BSN: The Twelve Sons of Jacob

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The 12 Tribes of Israel

Points

[“twelve tribes”] – 10x (NT 5x; OT 5x)

Notes

Reuben was born first of the twelve. However, because he defiled his father’s bed, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph – Ephraim and Manasseh. (1 Chr 5:1)
Even though Judah prevailed over his brothers, and from him came the leader, yet the birthright belonged to Joseph. (1 Chr 5:2)
Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh chose to live on the east side of the Jordan River rather than fully enter the promised land.

Lists

The recorded birth order of Jacob’s twelve sons…and his one daughter Dinah:

Gen 29:32 – Reuben (by Leah)
Gen 29:33 – Simeon (by Leah)
Gen 29:34 – Levi (by Leah)
Gen 29:35 – Judah (by Leah)
Gen 30:4-6 – Dan (by Rachel’s maid Bilhah)
Gen 30:7-8 – Naphtali (by Rachel’s maid Bilhah)
Gen 30:9-11 Gad (by Leah’s maid Zilpah)
Gen 30:12-13 – Asher (by Leah’s maid Zilpah)
Gen 30:17-18 – Issachar (by Leah)
Gen 30:19-20 – Zebulun (by Leah)
Gen 30:21 – Dinah (by Leah)
Gen 30:22 – Joseph (by Rachel)
Gen 35:16-18 – Benjamin (by Rachel)

Gen 35:22-26 – Listed in order by respective birth mother: Leah, Rachel, Bilhah, Zilpah

Gen 46:8-27 – Travel manifest for Jacob and sons from Canaan to Egypt.

Gen 49:1-33 – Just before he dies at age 147, Jacob blesses each of his sons.

Ex 1:1-4 – Reuben, Simeon, Levi and Judah; Issachar, Zebulun and Benjamin; Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher. Joseph.

1 Chr 2:1-2 – Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Dan, Joseph, Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad and Asher

Ezk 48:1-9, 23-29 – Dan, Asher, Naphtali, Manasseh, Ephraim, Reuben, Judah, Benjamin, Simeon, Issachar, Zebulun, Gad (Manasseh and Ephraim in for Joseph, Levi out)

Ezk 48:30-35 – Reuben, Judah, Levi, Joseph, Benjamin, Dan, Simeon, Issachar, Zebulun, Gad, Asher, Naphtali

Rev 7:4-8 – Judah, Reuben, Gad, Asher, Naphtali, Manasseh, Simeon, Levi, Issachar, Zebulon, Joseph, Benjamin

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