table: sons of Jacob, 12 tribes of Israel Part IV - Marching Order of the Tribes Part I - Introductory Facts about the 12 Tribes of Israel Abraham begot Isaac. Isaac begot Jacob. To be an Israelite by blood, a person must be a descendent of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Jacob begot 12 sons who are listed herein in subsequent sections. The 12 sons of Jacob are the patriarchs of the 12 Tribes of Israel. For example, Jacob's son Benjamin is the patriarch of the Tribe of Benjamin. Jacob's son Reuben is the patriarch of the Tribe of Reuben. And so forth. Well-known descendants of certain Tribes Tribe of Benjamin - King Saul, Paul the apostle [a.k.a. Saul of Tarsus] Tribe of Levi - Moses, Aaron Tribe of Judah - King David, King Solomon, many other kings; Lord Jesus, the Messiah The Promised Land [Canaan], plus an area on the east side of the Jordan River, was allocated among the 12 Tribes.

[Num 33.54; Num 36.3-9] As the priestly Tribe, Levi was given no land. [Num 18.20, 18.24] Instead of land, God gave Levi the tithes of the people of Israel. Jacob's son Joseph had two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. By Jacob's command [Gen 48.5], Joseph's sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, were regarded as de facto "Tribes" of Israel. Thus, the land allocations of Joseph and Levi were given instead to Ephraim and Manasseh, preserving *twelve* as the number of tribes.

[Josh 14.3-4] There is no such thing as "10 lost tribes of Israel." [Mt 10.6, Acts 26.7, Jam 1.1, Rev 7.1-8; Ezek 37] Part II Sons of Jacob [Names, Mothers, Birth Verses] Sons of Jacob Meaning of Name Mother Birth Verse 01-Reuben See, a son Leah So Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben; for she said, "The LORD has surely seen my affliction. Now therefore, my husband will love me." Gen 29.32 02-Simeon Hearing Leah Then she conceived again and bore a son, and said, "Because the LORD has heard that I am unloved, He has therefore given me this son also." And she called his name Simeon. Gen 29.33 03-Levi Joined; attached Leah She conceived again and bore a son, and said, "Now this time my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons." Therefore his name was called Levi.

Gen 29.34 04-Judah Yah be praised Leah And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, "Now I will praise Yahweh." Therefore she called his name Judah. Then she stopped bearing. Gen 29.35 05-Dan Judge Bilhah (Rachel's servant) Then Rachel said, "God has judged my case; and He has also heard my voice and given me a son." Therefore she called his name Dan. Gen 30.6 06-Naphtali My wrestling Bilhah (Rachel's servant) Rachel said, "With great wrestlings I have wrestled with my sister, and indeed I have prevailed." So she called him Naphtali. Gen 30.6 07-Gad Troop; invader; good fortune Zilpah (Leah's servant) Then Leah said, "A troop comes!" So she called his name Gad. Gen 30.11 08-Asher Happy Zilpah (Leah's servant) Then Leah said, "I am happy, for the daughters will call me blessed." So she called his name Asher.

Gen 30.13 09-Issachar Man of hire Leah Leah said, "God has given me my hire [wages] because I have given my maid to my husband." So she called his name Issachar. Gen 30.18 10-Zebulun Dwelling Leah Leah said, "...now my husband will dwell with me, because I have borne him six sons." So she called his name Zebulun. Gen 30.20b 11-Joseph Increaser Rachel So she called his name Joseph, and said, "The LORD shall add to me another son." Gen 30.24 12-Benjamin Son of the right hand Rachel As her soul was departing (for she died), she called his name Ben-Oni [son of my sorrow]; but his father called him Ben-Jamin.

Gen 35.18 Part III - Prophecies about the 12 Tribes Sons of Jacob Genesis 49.1-27 Moses' Blessings Deuteronomy 33.6-25 01-Reuben Reuben, you are my firstborn, My might and the beginning of my strength, The excellency of dignity and the excellency of power. Unstable as water, you shall not excel, Because you went up to your father's bed; Then you defiled it -He went up to my couch. Let Reuben live, and not die, Nor let his men be few. 02-Simeon Simeon and Levi are brothers; Instruments of cruelty are in their dwelling place. Let not my soul enter their council; Let not my honor be united to their assembly; For in their anger they slew a man, And in their self-will they hamstrung an ox. 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.

[Moses makes no mention of Simeon in blessing the tribes of Israel.] 03-Levi Of Levi he said: "Let Your Thummim and Your Urim be with Your holy one, Whom You tested at Massah, And with whom You contended at the waters of Meribah, Who says of his father and mother, 'I have not seen them'; Nor did he acknowledge his brothers, Or know his own children; For they have observed Your word And kept Your covenant. They shall teach Jacob Your judgments, And Israel Your law. They shall put incense before You, And a whole burnt sacrifice on Your altar. Bless his substance, LORD, And accept the work of his hands; Strike the loins of those who rise against him, And of those who hate him, that they rise not again." 04-Judah Judah, you are he whom your brothers shall praise; Your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies; Your father's children shall bow down before you. Judah is a lion's whelp; From the prey, my son, you have gone up. He bows down, he lies down as a lion; And as a lion, who shall rouse him?

The scepter shall not depart from Judah, Nor a lawgiver from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes; And to Him shall be the obedience of the people. Binding his donkey to the vine, And his donkey's colt to the choice vine, He washed his garments in wine, And his clothes in the blood of grapes. His eyes are darker than wine, And his teeth whiter than milk. And this he said of Judah: "Hear, LORD, the voice of Judah, And bring him to his people; Let his hands be sufficient for him, And may You be a help against his enemies." 05-Dan Dan shall judge his people As one of the tribes of Israel. Dan shall be a serpent by the way, A viper by the path, That bites the horse's heels So that its rider shall fall backward. I have waited for your salvation, O LORD! And of Dan he said: "Dan is a lion's whelp; He shall leap from Bashan." 06-Naphtali Naphtali is a deer let loose; He uses beautiful words.

And of Naphtali he said: "O Naphtali, satisfied with favor, And full of the blessing of the LORD, Possess the west and the south." 07-Gad Gad, a troop shall tramp upon him, But he shall triumph at last. And of Gad he said: "Blessed is he who enlarges Gad; He dwells as a lion, And tears the arm and the crown of his head. He provided the first part for himself, Because a lawgiver's portion was reserved there. He came with the heads of the people; He administered the justice of the LORD, And His judgments with Israel." 08-Asher Bread from Asher shall be rich, And he shall yield royal dainties. And of Asher he said: "Asher is most blessed of sons; Let him be favored by his brothers, And let him dip his foot in oil.

