The Thirteen Tribes Of Israel

THE THIRTEEN TRIBES OF ISRAEL

(by brother Tarran Dookie)

From the book of Genesis we learn that the patriarch Jacob, whose name God changed to Israel, had twelve sons who became the twelve tribes of Israel. Genesis chapter 49 gives their names: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Zebulun, Issachar, Dan, Gad, Asher, Naphtali, Joseph and Benjamin.

A TRIBE SEPARATED UNTO GOD

Exod 32:25-29 And when Moses saw that the people were naked; (for Aaron had made them naked unto their shame among their enemies) Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the LORD'S side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him. And he said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Put every man his sword by his side, and go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbour. And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men. For Moses had said, Consecrate yourselves today to the LORD, even every man upon his son, and upon his brother; that he may bestow upon you a blessing this day.

Deut 10:8-9 At that time the LORD separated the tribe of Levi, to bear the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to stand before the LORD to minister unto him, and to bless in his name, unto this day. Wherefore Levi hath no part nor inheritance with his brethren; the LORD is his inheritance, according as the LORD thy God promised him.

See also Num 3:9-13.

What caused the slaying of these three thousand men in the wilderness of Sinai? Moses had been in the mount for forty days and forty nights during which time God gave him the old testament law and instructions for building the tabernacle. Even though the children of Israel saw the sight of the glory of the Lord as a devouring fire on the top of the mount they became impatient and despaired of the return of Moses. They persuaded Aaron to make a golden calf and they forsook God and worshipped this idol. This act of idolatry and abomination incurred the wrath of God and the people were struck with a plague (Exod 32:35). But God was well pleased with the zeal of the sons of Levi as they responded to the call of Moses. How the children of God need to be zealous today and to have a holy anger and outrage at idolatry and abomination practised by many even who are called by His name.

The tribe of Levi was given a special blessing by God. Levi was put in charge of the tabernacle of testimony. They were to bear the ark of the covenant of the Lord and to stand before Him and minister to Him. They were not to be numbered with the rest of Israel. They were special to the Lord. The Lord Himself became their inheritance. Numbers chapter 34 tells us that when the land of Canaan was to be allotted Levi was not included and they were just given some cities within the inheritance of the other tribes. The Lord was their inheritance.

The spiritual blessing is always greater than the material. The minds of many believers are set on the things of earth rather than on the things above. There is nothing wrong with asking God for specific things but to have God Himself is far greater than to have things from God. He who inherits God inherits all things.

ONE TRIBE BECOMES TWO

There are twelve tribes in Numbers chapter 34 and they do not include Levi. Also in Numbers chapter 1 twelve tribes are numbered but verses 49-50 tell us that Levi was not numbered among them. But if Levi is one of the twelve sons of Jacob that became twelve tribes, how do we still have twelve tribes when Levi is left out? Logically, there should be eleven tribes. But there are twelve tribes and if we include Levi it would be thirteen. How do we account for twelve tribes without Levi?

Gen 48:5,22 And now thy two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, which were born unto thee in the land of Egypt before I came unto thee into Egypt, are mine; as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine... Moreover I have given to thee one portion above thy brethren, which I took out of the hand of the Amorite with my sword and with my bow.

Ezek 47:13 Thus saith the Lord GOD; This shall be the border, whereby ye shall inherit the land according to the twelve tribes of Israel: Joseph shall have two portions.