Where are the names of the 12 tribes written?
1 Answer
The names of the 12 tribes of Israel are mentioned in several places in the Bible. The tribes are traditionally derived from the 12 sons of Jacob (whose name was later changed to Israel). Each of Jacob’s sons became the patriarch of one of the 12 tribes. Here are some key passages where the names of the 12 tribes are listed:
### 1. **Genesis 49:28**
In this chapter, Jacob blesses each of his 12 sons before his death. The tribes are listed in the context of these blessings:
- **Reuben** (the firstborn)
- **Simeon**
- **Levi**
- **Judah**
- **Zebulun**
- **Issachar**
- **Dan**
- **Gad**
- **Asher**
- **Naphtali**
- **Joseph** (Joseph's two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, are often considered two separate tribes, but Joseph is listed as one)
- **Benjamin**
This passage gives the names of the tribes and their associated blessings, though it doesn’t explicitly list them as tribes.
### 2. **Exodus 1:1-5**
This chapter lists the names of the sons of Israel (Jacob) and the tribes that came from them:
- **Reuben**
- **Simeon**
- **Levi**
- **Judah**
- **Issachar**
- **Zebulun**
- **Benjamin**
- **Dan**
- **Naphtali**
- **Gad**
- **Asher**
- **Joseph** (again, his two sons are included in the 12 tribes)
This passage refers to the descendants of Jacob who went into Egypt.
### 3. **Numbers 1:5-16**
In the Book of Numbers, a census is taken of the Israelites. The names of the tribes are listed in the context of this census:
- **Reuben**
- **Simeon**
- **Gad**
- **Judah**
- **Issachar**
- **Zebulun**
- **Ephraim** (instead of Joseph, the tribe of Ephraim is listed here, as Ephraim was one of Joseph's sons)
- **Manasseh** (Joseph's other son, listed separately as a tribe)
- **Benjamin**
- **Dan**
- **Asher**
- **Naphtali**
### 4. **Deuteronomy 27:12-13**
In this passage, the tribes are listed in the context of the Israelites preparing to enter the Promised Land. The tribes are arranged to stand on two mountains, with some proclaiming blessings and others curses. The tribes here are listed as:
- **Reuben**
- **Gad**
- **Asher**
- **Zebulun**
- **Dan**
- **Naphtali**
- **Judah**
- **Issachar**
- **Ephraim**
- **Manasseh**
- **Benjamin**
- **Levi**
### 5. **Revelation 7:4-8**
In the New Testament, in the Book of Revelation, there is a list of the 12 tribes of Israel in the context of the 144,000 sealed servants of God. The list in Revelation is slightly different, as some tribes are omitted, and others are added:
- **Judah**
- **Reuben**
- **Gad**
- **Asher**
- **Naphtali**
- **Manasseh**
- **Simeon**
- **Levi**
- **Issachar**
- **Zebulun**
- **Joseph**
- **Benjamin**
Notice that in Revelation, **Dan** is omitted, and **Joseph** is mentioned separately, though Joseph typically refers to his sons Ephraim and Manasseh, who are listed as separate tribes elsewhere.
### 6. **1 Chronicles 2-8**
In the genealogical sections of 1 Chronicles, the names of the tribes are again mentioned in detail, tracing their descent from the sons of Jacob. These chapters recount the lineage of the tribes and their role in the history of Israel.
### Summary of the 12 Tribes:
The 12 tribes are traditionally the descendants of the 12 sons of Jacob, and they are usually listed as:
1. **Reuben**
2. **Simeon**
3. **Levi** (though this tribe didn't receive a land inheritance, it was given priestly duties)
4. **Judah**
5. **Zebulun**
6. **Issachar**
7. **Dan**
8. **Gad**
9. **Asher**
10. **Naphtali**
11. **Joseph** (who had two sons, **Ephraim** and **Manasseh**, often counted separately)
12. **Benjamin**
These tribes played significant roles in the history of Israel, both in their wanderings in the desert and in their eventual settlement in the Promised Land. Some of the tribes, like Levi, did not have a specific territorial inheritance, while others, like Ephraim and Manasseh (Joseph's sons), were treated as separate tribes. The list may differ slightly depending on the passage, particularly in Revelation, where there are some variations in which tribes are included and how they are grouped.
