Dictionary of Bible Themes: 7266 tribes of Israel

7266 tribes of Israel

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Dictionary of Bible Themes » 7000 God's people » 7200 History of God's people in OT » 7266 tribes of Israel

The divisions of Israel on lines of kinship, according to descent from the twelve sons of Jacob. These divisions were most pronounced in the period before Saul became king of Israel but were maintained throughout Israel's history.

Origin of the tribes of Israel

Twelve sons of Jacob

Genesis 35:22-26 See also Genesis 29:31-35; Genesis 30:3-13,17-24; Genesis 35:16-18

Increased in number while living in Egypt

Genesis 46:5-27 See also Exodus 1:1-7

Blessings on the tribes of Israel

Genesis 49:1-28; Deuteronomy 33:1-29

Association of the twelve apostles with the tribes of Israel

Matthew 19:28 See also Matthew 10:1-4 pp Mark 3:13-19 pp Luke 6:12-16; Luke 22:28-30; Acts 1:12-26; Revelation 21:12-14

Other NT references to the tribes of Israel

James 1:1 See also Acts 26:6-7

The tribes of Israel in end-time prophecy

Revelation 7:1-8 See also Ezekiel 47:13-14; Ezekiel 48:1-35; Revelation 21:9-14

The tribe of Asher

The genealogy of Asher

Genesis 46:17 See also Numbers 26:44-47; 1 Chronicles 7:30-40

The history of Asher

In the wilderness:

Numbers 1:40-41; Numbers 10:25-28

In the land of Canaan:

Deuteronomy 27:12-13; Joshua 19:24-31; Judges 7:22-23

After the division of the kingdom:

2 Chronicles 30:6-11; Luke 2:36-38

The tribe of Benjamin

The genealogy of Benjamin

Genesis 46:21 See also Numbers 26:38-41; 1 Chronicles 7:6-12; Corinthians 8:1-40; Corinthians 9:1-9

The history of Benjamin

In the wilderness:

Numbers 1:36-37; Numbers 2:18-23

In the land of Canaan:

Deuteronomy 27:12; Joshua 18:11-28; 1 Chronicles 12:1-2 Judges 19:1-21:23 the war against Benjamin

After the division of the kingdom:

1 Kings 12:21-24 pp 2 Chronicles 11:1-4; 2 Chronicles 11:5-12; Ezra 1:5

The tribe of Dan

The genealogy of Dan

Numbers 26:42-43

The history of Dan

In the wilderness:

Numbers 1:38-39; Numbers 2:25; Numbers 10:25

In the land of Canaan:

Deuteronomy 27:12-13; Joshua 19:40-47; Judges 18:1-31

The tribe of Ephraim

The tribe of Ephraim was descended from Joseph's younger son

Joshua 14:4 See also Genesis 48:1-20

The genealogy of Ephraim

Numbers 26:35-37 See also 1 Chronicles 7:20-29

The history of Ephraim

In the wilderness:

Numbers 1:32-33; Numbers 2:18

In the land of Canaan:

Joshua 16:1-10; Joshua 17:14-18; Judges 1:29; Judges 7:22-8:3 Judges 12:1-6 the war against Ephraim

Later prophecies against Ephraim

Isaiah 7:2-9

The tribe of Gad

The genealogy of Gad

Genesis 46:16 See also Numbers 26:15-18

The history of Gad

In the wilderness:

Numbers 1:24-25; Numbers 2:10-14

Their allocation of land east of the Jordan:

Numbers 32:28-36; Deuteronomy 3:12-17; Deuteronomy 29:7-8; Joshua 13:24-28

The conquest of Canaan:

Joshua 1:12-18; Joshua 4:10-13; Joshua 22:1-34; 1 Chronicles 5:18-22

Under the monarchy:

1 Chronicles 5:25-26; Corinthians 12:37

The tribe of Issachar

The genealogy of Issachar

Genesis 46:13 See also Numbers 26:23-25; 1 Chronicles 7:1-5

The history of Issachar

In the wilderness:

Numbers 1:28-29; Numbers 2:3-6

In the land of Canaan:

Deuteronomy 27:12; Joshua 19:17-23; Judges 10:1

Under the monarchy:

