To underscore that "Israelite" as a people encompassing Israel and Judah is a social construct, I've started to use Judah and Judahite, and Israel and Israelite to refer to the two political entities and their people, even though it is a bit awkward. I would like to draw attention to the fact that real people with real and variant beliefs and with real, everyday, problems who are not a monolithic, social construct called "Israel" inhabited this area.In a message dated 2/21/99 12:00:34 AM, Lloyd Barre wrote:A unified "Israel" never existed. This notion is a profound misconception. This new understanding requires a revised approach both to "Israelite" history, to "Israelite" tradition and to "Israelite" religion in that we are not dealing with one people but with two.
BTW I find it curious that Israel/Jacob from the north gave his name to the social construct that encompasses the population of both countries---especially since it is Judah that survives the longest.
irene riegner
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