The twelve tribes (sons) of Israel (Jacob) this information I have pulled from Genesis myself, and the study of Genesis that I am doing. I will make adjustments if necessary. I have seen in some of the things I have found online where Levi is not one of the tribes, I have seen where Joseph is split into Manasseh and Ephraim.
What I have read so far: Reuben was first born and would have received a double share, but for actions against Jacob after Rachel's death, his first born rights were revoked. Simeon and Levi were not "blessed" by Jacob for their actions after Dinah's rape. Simeon received but a little bit of land, that was surrounded by Judah, and quickly absorbed. Levi got no land, and his line became the Priests and Temple Tenders. Judah's descendants are whom we call Jews. Jacob loved Joseph the most of all his children, because he was the son of his old age. (and the first from his most loved wife Rachel).
Judah received first born rights of leading the family. Joseph received the "double" portion by his children both receiving an equal share.
All but one of Jacob's sons were born while Jacob was "bonded" to his father-in-law Laban outside of Canaan. Benjamin came after he left Mesopotamia and returned to Canaan.
| Ya'akov (Jacob) | Mother | |
| 1 | Re'uven (Reuben) | Le'ah |
| 2 | Shim'on (Simeon) | Le'ah |
| 3 | Levi (Levi) | Le'ah |
| 4 | Y'hudah (Judah) | Le'ah |
| 5 | Dan | Bilhah (Handmaid of Rachel) |
| 6 | Naftali | Bilhah (Handmaid of Rachel) |
| 7 | Gad | Zilpah (Handmaid of Le'ah) |
| 8 | Asher | Zilpah (Handmaid of Le'ah) |
| 9 | Yissakhar (Issachar) | Le'ah |
| 10 | Z'vulun (Zebulun) | Le'ah |
| 11 | Yosef (Joseph) | Rachel |
| 12 | Ben-Oni or Binyamin (Benjamin) | Rachel |
13 M'nasheh (Manesseh) Son of Joseph & Asenath (adopted by Jacob)
14 Efrayim (Ephraim) Son of Joseph & Asenath (adopted by Jacob)
The Tribes of Israel are the traditional divisions of the ancient Jewish people. Biblical tradition holds that the twleve tribes of Israel are descended from the sons and grandsons of the Jewish forefather Jacob and are called "Israel" from Jacob's name given to him by God.
Resources:
5 From the tribe of Judah 12,000 were sealed,
from the tribe of Reuben 12,000,
from the tribe of Gad 12,000,
6 from the tribe of Asher 12,000,
from the tribe of Naphtali 12,000,
from the tribe of Manasseh 12,000,
7 from the tribe of Simeon 12,000,
from the tribe of Levi 12,000,
from the tribe of Issachar 12,000,
8 from the tribe of Zebulun 12,000,
from the tribe of Joseph 12,000,
from the tribe of Benjamin 12,000.
(But no Tribe of Dan and is Joseph supposed to be Ephraim? Why is Manasseh not listed as Joseph?)
12 Tribes of Israel
1. Re’uven (Reuben)
First born of Ya’akov
(Jacob) and is first wife Le’ah (Leah).
Reuben loved his mother greatly, and when Jacob’s second (and favorite)
wife Rachel died, Reuben attempted to keep Jacob from elevating Rachel’s
handmaid Bilhah to the status of wife, by taking her to bed, and “ruining”
her. This move was seen as an attempt to
step up to Jacob’s status prematurely.
The repercussions of this move, left Reuben without the first born
blessing.
Genesis 49:3 “Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, and the first fruits of
my strength,
preeminent in dignity and preeminent in power.
4 Unstable as water, you shall not have preeminence, because you went up to your father's bed;
then you defiled it—he went up to my couch!
In Joshua Chapter 22:1-10 the tribes of Gad, Reuben and 1/2 of Manassah are told they can return to their territories east of the Jordan.
preeminent in dignity and preeminent in power.
4 Unstable as water, you shall not have preeminence, because you went up to your father's bed;
then you defiled it—he went up to my couch!
In Joshua Chapter 22:1-10 the tribes of Gad, Reuben and 1/2 of Manassah are told they can return to their territories east of the Jordan.
2.