1 Chronicles 12:38-40; 2 Chronicles 30:10-20

The tribe of Judah

The genealogy of Judah

Numbers 26:19-22 See also Genesis 46:8-12; 1 Chronicles 2:1-4:23

The tribe of Judah in the wilderness

Numbers 1:26-27 See also Numbers 2:3-4; Numbers 13:1-6; Numbers 34:16-19; Deuteronomy 27:11-12; Deuteronomy 33:7

Judah was prominent among the tribes

Genesis 49:8-12 See also Numbers 2:1-9; Numbers 7:10-17; Numbers 10:11-14; Judges 1:1-20

The territory of the tribe of Judah

Joshua 18:5 See also Joshua 11:21; Joshua 15:1-63 the extent of the allotment for Judah; Joshua 20:1-7 cities of refuge in Judah

Towns for the Levites in Judah:

Joshua 21:1-4,9-16 1 Samuel 17:1; Samuel 22:3-5; Samuel 23:21-23; Samuel 27:8-10; Samuel 30:11-16; 2 Samuel 2:1; Samuel 24:5-7

Early evidence of the distinction between Judah and the other tribes

2 Samuel 24:9 pp 1 Chronicles 21:5 See also 1 Samuel 11:8; Samuel 17:52; Samuel 18:16

David's reign over Judah:

2 Samuel 2:8-11; Samuel 3:9-10; Samuel 5:5 2 Samuel 11:11; Samuel 12:8; Samuel 19:40-20:2 Judah remained loyal to David when Israel rebelled; 2 Samuel 21:2; Samuel 24:1

Israel and Judah united under Solomon:

1 Kings 1:35; Kings 4:20,25

The separation of Judah from the northern tribes

1 Kings 12:1-24 pp 2 Chronicles 10:1-11:4

The continuing tribal identity of Judah

2 Chronicles 19:8-11 See also 2 Kings 17:18-20; Psalm 78:67-68; Ezekiel 37:15-28; Ezekiel 48:1-8,30-31; Revelation 7:1-8

The tribe of Levi

The genealogy of Levi

Exodus 6:16-25; Numbers 3:17-20; Numbers 26:57-62

The tribe of Levi is set apart to God

Exodus 32:25-29 Their loyalty to the LORD set them apart.

They were given the responsibility of caring for the tabernacle:

Numbers 1:47-53; Numbers 3:38

They were claimed by God as a substitute for the firstborn males of Israel

Numbers 3:11-13 See also Numbers 3:40-45; Numbers 8:15-18

The tribe of Levi received no allotment of land

Deuteronomy 18:1-2 See also Numbers 18:23; Joshua 13:32-33; Joshua 14:3-4

The tribe of Levi lived in designated towns

Numbers 35:1-8 See also Leviticus 25:32-34; Joshua 21:1-42 pp 1 Chronicles 6:54-80

Tithes and offerings given by the rest of Israel supported the tribe of Levi

Numbers 18:21-24 See also Deuteronomy 14:22-29; Nehemiah 10:37-38; Nehemiah 13:4-13

Moses blesses the tribe of Levi

Deuteronomy 33:8-11

The tribe of Levi in the period of the monarchy

1 Chronicles 12:26-28 Their fighting men join David at Hebron; 1 Chronicles 23:2-24 David divides them into three groups and organises their responsibilities; 1 Chronicles 27:16-17 David sets an army officer over them.

The tribe of Manasseh

The tribe of Manasseh was descended from Joseph's older son

Joshua 14:4 See also Genesis 48:3-20; Numbers 26:28-37; 1 Chronicles 7:14-19

Manasseh in the wilderness

Numbers 1:34-35 See also Numbers 2:18-21; Numbers 27:1-11; Numbers 36:1-12

The division of Manasseh into two

The half-tribe of Manasseh was allocated territory in Gilead:

Numbers 32:33,39-42; Deuteronomy 3:13-15; Deuteronomy 29:7-8; Joshua 12:4-6; Joshua 13:29-31; 1 Chronicles 5:23

The remainder of Manasseh was allocated territory west of the Jordan:

Joshua 13:6-7; Joshua 16:1-4; Joshua 17:1-13; Judges 1:27 Joshua 22:1-34 the threat of war against the half-tribe of Manasseh and the other Transjordan tribes

Manasseh in the period of the judges

Judges 7:23 See also Judges 6:11-16,33-35; Judges 11:1-11; Judges 12:1-7