handmaiden of Rachel. According to the Book of Joshua, held territory in the far north, bordering the Arameans. Deported to Assyria in 723 BC.
Tribe of Gad	Gad son of Zilpah.	The mother of Gad was said to be Zilpah, a handmaiden of Leah. According to the Book of Joshua, held territory north of the Dead Sea around Jazer, conquering land from the Ammonites. Deported to Assyria in 723 BC. Ammonites retook their land after this.
Tribe of Asher	Asher son of Zilpah.	The mother of Asher was said to be Zilpah, a handmaiden of Leah. According to the Book of Joshua, held coastal territory in the far north at Tyre, bordering Naphtali. Deported to Assyria in 723 BC.
Tribe of Issachar	Issachar son of Leah.	According to the Book of Joshua, held territory around Jezreel, south of Naphtali. Deported to Assyria in 723 BC.
Tribe of Zebulun	Zebulun son of Leah.	According to the Book of Joshua, held territory west of Issachar, south of Asher. Deported to Assyria in 723 BC.
Tribe of Manasseh	Joseph son of Rachel.	Considered part of the Tribe of Joseph. According to the Book of Joshua, held vast territories on both sides of the River Jordan, including cities such as Megiddo. Deported to Assyria in 723 BC.
Tribe of Ephraim	Joseph son of Rachel.	Considered part of the Tribe of Joseph. According to the Book of Joshua, held territory south of Manasseh, to the west of the River Jordan. Following the split of the United Monarchy, Jeroboam of the Ephraimites came to rule Israel in the north, while the Judahites ruled Judah in the south. Deported to Assyria in 723 BC.
Tribe of Benjamin	Benjamin son of Rachel.	According to the Book of Joshua, held territory around Jericho, north of Judah. Almost wiped out by Israelites with Battle of Gibeah. Originally the regal tribe, under Saul, but lost out to Judah. Assimilated with Judahites during Babylonian Captivity; Paul the Apostle was a Benjaminite.