[NOTE:  JOSEPH CONSISTS OF TWO DIVISIONS: EPHRAIM & MANASSEH]

Criteria For Determining Which Peoples Are Of Israelite Origin And Which Not

      Historically and otherwise it can be proven that the Lost Ten Tribes of Israel who were exiled by the Assyrians and lost their identity eventually migrated to northwest Europe whence overseas colonies were established by them in North America, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. In the course of their wanderings before reaching western Europe and the British Isles the Lost Ten Tribes passed through many lands and left numerous signs of their presence behind them. In order to avoid confusion it is necessary to clarify what indications exist as to who descend from them and who does not. There are several specific characteristics which taken as a whole are to be found only amongst peoples of Israelite descent. This does not mean that individuals who happen to lack any of these qualities are not Israelites or that the peoples concerned always conform to the criteria employed. The standards used are applicable on a nation-wide level over historically significant periods and are relative to the accepted behaviour of  other peoples  at the given time. These yardsticks were used by the present author in his researches to determine the priori probability of a nation being of Israelite descent.  They are admittedly somewhat arbitrary but they do work and appear to be at least hinted at in Scripture.

Some of these qualifying signs are:

1.  A RELATIVE LACK OF ANTI-SEMITISM
Judah and Joseph fought wars against each other (e.g. 1-Kings ch.15, 2-Kings ch.16, etc.) and Isaiah (11;13) says that in the End Days Judah and Ephraim will no longer be mutually antagonistic towards each other implying that previously they had not always co-existed in harmony.  Nevertheless, the peoples identifiable as descended from the Lost Ten Tribes of Israel are inclined overall to be relatively less hostile towards the Jews and at times to openly identify with them and defend their interests.
Zechariah (11;14) speaks before a coming disaster of the breaking of "the brotherhood between Judah and Israel": There was therefore something to break and this could imply that an instinctive fraternity existed between Judah and Israel. In many Scriptural passages Judah and Israel or Judah and Ephraim are recalled together or juxtaposed against one another in a way suggesting some type of brotherly interreaction. The Prophets foresaw Judah and Joseph co-operating and eventually re-uniting (Ezekiel ch.37) and it may be expected that the closer we draw to the Messianic Era the more apparent this process will become.
The fact is that very many Jews have instinctively identified (sometimes to their own detriment) with the British and/or Americans. In Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, North America, Great Britain, and Northwest Europe exist numerous Anti-Semites.  On the other hand in these areas and in Scandinavia, Holland, France, and Switzerland are to be found the only peoples in the world who have ever proven themselves in large numbers
willing to take risks on the Jews' behalf and who have identified in some way with them at some time or other in the course of their history.  Also in the above mentioned nations are to be found most of those "Gentiles" who still believe in the God of Israel as He reveals Himself in Scripture.
In the Biblical Book of Chronicles it is recounted how there was once a war between the southern kingdom of Judah (ruled by King Ahaz) and King Pekah son of Remaliah ruler of the northern kingdom of Israelite Samaria. The "children of Israel" (2-Chronicles 28;8 i.e. the northern Israelites) were victorious and brought back to their capital, Samaria, much spoil as well as 200,000 captive men, women, and children. The original intention was to use the captives as bondmen and bondwomen but Oded "Prophet of the LORD" interposed. Oded said that the Israelites had defeated their southern brothers since God was "wroth" with Judah. Even so, the Israelites also had "sins against the LORD your God" (2-Chr. 28;10) and that "there is fierce wrath against Israel" (2-Chr.28;13) because of their intention to exploit their captive brothers and sisters. Consequently the northern Israelites relented: "So the armed men  left the captives and the spoil before the princes and all the congregation.
"And the men which were expressed by name rose up, and took the captives, and with the spoil clothed all that were naked among them, and arrayed them, and shod them, and gave them to eat and to drink, and anointed them, and carried all the feeble of them upon asses, and brought them to Jericho, the city of palm trees, to their brethren: then they returned to Samaria" (2-Chronicles 28;14-15).
Despite everything, in so far as there exist Philo-Semites or genuine pro-Israelites in the world today then the overwhelming majority are in North America, the British Isles, Holland, Belgium, France, Scandinavia, Switzerland, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. This point is provable through studies of opinion and by known example.

2.  DOERS OF JUSTICE IMPLYING SOCIAL EMPATHY
"The remnant of Joseph" is called upon to hate evil and love good and establish judgement in the gate (Amos 6;15). Abraham the first Hebrew was chosen because he would bequeath to his progeny the inherited goal of keeping the way of The LORD, doing justice and judgement (Genesis 18;19).  Only in those nations identified by us as belonging to Israel are human rights willingly respected and the good of all requested for altruistic reasons.

3.   POSSESSORS OF MILITARY PROWESS
It was inferred that in order for Abraham to fulfill his goal he would have to become a great and mighty nation possessing the gates (vital strategic points and international thoroughfares) of his enemies (Genesis 22;16-19). The Prophets spoke of the ferocity in warfare of Joseph (e.g. Micah ch.5). Moses after blessing each of the Israelite Tribes (Deuteronomy ch.33) then blessed them all together saying that they should enjoy economic plenty (Deuteronomy 33;28) and overwhelmingly defeat all of their enemies and for whom God would be their shield of help and "sword of excellency"*f (Deuteronomy 33;29).  All of the Israelite nations at some time or other have proven themselves to be most formidable fighters. The French in the French Revolution, and at other times, and under Napoleon at first were, man-for-man, undefeateable.
The Vikings of Scandinavia were able to terrorise all of the forces of civilisation. The Tribes of Joseph (Britain, the Anzacs of Australia and New Zealand, South Africa, Canada, and the U.S.A.) and Judah (the Jews of Judah in the past and of Israel today) when properly organised and motivated have proven themselves as  probably being the best all-round warriors in the world.

