Talking about the 10 lost tribes brings us to a puzzle that many people around the world, including the Jews, have tried to solve. The story begins with the breakup of the kingdom of Israel around 900 BC, due to Rehoboam's outrageous policies. In fact, the division of the kingdom of Israel was the culmination of various problems that had occurred since the leadership of King Solomon. It should be recognized that behind the charm of Solomon who was known to be wise, prudent and great, there is a fact that Solomon was a megalomanic king. Solomon's big royal projects made the people miserable and caused division. The tribe of Judah, Benjamin, and some of the tribe of Simeon were loyalists who supported Solomon. Including some of the tribe of Levi, because they had a role as organizers of worship in various cities scattered in Greater Israel. Unlike the other tribes in the north, they tended to be resistant to Solomon's policies. Behind the mega projects undertaken during Solomon's reign, there were very high taxes that burdened the people. Therefore, when Solomon's leadership ended, the other tribes chose to secede. The 8 tribes plus some of the Shimeonites and Levi's lived in the northern region centered in Samaria.

When reading the Bible, we must realize and acknowledge that it was written primarily from a southern perspective. The prophets and great figures written about in the Bible all came from the south. It is natural then that the writings in the Bible write about those in the north with a southern perspective and portray the people in the north in a more negative connotation. Especially since those in the north embraced syncretism, in contrast to Judah who only recognized God as the only worship. This difference in ideology made it difficult for the two kingdoms to unite, as the boundaries of identity and self-understanding of the people of the two kingdoms were different. The southern kingdom was stronger because it embraced Yahuwistic monotheism and recognized Jerusalem as the holiest city in the world because there God was enthroned on His ark, in the Holy of Holies. Whereas the northern tribes of Israel objected to recognizing Jerusalem as the holiest city, due to political considerations. If the people in the north had to make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem every year, there would be a fear that in the future they would turn to the Davidic dynasty. So behind this religious question was actually a political ideological battle. That is why the kings of Northern Israel were always seen negatively by the people in the south.

The Northern Israelite kingdom that was conquered by Assyria experienced a dissolution of identity. Judah, on the other hand, although it too eventually fell and went into exile in Babylon, was eventually able to return. Especially considering that the exiles were high-ranking people, they were stronger and able to maintain their faith and traditions despite being in exile. They were stronger in maintaining purity and implementing exclusive policies.

Then what was the fate of the people of the northern kingdom of Israel after experiencing the fusion of identity due to the Assyrian conquest? Are the texts written after the exile still contextual to the people of Northern Israel? here