Here is a teaser:
Gen 49 is a crossroads of the Bible. Yet most people don't understand the implications of Jacob's actions in passing out the blessings and birthright before he dies. Jacob gives Joseph, and therefore his boys Ephraim and Manasseh, all the good stuff. Virtually the whole birthright. Jacob only keeps back the right to be king of the family and make it's governing laws. This means that although Joseph and his family will be the rich nobility of Israel, someone from Judah( a Jew) will be king.
When Joseph dies, the Tribe of Ephraim will be the pre-eminent tribe of the nation, but will accede to Judah in being king. As soon as Joseph dies in Egypt, some one from the tribe of Judah will take the rulership under Pharaoh. This person will be from the Zarah family of Judah; he was firstborn. Two hundred years after the secession of Judah from the nation Israel, Assyria conquers Samaria and deports the ten tribes(millions of them) to northern Mesopotamia. Most of them migrate to northwest europe and the British Isles over the next 17 centuries. But never fear, we still have a Judahite king in Jerusalem named Zedekiah. Oops! Here comes Nebuchadnezzor. He conquers Judah, kills Zedekiah's sons and carries Zedekiah and 95% of the people to Babylon. The line is cut!! What about David's promise now?
No problem. The Zarah line is ruling all across the northern Mediterranean. By this time they've got colonies in Spain, Ireland, and Britain. But the "throne of David" is not in those places. It is in Jerusalem. And the male bloodline has been cut! But not the FEMALE. God allowed the daughters to inherit when no male heirs were available. So Jeremiah takes the King's two daughters, and leaves for Ireland. He drops off one daughter in Spain and then marries the Pharez-Judah daughter of Zedekiah to the Zarah-Judah High King of Ireland. This final move sets things straight; the way God outlined them. Zarah is back on top. The "throne" is preserved. The resting place for Israel is being prepared for the arrival of the ten tribes as they begin to migrate across Europe.
I have a favorite theory about how to solve the problem posited at the end of your post:
ReplyDelete"Oops! Here comes Nebuchadnezzor.He conquers Judah, kills Zedekiah's sons and carries Zedekiah and 95% of the people to Babylon. The line is cut!! What about David's promise now?"
One of Zedekiah's sons actually did survive! Turn to the Book of Mormon! Helaman 6:10, 8:21, Omni 1:14
What does it mean that the Kingship of Judah was moved to this land; the promised land? I think this knowledge leads to EXTRAORDINARY insights into all the prophesies regarding such things as the promised land, establishment of Zion, gathering of Israel, etc.
May I recommend a blogger I have recently found who brings forth some really incredible ideas that touch on the stories you and I both find fantastical, as mentioned in this post! You can read him here:
http://ldsanarchy.wordpress.com/2008/10/12/a-mystical-look-at-the-lds-restoration-movement
P.S. I've enjoyed your blog!