Israel
The Israelites, known as God's "chosen people," were chosen before they ever became a nation. God chose one man, Abraham, and promised that he would become the nation's patriarch-though his elderly wife didn't have even one child. God miraculously provided a son, Isaac, to Abraham and his wife in their old age. Many years later, Isaac's son Jacob wrestled with God. That wrestling match resulted in God changing Jacob's name to Israel. Many years after that, Israel's descendants-the Israelites-settled in the land that became known as Israel. Eventually the nation split into two nations: Israel to the north and Judah to the south. The Assyrians later conquered Israel; the Babylonians carried off Judah.

The Bible gives a genealogy of the nation of Israel.
Exodus 3:6
God changes Jacob's name to Israel.
Genesis 32:28
The Israelites claim the land that God had destined to become their country.
Joshua 1:2-4
The tribes of Judah and Benjamin are the first tribes to accept David as king. Later, the other tribes rebel because of heavy taxes. Judah and Benjamin remain loyal to the king, leading to Israel's division into two countries.
2 Samuel 2:4-5
1 Kings 12:1-18
The Babylonians carry off Judah into captivity.
2 Kings 24-25