God first uses the name Israel to identify Jacob, the progenitor of the twelve tribes, as seen in Genesis 32:28, where He renames Jacob Israel for having struggled with God and men and prevailed. From this point, the Bible uses Jacob and Israel interchangeably. In Genesis 48:16, God through Jacob places the name Israel on the sons of Joseph, Manasseh and Ephraim, not on Judah, indicating a distinction in God's view. Initially, the term house of Israel refers to all tribes, but by the time of King Saul, God begins to distinguish Israel from Judah, applying the name Israel specifically to the ten tribes and not to Judah, except when referring to all the children of Israel collectively. This division is evident well before the split after Solomon's reign, and after the deportation by the Neo-Assyrian Empire around 722 BCE, the house of Israel, known as the Ten Lost Tribes, takes a path of historical oblivion. God confirms in Amos 9:9 that He will sift the house of Israel among all nations, as grain is sifted in a sieve, yet not the smallest grain shall fall to the ground, indicating that though they may be lost to themselves and the world, they are not lost to Him. The Bible speaks of a future reunification of the house of Israel and the house of Judah, affirming that the house of Israel must still exist today, hidden or sifted among the nations.

Assyria conquered the ten-tribed Kingdom of Israel in 718 BC and deported the Israelites en masse to what is now northern Iran, just south of the Caspian Sea. The siege of Samaria, Israel's capital, lasted three years, marking a difficult conquest for Assyria, which began to decline almost immediately afterward. By 650 BC, Assyria was in an advanced state of decline, allowing some Israelites to become aggressive and mount guerilla warfare against their captors, weakening Assyria further. A few decades after Assyria's fall in 612 BC, many Israelites left the Middle East, escaping through passes over the Caucasus Mountains, one of which was known as the Pass of Israel. The prophet Amos, in Amos 9:9, describes God's action toward Israel as sifting grain in a sieve, scattering the house of Israel among all nations while ensuring not the smallest grain falls to the ground. God separates and scatters His people, yet keeps track of every Israelite. God's Word provides evidence of where this sifting placed the Israelites over time, indicating where to look for Israel and from where He will gather them in the last days. Israel migrated north and west into distant islands, and remains scattered around the world, principally to the north and west of Jerusalem and in far-off isles, until God re-gathers them.

God's relationship with Israel reveals a pattern of forsaking and restoration, demonstrating His righteous judgment and enduring mercy. Though Israel and Judah have forsaken Him, prompting His righteous wrath and punishment, He has not abandoned them permanently. As seen in II Chronicles 15, God does not desire to forsake His people, but if they turn away from Him, He will turn away from them, withdrawing His help and sending His wrath as part of the covenant's blessings and curses. In Jeremiah 7 and 12, the dire consequences of their sin are evident, as God utterly forsook both houses of Israel and Judah, leading to crushing despair, famine, disease, and destruction, typifying the severity of the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord. Yet, even in forsaking, God's character holds a promise of return. In Lamentations 5, amidst despair, the prophet clings to a faint hope that God will turn His people back to Him, initiating their restoration. Ezekiel 20 further shows that God often acts to bring His people back, not because of their righteousness or desire, but for His name's sake, to uphold His reputation, fulfill His plan, and keep His promises. This is evident in prophecies of the end time, such as the second exodus in Ezekiel 36, where God will return Israel to their land, marking them among the nations as He sifts them, ensuring not the smallest grain falls to the ground, as stated in Amos 9:9. God's Word assures that Israel is not lost to Him, though scattered and sifted among the nations. Prophecies throughout Scripture, including Jeremiah 3 and 31, Isaiah 49, and Hosea 12, indicate that Israel will return primarily from the north and west of Jerusalem, residing in chief nations, coastlands, and isles afar off, demonstrating their prominence and migratory nature. Despite their current state, God's plan, as reflected in Romans 11:26, is that all Israel will be saved, undergoing trials to turn them back to Him. In Luke 15, the Parable of the Lost Sheep illustrates God's joy in seeking and finding His lost flock, showing His relentless pursuit to bring Israel back into His fold. Thus, though forsaken for a time due to sin, God remains faithful, acting to restore Israel according to His purpose and promises.