In Genesis Ch 35, God changes Jacob’s name to “Israel.” Once the Jews settle into the land promised by God to Jacob’s descendents, collectively the 10 tribes that settled north and east of Jerusalem (Asher, Dan, Ephraim, Gad, Issachar, Manasseh, Naphtali, Reuben, Simeon, and Zebulun) were called Israel. The tribes of Benjamin and Judah established the Kingdom of Judah in the south. The 10 tribes were disconnected from the Temple in Jerusalem by King Solomon’s not-so-wise son, and these 10 tribes eventually were “lost.” The promise was that the lost tribes would be gathered again together—possibly why the name “Israel “ was chosen for the country.

In Genesis Ch 35, God changes Jacob’s name to “Israel.” Once the Jews settle into the land promised by God to Jacob’s descendents, collectively the 10 tribes that settled north and east of Jerusalem (Asher, Dan, Ephraim, Gad, Issachar, Manasseh, Naphtali, Reuben, Simeon, and Zebulun) we’re called Israel. The tribes of Benjamin and Judah established the Kingdom of Judah in the south. The 10 tribes were disconnected from the Temple in Jerusalem by King Solomon’s not-so-wise son, and these 10 tribes eventually were “lost.” The promise was that the lost tribes would be gathered again together—possibly why the name “Israel “ was chosen for the country.