Your sandals shall be iron and bronze; As your days, so shall your strength be." 09-Issachar "Issachar is a strong donkey, Lying down between two burdens; He saw that rest was good, And that the land was pleasant; He bowed his shoulder to bear a burden, And became a band of slaves. And of Zebulun he said: "Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going out, And Issachar in your tents! They shall call the peoples to the mountain; There they shall offer sacrifices of righteousness; For they shall partake of the abundance of the seas And of treasures hidden in the sand." 10-Zebulun Zebulun shall dwell by the haven of the sea; He shall become a haven for ships, And his border shall adjoin Sidon. 11-Joseph Joseph is a fruitful bough, A fruitful bough by a well; His branches run over the wall. The archers have bitterly grieved him, Shot at him and hated him.

But his bow remained in strength, And the arms of his hands were made strong By the hands of the Mighty God of Jacob (From there is the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel), By the God of your father who will help you, And by the Almighty who will bless you With blessings of heaven above, Blessings of the deep that lies beneath, Blessings of the breasts and of the womb. The blessings of your father Have excelled the blessings of my ancestors, Up to the utmost bound of the everlasting hills. They shall be on the head of Joseph, And on the crown of the head of him who was separate from his brothers. And of Joseph he said: "Blessed of the LORD is his land, With the precious things of heaven, with the dew, And the deep lying beneath, With the precious fruits of the sun, With the precious produce of the months, With the best things of the ancient mountains, With the precious things of the everlasting hills, With the precious things of the earth and its fullness, And the favor of Him who dwelt in the bush.

Let the blessing come 'on the head of Joseph, & on the crown of the head of him who was separate from his brothers.' His glory is like a firstborn bull, And his horns like the horns of the wild ox; Together with them He shall push the peoples To the ends of the earth; They are the ten thousands of Ephraim, And they are the thousands of Manasseh." 12-Benjamin Benjamin is a ravenous wolf; In the morning he shall devour the prey, And at night he shall divide the spoil.

Of Benjamin he said: "The beloved of the LORD shall dwell in safety by Him, Who shelters him all the day long; And he shall dwell between His shoulders." Part IV - Marching Order of the Tribes From Egypt to the Promised Land Military Organization & Marching Order of Israel Numbers Chapter 2 North - last to break camp Dan 62,700 | Asher 41,500 Naphtali 53,400 | Total 157,600 West - 3rd to break camp Ephraim 40,500 | Manasseh 32200 Benjamin 35,400 | Total 108,100 Center - Tabernacle of Meeting Levi unnumbered [Num 2.33] East - 1st to break camp Judah 74,600 | Issachar 54,400 Zebulun 57,400 | Total 186,400 South - 2nd to break camp Reuben 46,500 | Simeon 59,300 Daily Bible Study - Children Of Jacob

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Search all 6,500+ Bible studies on this website. Just type in topic word(s) or a question. Due to extensive use of high-quality maps and illustrations, this educational website is best-viewed with a minimum screen-resolution width of 1280 pixels Children Of Jacob by Wayne Blank The grandson of Abraham , and the son of Isaac , Jacob is a key individual of Bible History . God changed Jacob's name to Israel (see Stairway To Heaven ), and from his sons came the Tribes of Israel - the Israelites. Jacob had 2 wives, Rachel and Leah (who were sisters, and first-cousins of Jacob), and 2 concubines, Bilhah and Zilpah, an apparently common and accepted practice of the day. Rachel and Leah did not object to the other two women because it was their idea to have more children with them (Genesis 30:3,9). Rachel - Jacob's favorite wife. She died while giving birth to Benjamin and is buried at Bethlehem . Her children were Joseph and Benjamin. Joseph - 11th-born overall.

Definitely his father's favorite son, from his favorite wife, it was Joseph who was sold for slavery into Egypt by his jealous brothers (see Coat Of Many Colors ). There, with God's help, he rose to become the highest official of the Pharaoh , saving the nation from the famine that was prophesied. When the rest of Jacob's family moved to Egypt to escape the famine, it was Joseph who had made their survival possible (they would remain in Egypt 400 years, eventually becoming slaves until the Exodus). While there, Joseph had 2 sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, who were themselves made into individual tribes of Israel to bring the number back to 12 - the priestly tribe of Levi was not counted separately, but was absorbed among the other tribes. Ephraim - Younger than Manasseh, he was never the less ranked higher in the family structure (Genesis 48:19). His descendants were to become a great future group of nations. Manasseh - 1st-born of Joseph, he was prophesied to become a great single nation. Benjamin - The youngest of the 12 sons. Rachel died while giving him birth.

The apostle Paul (see On The Road To Damascus ), who wrote much of the New Testament, is descended from Benjamin. Leah - It seems that Jacob did not have a great deal of love for her, perhaps because she became his wife by deception (Genesis 29:16-30). Never the less, Leah is the mother of the greatest number of the Tribes of Israel, and is today buried with Jacob (along with Abraham, Sarah , Isaac and Rebekah) in the high-tension area of The Tomb of the Patriarchs in Hebron. Her children are Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, and Israel's only recorded daughter, Dinah. Reuben - 1st-born overall. He was disqualified from his position as eldest son when he committed an act of sexual immorality with Jacob's concubine Bilhah (Genesis 35:22). Simeon - 2nd-born overall. Levi - 3rd-born overall. From Levi came the Levites who were dedicated to God's service. As such, they were later not counted as a separate tribe.

Moses and Aaron and John The Baptist were descended from Levi. Judah - 4th-born overall. Perhaps the most famous of Jacob's sons, it was from Judah that the Jews are descended. Jesus Christ (see also The Chosen People ), and most Christians in the earliest days of the church, were descended from Judah. A vital element for understanding Bible Prophecy is that while all Jews are Israelites, not all Israelites are Jews (just the same as all Belgians are Europeans, but not all Europeans are Belgians). There are many millions of people around the world today who are Israelites, but are not Jews. Issachar - 9th-born overall. Zebulun - 10th-born overall. Dinah - Israel's only daughter. Bilhah - Rachel's maid, it was Rachel's idea that Jacob have children with her (Genesis 30:3-6). Her children were Dan and Naphtali. Dan - 5th-born overall. Naphtali - 6th-born overall. Zilpah - Leah's maid, it was Leah's idea that Jacob have children with her (Genesis 30:9). Her children were Gad and Asher.

Gad - 7th-born overall. Asher - 8th-born overall. Fact Finder: When he knew that he was dying, did Jacob specifically request that he be taken out from Egypt and buried in the family tomb in Hebron? Genesis 49:29-33 JACOB: steals from Esau, meets an Angel, Dinah raped, sale of Joseph Bible study ideas for moreJacob - lies, lies, lies Jacob, son of Isaac and Rebecca, twin brother of Esau, husband of the sisters Rachel and Leah, and father of the twelve sons who became the ancestors of the twelve tribes of Israel Rachel, his beloved wife, mother of Joseph and Benjamin; she died giving birth to Benjamin Leah her older sister, also married to Jacob. The unloved wife who bore her husband six sons and a daughter. Joseph, favored son of Jacob Labin, father of Rachel and Leah The birth of Esau and Jacob Rebecca, wife of Isaac, bore twin sons, Esau and Jacob. When they were born they seemed to be scrambling for first place: Esau came first, but Jacob came out holding onto Esau's tiny heel. They were in competition from the start. But they were quite different in personality.

