The Christian Greek Horse of Isaiah 9:6

[Wick Stick]

All references to Samaria was a reference to the whole Ten Tribes of Israel as it was the capital of the kingdom of Israel aka the Ten Tribes. Hence the reference to the Galilee of the Gentiles which were the Gentiles sent by Assyria to replace the population of the Ten Tribes transferred to Assyria. For the kingdom of the South aka Judah, the capital was Jerusalem. So, any reference to Jerusalem was a reference to the kingdom of Judah.

While this can and often is true within the Biblical text, it is NOT true for the text of the Assyrian stela that I quoted for you. The stele wouldn't go on to detail other towns of Israel that were leveled or harassed into joining the Assyrian army, if that were the case.

The fact of the matter is that all 10 tribes were not carried off bodily. Only 27,280 people were carried away by the Assyrians. There's no way that number is everybody in the northern tribes, based on the enumerations in the Bible.

Where's everyone else go?

 

[Wick Stick]

Sorry, but your interpretation above makes no sense to me. The truth is that, "The people that walked in darkness, aka the Gentiles, have seen a brilliant light aka the Jews returning from exile through the Galilee of the Gentiles.(Isaiah 9:1) Jesus also understood that text to be so when he was delivering his Sermon of the Mount unto a multitude of Jews and said to them, "You are the light of the world." (Matthew 5:14) I think Jesus knew a little better than you.

Silly Rabbi... it may not make sense to you, but it makes sense, period.

The northern kingdom never had a good king, only evil king after evil king who killed the prophets and tried to establish some form of Baal worship as the national religion. Those Israelites lived in darkness inflicted on them by their government. Then their government was gone in an instant.

The light pierced the darkness, and... hey! you ever heard this old joke?

Once upon a time, in the middle of the ocean, there was the Island of Trid.

It seems that most of the Island of Trid was covered by a large mountain. On this mountain lived a Giant. The Giant did not allow Trids on his mountain. If a Trid dared to climb onto the mountain, the Giant would kick them into the ocean. Trids are notoriously bad swimmers and frequently drowned when kicked into the ocean.

The Trids were very fruitful and multiplied greatly. Thus the population had grown extremely large. Every square inch of the island, except for the mountain, was crowded with Trids.

The Trids spent their days crowded together dreaming of the open space available on the ever visible mountain. Every few days, a Trid would decide he couldn't stand it any longer and would proceed to climb the mountain, and the Giant would kick the Trid into the ocean. The Trids were a very depressed people.

One day a traveling Rabbi visited the Island of Trid. Despite their overcrowded conditions, the Trids were extremely generous to this man of God.

The Rabbi decided to return the favor and go plead the Trids case to the Giant. "Surely the Giant can be convinced to share some of the mountain with you," the Rabbi explained.

The Trids were horrified. "Please don't go, Rabbi", the Trids implored,"The Giant will kick you into the ocean and you will surely drown."

The rabbi was stubborn and insisted he talk to the Giant. The Trids sent out every boat they had. They formed a ring around the island, so that they would be able to rescue the Rabbi.

The Rabbi started walking towards the mountain, further than any Trid had ever been. Still no sign of the Giant.

He walked through the foothills, and there was no sign of the Giant.

He started up the slopes of the mountain, further than any Trid had ever been. Still no sign of the Giant.

Finally he reached the summit of the mountain. There the Giant was waiting for him. The Rabbi asked, "Tell me Giant, why have you allowed me to climb to the top of the mountain, without kicking me off the moment I started climbing?"

And the Giant chuckled saying, "Don't you know, Silly Rabbi, kicks are for Trids!"

 

[Ben Masada]

While this can and often is true within the Biblical text, it is NOT true for the text of the Assyrian stela that I quoted for you. The stele wouldn't go on to detail other towns of Israel that were leveled or harassed into joining the Assyrian army, if that were the case.

The fact of the matter is that all 10 tribes were not carried off bodily. Only 27,280 people were carried away by the Assyrians. There's no way that number is everybody in the northern tribes, based on the enumerations in the Bible.

Where's everyone else go?

I am aware that not every single one from the Ten Tribes were taken to Assyria as most of the peasants were allowed to remain behind. The Assyrians were interested mostly on the higher class. But then, later on about 10% escaped Assyria and returned to join Judah in the South. (Isaiah 6:13) And most of them were from the Tribe of Levy. Josephus also mentions that return of about 10% who joined Judah in the South.

 

[Ben Masada]

Silly Rabbi... it may not make sense to you, but it makes sense, period.

The northern kingdom never had a good king, only evil king after evil king who killed the prophets and tried to establish some form of Baal worship as the national religion. Those Israelites lived in darkness inflicted on them by their government. Then their government was gone in an instant.

The light pierced the darkness, and... hey! you ever heard this old joke?

That's indeed a good and interesting joke but, I would like to remind you that I am not a Rabbi and much less a silly one. I agree with you about the bad and idolatrous kings of the Northern Kingdom. That's why the Lord rejected Ephraim aka the Ten Tribes of Israel and confirmed Judah as a Lamp in Jerusalem forever for the sake of David. (I Kings 11:36; Psalm 78:67-70)