Genealogies for Jewish people today
Question
The book of Zachariah chapter 12 mentions the clan or House of David, Nathan, Levi and Shimei. Through genealogies can any Jewish people know they are from any of these houses or clans today?
Answer
Shalom!
Thank you for your question.
Nowadays, it is impossible to know for certainty which tribe one descends from.
It is assumed that most Jews descend from the tribe of Judah and/or Benjamin. There is also a strong tradition among many Jewish families of descending from the tribe of Levi, along with the subdivisions of “Kohanim” and “Levites.”
All other tribes are assumed to have been “lost.”
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