Jacob was a thinker, a man who preferred to stay close to home. Esau was a man's man, a hunter and farmer. As the old saying goes, one was an 'arty', the other was a 'hearty'. Theft of the Birthright and Blessing Jacob hated being second in line. He always wanted the birthright - the eldest son was entitled to twice the inheritance that any of his brothers got when their father died. One day when Esau came in from the fields, famished with hunger and exhausted, Jacob refused to give him the food he was cooking unless Esau renounced the birthright of the eldest son and gave it to him. Esau probably didn't take him too seriously, and when Jacob insisted he gave in, to get his hands on the food. He swore an oath that Jacob would have the birthright of the eldest son. Their father Isaac loved Esau better than Jacob, but Jacob was his mother's favorite. She decided that he, not Esau, would be a better leader of the tribe, and she primed Jacob on how to steal the Blessing from Esau - the Blessing of the tribal leader had ritual and legal significance, naming the next leader of the tribe.

Rebecca waited until Isaac's eyesight was failing badly, then she disguised Jacob so that Isaac mistook him for Esau. Jacob was a willing partner to the trickery, disguising his voice, skin and clothing so that Isaac would think he was speaking to Esau. The old man then gave the Blessing not to the son he favored, but to Jacob. Read the Bible Text Jacob's dream Knowing that Esau would be enraged by what he had done, Jacob fled. He took his mother's advice and set off for Padan-Aram, where her family still lived. On the journey he stopped one night and lay down to sleep, laying his head on a flat stone. While he was asleep he had a strange dream that affected him deeply. He dreamed he saw a ladder reaching from the earth up to heaven, and angels were going up and down the ladder. Then God stood beside him and spoke, telling Jacob that this land should be his, and that he would have innumerable descendants. Then Jacob woke up, and was afraid. God was in this place, and Jacob had somehow stumbled on a place that joined heaven and earth.

Next morning he took the stone he had used as a pillow and set it up as an altar, pouring oil on it to sanctify it. He called the place Bethel. Marriage with two sisters Then he set out again on his journey to his mother's family. He came to a well where some shepherds were watering their flocks. A young girl wanted to draw water from the well, and Jacob learnt from the shepherds she was Rachel, a cousin of his, daughter of his mother's brother Laban. He was smitten. He rolled the stone away from the lid of the well for her and she took him to meet his relatives. Laban had two daughters, Leah and Rachel. Jacob wanted to marry Rachel, and said so. But he had no bride price, and Laban demanded that Jacob work for him for seven years to pay the bride price for Rachel. This Jacob did, and at the end of the seven years he prepared to marry Rachel. But Laban tricked him into marrying Lead instead - the face of the bride was hidden during the wedding, and once they'd had sexual intercourse in the darkness of the wedding night, there was no going back.

Of course when Jacob found out he'd been tricked he was white-hot with anger. He had tricked his father Isaac but now had been tricked in turn by his uncle. He demanded to be given Rachel, and was so threatening that Laban agreed - on condition that Jacob work another seven years for her. This he did - but the anger inside him rankled, and he planned a way to get even. Read the Bible Text This paintings by Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel is labelled 'Jacob, Joseph'. On the left side sits Jacob - and the face given him by Michelangelo suits the deceitful man in Genesis very well. Beside him is a rather sickly Rachel (she dies at the birth of her second son) with her first son Joseph. On the right side is Leah 'of the beautiful eyes', blessed with many sons and a daughter Dinah (far right), whose life will be ruined when she is raped by a man who professes to love her. Be wary of information on art websites that tells you the 'Joseph' referred to in this painting is Joseph, husband of Mary of Nazareth, and that the female figure on the right is Mary of Nazareth.

Comments like this are made by art historians who do not seem to have read the Old Testament stories on which Michelangelo based his Lunettes. Escape from Laban Jacob now had four wives - two full wives in Leah and Rachel, and their two maids Zilpah and Bilhah. He loved Rachel, but she did not seem able to conceive. Leah on the other hand was fertile. She had six sons and a daughter, Dinah, in rapid succession. Zilpah had two sons, as did Bilhah. Finally Rachel had a son whom she called Joseph. Meanwhile, Jacob and Laban had worked uneasily together. Neither trusted the other, with good reason. When the full bride price had been paid, Jacob asked Laban if he could leave and return to his native country. Laban prevaricated, but they came to an arrangement. Laban's flocks would consist of all the animals who were white. Jacob could have all the animals who were spotted or dark - these were not as valuable as the white animals.

Laban thought he had made a bargain, but Jacob took steps to stop the white animals breeding, and put the strong male animals with the spotted or black females, so that he bred a stronger and more numerous flock. He had outwitted Laban. Figurines from Ur, southern Mesopotamia, 5,000-4,000BC One day, without any farewell, Jacob gathered up his wives, children and flocks, and left. Rachel, who had never forgiven her father for tricking Jacob into marrying Leah, stole the household gods - small statuettes that represented the spirit of her family, similar to the lares and penetes of the Romans. This might seem a petty action, but these statuettes guaranteed legal title to all Jacob had taken from Laban. Jacob did not know she had done this. When he found out three days later, Laban pursued them - to get back his flocks and the statuettes. When they met each one accused the other of cheating - and each one was right. But they agreed to a truce, with each one staying on his own side of an agreed landmark.

Laban looked for the statuettes, know they must be in Jacob's camp, but Rachel hid them in a saddlebag then sat on them. She had her menstrual periods, she told her father - and by tribal law this meant he would be unclean if he touched the place where she had been sitting. He could not search the saddlebags, and so she had her revenge on her father. Read the Bible Text Wrestling with the Angel Jacob moved on. As he approached his home territory, he knew there would be a confrontation with Esau, his wronged brother. He heard that Esau had set out looking for him, and was afraid. Cautiously he sent flocks of animals as a sweetener to appease Esau, then waited to see what would happen. He also sent his wives and children away, so that they would be safe. Jacob Wrestling with an Angel, Gauguin That night, standing alone by the River Jabbok, a solitary man approached Jacob and began to wrestle with him. They wrestled and fought all night, but neither could get the upper hand. Then the stranger struck Jacob in the hollow of his thigh, and Jacob's hip was dislocated. But Jacob held on.