Shim’on (Simeon)
& 3. Levi (Levi)
Simeon and Levi (sons
of Leah) took it upon themselves to enact revenge for their sister Dinah’s
rape. They took this revenge upon a
whole town by killing all of the males of that town, while they were suffering
from complications of circumcision that they willing went through so the King’s
son, (the rapist) could marry Dinah. For
their vengeful acts, Jacob punished both of these sons. Simeon’s land was very small, and completely
enclosed by Judah’s, and eventually absorbed by Judah. Levi was given no land, and became the
Priests and the temple tenders for Israel.
Genesis 49:5 “Simeon and Levi are brothers; weapons of violence are their
swords.
6 Let my soul come not into their council; O my glory, be not joined to their company.
For in their anger they killed men, and in their willfulness they hamstrung oxen.
7 Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce, and their wrath, for it is cruel!
I will divide them in Jacob and scatter them in Israel.
In Joshua Chapter 19:1-9, we get a detailed account of the borders of the land given to the tribe of Simeon.
In Joshua Chapter 21 Levite cities are listed throughout the territories of all the tribes.
6 Let my soul come not into their council; O my glory, be not joined to their company.
For in their anger they killed men, and in their willfulness they hamstrung oxen.
7 Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce, and their wrath, for it is cruel!
I will divide them in Jacob and scatter them in Israel.
In Joshua Chapter 19:1-9, we get a detailed account of the borders of the land given to the tribe of Simeon.
In Joshua Chapter 21 Levite cities are listed throughout the territories of all the tribes.
4.
Y’hudah (Judah)
Judah was the fourth
son, and his mother was Leah. Judah kept
his brothers from killing Joseph, instead convincing them to sell him into
slavery in Egypt. He also put his life
on the line to his father (Jacob), in order to take Benjamin to Egypt at
Joseph’s request. (Though they didn’t
know it was Joseph at the time) This was during a famine and in order to buy
more grain from Egypt they were told they had to bring their youngest brother
next time they came. They also had to do
this to get Simeon back, who had been kept by Joseph as surety for the
brother’s return. Judah also pleaded for
Benjamin to not be kept by Egypt as it would cause great grief to their
father. Judah received the blessing that
should have been Reuben’s, and became the ruler of his brothers.
Genesis 49:8 “Judah, your brothers shall praise you; your hand shall be on the
neck of your enemies;
your father's sons shall bow down before you.
9 Judah is a lion's cub; from the prey, my son, you have gone up.
He stooped down; he crouched as a lion and as a lioness; who dares rouse him?
10 The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet,
until tribute comes to him; and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.
11 Binding his foal to the vine and his donkey's colt to the choice vine,
he has washed his garments in wine and his vesture in the blood of grapes.
12 His eyes are darker than wine, and his teeth whiter than milk.
In Joshua Chapter 15, we get a detailed account of the borders of the land given to the tribe of Judah, as well as an itemization of the cities within that territory.
your father's sons shall bow down before you.
9 Judah is a lion's cub; from the prey, my son, you have gone up.
He stooped down; he crouched as a lion and as a lioness; who dares rouse him?
10 The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet,
until tribute comes to him; and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.
11 Binding his foal to the vine and his donkey's colt to the choice vine,
he has washed his garments in wine and his vesture in the blood of grapes.
12 His eyes are darker than wine, and his teeth whiter than milk.
In Joshua Chapter 15, we get a detailed account of the borders of the land given to the tribe of Judah, as well as an itemization of the cities within that territory.
5.
Dan
Commonly seen as the “black sheep” of
Jacobs’s sons, Dan was born of Bilhah, the handmaid of Jacob’s favored wife
Rachel (Rachel, not able to bear children early in her marriage, offered her
handmaid as a way to get children over her sister Leah). The tribe was given an
allotment in the northern edge of Canaan, exposed to Assyria and Aram, and the
very last to receive its territory. The famous Samson came from the tribe of
Dan. In John’s Revelation, he does not count the tribe of Dan among the sealed
– perhaps as a judgment?
Genesis 49:16 “Dan shall judge his people as one of the tribes of Israel.
17 Dan shall be a serpent in the way, a viper by the path,
that bites the horse's heels so that his rider falls backward.
18 I wait for your salvation, O Lord.
In Joshua Chapter 19:40-47, we get a detailed account of the borders of the land given to the tribe of Issachar, as well as the cities contained therein.
17 Dan shall be a serpent in the way, a viper by the path,
that bites the horse's heels so that his rider falls backward.
