In the Hebrew Scriptures, the word "goyim" is frequently translated as "nations". Interestingly, the word "goyim" is also translated as “gentiles” by the same scribes within the same texts. There appears to be no real rhyme or reason for their decision to do this.
The Goyim and Ephraim, the "Fruitful"
When considering who are the goyim/nations of the world today, there is something, or someone, who must be considered: Ephraim. Ephraim is a tribe of Israel that is particularly more mysterious than all the others. He inherited the birthright (nations) of Abraham while Jewdah inherited the sceptre (kingship) of Abraham. Both promises passed through Jacob [See The Two Sticks of Abraham].
In the book of Genesis, just before the chapter where Jacob prophecies over all his sons regarding ha-Yom Akhareeth, “the Last Days”, he gives a pre-emptive promise to a couple grand-children. Genesis 48:17-19 reads (bold is mine):
17 And when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, it displeased him: and he held up his father's hand, to remove it from Ephraim's head unto Manasseh's head.
18 And Joseph said unto his father, Not so, my father: for this is the firstborn; put thy right hand upon his head.
19 And his father refused, and said, I know it, my son, I know it: he also shall become a people [Hebrew: “Am”], and he also shall be great: but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become the fullness of the nations [Hebrew: "Melo-ha-Goyim"].
The Exponential Growth Curve
The word Goyim is never applied to the nation of Israel, particularly because it is plural [“Goy” is singular]. To apply the word to Ephraim, a singular tribe, is confounding to say the least. But should it be? Ephraim and many of his brother tribes went into captivity together more than 2700 years ago, had time to grow numerous, they re-gained their independence, and moved to “far off” lands. Considering that, it may be easy for some to fathom the great number of Ephraim’s descendants in the modern world. When considering the divine guarantee of Genesis 48:19 AND when considering the power of exponential population growth curves (using the same equation to evaluate financial investments), it is truly less surprising than one’s initial reaction to such a grandiose promise. Using the equation below and given enough time (there has been plenty), Ephraim’s children were certainly capable of fulfilling the Genesis 48:19 promise.
Let (x) be a quantity growing exponentially with respect to time (t) where k > 0 is the average number of offspring per individual (birth rate). Plotted on a graph, it would look like the green curve below.
Remember the riddle where a child is offered two choices for a weekly allowance: the first option begins with one penny and doubles each week, while the second option begins at one dollar and increases by one dollar each week thereafter. The second option certainly pays more in the short term (red line), and is very enticing to a child, but the first option grows overwhelmingly larger in the long term (green line).
The Gentile Apostle and the Blindness of Israel
The Scriptures are full of word puns, symbolisms, and hidden treasures. The Apostle Paul frequently tried to display these treasures to the “Gentiles”, whom he felt divinely sent to. Yet, his writings are difficult for many to understand, especially for those who have no or little understanding of what his brain and heart was rooted in: the Torah, the Prophets, and the Writings (TaNaKh).
Being born in Tarsus, on the edge of the Greek world, and certainly familiar with his own people's history, Paul knew full well who many of the Gentiles were, and you can occasionally catch a glimpse of this in passages like Romans 11:25-27:
25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in..
26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.
Note Paul’s use of the word "Fullness" [Greek: Pleroma], and the word “Gentiles’ [Greek: Ethnos]. What on earth is Paul talking about? Was Paul not intimately familiar with the book of Genesis? I dare suggest he had the scroll memorized and verse 48:19 was readily recallable.
Look how Paul contrasts the wild branches (Gentiles) with the natural olive branches (Jews) just a few prior verses in Chapter 11. Wickedness and idolatry was always equated with crookedness, wild-assness, and rebelliousness, traits the Northern Kingdom (led by Ephraim) was well known for. Ephraim and/or the House of Israel were often called a rebellious house or a wild ass by the Prophets. In exile, he was no longer a natural olive tree planted and nurtured by the Almighty, but he became a wild olive tree, cut off and re-planted by the Assyrian Empire in foreign lands.
Compare the following verses regarding Ephraim and/or the House of Israel/Joseph:
Hosea 8:8-9
8 Israel is swallowed up: now shall they be among the Gentiles as a vessel wherein is no pleasure.
9 For they are gone up to Assyria, a wild ass alone by himself: Ephraim hath hired lovers.
Ezekiel 2:5-6
5 And they – whether they hear or whether they refuse, for they are a rebellious house – shall know that a prophet has been in their midst.
6 And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them, nor be afraid of their words, though thistles and thorns are with you and you dwell among scorpions. Do not be afraid of their words or discouraged by their looks, for they are a rebellious house.
Hosea 14:6-8
6 His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon.
7 They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine: the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon.
8 Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? I have heard him, and observed him: I am like a green fir tree. From me is thy fruit found.
The verses below emphasis the House of Judah as an Olive Tree, but both the House of Judah and the House of Israel are mentioned.
Jeremiah 11:16-17
16 יהוה called thy name, A green olive tree, fair, and of goodly fruit: with the noise of a great tumult he hath kindled fire upon it, and the branches of it are broken.
17 For יהוה of hosts, that planted thee, hath pronounced evil against thee, for the evil of the house of Israel and of the house of Judah, which they have done against themselves to provoke me to anger in offering incense unto Baal.
Below, Ephraim is planted in far countries and there he remembers and returns to the Almighty.
Zechariah 10:7-9
7 And Ephraim shall be like a mighty man, and their heart shall rejoice as through wine: yea, their children shall see it, and be glad; their heart shall rejoice in יהוה. 8 I will hiss for them, and gather them; for I have redeemed them: and they shall increase as they have increased. 9 And I will sow them among the people: and they shall remember me in far countries; and they shall live with their children, and turn again.
Sparta and the Jews
Paul was probably more an Apostle to the Greeks than to any other people. Corinth, Ephesus, Philippi, Thessalonica, and Galatia were all Greek-dominated cities and/or regions. Well, we do know that at least some of the Greeks were Israelites, or at least, they thought so. Below is a correspondence between the Lacedemonians [Spartan Greeks] and the Jews. And remember, Apostle Paul was well acquainted with the Maccabee Scrolls, a treasured history of his own Jewish people.
I Maccabees 12:5-23 (KJVA):
5 And this is the copy of the letters which Jonathan wrote to the Lacedemonians:
6 Jonathan the high priest, and the elders of the nation, and the priests, and the other of the Jews, unto the Lacedemonians their brethren send greeting:
7 There were letters sent in times past unto Onias the high priest from Darius, who reigned then among you, to signify that ye are our brethren, as the copy here underwritten doth specify.
8 At which time Onias entreated the ambassador that was sent honourably, and received the letters, wherein declaration was made of the league and friendship.
9 Therefore we also, albeit we need none of these things, that we have the holy books of scripture in our hands to comfort us,
10 Have nevertheless attempted to send unto you for the renewing of brotherhood and friendship, lest we should become strangers unto you altogether: for there is a long time passed since ye sent unto us.
11 We therefore at all times without ceasing, both in our feasts, and other convenient days, do remember you in the sacrifices which we offer, and in our prayers, as reason is, and as it becometh us to think upon our brethren:
12 And we are right glad of your honour.
13 As for ourselves, we have had great troubles and wars on every side, forsomuch as the kings that are round about us have fought against us.
14 Howbeit we would not be troublesome unto you, nor to others of our confederates and friends, in these wars:
15 For we have help from heaven that succoureth us, so as we are delivered from our enemies, and our enemies are brought under foot.
16 For this cause we chose Numenius the son of Antiochus, and Antipater he son of Jason, and sent them unto the Romans, to renew the amity that we had with them, and the former league.
17 We commanded them also to go unto you, and to salute and to deliver you our letters concerning the renewing of our brotherhood.
18 Wherefore now ye shall do well to give us an answer thereto.
19 And this is the copy of the letters which Oniares sent.
20 Areus king of the Lacedemonians to Onias the high priest, greeting:
21 It is found in writing, that the Lacedemonians and Jews are brethren, and that they are of the stock of Abraham:
22 Now therefore, since this is come to our knowledge, ye shall do well to write unto us of your prosperity.
23 We do write back again to you, that your cattle and goods are our's, and our's are your's We do command therefore our ambassadors to make report unto you on this wise.
The Spartan Greek civilization appears to spring up and become noticable in the 10th century BCE. Their history is difficult to trace beyond that time, which is not terribly long after the Israelites first left Egypt under Moses command.
When comparing the two Census accounts in the Book of Numbers (depicted below), there appears to have been a considerable exodus shortly AFTER the great exodus, where large numbers of Simeonites, Gadites, Ephraimites, Naphtalites, and Levites disappear. It is speculated some of them (minus those who died during Korah rebellion and a later plague) left the encampment of Israel while still in "the Wilderness". It is uncertain where these Israelites disappeared to.
Compare the Census of Numbers 1:1-54 and the Census of Numbers 26:1-65 below.
| Tribe | Census1 | Census2 | Difference | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reuben | 46,500 | 43,730 | -2,770 | |||
| Simeon | 59,300 | 22,200 | -37,100 | |||
| Levi | ? | 23,000 | ? | |||
| Gad | 45,650 | 40,500 | -5,150 | |||
| Judah | 74,600 | 76,500 | +1,900 | |||
| Issachar | 54,400 | 64,300 | +9,900 | |||
| Zebulun | 57,400 | 60,500 | +3,100 | |||
| Ephraim | 40,500 | 32,500 | -8,000 | |||
| Manasseh | 32,200 | 52,700 | +20,500 | |||
| Benjamin | 35,400 | 45,600 | +10,200 | |||
| Dan | 62,700 | 64,400 | +1,700 | |||
| Asher | 41,500 | 53,400 | +11,900 | |||
| Naphtali | 53,400 | 45,400 | -8,000 | |||
| Total: | 603,550 | ? | ? | |||
We know 14,700 + 250 Israelites died in Numbers 16 during Korah's rebellion, and then 24,000 died in the plague of Numbers 25:9, making a total of 38,950 dead. Subtracting that number from the total decrease shown above, we get at least 22,000 Israelites of fighting age who are still unaccounted for, not including their wives and children, nor does it include the unknown total of Levi's decreased population which was unnumbered in the first census. Where did they all go, and particularly, where did Simeon go? Why was Simeon NOT included at all in the blessing of Moses in Deuteronomy 33?
At this point, we can truly only speculate where they might have gone. Yet, there simply aren't many previously "unknown peoples" who suddenly become "known" relatively near Egypt and relatively near the time after the Great Israelite Exodus from Egypt. Lacedomonia (Sparta) is one of the most prominent possibilities. Although we can't absolutely prove it, their correspondence with the Kingdom of Jewdah in later centuries (seen earlier in this article) does seem to reinforce the probability that they were indeed Israelites, brethren to the Jews, or at least cousins, descendents of Shem via Abraham, not Japheth.
Furthermore, at the beginning of the Common Era (before the Roman Diaspora), it would appear that even the Jews in the Land of Israel thought some of their brothers were in Greece. Look at the question asked among themselves in response to a comment made by Yeshua, the Messiah:
John 7:35 The Yehudim, therefore, said to themselves, “Where is He about to go that we shall not find Him? Is He about to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks (Hellene), and to teach the Greeks?"If the Greeks were a branch of dispersed Israelites, that reality should tremendously re-define the Christian notion of what it meant for Paul to be "the Apostle to the Greeks".
