Rose Publishing - Twelve Tribes of Israel

of Israel

The 12 tribes of Israel were the family groups descended from the biblical patriarch Jacob. The tribes are important because God worked through the tribes to fulfill his purposesespecially his purpose of bringing from the tribe of Judah, Jesus the Savior, the Lion of Judah.

• In the book of Genesis, we see God blessing and working through a family: Jacob and his 12 sons. (God renames Jacob as Israel.)
• Then God works through a nation: Israelthe descendants of Jacobs sons arranged into 12 tribes. God brings them out of Egypt and into the Promised Land.
• In the New Testament, we notice God working through a different group of 12: Jesus 12 disciples. They spread the good news of salvation.
• In the book of Revelation, we are reminded of a remnant of 144,000 people sealed by God12,000 from each of the 12 tribes of Israel.

In the Old Testament, the high priest wore a breastplate made of linen and gold with 12 inlaid, precious stones inscribed with the names of the tribes.

• Exodus 28:1530 lists the stones right to left, as Hebrew is read right to left. The tribal names inscribed on the stones may have followed the order of how the tribes marched in the wilderness (Num. 23).
• Instead of Levi and Joseph, the tribes of Josephs sonsManasseh and Ephraimwere represented on the breastplate.
• The exact identity and color of some of the stones remain uncertain.

I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore.... through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed.Genesis 22:1718

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Reuben

Meaning: See, a son!

Symbol: Water (or mandrake plant; Gen. 30:14)

Stone/Color: Turquoise (or emerald) / Greenish-blue

Family: First son of Jacob, born to Leah

Size: First Census: 46,500. Second Census: 43,730.

Location: The tribe settled outside the Promised Land, east of the Jordan River in rich pasturelands suitable for their large herds and flocks (Num. 32:1). Included Mt. Nebo from which Moses viewed the Promised Land.

Jacobs Blessing: Jacob called his firstborn my might, the first sign of my strength, excelling in honor, excelling in power. But Reuben had relations with Bilhah, Rachels handmaiden (Gen. 35:22), so Jacob rebuked him saying that he is unstable as water and he will no longer excel (Gen. 49:34 nkjv).

Moses Blessing: Let Reuben live and not die, nor his people be few (Deut. 33:6).

Notable: Reuben intervened on behalf of Joseph to save him from being killed by his brothers. Nevertheless, when Reuben returned, he discovered that his brothers had sold Joseph to slave traders (Gen. 37).

The tribe of Reuben kept their word by helping the other tribes conquer the Promised Land, though they themselves settled outside the land (Num. 32; Josh. 1:1218). Yet at other times, they seemed indecisive and failed to assist in battle (Judg. 5:1517).

... you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.... Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.James 1:56

Simeon

Meaning: HearingGod has heard

Symbol: Gate, like the gate of Shechem (or a sword)

Stone/Color: Lapis lazuli (or sapphire) / Blue

Family: Second son of Jacob, born to Leah

Size: First Census: 59,300. Second Census: 22,200. Between the two censusesa span of 40 yearsthe size of the tribe significantly decreased. Though its not clear why, its possible that they suffered more severely than the other tribes from the plagues recorded in the book of Numbers (See Num. 25).

Location: Enclave of land in Judah, likely with scattered settlements in Judah. Included Beersheba.

Jacobs Blessing: Along with his brother Levi, Simeon attacked the people of the city of Shechem to avenge the assault on his sister Dinah (Gen. 34:2431). Jacob rebuked Levi and Simeon saying, their swords are weapons of violence. Let me not enter their council ... for they have killed men in their anger.... I will scatter them in Jacob and disperse them in Israel (Gen. 49:57).

Moses Blessing: Moses does not mention the tribe of Simeon.

Notable: When Jacobs sons went to Egypt to buy food during a famine, Joseph imprisoned Simeon as a guarantee that Benjamin, their youngest brother, would be brought to Joseph (Gen. 4243).

The tribe was known for being shepherds, often migrating in search of pasturelands for their flocks, possibly a fulfillment of Jacobs prophecy that Simeon will be scattered and dispersed (1 Chron. 4:2443).

Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for Gods wrath, for it is written: It is mine to avenge; I will repay, says the Lord.... Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.Rom. 12:1921

Levi

Meaning: Attached Leah believed that having given birth to another son, Jacob would become attached to her.

Symbol: Breastplate of the high priest

Stone/Color: Not represented on the breastplate / Often associated with the tabernacle colors: gold, purple, blue, and red.

Family: Third son of Jacob, born to Leah

Size: First Census: Not counted with the other tribes because they were caretakers of the tabernacle, not fighting men. They were counted separately and numbered 22,000. Second Census: 23,000.

Location: Joshua gave them 48 towns throughout the Promised Land in which to live and serve as ministers of the law among the tribes.

Jacobs Blessing: Along with his brother Simeon, Levi attacked the people of the city of Shechem to avenge the assault on his sister Dinah (Gen. 34:2431). Jacob rebuked them for the attack (Gen. 49:57).

Moses Blessing: Bless all his skills, Lord, and be pleased with the work of his hands (Deut. 33:11).