The stranger told him to let go, but Jacob demanded a blessing before he would do so. 'What is your name?' asked the stranger. 'Jacob'. 'Now it is no longer Jacob, but Israel', said the stranger. Jacob knew that he had seen God face to face - and lived. But Esau was still coming, and Jacob had to deal with that. He prepared for the worst, but to his amazement Esau ran to meet him, embracing him and welcoming him. He held no grudges - in fact, throughout the story he is consistently more likable than Jacob. They wept together, and were reunited as brothers, Esau having forgiven his brother completely. Read the Bible Text The rape of Dinah Jacob continued on to the city of Shechem, where he bought land. His family began the process of settling there, and the women began to visit the local women and make friends with them. On one of these visits Jacob's daughter Dinah was molested by the son of the local ruler, Shechem son of Hamor. Molested is too gentle a word. The young girl was raped.

Strangely, Shechem seems to have fallen deeply in love with her at the time - the Bible says 'his soul was drawn to her'. He persuaded his father Hamor to ask for her hand in marriage. Nowhere in this story is Dinah's reaction described. Jacob knew what had happened, but his sons did not - they were away in the fields at the time. When they heard about it they were very angry, but Hamor met with them and told them his sons wanted to marry Dinah, and that this could be the beginning of friendship between the inhabitants of the city and the new settlers. There could be intermarriage, trade and friendship between the groups. But Jacob's sons held onto their anger, and made a condition: that Shechem could only be accepted by them if he was circumcised. Not only Shechem, but every male among Shechem's people. Probably to their surprise, Shechem was more than willing to fall in with their request. There is something rather plaintive in his desire to please Dinah's brothers. He seems truly to have loved Dinah. He persuaded all the men of the city to accept the newcomers as equals, and to be circumcised. He himself led the way.

But a few days later, when all the men of the city had been newly circumcised and were in pain with the wound, the sons of Jacob attacked them and the city, killing and looting, stealing the wives and children of the city and taking all the loot they could. They killed Hamor and Shechem and took Dinah out of Shechem's house where she had gone to live. Jacob was aghast. He himself has been a trickster, but not a murderer. Now the tribe was in real trouble, with a whole new set of enemies. His sons' grisly acts had destroyed the harmony that might have been. Hastily Jacob pulled up roots and fled, taking his family and all they could carry to Bethel where they would be safe. Read the Bible Text The sale of Joseph After they had been in Bethal awhile they set out again, but Rachel was heavily pregnant, and not strong. She had a difficult labor, gave birth to a son called Benjamin, then died. Jacob had lost the woman he loved more than any other. Joseph's Coat Brought to Jacob, Giovanni Andrea de Ferrari Her son lived on - Joseph, and Jacob loved him more than any of his other sons.

He favored Joseph in many ways - there is a hint of this in the mention of the long-sleeved coat Jacob gave to Joseph. Heavy work cannot be done in a long-sleeved coat, so the fact that Joseph gave him this article of clothing meant that Joseph was not expected to do any of the heavy, tedious work of a tribesman or farmer. Unfortunately Joseph's sons were well aware of this, and grew jealous of Joseph. One day when they were well away from Jacob and the rest of the tribe, Joseph's brothers saw a chance to kill him - to get rid of him permanently. Only one of them spoke out against the plan - Reuben, the eldest son of Leah. He suggested that instead of killing him they imprison Joseph in one of the empty water cisterns - he meant to come back later and free his brother. Eventually they ended up selling Joseph as a slave to a passing trader. Jacob was heartbroken when they went back and told their father that Joseph had been killed by a wild animal.

Joseph, Overseer of Pharaoh's Graneries, Alma Tadema Only many years later did he find out the truth, when he and his sons went to Egypt and met Joseph, not dead at all but doing very well indeed for himself. Jacob died happy, knowing that his son Joseph was successful and respected. His final request was that Joseph return him to his homeland, to be buried with his ancestors, and Joseph honored this final request. Jacob had twelve sons, Genesis 29:31-30:24 and 35:23-26 | Bibleview English » » Bible » » Genesis – Part Two » » Jacob had twelve sons, Genesis 29:31-30:24 and 35:23-26 Jacob had twelve sons, Genesis 29:31-30:24 and 35:23-26 Jacob had only eleven sons born to him before he left Laban in Paddan Aram e.g. Northern Euphrates. Now eastern Turkey or northern Syria. Benjamin was born to his wife Rachel later. These Twelve sons are to become the 12 tribes of Israel.

Leah also bore Jacob a daughter called Dinah. Later we find her involved in a unhappy event for the sons of Jacob. see Genesis 34:1-31. Background Reading: Jacob had twelve sons – Leah’s Children 29:31 Later, the LORD noticed that Leah was being neglected, so he made her fertile, while Rachel remained childless. 32 Leah conceived, bore a son, and named him Reuben, because she was saying, “The LORD had looked on my torture, so now my husband will love me.” 33 Later, she conceived again, bore a son, and declared, “Because the LORD heard that I’m neglected, he gave me this one, too.” So she named him Simeon. 34 Later, she conceived again and said, “This time my husband will become attached to me, now that I’ve borne him three sons.” So he named him Levi. 35 Then she conceived yet again, bore a son, and said, “This time I’ll praise the LORD.” So she named him Judah. Then she stopped bearing children.

Genesis 29:31-35 and Rachel’s Children by Bilhah 30:1 Rachel noticed that she was not bearing children for Jacob, so because she envied her sister Leah, she told Jacob, “If you don’t give me sons, I’m going to die!” 2 That made Jacob angry with Rachel, so he asked her, “Can I take God’s place, who has not allowed you to conceive?” 3 Rachel responded, “Here’s my handmaid Bilhah. Go have sex with her. She can bear children on my knees so I can have children through her.” 4 So Rachel gave Jacob her woman servant Bilhah to be his wife, and Jacob had sex with her. 5 Bilhah conceived and bore a son for Jacob. 6 Then Rachel said, “God has vindicated me! He has heard my voice and has given me a son.” Therefore, she named him Dan. 7 Rachel’s servant conceived again and bore a second son for Jacob, 8 so Rachel said, “I’ve been through a mighty struggle with my sister and won.” She named him Naphtali.

9 When Leah saw that she had stopped bearing children, she took her woman servant Zilpah and gave her to Jacob as a wife. 10 Leah’s servant Zilpah bore a son to Jacob, 11 and Leah exclaimed, “How fortunate!” So she named him Gad. 12 Later, Leah’s servant Zilpah bore a second son for Jacob. 13 She said, “How happy I am, because women will call me happy!” So she named him Asher. Outcome of the Mandrakes found by Reuben 14 Some time later, during the wheat harvest season, Reuben went out and found some mandrakes in the field and brought them back for his mother Leah. Then Rachel told Leah, “Please give me your son’s mandrakes.” 15 In response, Leah asked her, “Wasn’t it enough that you’ve taken away my husband?

