Let’s talk about the Khazar theory

Is Israel really Israel?

In the late 1800s, a rumor started claiming that the Ashkenazi Jews living throughout Europe were actually the descendants of the Khazars, a Turkic group who had intermarried with Idumean Jews, who were themselves descendents of Edomites who had converted to Judaism after Edom was destroyed. Supposedly, these Khazars also converted to Judaism prior to spreading throughout Europe, and it’s these “false” Jews who emigrated back to the land of Israel after World War Two.

This theory has resurfaced again and again over the decades, despite being thoroughly debunked again and again. And since October 7th, it’s returned with a vengeance, allowing people -- most disturbingly, many of them Christians -- to feel justified in their blatantly antisemitic attitudes. We should not support the current nation of Israel, so they say, because they’re not even real Jews to begin with, and thus they have no rightful claim to the land. Supporting the current state of Israel is supporting the Luciferian agenda to rule the world and bring about the NWO.

Okay, then. Let’s explore this.

To start with, there are at least three glaring problems with this theory. The first is that there is zero actual historical or archeological evidence to support the claim that the Khazars morphed into the Ashkenazis, nor is there any genetic evidence

In fact, both genetic and linguistic studies have proven it false beyond a shadow of a doubt. Ashkenazi Jews are genetically descended from ethnic Hebrews from in and around the land of Israel/Palestine. Not only that, but Yiddish, the pidgin that the European Jews adopted as a common language to maintain their Jewish identity and unity despite being dispersed among multiple nations with varying languages, can be linguistically traced back to Hebrew.

Another problem is that the Ashkenazi actually make up a small percentage of the Jewish population of Israel, which also includes several other ethnic groups descended from Jews who were dispersed to the south and east of Israel, as well as to the north and west.

Yet another problem is one of logic and common sense. The ancient Idumeans who were displaced from Edom to southern Judah and converted to Judaism almost certainly would have intermarried with the Jews of the time. Meaning that any descendents they had that migrated to the Khazarian region of what we know as Turkey would have been… Jewish. And any Khazarians who subsequently converted would also likely have intermarried and produced offspring that was… that’s right. Jewish.

But the biggest problem of all with this theory is that, even if it were proven to be true, it makes no difference. From at least the time of the Exodus, gentiles who convert to Judaism have become part of Israel. Egyptians joined the Jews in the Exodus and were considered part of the tribe. The Canaanite prostitute Rahab was welcomed in, and so was the Moabite Ruth, both of whom were ancestors not only of King David, but of the Lord Jesus himself. Even before all of that, Joseph married an Egyptian. His two sons, Mannaseh and Ephraim, both progenitors of their own Jewish tribes, were half-Egyptian.

Because ultimately, it’s not ethnicity or genetics that determines whether one is a Jew. It’s belief in and loyalty to Yahweh, the God of all creation.

Not only that, but Paul tells us in Galatians that not all ethnic Jews are spiritual Jews, but only those who accept Yeshua/Jesus as their Messiah.

Note that being a spiritual, believing, Messianic Jew has nothing to do with the land promises or Israel’s right to the land -- those are fig tree promises. As we covered last time, being a spiritual Jew means abiding in the vine and being grafted back in to the olive tree, but those who are cut off from those are not cut off from their nationhood.

But even if that were the case, the fact is that there is a remnant of Messianic Jews living in Israel. Because God always preserves a remnant for himself. So how many “true” Jews have to be in the land before we acknowledge that the prophecies that they would be brought back to the land have been fulfilled, or that they have a God-given right to be there?

I’ve heard and seen this theory promoted by some well-meaning Christians who I like and respect, although I have to admit I’ve lost some respect for their research skills, which calls into question other theories I’ve heard them advance. I don’t have an advanced degree or any formal training in Bible scholarship, but it didn’t take me that much digging to find out how thoroughly this theory has been disproven.

Some people just believe what they want to believe, regardless of evidence. I think that’s why so many people fall for these unproven theories, especially when they’re put forward by people with letters after their name on popular podcasts that tickle the ears.

But that’s not exercising discernment. That’s not being a Berean. And that’s what I’m here to encourage you to do, whether you end up agreeing with me or not.

Next time we’ll dig into the Synagogue of Satan. What did Jesus mean by that? Are they still around today, or is there a modern corollary?

Until then, may the Lord bless you and keep you and lead you into all the truth.

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Sources/Further Reading:

The Khazar Myth on Rational Wiki -- This article has a lot of footnotes that can serve as a jumping off point for your own research.

Ashkenazi Jews Are Not Khazars. Here’s the Proof.