"The word came to Jeremiah from HaShem: Thus says the L-rd our G-d of Israel: Write in a book all the words that I have spoken to you. For behold, the days are coming, says HaShem, when I will restore the fountains of My people, Israel and Judah, says HaShem, and I will bring them back to the land which I gave to their fathers, and they shall take possession of it." Jer.30.1-3
This prophecy begins by mentioning both houses and then proceeds to show mostly about only one. It could be, as some claim, that Israel here refers to the 7000 righteous in E'phraim that where absorbed by Judah after the Babylonian captivity. Indeed, the text that follows here we read of that pending Babylonian captivity and when Hashem tells them of their coming victory over these oppressors He does mention Israel as well, which supports this view:
"Then fear not, O Jacob My servant says HaShem, nor be dismayed, O, Israel; for lo, I will save you from afar, and your offspring from the land of their captivity." Jer.30.10Yet another possible meaning could be seen here. After all both tribes faced destruction and were also exiled, thus from verses 4-11 both tribes would qualify. Also the prophecies that follow fit quite well for Assyria who exiled E'phraim, plus Babylon and Chaldea are no longer around. Yet when we get to verse 18, Israel drops from the text and we only read of Jacob, that is Judah's return:
"Thus says HaShem: Behold, I will restore the fortunes of the tents of Jacob, and have compassion on his dwelling; the city shall be rebuilt upon its mound and the palace shall stand where it use to be." Jer.30.18History tells us (as does the Word) that Judah was returned over several years and by several different kings after their first exile by Babylon. When they returned, the city Jerusalem was rebuilt, the Temple raised and the Palace restored, just as these prophecies predicted. Peace and security reigned for many years until Antiochus came, yet his coming was not long and he died violently, that is he was "punished" for "oppressing them". Yet now the prophecy turns to what we believe is a prophecy of the coming of our Moshiach:
"Their prince shall be one of themselves, their ruler shall come forth from their midst; I will make Him draw near, and He shall approach Me, for Who would dare of Himself to approach Me? says HaShem." Jer.30.21Indeed, their ruler did come forth from Jacob (Judah) and Yeshua is that ruler from the house of Judah. Moshe could not "draw near" toward greatest intimacy, yet Yeshua did and is still. Thus the answer to His question: "for Who would dare of Himself to approach Me?" we would answer "only Your only begotten Son, Incarnate and Perfected, in Yeshua HaMoshiach". Why then does He say:
"And you shall be My people, and I will be Your G-d." Jer.30.22So, even though many in the house of Jacob did not accept Yeshua as their Moshiach and King, His faithfulness holds because this, we suspect, was part of His plan. And as a continuance of His plan, most of the house of Jacob went into exile again at the hands of Rome and this we believe is the storm that followed:
"Behold the storm of the L-rd! Wrath has gone forth, a whirling tempest; it will burst upon the head of the wicked. The fierce anger of HaShem will not turn back until He has executed and accomplished the intents of His mind. In the latter days you will understand this." Jer.30.23-24When Yeshua came Judah was looking for a conquering Moshiach (Moshiach ben Dovid) and not a suffering Moshiach (Moshiach be Yosif), and this is why they rejected Him. Malachi tells us that this was not the reason Rome came down upon Israel, but rather because they judged another's "table" and another's "food" as "polluted" and not good to eat, Mal.11.12-13. We see this as the Eucharist which they judged by HaShem, thus they were found guilty and faced destruction. However, the Talmud says they were guilty of judging other Jews which means Judah missed the reason completely (by now the Eucharist was in the hands of the Goyim, Mal.1.11) So Judah hasn't understood this, and we believe from the text they will not until "the latter days". Still Jer.30.22, even before speaking of this error and the destruction it brought forth states clearly that of Jacob/Judah: "And you shall be My people, and I will be your G-d." Jer.30.22, which we believe Rav Shual (Paul) meant when He said:
"As regards the Gospel they are enemies of G-d, for your sake; but as regards election they are beloved for the sake of their forefather. For the gifts and call of G-d are irrevocable." Rom.11.29Thus even though Judah rejected Him so long as they do not judge others falsely their own salvation is intact. Thus Rav Shual said of this disobedience:
"Just as you were once disobedient to G-d but now have received mercy because of their disobedience, so they have now been disobedient in order that by mercy shown to you they also may receive mercy. For G-d has consigned all men to disobedience, that He may have mercy upon us all." Rom.11.30-32Although this ends this particular chapter, the saga continues in the next. Also this text states clearly "HaShem will not turn back until He has executed and accomplished the intents of His mind. In the latter days you will understand this" and what He "intends" we believe can also be found in that same passage of Romans 11:
"a hardening has come upon part of Israel (Jacob?), until the full number of the Gentiles come in, and so all Israel (including in our eyes E'phraim) will be saved;" Rom.11.25-26Therefore, in our perspective this prophecy is about the division of two brothers (Jacob and Israel) or two tribes. Both shared exiled, both found slavery and suffering, yet only one ever returned to our homeland while the other is still missing and often called "the Lost Tribes". We suspect their return is linked to HaShem accomplishing all He intended when He sent His only Son. Rav Shual adds that this "hardening" that came upon Judah/Jacob was for the sake of the Gentiles, and would continue until the full number of the Gentiles were in. And lastly, if we have read all this correctly, all this will remain hidden from Judah until the "latter days", which we may or may not be in right now. To know for certain, we believe we need to read on to what happened to Judah's younger brother in Jer.31.
