The twelve tribes of Israel

The twelve sons of Jacob in birth order

1. Reuben

   Son of Leah and Jacob's firstborn. Leah said the LORD had looked upon her affliction.

   And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Surely the LORD hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me.

   Genesis 29:32

2. Simeon

   Son of Leah. She named him because the LORD had heard that she was hated.

   And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Because the LORD hath heard that I was hated, he hath therefore given me this son also: and she called his name Simeon.

   Genesis 29:33

3. Levi

   Son of Leah. His tribe became the priestly tribe and received cities instead of a share of land.

   And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have born him three sons: therefore was his name called Levi.

   Genesis 29:34

4. Judah

   Son of Leah. She said "Now will I praise the LORD". David's royal line came from this tribe.

   And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praise the LORD: therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing.

   Genesis 29:35

5. Dan

   Son of Bilhah, Rachel's maid. Rachel said "God hath judged me".

   And Rachel said, God hath judged me, and hath also heard my voice, and hath given me a son: therefore called she his name Dan.

   Genesis 30:6

6. Naphtali

   Son of Bilhah. Rachel named him after her wrestlings with her sister.

   And Rachel said, With great wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister, and I have prevailed: and she called his name Naphtali.

   Genesis 30:8

7. Gad

   Son of Zilpah, Leah's maid. Leah said "A troop cometh".

   And Leah said, A troop cometh: and she called his name Gad.

   Genesis 30:11

8. Asher

   Son of Zilpah. Leah said "Happy am I".

   And Leah said, Happy am I, for the daughters will call me blessed: and she called his name Asher.

   Genesis 30:13

9. Issachar

   Son of Leah, her fifth son, born after the episode of the mandrakes.

   And Leah said, God hath given me my hire, because I have given my maiden to my husband: and she called his name Issachar.

   Genesis 30:18

10. Zebulun

    Son of Leah, her sixth son. After him Leah bore a daughter, Dinah (Genesis 30:21).

    And Leah said, God hath endued me with a good dowry; now will my husband dwell with me, because I have born him six sons: and she called his name Zebulun.

    Genesis 30:20

11. Joseph

    Rachel's first son, born after God "opened her womb". His two sons later became two tribes.

    And she called his name Joseph; and said, The LORD shall add to me another son.

    Genesis 30:24

12. Benjamin

    Rachel's second son, born near Ephrath. Rachel died giving birth and named him Benoni, but Jacob called him Benjamin.

    And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin.

    Genesis 35:18

The sons of Jacob by mother

Genesis 35:23-26 groups the twelve by their mothers.

Leah: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar and Zebulun.

Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin.

Bilhah, Rachel's handmaid: Dan and Naphtali.

Zilpah, Leah's handmaid: Gad and Asher.

How Joseph became two tribes

Near the end of his life, Jacob adopted Joseph's two sons as his own: "thy two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh" are mine, "as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine" (Genesis 48:5).

So when Israel entered the land, there was no single tribe of Joseph. Joshua 14:4 explains, "the children of Joseph were two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim".

Why Levi received no land

The Levites served at the tabernacle. The LORD told Aaron, "I am thy part and thine inheritance among the children of Israel" (Numbers 18:20), and the tithes were given to the Levites instead of land.

Joshua 13:14 says "Only unto the tribe of Levi he gave none inheritance". They were given cities to live in, "forty and eight cities with their suburbs" spread among the other tribes (Joshua 21:41).

With Levi set apart and Joseph counted as Ephraim and Manasseh, the land was still divided into twelve tribal shares.

The tribes in Revelation 7

Revelation 7:5-8 lists twelve tribes, twelve thousand sealed from each. That list names Levi and Joseph and Manasses, and does not name Dan or Ephraim. The text does not explain why, and readers have offered different answers.

And it came to pass, when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father’s concubine: and Israel heard it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve:

Genesis 35:22 · KJV