Topical Bible: The Jews: Scattered and Peeled

◄ The Jews: Scattered and Peeled ►

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Topical Encyclopedia

The phrase "scattered and peeled" is often associated with the Jewish people, reflecting their historical experiences of dispersion and suffering. This concept is rooted in biblical prophecy and historical events that have shaped the identity and destiny of the Jewish nation.

Biblical Prophecies and Historical Context

The scattering of the Jewish people is a theme found throughout the Scriptures, often as a consequence of disobedience to God's commandments. In Deuteronomy 28:64 , Moses warns the Israelites: "Then the LORD will scatter you among all nations, from one end of the earth to the other." This prophecy foreshadows the eventual dispersion of the Jewish people due to their failure to uphold the covenant with God.

The term "peeled" is less commonly used in modern translations but can be understood as a metaphor for the suffering and humiliation experienced by the Jewish people. Isaiah 18:2 refers to a "nation tall and smooth-skinned," which some commentators interpret as a reference to the Jewish people in their scattered state, vulnerable and exposed to the nations.

The Assyrian and Babylonian Exiles

The scattering began with the Assyrian conquest of the Northern Kingdom of Israel in 722 BC, leading to the exile of the ten tribes. This was followed by the Babylonian exile in 586 BC, when the Southern Kingdom of Judah was conquered, and many Jews were taken captive to Babylon. These events fulfilled the warnings of the prophets and marked the beginning of the Jewish diaspora.

The Roman Dispersion

The destruction of the Second Temple in AD 70 by the Romans was a pivotal moment in Jewish history, leading to a widespread dispersion. The Jewish people were scattered across the Roman Empire and beyond, fulfilling the words of Jesus in Luke 21:24 : "They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive into all the nations."

Enduring Identity and Hope

Despite being scattered and experiencing persecution, the Jewish people have maintained a distinct identity throughout history. This resilience is seen as a testament to God's enduring covenant with Israel. Jeremiah 31:35-37 emphasizes the unbreakable nature of this covenant: "Only if the heavens above can be measured and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, will I reject all the descendants of Israel because of all they have done."

The prophetic vision of regathering and restoration is a recurring theme in Scripture. Ezekiel 37:21-22 speaks of God's promise to gather the Israelites from among the nations and bring them back to their own land, uniting them as one nation under one king.

Modern Implications

The modern state of Israel, established in 1948, is often viewed by many as a fulfillment of biblical prophecy regarding the regathering of the Jewish people. This event is seen as a significant milestone in God's redemptive plan, reflecting His faithfulness to His promises.

The Jewish experience of being "scattered and peeled" serves as a powerful reminder of the consequences of disobedience, the enduring nature of God's covenant, and the hope of restoration. The narrative of dispersion and regathering continues to be a central theme in understanding the role of the Jewish people in biblical prophecy and history.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Isaiah 18:2,7
That sends ambassadors by the sea, even in vessels of bulrushes on the waters, saying, Go, you swift messengers, to a nation scattered and peeled, to a people terrible from their beginning till now; a nation meted out and trodden down, whose land the rivers have spoiled!
Torrey's Topical Textbook

James 1:1
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

A Little Sanctuary
... Though they were a people scattered and peeled, yet they ... among the heathen, and although
I have scattered them among ... The Jews were not in those days like the ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 34 1888/a little sanctuary.htm

Jehovah Tsidkenu: the Lord Our Righteousness
... you will clearly perceive that the Messias of the Jews, Jesus of ... wilderness that
Kedar doth inhabit; ye people of God, scattered and peeled, banished among ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 7 1861/jehovah tsidkenu the lord our.htm

A Discourse
... Josephus, in his Antiquities of the Jews, book 8, chapter 6, section 5 ... saying to
their bailiffs and sheriffs, 'Go"to a nation scattered and peeled, to a ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/a discourse.htm