### 1. **Genesis 49:28**
In this chapter, Jacob blesses each of his 12 sons before his death. The tribes are listed in the context of these blessings:
- **Reuben** (the firstborn)
- **Simeon**
- **Levi**
- **Judah**
- **Zebulun**
- **Issachar**
- **Dan**
- **Gad**
- **Asher**
- **Naphtali**
- **Joseph** (Joseph's two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, are often considered two separate tribes, but Joseph is listed as one)
- **Benjamin**
This passage gives the names of the tribes and their associated blessings, though it doesn’t explicitly list them as tribes.
### 2. **Exodus 1:1-5**
This chapter lists the names of the sons of Israel (Jacob) and the tribes that came from them:
- **Reuben**
- **Simeon**
- **Levi**
- **Judah**
- **Issachar**
- **Zebulun**
- **Benjamin**
- **Dan**
- **Naphtali**
- **Gad**
- **Asher**
- **Joseph** (again, his two sons are included in the 12 tribes)
This passage refers to the descendants of Jacob who went into Egypt.
### 3. **Numbers 1:5-16**
In the Book of Numbers, a census is taken of the Israelites. The names of the tribes are listed in the context of this census:
- **Reuben**
- **Simeon**
- **Gad**
- **Judah**
- **Issachar**
- **Zebulun**
- **Ephraim** (instead of Joseph, the tribe of Ephraim is listed here, as Ephraim was one of Joseph's sons)
- **Manasseh** (Joseph's other son, listed separately as a tribe)
- **Benjamin**
- **Dan**
- **Asher**
- **Naphtali**
### 4. **Deuteronomy 27:12-13**
In this passage, the tribes are listed in the context of the Israelites preparing to enter the Promised Land. The tribes are arranged to stand on two mountains, with some proclaiming blessings and others curses. The tribes here are listed as:
- **Reuben**
- **Gad**
- **Asher**
- **Zebulun**
- **Dan**
- **Naphtali**
- **Judah**
- **Issachar**
- **Ephraim**
- **Manasseh**
- **Benjamin**
- **Levi**
### 5. **Revelation 7:4-8**
In the New Testament, in the Book of Revelation, there is a list of the 12 tribes of Israel in the context of the 144,000 sealed servants of God. The list in Revelation is slightly different, as some tribes are omitted, and others are added:
- **Judah**
- **Reuben**
- **Gad**
- **Asher**
- **Naphtali**
- **Manasseh**
- **Simeon**
- **Levi**
- **Issachar**
- **Zebulun**
- **Joseph**
- **Benjamin**
Notice that in Revelation, **Dan** is omitted, and **Joseph** is mentioned separately, though Joseph typically refers to his sons Ephraim and Manasseh, who are listed as separate tribes elsewhere.
### 6. **1 Chronicles 2-8**
In the genealogical sections of 1 Chronicles, the names of the tribes are again mentioned in detail, tracing their descent from the sons of Jacob. These chapters recount the lineage of the tribes and their role in the history of Israel.
### Summary of the 12 Tribes:
The 12 tribes are traditionally the descendants of the 12 sons of Jacob, and they are usually listed as:
1. **Reuben**
2. **Simeon**
3. **Levi** (though this tribe didn't receive a land inheritance, it was given priestly duties)
4. **Judah**
5. **Zebulun**
6. **Issachar**
7. **Dan**
8. **Gad**
9. **Asher**
10. **Naphtali**
11. **Joseph** (who had two sons, **Ephraim** and **Manasseh**, often counted separately)
12. **Benjamin**
These tribes played significant roles in the history of Israel, both in their wanderings in the desert and in their eventual settlement in the Promised Land. Some of the tribes, like Levi, did not have a specific territorial inheritance, while others, like Ephraim and Manasseh (Joseph's sons), were treated as separate tribes. The list may differ slightly depending on the passage, particularly in Revelation, where there are some variations in which tribes are included and how they are grouped.