The Twelve Tribes of Israel are the traditional divisions of the Israelite people, descended from the twelve sons of Jacob (also known as Israel) as described in the Old Testament of the Bible, particularly in the Book of Genesis. Each tribe represents a distinct lineage or clan within the broader nation of Israel. Here they are listed with their corresponding patriarchs:
- Reuben - Descendants of Reuben, Jacob's firstborn son.
- Simeon - Descendants of Simeon, Jacob's second son.
- Levi - Descendants of Levi, Jacob's third son. The Levites were designated priests and temple workers.
- Judah - Descendants of Judah, Jacob's fourth son. The tribe from which King David and later the Messiah (Jesus Christ) would descend.
- Dan - Descendants of Dan, Jacob's fifth son.
- Naphtali - Descendants of Naphtali, Jacob's sixth son.
- Gad - Descendants of Gad, Jacob's seventh son.
- Asher - Descendants of Asher, Jacob's eighth son.
- Issachar - Descendants of Issachar, Jacob's ninth son.
- Zebulun - Descendants of Zebulun, Jacob's tenth son.
- Joseph - Descendants of Joseph, Jacob's eleventh son. Joseph's two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, each became tribes.
- Benjamin - Descendants of Benjamin, Jacob's twelfth son.
These twelve tribes formed the basis of the ancient Kingdom of Israel and later the Kingdom of Judah after the division of the united monarchy. Each tribe had its own territory within the Promised Land, and they played significant roles in Israel's history as described in the Bible.
After the Assyrian and Babylonian exiles and subsequent return, the distinctions between the tribes became less clear, with the term "Jew" generally referring to members of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin.
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