It really depends on what portion of your DNA is being tested and talked about. The Y-Chromosome (passed from male to male) and mitochondrial DNA (passed from woman to woman) are the segments of our DNA that population geneticists know the most about in terms of geneology and human migrations, but even there, they are still collecting samples from many living populations and getting much better at extracting it from human remains at ancient burial grounds, archaeological sites, etc. So we still have much to find and understand before we can really identify specific tribes outside of what I think we know about Ephraim and Levi (see Israelite and Noahic Haplogroup Hypotheses). In particular, we have alot to learn from our autosomal chromosomes (non-sex chromosomes that we inherit from our parents and their parents and so on).
FamilyTreeDNA is fairly good at and vocal about identifying those people who share markers within the known "Jewish" population, especially the Cohen Modal Haplotype (Levites). They do not get or understand the big picture about Ephraim or 10-Israel, although there is certainly an interest in finding 10-Israel amongst many... especially amongst Jewish anthropologists. What confuses matters is the fact that haplogroups (which I believe) are descended from Ephraim have entered the Jewish population on several occasions over the last 2700 years (not to mention non-Israelite converts like Caleb). So even Jews have a large mixture of different haplogroups (among women and men).
Ultimately, I'm not certain what DNA or what method יהוה will use to separate the twelve tribes (as what appears in the Book of Revelation with the 144,000 sealed). There may be a combination of various things (some non-DNA related), but the Y-Chromosome is of most interest to me because of the Biblical precedents of father-to-son inheritance and father-to-son genealogical records in the Tanakh. Ultimately, there may be alot of men (or women married to men or born to men) who have the Y-Chromosome of Ephraim but have a predominant portion of their autosomal chromosomes inherited from another ancient group (i.e., tribe of Reuben or tribe of Gad or Japhethites or Arabs/Edomites).
If your DNA is mostly from Arab ancestors, but you've attached yourself to the Assembly of Israel and the Elohim of Israel and desire to keep His Torah... ultimately, what tribe and gate will יהוה assign you to?
If you are a single woman, born to an Ephriamite man and a Zebulunite woman, what tribe and gate will you be assigned to?
If you are a male, born to a Jewish man and mother who has Ephraimite ancestors exclusively, what tribe and gate will you be assigned to?
Indeed, we may not know all the answers to these perplexing questions until the Messianic Era. Even so, that is no excuse to bury our heads in the sand and give up any interest in the subject. Why would the Father put so much energy and design into our DNA if He did not want us to undestand it and use it for His esteem?
Father יהוה, lead us into all the knowledge and understanding that You desire for us... and help us keenly discern what evil the enemy has desired to mix in and corrupt. In Your Name we ask this!
Shalom mishpocha,
Hanok
Related Content:





