The Carpenter's Board

Concerning Judah and Israel in Ezekiel 37:16-17, notice that Judah and "the sons of Israel, his companions" is written on one "stick" and the other for Joseph, the stick of Ephraim and all the house of Israel, his companions".  You have "Israel" within both of the "sticks".  The Sons of Israel and all of "the House of Israel".  Both are Israel, but one is "Son" and the other is "House".   Most of the studies that I have ever read or heard only speak of Judah and Ephraim becoming Echad or becoming Unified.  But, as you can easily see, there is more going on here than with just Judah and Ephraim.  Within them is the "Sons" and the "House".  Ezekiel 37 is a prophetic vision of the Redemption of the people of Israel before Messiah comes to set up His Kingdom and reign for a 1000 years.  Reading all of Chapter 37 really fits with this line of thinking.  I also see this making sense because Ezekiel 40 thru 48 are concerning the Temple during the Messiah's reign as King on Earth.  I also found something else interesting.  In Ezekiel 37:15 etc. when the English rendering says "stick", in Hebrew it can mean "wood", like a carpenter's board or piece of wood as it is rendered in the English of the TaNaK.  They actually have a note to the side that says "One tablet-- one Nation".   If we read all of the writings of Hosea, we get an understanding of why Judah and the Son's of Israel and Ephraim and the whole house of Israel's names are written on two tablets of wood and then made into one.  They both committed idolatry and transgressed the Torah.  The story is about their restoration back into the Whole House of Israel when they repent of their sins.   I think that what really matters here is that all of the "sons" and "houses" which make up Israel are to become Echad, or One in Unity.  One mind, one language, one Torah, one identity...  12 Tribes or Houses in complete Unity in Mashiyach Yehoshua (Messiah Yeshua).  This is when the B'rit (Jeremiah 31:31-34) will be in it's fullness, because our Master, Himself will be here with us and no man will have to witness to an unbeliever, because all will "Yada'at" Him.  All of this will happen "in that day".  I see it as everything coming back around full circle till finally all is restored to our Father's original intention for His Creation before the onset of Sin and Rebellion.  Galatians 3:28-29 seems to sum it up pretty well and I think that we could probably even say that since we are descendants of Abraham through Messiah and heirs to the promise, then we are Truly "Hebrew".  As Abraham "crossed over", we have also through our "Shema", (hearing, believing, obeying) of the Anointed Word of YHWH...  

Maranatha,  John