18 I wait for your salvation, O Lord.
In Joshua Chapter 19:40-47, we get a detailed account of the borders of the land given to the tribe of Issachar, as well as the cities contained therein.
6.
Naftali
The second son of Jacob by Rachel’s
handmaiden Bilhah. Naftali was
militaristic and strong, commended by Deborah for risking their lives in the
fight against Sisera. The Judge Barak
hails from the tripe of Naftali, and are part of Gideon’s force meeting the
Midianites. Naftali was granted land in
the extreme north, west of the Sea of Galilee, but not reaching the coast.
Genesis 49:21 “Naphtali is a doe let loose
that bears beautiful fawns.
In Joshua Chapter 19:32-39, we get a detailed account of the borders of the land given to the tribe of Issachar, as well as the cities contained therein.
In Joshua Chapter 19:32-39, we get a detailed account of the borders of the land given to the tribe of Issachar, as well as the cities contained therein.
7.
Gad
A son of Leah’s handmaid Zilpah, Gad was
a man of great strength. Along with
Manasseh and Reuben, Gad was exposed to Amonites from the east, with a
territory attached to the Jordan River, one of only three tribes with land
allocated toward the desert.
Genesis 49:19 “Raiders shall raid Gad,
but he shall raid at their heels.
In Joshua Chapter 22:1-10 the tribes of Gad, Reuben and 1/2 of Manassah are told they can return to their territories east of the Jordan.
In Joshua Chapter 22:1-10 the tribes of Gad, Reuben and 1/2 of Manassah are told they can return to their territories east of the Jordan.
8.
Asher
The second son of Jacob by Zilpah, Asher
means “blessed”, and was prophesied to yield good bread and royal fruits. The land which Asher’s descendants settled,
far to the north bordering Naftali and the Mediterranean coast, was a temperate
climate with relatively cool temperatures and much rainfall.
Genesis 49:20 “Asher's food shall be rich,
and he shall yield royal delicacies.
In Joshua Chapter 19:24-31, we get a detailed account of the borders of the land given to the tribe of Issachar, as well as the cities contained therein.
In Joshua Chapter 19:24-31, we get a detailed account of the borders of the land given to the tribe of Issachar, as well as the cities contained therein.
9.
Yissakhar (Issachar)
Jacob’s
ninth son, and his fifth by Leah, Issachar was recognized in Jacob’s blessing
as having seen the good land, settled between two burdens. Though the character of Issachar himself has
little specific description, the tribe is known even today as highly devoted to
Jewish scholarship. Issachar received a
small portion of land on the southwest corner of the Sea of Galilee, and
worshiped at Mount Tabor, the high place which is associated in New Testament
literature as the mountain upon which Jesus was transfigured before Peter, John
and James.
Genesis 49:14 “Issachar is a strong donkey,
crouching between the sheepfolds. [2]
15 He saw that a resting place was good,
and that the land was pleasant,
so he bowed his shoulder to bear,
and became a servant at forced labor.
In Joshua Chapter 19:17-23, we get a detailed account of the borders of the land given to the tribe of Issachar, as well as the cities contained therein.
15 He saw that a resting place was good,
and that the land was pleasant,
so he bowed his shoulder to bear,
and became a servant at forced labor.
In Joshua Chapter 19:17-23, we get a detailed account of the borders of the land given to the tribe of Issachar, as well as the cities contained therein.
10.
Z’vulun (Zebulun)
The sixth
and final son of Jacob by Leah, Zebulun would have three sons named Seron, Elon
and Jahleel. Leah named her son gift or
honor, recognizing her blessing from God and hoping Jacob would finally love
her as he loved Rachel now that he had six sons. The tribe of Zebulun was given an allotment
in the north near Issachar, with whom they are traditionally associated –
Issachar as the scholars, Zebulun as the administrators, who went to battle
with “the scribes” or “marshall’s staff” (commanders). The tribe of Issachar, with over 57,000 men
fit for battle, was the vanguard force in the conquest of Canaan.
Genesis 49:13 “Zebulun shall dwell at the shore of the sea;
he shall become a haven for ships,
and his border shall be at Sidon.
In Joshua Chapter 19:10-16, we get a detailed account of the borders of the land given to the tribe of Zebulon.
and his border shall be at Sidon.
In Joshua Chapter 19:10-16, we get a detailed account of the borders of the land given to the tribe of Zebulon.
11.
