The Everlasting Covenant
“All Israel” Represented
Immediately following the proclamation of Cyrus we read, “Then rose up the chief of the fathers of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and the Levites, with all them whose spirit God had raised, to go up to build the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem.” 2 We know that the services of the sanctuary were re-established, and none but Levites could be employed in them; and in Ezra 3:10-12 we read that when the foundation of the temple was laid, “they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph with symbols to praise the Lord.” Even after the resurrection and ascension of Christ we read of Barnabas, “a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus.” 3 EVCO 499.1
In Luke 2:36-38 we read of “Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher,” who recognized the infant Jesus as the Lord, “and spake of Him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.” EVCO 499.2
Here we see representatives of two of the ten tribes that are supposed to have mysteriously disappeared, expressly mentioned by name as dwelling in Jerusalem. It is most certain that a thing cannot be lost when you know exactly where it is. EVCO 499.3
The other tribes are not specified, but in Ezra 2:70 we read, “So the priests, and the Levites, and some of the people, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinims, dwelt in their cities, and all Israel in their cities. EVCO 499.4