Now you also want to take my son’s mandrakes!” But Rachel replied, “Okay, let’s let Jacob sleep with you tonight in exchange for your son’s mandrakes.” 16 When Jacob came in from the field that evening, Leah went to meet him and told him, “You’re having sex with me tonight. I traded my son’s mandrakes for you!” So he slept with her that night. 17 God heard what Leah had said, so she conceived and bore a fifth son for Jacob. 18 Then Leah said, “God has paid me for giving my servant to my husband as his wife.” So she named him Issachar. 19 Later, Leah conceived again and bore a sixth son for Jacob. 20 Then Leah said, “God has given me a good gift. This time my husband will exalt me, because I’ve borne him six sons.” So she named him Zebulun. 21 After that, Leah conceived, bore a daughter, and named her Dinah. Rachel’s Son Joseph is Born 22 Then God remembered Rachel.

He listened to her and opened her womb, 23 so she conceived, bore a son, and remarked, “God has removed my shame.” 24 Because she had been asking, “May God give me another son,” she named him Joseph. Genesis 30:1-24 and Rachel Dies in Childbirth 35:16 Later, they set out from Beth-el. While still a long way from Ephrathah, Rachel started to have trouble giving birth. 17 While she was suffering due to her difficult labor, the midwife told her, “Don’t fear! You’re going to have another son.” 18 Just before she died, Rachel called her son’s name Ben-oni, but his father Jacob named him Benjamin. 19 So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrathah, also known as Bethlehem. 20 Jacob erected a pillar over her grave, and that pillar stands over Rachel’s grave to this day. Jacob Settles Near Migdal Eder 21 Jacob continued his travels, and eventually pitched his tent facing Migdal Eder.

22 But while Israel lived in that land, Reuben went inside his father’s tent and had sexual relations with his father’s concubine Bilhah, and Israel heard about it. Now Jacob had twelve sons. 23 Leah’s sons were Reuben (Jacob’s first-born), Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun. 24 Rachel’s sons were Joseph and Benjamin. 25 Rachel’s servant Bilhah’s sons were Dan and Naphtali. 26 Leah’s servant Zilpah’s sons were Gad and Asher. These were Jacob’s sons who were born to him while he lived in Paddan-aram. Genesis 35:16-26 Family of Abraham The Family of Abraham by Felix Just, S.J., Ph.D. Various biblical passages describe the complex inter-relationships in the family of Abraham (originally named Abram). Contrary to modern Western customs, it was acceptable in ancient times to marry close family relatives, including cousins and nieces. It was evidently also common for men to have more than one wife, and even to have children with women who were not their wives (slaves or concubines).

For example, Abraham's first son was the child of his wife's slave-girl; and one biblical tradition even says that his wife, Sarah, was actually his half-sister. Similarly, the twelve sons of Jacob have four different mothers: the two wives of Jacob (who are his first cousins) and two other women (slave-girls of his wives). A prominent feature of the biblical texts is also the explanation of tribal origins through various genealogies. Thus, the Israelites (the twelve tribes of Israel) see themselves as the descendants of the twelve sons of Jacob, son of Isaac, son of Abraham. In contrast, groups like the Ishmaelites and Edomites (to the south and southeast of the Israelites) are said to be descendants of Abraham's other children and grandchildren, while the neighboring Moabites and Ammonites (west of Israel) are described as descendants of Lot, Abraham's nephew. Another important aspect of the biblical stories is what could be called family rivalries and disputes, esp. when younger sons usurp the inheritance rights of their older brothers. Thus, Abraham's inheritance is passed on to Isaac (not the first-born Ishmael), and then to Jacob (not his elder brother Esau).

Combining all the above points helps to explain both the close relationships and the bitter rivalries between the ancient Israelites and the neighboring Semitic peoples. The Israelites (and modern Jews!) believe that the promises God made to Abraham (esp. that his descendants shall possess the Promised Land forever) were legitimately handed on to them through Isaac and Jacob (as described in the Bible), while the descendants of the other tribes (and modern Arabs!) believe that the land should belong to them, since they are descendants of the elder sons (and thus the rightful heirs) of Abraham. The following charts can help us visualize some of these complex relationships: NOTES: (unless otherwise noted, all biblical references are from the Book of Genesis) Terah: from Ur of the Chaldeans; has three sons; wife not named (11:26-32; cf. Luke 3:34). Haran: dies in Ur before his father dies; wife not named; son Lot, daughters Milcah & Iscah (11:27-28). Nahor: marries Milcah, daughter of his brother Haran (11:29); have eight sons, incl.

Bethuel (22:20-24). Abram: main character of Gen 12–25; recipient of God's promises; name changed to ABRAHAM (17:5); sons Ishmael (by Hagar) and Isaac (by Sarah); after Sarah's death, takes another wife, Keturah, who has six sons (25:1-4), including Midian, ancestor of the Midianites (37:28-36). Lot: son of Haran, thus nephew of Abram, who takes care of him (11:27–14:16; 18:17–19:29); wife and two daughters never named; widowed daughters sleep with their father and bear sons, who become ancestors of the Moabites and Ammonites (19:30-38).

Sarai: Abram's wife, thus Terah's daughter-in-law (11:29-31); Abram also calls her his "sister," which seems deceptive in one story (12:10-20); but in another story Abram insists she really is his half-sister (his father's daughter by another wife; 20:1-18); originally childless, but in old age has a son, Isaac (16:1–21:7); name changed to SARAH (17:15); dies and is buried in Hebron (23:1-20). Hagar: Sarah's Egyptian slave-girl; mother of Abram's first son, Ishmael; much conflict with Sarah after his birth; even more after the birth of Sarah's son, Isaac (16:1–21:21). Ishmael: first-born son of Abraham, by Hagar (16:1–17:27); wife or wives never named, but has 12 sons (25:12-16), the ancestors of 12 tribes of Ishmaelites (37:25-28).

- see below Isaac: second son of Abraham, by wife Sarah, despite her old age (17:15-21; 21:1–35:29); marries Rebekah, who has twin sons, Esau & Jacob. Curiosity about the ages of the Patriarchs: Abraham lived 175 years (Gen 25:7), which equals 7 x 5² Isaac lived 180 years (Gen 35:28), which equals 5 x 6² Jacob lived 147 years (Gen 47:28), which equals 3 x 7² The Bible says very little else about the "Twelve Tribes of Ismaelites" aside from naming the twelve sons of Ishmael in Gen 25:12-16 and again in 1 Chron 1:29-31.