Yosef (Joseph)
Joseph,
although the 11th son, was the 1st son of Jacob with his
favorite 2nd wife Rachel.
Joseph was Jacob’s favorite son.
When Joseph was older, some of his older brothers sold him into slavery
to a caravan headed to Egypt. They then
took Joseph’s coat to their father to “prove” his death. While in Egypt, Joseph quickly gained favor,
freedom, and power. He had the art of
divination, and was able to foresee a coming famine and save the people of
Egypt from it. During the famine, Jacob’s
sons came to Egypt for help, and Joseph reunited with them, having no ill
feelings. He knew God sent him to Egypt
to save his family.
When Jacob
reunited with his favorite son. He
bestowed the 1st born blessing of the “double portion” to Joseph, by
including both of Joseph’s sons in the inheritance splitting. Both Manasseh & Ephraim both received
equal portions as the brothers, even though they were grandsons.
Genesis 49:22 “Joseph is a fruitful bough,
a fruitful bough by a spring;
his branches run over the wall. [5]
23 The archers bitterly attacked him,
shot at him, and harassed him severely,
24 yet his bow remained unmoved;
his arms [6] were made agile
by the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob
(from there is the Shepherd, [7] the Stone of Israel),
25 by the God of your father who will help you,
by the Almighty [8] who will bless you
with blessings of heaven above,
blessings of the deep that crouches beneath,
blessings of the breasts and of the womb.
26 The blessings of your father
are mighty beyond the blessings of my parents,
up to the bounties of the everlasting hills. [9]
May they be on the head of Joseph,
and on the brow of him who was set apart from his brothers.
In Joshua Chapter 16, we get a detailed account of the borders of the land given to the tribe of Ephraim.
In Joshua Chapter 17, we get a detailed account of the borders of the land given to the 1/2 tribe of Manasseh, as well as a listing of the sons, and of Zelophehad his daughters, for he had no sons.
In Joshua Chapter 22:1-10 the tribes of Gad, Reuben and 1/2 of Manassah are told they can return to their territories east of the Jordan.
a fruitful bough by a spring;
his branches run over the wall. [5]
23 The archers bitterly attacked him,
shot at him, and harassed him severely,
24 yet his bow remained unmoved;
his arms [6] were made agile
by the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob
(from there is the Shepherd, [7] the Stone of Israel),
25 by the God of your father who will help you,
by the Almighty [8] who will bless you
with blessings of heaven above,
blessings of the deep that crouches beneath,
blessings of the breasts and of the womb.
26 The blessings of your father
are mighty beyond the blessings of my parents,
up to the bounties of the everlasting hills. [9]
May they be on the head of Joseph,
and on the brow of him who was set apart from his brothers.
In Joshua Chapter 16, we get a detailed account of the borders of the land given to the tribe of Ephraim.
In Joshua Chapter 17, we get a detailed account of the borders of the land given to the 1/2 tribe of Manasseh, as well as a listing of the sons, and of Zelophehad his daughters, for he had no sons.
In Joshua Chapter 22:1-10 the tribes of Gad, Reuben and 1/2 of Manassah are told they can return to their territories east of the Jordan.
12.
Ben-Oni or Binyamin (Benjamin)
Benjamin was
the youngest of Jacob’s sons, and the only full brother of Joseph. Twelfth son of Jacob, second son of
Rachel. The only son to be born in
Israel. Benjamin was Joseph’s favorite,
being innocent and not taking part in the plan to sell him into slavery. Benjamin’s land was linked to Manasseh and
Ephraim, protected by the powerful Judah, being in the center of Israel,
encroaching on Jerusalem itself. Despite
being the tribe of King Saul (whose line was superseded by David), when the
Kingdom split into Judah in the south and Israel in the north, Benjamin would
stay allied with Judah and the House of David.
Genesis 49:27 “Benjamin is a ravenous wolf,
in the morning devouring the prey
and at evening dividing the spoil.”
and at evening dividing the spoil.”
Genesis 49:28 All these
are the twelve tribes of Israel. This is what their father said to them as he
blessed them, blessing each with the blessing suitable to him.
In Joshua Chapter 18:11-28, we get a detailed account of the borders of the land given to the tribe of Benjamin, as well as the cities that his territory encompassed.
In Joshua Chapter 18:11-28, we get a detailed account of the borders of the land given to the tribe of Benjamin, as well as the cities that his territory encompassed.
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