Dispersion of the Jewish People in Scripture

The dispersion of the Jewish people, often referred to as the Diaspora (from the Greek diaspora, meaning "scattered"), describes the scattering of Jews into foreign countries ^[1]. This phenomenon has occurred at various times throughout history due to different causes ^[1].

One significant period of dispersion followed the Assyrian and Babylonian captivities. The northern kingdom of Israel, comprising ten tribes, was carried captive by Shalmaneser (or Sargon) of Assyria in 721 BCE and never returned to their land ^[1]. Later, the kingdom of Judah experienced deportation under Babylonian kings ^[4]. After the return from the Babylonian exile, many Jews remained settled in foreign lands, forming what was known as "the Dispersion" during the period of the Second Temple ^[2]. This Dispersion was broadly divided into three main sections: Babylonian, Syrian, and Egyptian ^[2]. From Babylon, Jews spread throughout Persia, Media, and Parthia, and significant settlements were established in Cyprus, the Aegean islands, and the western coast of Asia Minor ^[2].

The concept of dispersion is also found in earlier biblical texts. For instance, the tribe of Simeon was "divided and scattered" according to a prediction in Genesis 49:5-7 ^[3]. This tribe's numbers dwindled, and they became insignificant among the other tribes, decreasing by about two-thirds during their time in the wilderness ^[3]. Moses did not pronounce a blessing on Simeon, and the tribe's allotted territory was a portion of Judah's land, with its cities scattered throughout Judah's boundary ^{[3, 10]}. This scattering of Simeon and Levi was seen as a fulfillment of Jacob's prophecy that they deserved to be separated and disunited ^[10].

The prophet Isaiah refers to "the outcasts of Israel" as those dispersed among the nations as a result of the Exile ^[7]. Zechariah speaks of God sowing his people "among... people" with a special design, suggesting that their dispersion was like seed sown far and wide ^[6]. This perspective suggests that when the dispersed Jews are "quickened themselves," they will become instruments for quickening others ^[6]. The wide dispersion of Jews before Christ's coming is also seen as having prepared the way for the apostles' preaching ^[6].

In the New Testament, the term "dispersed among the Gentiles" or "Greeks" refers to Jews scattered throughout the empire founded by Alexander the Great, including Greece, Syria, Egypt, and Asia Minor, where the Greek language and the Septuagint version of the Jewish Scriptures were prevalent ^[9]. Some interpretations suggest this could also refer to the Gentiles themselves or the lost ten tribes ^[9].

Rabbinic tradition also addresses the dispersion. Rashi, commenting on Job 4:11, interprets "the young of the lion will scatter" as referring to the "Generation of the Dispersion," who were scattered from Babel across the entire earth ^[5]. The journey from the east mentioned in Genesis 11:2 is understood by some as the children of Shem seeking a place to accommodate them all, but finding none except Shinar, which led to their eventual scattering ^[8].

Prophetic texts envision a future gathering of the dispersed. Zechariah 8:7 speaks of God saving his people from the east and west, meaning from every region to which they are scattered ^[11]. This restoration, which includes a spiritual return to God, is understood to be a future event, as the dispersion under Nebuchadnezzar was primarily to the east ^[11]. This future gathering is also mentioned in Isaiah 11:11-12 and Ezekiel 37:21 ^[11].

