Who were the 12 Tribes of Israel? (excerpts from The Jewish Library website)
TRIBES, THE TWELVE,
the traditional division of Israel into 12 tribes: Reuben, Simeon (Levi),
Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Benjamin, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Ephraim, and
Manasseh. Biblical tradition holds that the 12 tribes of Israel are descended
from the sons and grandsons of Jacob (Gen. 29–30; 35:16–18; 48:5–6). The tribes
are collectively called Israel because of their origin in the patriarch
Jacob-Israel.
Modern scholarship does not generally accept the biblical
notion that the 12 tribes are simply divisions of a larger unit which developed
naturally from patriarchal roots. This simplistic scheme, it is felt, actually
stems from later genealogical speculations which attempted to explain the
history of the tribes in terms of familial relationships. The alliance of the
12 tribes is believed to have grown from the organization of independent
tribes, or groups of tribes, forced together for historical reasons.
The number 12 is neither fictitious nor the result of an actual
genealogical development in patriarchal history. It is an institutionalized and
conventionalized figure which is found among other tribes as well, such as the
sons of Ishmael (Gen. 25:13–16), the sons of Nahor (Gen. 22:20–24), of Joktan
(Gen. 10:26–30 – so LXX), and Esau (Gen. 36:10–13). Similar organizational
patterns built about groups of 12, or even six, tribes, are known from Asia
Minor, Greece, and Italy. In Greece, such groupings were called amphictyony (ʿ Αμφικτυονία),
from ʾ αμφικτίζω, meaning "to dwell
about," that is, about a central sanctuary. Each tribe was assigned a
prearranged turn in the provision and maintenance of the shrine. The
amphictyonic members would make pilgrimages to the common religious center on
festive occasions.The exact measure of correspondence between the amphictyony
of the Hellenic world and the duodecimal structure of the tribes of Israel may
be the subject of scholarly controversy, but there can be little doubt that
this pattern of 12 attributed to the Hebrew tribes is very real and
historically rooted. Thus, if one tribe were to withdraw from the union or to
be absorbed into another, the number 12 would be preserved, either by splitting
one of the remaining tribes into two or by accepting a new tribe into the
union. When, for example, the tribe of Levi is considered among the 12 tribes,
the Joseph tribes are counted as one (Gen. 35:22–26; 46:8–25; 49:1–27).
However, when Levi is not mentioned, the Joseph tribes are counted separately
as Manasseh and Ephraim (Num. 26:4–51). For the same duodecimal considerations,
Simeon is counted as a tribe even after having been absorbed into Judah (Josh.
19:1), and Manasseh, even after having split in two, is considered one. Among
the six Leah tribes, Gad, although the son of Zilpah, is counted as one of them
when Levi is missing (Num. 1:20–42; 26:5–50).
Leadership role moved from Reuben because he was oldest to Ephraim (subtribe of Joseph) because Joshua came from Ephraim; and later to Judah
Simeon was absorbed by Judah. Joseph was split into Ephraim and Manasseh.
From Genesis:
Rueben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah-sons of Leah-later lived in
outskirts-did not fight with Deborah, provided no judges
Dan, Naphtali-sons of Bil-hah (Rachel’s servant)
Gad, Asher-sons of Zilpah (Leah’s servant)
Issachar, Zebulun-son of Leah
Dinah-daughter of Leah
Joseph, Benjamin-sons of Rachel
Helpful links to visualize the temple described:
