1.) There was a _Period of Division_. During the reign of the houses of Jer-o-bo'am and Ba'a-sha there were constant wars between Is'ra-el, Syr'i-a, and Ju'dah; and as a result all were kept weak, and "a balance of power" was maintained. 2.) Then followed a _Period of Alliance_--that is, between Is'ra-el and Ju'dah, during the sway of the House of Om'ri. The two lands were in friendly relations, and the two thrones were connected by marriages. As a result both Is'ra-el and Ju'dah were strong, Mo'ab and E'dom were kept under control, and Syr'i-a was held in check. 3.) Next came the _Period of Syr'i-an Ascendency_. During the first two reigns of the House of Je'hu, Syr'i-a rose to great power under Haz'a-el, and overran both Is'ra-el and Ju'dah. At one time Is'ra-el was in danger of utter destruction, but was preserved. Near the close of these periods the dying prophecy of E-li'sha was uttered (2 Kings 13. 14-25). 4.) _The Period of Is'ra-el-ite Ascendency._ Is'ra-el under Jer-o-bo'am II took its turn of power, and for a brief period was again dominant to the Eu-phra'tes, as in the days of Sol'o-mon. 5.) _The Period of As-syr'i-an Ascendency._ But its glory soon faded away before that of As-syr'i-a, which was now rapidly becoming the empire of the East. Its rise meant the fall of Is'ra-el; and under the unfortunate Ho-she'a, Sa-ma'ri-a was taken, what was left of the ten tribes were carried captive, and the kingdom of Is'ra-el was extinguished (2 Kings 17. 1-6). IV. =The Fate of the Ten Tribes.= There has been much idle discussion over this subject and some absurd claims set up; for example, that the Anglo-Saxon race are descended from the ten lost tribes--a statement opposed to all history, to ethnology, and to every evidence of language. 1. After their deposition nearly all the Is'ra-el-ites, having lost their national religion and having no bond of union, =mingled with the Gen'tiles= around them and lost their identity, just as hundreds of other races have done. The only bond which will keep a nation long alive is that of religion. 2. Some remained in Pal'es-tine, others returned thither and formed the =nucleus of the Sa-mar'i-tan people=, a race of mingled origin (2 Kings 17. 24-29). 3. Some of those who remained in the East retained their religion, or were revived in it, and later became a part of the =Jews of the dispersion=; though "the dispersion" was mainly Jew'ish, and not Is'ra-el-ite. 4. A few =families united with the Jews=, returned with them to Pal'es-tine after the exile, yet retained their tribal relationship; for example, An'na (Luke 2. 36). Blackboard Outline