Gen 25:12-16 – "These are the descendants of Ishmael, Abraham's son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah's slave-girl, bore to Abraham./ These are the names of the sons of Ishmael, named in the order of their birth: Nebaioth, the firstborn of Ishmael; and Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, / Mishma, Dumah, Massa, / Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. / These are the sons of Ishmael and these are their names, by their villages and by their encampments, twelve princes according to their tribes." 1 Chron 1:29-31 – "These are their genealogies: the firstborn of Ishmael, Nebaioth; and Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, / Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadad, Tema, / Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah.

These are the sons of Ishmael." Adbeel, Massa, Kedemah - not mentioned anywhere else in the Bible Mibsam & Mishma - not mentioned elsewhere, but different people with the same name appear in 1 Chron 4:25-26 Hadad - not mentioned elsewhere, but several other biblical characters are named Hadad, Ben-Hadad, Hadadezer, etc.

Other biblical references to some of the sons of Ishmael (aside from Gen 25:12-16 and 1 Chr 1:29-31) Nebaioth - also in Gen 28:9; 36:3; Isa 60:7 Kedar - also in Ps 120:5; Prov 21:4; Songs 1; Isa 21:16; 21:17; 42:11; 60:7; Jer 2:10; 49:28; Ezek 27:21 Dumah - also in Josh 15:52; Isa 21:11 Tema - also in Job 6:19; Isa 21:14; Jer 25:23 Jetur & Naphish - also in 1 Chron 5:19 The Hebrew Bible describes the "Twelve Tribes of Israel" as descendants of the twelve sons of Jacob (also named Israel), with four different mothers.

The births of the twelve sons (and the significance of their names) are described in chronological order in the book of Genesis (29:31–30:24 & 35:16-20). The Bible contains several different listings of the twelve tribes . Each tribe has its own characteristics and eventually obtains its own territory: Reuben is the first-born son, and thus sometimes exercises a leadership role among his brothers; but he later loses favor and prominence. The tribe of Joseph (through his sons Manasseh and Ephraim) becomes the largest and most prominent by the time the Israelites enter the Promised Land and divide it among themselves. The tribe of Levi is uniquely important, not only because of Moses and Aaron, but since they become the priestly tribe (all the sons of Levi are priests, while members of any other tribe cannot be priests). The Levites do not receive a separate territory of their own, but rather live scattered among all the other tribes, where they serve as priests for the whole people.

Although the first king of Israel (Saul) is from the tribe of Benjamin, the tribe of Judah becomes known as the royal tribe, due to the promise God makes to King David that his descendants will rule over Israel forever (2 Sam 7). Notes: Jacob's twelve sons are first mentioned in the order of their births, in Genesis 29:31–30:24 & 35:16-20.

Leah (elder wife): 1) Reuben, 2) Simeon, 3) Levi, 4) Judah; later also 9) Issachar, 10) Zebulun Bilhah (Rachel's slave): 5) Dan, 6) Naphtali Zilpah (Leah's slave): 7) Gad, 8) Asher Rachel (younger wife): 11) Joseph, 12) Benjamin Manasseh & Ephraim – sons of Joseph, whose descendants figure prominently in the later history of Israel Moses and Aaron – leaders of the Israelites at the time of their migration out of Egypt and wandering in the Sinai desert Kings David & Solomon – the two greatest rulers of the united Kingdom of Israel, from about 1100 to 930 BCE Tribe of Levi – becomes known as the “priestly tribe,” since all cultic & temple officials had to belong to this tribe Tribe of Judah – becomes known as the “royal tribe,” since all later Kings of Judah were descendants of King David The Tribes of Israel The Tribes of Israel Jacob's Family & The Tribes of Israel The development and evolution of the

 12 tribes of Israel took place over the course of hundreds of years.

The process began with the call of Abraham, and continued through the birth of Isaac. However, with the birth of Jacob, and subsequently his twelve sons, the tribes began to evolve and appear in the Old Testament. The time period involving the early patriarchs is far from being agreed upon. William F. Albright, one of the leading Biblical Archaeologists of his time, wavered on the dating of Abraham. It is generally believed Abraham lived around 2000 B.C. Jacob, thus, has been argued to have lived around 1850 B.C. The unification of Israel under Saul would not take place until around 1000 B.C. In between, was the migration of Jacob to Egypt, the 400 year stay in Egypt, the Exodus out of Egypt under Moses, and the conquest of Canaan under Joshua. These events would shape and transform Israel from a loose confederation of tribes to a world Empire. However, the foundation upon which the tribes of Israel would be built was set much earlier, during the sojourn of Jacob and his sons, both in Mesopotamia and in the land of Canaan.

Genesis 29:32 "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." With these words were born the twelve tribes of Israel. Reuben was the first born son of Jacob, through his wife Leah, and would become the head of the tribe of Reuben. Jacob would father 11 other sons, through four different women. Each son would become the head and founder of his particular tribe. The Hebrew phrase Bnei Yisrael is used to denote the Israelites in the Bible. The literal translation of this phrase is, "sons of Israel". From this phrase, Scripture uses a number of different appellations when referring to the 12 tribes of Israel. Throughout the Old Testament, God's people are referred to as; "Sons of Israel"; "Children of Israel"; "House of Jacob"; "House of Israel"; "Israel". Mentioned as a side note almost, in Genesis 30:21, is the birth of the only daughter of Jacob named in Scripture, Dinah. She would later figure prominently in the narrative.

She was born to Leah, "some time later" after the birth of Zebulun, and before Rachel's birth of Joseph. TRIBES OF ISRAEL PAGE CONTENTS Click on a link to view that section of this page. Jacob & Sons Move 12 Sons of Jacob In their order of birth, the 12 sons of Jacob are as follows: Reuben (Gen. 29:32), Simeon (29:33), Levi (29:34), Judah (29:35), Dan (30:5), Naphtali (30:7), Gad (30:10), Asher (30:12), Issachar (30:17), Zebulun (30:19), Joseph (30:23), and Benjamin (35:18). The following are the 12 sons of Jacob grouped together by birth mother.

Leah Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar and Zebulun Zilpah - Leah's handmaiden Dan and Naphtali Rachel Joseph and Benjamin Interestingly, all but one son (Benjamin) of Jacob was born in Mesopotamia, in the city of Haran. Haran was also the name of the brother of Abraham who had prematurely died (Gen. 11:28), and where he and Terah stopped on their journey to Canaan. This further strengthens the Biblical ties between the Holy Land and Paddam - Aram, the same area known as Aram - Naharaim to Abraham. Some scholars have taken a matriarchal view of the twelve tribes of Israel. This line of thought follows the idea that the sons of Leah and Rachel indicate an early entrance into, what would become, the twelve tribes of Israel. Thus, the founding tribes were attributed to the wives of Jacob; the tribes of Leah, and the tribes of Rachel. The sons of Bilhah and Zilpah indicate a later entrance into the tribes of Israel. These tribes are less prestigious than the founding tribes. This theory, of course, denies the Biblical account.