4.   INTELLECTUALLY WISE
Moses exhorted the Israelites to keep the Law: "Keep therefore and do: for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.  (Deuteronomy 4;6). The acheivement of acknowledged wisdom was here contingent on keeping the Law nevertheless  Providence had a purpose in the Separation of the Israelite Tribes, "This thing is from me" (1-Kings 12;24). It was prophesied that the northern Tribes would forget for a long period the formal Law and be effectually "divorced" (Hosea 2;4  Jeremiah 3;8) while at the same time fulfilling a predestined role of their own. In so far as the overall Divine Will was abided by so too is that aspect of the "Law" fulfilled. If it were not for the Jews, Anglo-Saxons, Scotts, Scandinavians, French, and Swiss, and their descendants, the world would not know much (of what it now knows) and not know how to use the knowledge it did have.

5.   ECONOMIC AND PHYSICAL BLESSINGS
The Patriarchs were promised (e.g. Genesis 12;2, 17;2 28;2-3 etc.) that their descendants would receive economic plenty and physical support. These promises to some extent were made unconditionally (Genesis 22;16 Numbers 23;21-23) or as preconditions to civilise the rest of mankind (Genesis 18;18-19). Despite the relative decline (that may yet be only temporary) of the U.S.A. and Great Britain and some of the other Israelite nations a foretaste of the said blessings was acheived in the past. In terms of longevity, good health, possession of raw materials, and overall wealth, the Israelite Ten Tribes' countries for many decades topped the world's lists and still do on the whole.

6.   ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL PROOFS
"What mean ye by these stones?" (Joshua 4;6).  In the Bible it is related how the Israelites set up monuments or altars as testimony of covenants or important events. In one case at least (that of the Tribes east of the Jordan) a gigantic altar was set up as evidence for future generations of their Israelite Identity (Joshua 22;24-28).
 Jeremiah (31;17-20) calls upon the exiled Lost Ten Tribes headed by Ephraim to set up waymarks and highheaps so that the paths of migration away from the Land of Israel may be examinable and so facilitate the Israelites' future return to their original cities in the Land of Greater  Israel. It has been suggested that Jeremiah was speaking of the erection of  dolmens and other so-called "megalithic" monuments (which actually in part may belong to the "Iron" Age) revealing migratory routes from  Israel to Britain, Scandinavia, and the west.  Whatever the case, Jeremiah  speaks of the existence of physical (historical and archaeological) "signs"  meaning evidence that should be studied to enable the return of the Lost Israelites. This suggests the availability of evidence from archaeological  finds, Israelite customs practised in the past, legends, historical records, linguistics, and  related matter.  Such evidence exists, is plentiful, and despite some difficulties is available and the present author is surprised that very little seems to be done to let people know about it.
Examples of relevant finds worthy of more investigation and emphasis should include  obvious "Assyrian" and Near Eastern elements in early Irish and Pictish art as well as Anglo-Saxon finds (such as the metallic standard at Sutton Hoo) based on ancient Middle Eastern prototypes.

7.  BIBLICAL EVIDENCE
Scripture relates that the Lost Ten Tribes (towards the End Times) will be in a number of places (Ilses of the Sea, the West, the North, the Northwest, Coastlands, etc.) which all taken as a complementary unit can only apply to the British peoples and related groups in Europe and overseas.  Likewise overall national as well as individual Tribal characteristics are described in the Bible and associated Literature which (together with Historical proofs) are found to be only pertinent to northwest European and British groups.
On the historical basis alone there are some areas (such as Portugal, parts of Germany, Northern Italy) that would otherwise be  considered since entities identifiable as Israelite did sojourn in them for some time. These regions do not however meet all (or even most) of the above criteria. [Even so, individuals or even recognisable groups who emerge from these areas may in some cases  yet be of Israelite descent.] The Historical consideration alone without other  points can never be enough since very often important information may be lacking.  For instance from Baden in southwest Germany over two-thirds of the population emigrated in the 18th-19th century and others entered in their place.  Schleswig-Holstein (in North Germany on the border with Denmark) after 1945 received a flood of settlers uprooted from German settlements in east Europe and these became more than 75% of the population. In both the above cases there occurred significant population changes that are known of  whereas similar large-scale movements elsewheremay be only  hinted at or not have been recorded at all.

NECESSARY LOST ISRAELITE QUALIFICATIONS

The Criteria Listed above for determining which nations are descended from the ancient Israelites are:
1. A Relative Lack of Anti-Semitism.
2. The Doing of Justice Implying Social Empathy and Responsibility.
3.Possessors of Military Prowess.
4.Intellectual Wisdom.
5.Economic and Physical Blessings.
6.Archaeological and Physical Proofs.
7.Biblical Evidence.