Sources

Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Dispersion — (Gr. diaspora, "scattered," James 1:1; 1 Pet. 1:1) of the Jews. At various times, and from the operation of divers causes, the Jews were separated and scattered into foreign countries "to the outmost parts of heaven" (Deut. 30:4). (1.) Many were dispersed over Assyria, Media, Babylonia, and Persia, descendants of those who had been transported thither by the Exile. The ten tribes, after existing as a separate kingdom for two hundred and fifty-five years, were carried captive (B.C. 721) by Shalmaneser (or Sargon), king of Assyria. They never returned to t”
Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Dispersion, The Jews Of The — or simply THE DISPERSION, was the general title applied to those Jews who remained settled in foreign countries after the return from the Babylonian exile, and during the period of the second temple. At the beginning of the Christian era the Dispersion was divided into three great sections, the Babylonian, the Syrian, the Egyptian. From Babylon the Jews spread throughout Persia, Media and Parthia. Large settlements of Jews were established in Cyprus, in the islands of the AEgean, and on the western coast of Asia Minor. Jewish settlements ”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Simeon, The tribe of — Was "divided and scattered" according to the prediction in Gen. 49:5-7. They gradually dwindled in number, and sank into a position of insignificance among the other tribes. They decreased in the wilderness by about two-thirds (comp. Num. 1:23; 26:14). Moses pronounces no blessing on this tribe. It is passed by in silence (Deut. 33). This tribe received as their portion a part of the territory already allotted to Judah (Josh. 19:1-9). It lay in the south-west of the land, with Judah on the east and Dan on the north; but whether it was a compact”
Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Captivities Of The Jews — The present article is confined to the forcible deportation of the Jew; from their native land, and their forcible detention, under the Assyrian or Babylonian kings. Captives of Israel.--The kingdom of Israel was invaded by three or four successive kings of Assyria. Pul or Surdanapalus, according to Rawlinson, imposed a tribute (B.C. 771 or 712), Rawl.) upon Menahem. (2 Kings 15:19) and 1Chr 5:26 Tiglath-pileser carried away (B.C. 740) the trans-Jordanic tribes, (1 Chronicles 5:26) and the inhabitants of Galilee, (2 Kings 15:29) comp. Isai 9:”
Sefaria (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Rashi (Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki) on Job 4:11: and the young of the lion will scatter He is speaking of the Generation of the Dispersion, who were scattered from there [Babel] over the face of the entire earth.”
Zechariah (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Zechariah 10:9: sow them among . . . people--Their dispersion was with a special design. Like seed sown far and wide, they shall, when quickened themselves, be the fittest instruments for quickening others (compare Mic 5:7). The slight hold they have on every soil where they now live, as also the commercial and therefore cosmopolitan character of their pursuits, making a change of residence easy to them, fit them peculiarly for missionary work [MOORE]. The wide dispersion of the Jews just before Christ's coming prepared the way similarly for the apostles' preaching”
Isaiah (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Isaiah 56:8: 56:8 The outcasts of Israel were those dispersed among the nations as the result of the Exile (see also 11:12). • The others would be eunuchs and Gentiles (56:3-7; see also 57:19; John 10:16).”
Sefaria (Jewish (Kabbalistic/Philosophical)) “Ramban (Nachmanides) on Genesis 11:2: AS THEY JOURNEYED FROM THE EAST. Rashi comments: “They journeyed from where they were then dwelling, as it is written above, And their dwelling was from Mesha, as thou goest toward Sephar, unto the mountain of the east . 333 Above, 10:30. From there they journeyed to search out for themselves a place that would accomodate them all, but they found none except Shinar.” But this is not correct for this is the account of the children of Shem only, concerning whom it was so said [that they dwelled at “the mountain of the east”], and why should Scripture attribu”
John (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on John 7:35: The dispersed among the Gentiles - Or Greeks. By the dispersed, are meant here the Jews who were scattered through various parts of that empire which Alexander the Great had founded, in Greece, Syria, Egypt, and Asia Minor, where the Greek language was used, and where the Jewish Scriptures in the Greek version of the Septuagint were read. Others suppose that the Gentiles themselves are meant - others, that the ten tribes which had been long lost are here intended.”
Sefaria (Jewish (Rationalist)) “Abraham Ibn Ezra on Genesis 49:7: AND THEIR WRATH. A repetition in different words of their anger . The same is true with I will divide them and And scatter them . The meaning of I will divide them in Jacob, And scatter them in Israel is, Simeon and Levi deserve to be separated and disunited. And so it was. For we find that the lot of the tribe of Simeon fell within the inheritance of the tribe of Judah. 53 Cf. Josh. 19:1. Simeon was thus under Judah’s dominion. Furthermore, its cities were discontiguous and scattered throughout the boundary of Judah. 54 In addition to having their inheritance”
Zechariah (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Zechariah 8:7: save my people from . . . east . . . west--that is, from every region (compare Psa 50:1; the "West" is literally, "the going down of the sun") to which they are scattered; they are now found especially in countries west of Jerusalem. The dispersion under Nebuchadnezzar was only to the east, namely, to Babylonia. The restoration, including a spiritual return to God (Zac 8:8), here foretold, must therefore be still future (Isa 11:11-12; Isa 43:5-6; Eze 37:21; Amo 9:14-15; also Zac 13:9; Jer 30:22; Jer 31:1, Jer 31:33).”

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