The twelve tribes of Israel
come for the 12 sons of Jacob, grandson of Abraham.
Jacob, also called Israel, had
6 sons by Leah his first wife (Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun),
2 sons by Rachel his second wife (Joseph, Benjamin),
2 sons by Leah's maid Zilpah (Gad, Asher) and
2 sons by Rachel's maid Bilhah (Dan, Naphtali) |
| Joseph
-
means "The Lord will add a son". 1st born of
Rachel.
His coat of many colors was a precept of how Jesus
had his vesture dipped in blood as saviour to all colors and races of men
Joseph was Jacob's favorite,
which caused the siblings to become very jealous. They plotted to get
rid of him by selling him to some traders, telling their father that instead
he had died. However, what these brothers had meant for evil, God
meant for good. Once in Egypt, Joseph became a slave of high standing
until some years later, he became 2nd in command to only the Pharoh himself.
This was done by God to save his 'chosen', the other remaining tribes, from
annihilation by a famine that came upon the land.
Joseph's tribe was divided into the 1/2
tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh. The Levites were not allotted any
inheritance in the promised land along with the other tribes.
Therefore the removal of Levi and Joseph to be replaced by Ephraim and
Manasseh., restores the tribal allocation back to 12.
Ephraim -
Manasseh - |
|
Reuben
-
means "Seeing". Mother: Leah.
Reuben is the firstborn, and
by birthright should have inherited the generational 'Blessing', however due
to the sin of adultery with his father's maid, Bilhah, he lost the blessing. |
