Benjamin united with Judah during the split with the northern tribes, so presumably they, along with Simeon, which was territorially surrounded by Judah, and some of the priestly members of Levi, were absorbed into Judah.
During the deportation periods under the rules of Tiglath-Pileser III, Shalmaneser V and Sargon II, many from the northern tribes during fled south to Jerusalem/Judah, among other places, which was under Judah’s control and hence also would have assimilated.
Sargon II’s records state that 27,950 Israelites were sent to Mesopotamia, which was 1/5 of the north’s population; some estimates put this number higher. The Israelites who remained in the north and weren’t exiled or fled to Judah became the Samaritans, which apparently only 874 remain as of 2022.
The Samaritans aren’t one particular tribe like the Jews are. They’re a mixture of the northern tribes. Since the rest assimilated into the tribe of Judah, that means the Jews are technically the last, distinct Israelite tribe remaining.
You are conflating the changing of defined borders of nation states with the internal structure of the society. From the perspective of the Jews themselves, they are well aware of which tribe they come from. This is especially true of the Levites, from whom the Aristocratic Class is established. It is predominantly from this group that the Cabal originates, so it is important to appreciate that borders do not, and have never defined the Tribes of Israel as you suggest.
Benjamin united with Judah during the split with the northern tribes, so presumably they, along with Simeon, which was territorially surrounded by Judah, and some of the priestly members of Levi, were absorbed into Judah.
During the deportation periods under the rules of Tiglath-Pileser III, Shalmaneser V and Sargon II, many from the northern tribes during fled south to Jerusalem/Judah, among other places, which was under Judah’s control and hence also would have assimilated.
Sargon II’s records state that 27,950 Israelites were sent to Mesopotamia, which was 1/5 of the north’s population; some estimates put this number higher. The Israelites who remained in the north and weren’t exiled or fled to Judah became the Samaritans, which apparently only 874 remain as of 2022.
The Samaritans aren’t one particular tribe like the Jews are. They’re a mixture of the northern tribes. Since the rest assimilated into the tribe of Judah, that means the Jews are technically the last, distinct Israelite tribe remaining.
You are conflating the changing of defined borders of nation states with the internal structure of the society. From the perspective of the Jews themselves, they are well aware of which tribe they come from. This is especially true of the Levites, from whom the Aristocratic Class is established. It is predominantly from this group that the Cabal originates, so it is important to appreciate that borders do not, and have never defined the Tribes of Israel as you suggest.