However, it does illuminate the polygamous nature of Jacob's family. As was seen in the instance of Abraham, Sarai, and Hagar , there surely existed rivalries, jealousies, and alliances amongst the wives and handmaidens of Jacob, as well as among the 12 sons of Jacob. A natural result of these alliances and rivalries would have been the formation of cliques within Jacob's family. Power struggles were sure to take place amongst the wives, concubines, and sons of Jacob, each seeking to assert their place in the family hierarchy. The interactions between each son of Jacob would prove to form a foundation upon which the tribes of Israel would interact with each other. Thus, to understand the relationship between each tribe, it is important to understand the relationships between the sons of Jacob, and the wives/concubines of Jacob. The personality and identity of each tribe began with the situations Jacob's family encountered in Canaan, and their interaction with the Canaanites living nearby. Two instances from Scripture serve to personify the alliances and struggles which would evolve in such a complex and extended family. These instances would lead to pivotal changes made in the structure and organization of the tribes of Israel.

Dinah & Shechem Genesis 34 After Jacob and Esau had reunited on good terms, Jacob moved his family to Shechem. Scripture relates Jacob purchased a "plot of ground where he pitched his tent" within sight of the city of Shechem. He built an altar there, and named the place El Elohe Israel. El was one of the designations of God found in the Old Testament. The translation of this phrase, thus, means: "God, God of Israel". It is also significant that, for the first time in Scripture, Jacob refers to himself by his new name, Israel. Thus, amidst a pagan land and people, Jacob had established a center of worship for the One True God. However, this would come at a price. Genesis 34:1 sets the stage for the unfolding drama. Dinah, the daughter of Jacob, was said to have gone out and visited the "women of the land". Dinah was more than likely in her teens by now. It is quite likely her older brothers, specifically the ones concerned in this story, were in their twenties. Dinah had gone out to visit her friends.

It is quite natural she, like all teenage boys and girls, needed friends amongst her peers. As she was "hanging out", Shechem, the son of Hamor the Hivite, spotted Dinah amongst the local Canaanite girls. Hamor was the ruler of Shechem and its nearby area. Shechem is called a "prince of the country", according to the the King James Version. Shechem, undoubtedly, was used to getting what he wanted, when he wanted it. This encounter would be no different. Upon spotting Dinah, "he took her, and lay with her, and defiled her" (Gen. 34:1-2). Scripture tells us Shechem's heart was drawn to Dinah, and he asked his father to obtain her as his wife. Scripture is silent as to how Jacob found out about the incident. The Bible simply states his son's were in the fields with the flocks, and Jacob kept quiet about the incident until they returned home (Gen. 34:5). Jacob's sons are said to have returned home "as soon as they had heard what had happened". Upon arriving at home, they were "filled with grief and fury" (34:7).

Following their return, Hamor, the father of Shechem, approached Jacob and his sons with the offer for Dinah to marry Shechem. Hamor goes one step further and urges Jacob's family to intermarry with his people. Hamor and Shechem show no remorse in their dealings with Dinah's family. The encounter between the two families in Scripture depicts Hamor as approaching Jacob and his son's as if with a business proposition. Strangely enough, Jacob is silent. His role in the narrative is over as soon as his sons arrive home. Whatever the reason for this, it was a serious dereliction of duty on Jacob's part. As the father, and head of the household, he should have been the one dealing with Hamor. However, Scripture indicates Hamor laid forth his offer to "Dinah's father and brothers" (34:11). It is only the son's of Jacob which reply to Hamor. Scripture does not indicate how many, or which ones, of Jacob's sons were dealing with Hamor. Verse 13 informs us; "Jacob's sons replied deceitfully as they spoke to Shechem".

It would seem, at this point in the narrative, the 12 sons of Jacob were acting together, as one, in dealing with Shechem and Hamor's request. The interaction of Jacob's sons in dealing with this situation would foreshadow the relationship between the twelve tribes of Israel. Which son of Jacob was the leader in their dealing with Hamor is not stated. Perhaps, Reuben was the spokesperson, as he was the oldest. Evidence from the passage may indicate either Simeon, Levi, or both, headed up the talks. However, Scripture does record the brother's plan to get even. They convinced Shechem and Hamor they would give their sister to Shechem, only if he, and the rest of the men of Shechem, were circumcised (34:14-17). Hamor sought to intermarry with the Israelites. By doing this, he felt he would be in position to eventually absorb their clan into his kingdom. With this plan in mind, Hamor and Shechem jumped on the opportunity to obtain the graces of the sons of Jacob.

They convinced all of the Shechemites to be circumcised, no doubt with the intention of fully exploiting and absorbing the "inferior" Israelites over time. Yet, Simeon and Levi had other plans in mind. Scripture implies the third day after circumcision is the time when an individual is at his most vulnerable. The Israelites would have been well aware of the side effects, and recovery time needed after such an operation. Verse 25 describes the action taken by these two son's of Jacob. They are the only sons mentioned in the slaughter. "Three days later, while all of them were still in pain, two of Jacob's sons, Simeon and Levi, Dinah's brothers, took their swords and attacked the unsuspecting city, killing every male." Scripture does not divulge details regarding their attack. It is more than likely Simeon and Levi led forces from their own households to attack Shechem. As was the case with Abraham, fighting men were frequently employed under a single household. The fighting men of a household may have included blood relations, but also included mercenaries, servants, slaves, etc.

It would seem logical, in this instance, that Simeon and Levi led the fighting men of their house against the men of Shechem in a carefully planned and executed surprise attack. This, of course, is speculation, and should be taken as such. However they accomplished their mission, Scripture does not divulge specifics. What is evident, is that Simeon and Levi acted independently of the other sons in their vengeance on Shechem. This, as stated above, would become the modus operandi of the 12 tribes of Israel up until the coronation of Saul. Each of the tribes of Israel acted independently of the others, united only by the belief in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The action taken by Simeon and Levi drew the wrath of their father. Jacob responded to their actions in Gen. 34:30. "Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, 'You have brought trouble on my be making me a stench to the Canaanites and Perizzites, the people living in this land.

We are few in number, and if they join forces against me and attack me, I and my household will be destroyed." Further disapproval is seen in Jacob's Blessing to his sons before his death. The blessing of Simeon and Levi occurs in Genesis 49:5-7. "Simeon and Levi are brothers-their swords are weapons of violence. Let me not enter their council, let me not join their assembly, for they have killed men in their anger and hamstrung oxen as they pleased. Cursed be their anger, so fierce, and their fury, so cruel! I will scatter them in Jacob and dispense them in Israel." Following this incident in Scripture, Jacob uproots his family, per instruction by God, and moves them to Bethel. There, God reaffirms His covenant with Israel/Jacob. Jacob then built an altar to God, named the place Bethel, and again moves his family. From Bethel, they set out for Bethlehem, called Ephrath in the narrative. Along the way, Rachel died and was buried. Rachel's death would prove to be the catalyst for an even which would forever alter the make-up of the tribes of Israel.

