Concerning Judah - Plea to Return to the LORD

It seems appropriate at this time to bring to mind that there were warnings and pleas given to the people of Judah. Prophets spake to the people with great fervor, trying to get them to return to the LORD. They were not without opportunity. Even if they had fully forgotten, these men reminded them. Isaiah was one of these prophets and I include a passage here:

Isaiah 1: 1-4 "The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, Hear, O heavens and give ear, O earth, for the LORD hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me. The ox knoweth his owner and the ass his master's crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider. Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy one of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward."

Then about 60 years later another prophet speaks in the name of the LORD for the people to return to the LORD.

Jeremiah 2:1 "Moreover the word of the LORD came to me saying, Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the LORD: I remember thee, the kindness of thy youth, the love of thine espousals, when thou wentest after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown. Israel was holiness unto the LORD; and the firstfruits of his increase: all that devour him shall offend; evil shall come upon them, saith the LORD. Hear ye the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel: Thus saith the LORD, What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?"

A plea with forgiveness:

3:v1 "They say If a man put away his wife and she go from him and become another man's shall he return unto her again? shall not that land be greatly polluted? but thou has played the harlot with many lovers; yet return again to me, saith the LORD.

Next we will study Chronicles. It is difficult to read because of all the names but every book serves a purpose. Family lines are directly related to the land they possessed in Israel and so by keeping up with their heritage, they established ownership and maintained the royal bloodline.
No doubt the common people had records of exactly what tribe they descended from. I believe that even with their turning away from God, they still believed in his promises and that they would return to possess Canaan someday.