The Half-Jewish Network: Welcoming Adult Children & Grandchildren of Intermarriage: Israeli archaeologists have found some evidence that at the time of the Assyrian invasion of Israel there was a surge of building in the southern kingdom of Judah. They believe this abrupt increase in building activities was caused by the need to house refugees from the 10 tribes within the territory of Judah.
People from the 10 tribes who became refugees in Judah, after the Assyrian invasion, apparently retained their tribal identifications. In the Christian New Testament portion of the Bible, am account describes Jesus being brought to the Second Temple as a baby. An elderly woman, the prophet Anna, recognized Jesus as an important future spiritual leader. She is described as being "the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher." [Luke 2:36] The tribe of Asher was one of the 10 tribes of the former northern kingdom of Israel.
St. Paul also provides evidence that many Jews retained their tribal identifications. He describes himself as "of the tribe of Benjamin," one of the two tribes primarily residing in Judah. [Philippians 3:5]