Reuben Occasionally, tribes formed an alliance with each other in times of distress. The Song of Deborah, found in Judges 5, illuminates this point. This passage simultaneously illustrates the autonomy of the twelve tribes of Israel. It clearly states some tribes did not care for the distress of their brethren, and would not join the alliance. The tribe of Reuben was guilty of such an act. Judges 5:15-16 "...In the districts of Reuben there was much searching of heart. Why did you stay among the campfires to hear the whistling for the flocks?" Yet even before the Song of Deborah, Reuben is seen in acts of disobedience and disrespect. Being the first born son of Jacob, Reuben was set to inherit the birthright, and the inheritance from Jacob. As the oldest son, he would have been the head of the 12 sons of Jacob. In fact, in the story of Joseph, Reuben and Judah are the only two brothers mentioned by name. Reuben convinced the other brothers to throw Joseph into a well, rather than killing him. When he returned to rescue Joseph, Joseph was gone, already sold by the other eleven brothers.

The fact Reuben swayed them from killing Joseph does not free him from guilt for taking part in the plot. As the oldest and chief among them, he likely could have prevented it from happening altogether. He, too, was jealous of Joseph, and resented his dreams. Consequently, Reuben sought to harm Joseph, and joined in on the plot. Reuben's most damning sin occurs in Genesis 35:22. This instance would lead to Reuben being stripped of his birthright, and pave the way for the two sons of Joseph to take their place among the tribes of Israel. In Scripture, this incident follows the death of Rachel, and the family's subsequent arrival in Bethlehem. "While Israel (Jacob) was living in that region, Reuben went in and slept with his father's concubine Bilhah, and Israel heard of it." Scripture does not give any more detail concerning this situation. Henry Morris claims Reuben was probably close to 30 years old and unmarried when this happened. Though Scripture does not give details, Morris forms a theory based on the chronology of Scripture. In verse 19 of the same passage, Rachel dies giving birth to Benjamin.

Bilhah was Rachel's handmaiden, and significantly older than Reuben. Perhaps she sought to replace Rachel in Jacob's family as a legitimate wife. Jacob, however, did not respond in kind. Speculating further, Bilhah may have become irritated, and sought legitimacy elsewhere. Scripture indicates no act of rape or seduction between Bilhah and Reuben, so the implication is it was mutual consent between the two. This would have serious implications towards the development of the tribes of Israel. To further demonstrate the wickedness of this act, Bilhah was the mother to two of Reuben's younger brothers, Dan and Naphtali. Though Scripture does not divulge how Israel found out, it leaves little question as to how he felt about the actions of his eldest son. The repercussions of this act are not fully revealed in Scripture until the time of Jacob's death. In Genesis 48:22 Jacob converses with Joseph after blessing Manasseh and Ephraim. "Then Israel said to Joseph, 'I am about to die, but God will be with you and take you back to the land of your fathers.

And to you, as one who is over your brothers, I give the ridge of the land I took from the Amorites with my sword and bow." It is clear from this passage the birthright had fully been transferred to Joseph. As firstborn, Reuben should have been the "one who is over your brothers". However, Jacob clearly indicates it is to be Joseph. Even though this verse does not state Reuben's sexual deviance was the reason for Joseph's exaltation, Jacob's blessing of his sons in the subsequent chapter does. Genesis 50:2-4 "Assemble and listen, sons of Jacob; listen to your father Israel. Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, the first sign of my strength, excelling in honor, excelling in power. Turbulent as the waters, you will no longer excel, for you went up onto your father's bed, onto my couch and defiled it." Thus, with these words, Reuben's fate, as well as the fate of the tribe of Reuben, was sealed. This would significantly alter the tribes of Israel.

Because Jacob removed the birthright from Reuben, and gave it to Joseph, he sought to bless Joseph and exalt him above all his sons. Resultingly, the two sons of Joseph were awarded tribes. The original 12 tribes of Israel , named after the 12 sons of Jacob, were altered, and two additional tribes, from two grandsons of Jacob, were instituted. The tribes of Manasseh and Ephraim, therefore, were born out of an act of disrespect and immorality on the part of Reuben. The tribe of Reuben was to suffer dire consequences in the fulfillment of Jacob's prophecy. They chose not to take part in the struggles of the other tribes of Israel during the conquest. Instead, they sat idly by, as indicated above in the Song of Deborah. Eventually, the tribe of Reuben would fall into a state of complete apostasy. As a result, the tribe of the eldest son of Jacob was the first to be exiled by the Assyrian Kings Pul and Tiglath-pilesar, after their conquest of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Conclusion The Bible clearly indicates the tribes of Israel were rarely in unanimous agreement with each other.

It also clearly sets this precedent in the interactions between the 12 sons of Jacob. The actions of Simeon and Levi foreshadow the independent nature of each tribe. The plot of the brothers to rid themselves of Joseph illustrate the tension and conflict within Jacob's family, and foreshadows the tension and conflict later seen within the tribes of Israel. This internal conflict manifested itself in the story of the destruction of the Benjamites by the other eleven tribes of Israel, following the incident of the Levite and concubine in Judges 19. This incident provoked a civil war within Israel, and the near annihilation of the tribe of Benjamin. The actions of Reuben foreshadow the actions of the tribe of Reuben, along with those of Gad. As Reuben defiled his father's bed, with no regard for his authority, so the tribes of Reuben and Gad would have no regard for the conquest of the land west of the Jordan. They chose, instead, to remain idle, and tend to their own business while their brethren shed blood for the fulfillment of God's promise. Reuben's denunciation by Jacob would also foreshadow the eventual dissolution of those tribes by the Assyrians.

As stated above, the tribe of Reuben was among the first deported following the Assyrian invasion. It was at this time the tribe of Reuben lost their identity as the chief of the tribes of Israel. The House of Joseph now held this title. Despite the conflict and turmoil within the sons of Jacob, and later the tribes of Israel, God would keep a firm grip on His people. As the tribes grew and evolved, they would have incorporated more and more people not of blood relation. Though this would have lessened the ancestry within each tribe, it did not eliminate altogether the tribe's identity with the respective son of Jacob. Indeed, common lines of descent, and the belief in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, would prove to hold the tribes together, not only individually, but as a collective whole, and unite them under a common vision. However, it would be hundreds of years later before the tribes became politically united. In 586 B.C. king Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon fell upon Jerusalem.

Question: In the Bible, who was the first wife of Jacob and had twelve sons?
Answer: Leah