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The twelve Tribes of Israel,
(Jacob's sons) and their history |
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| Home / Bible / Exodus / 12 tribes | ||
| From Genesis | Census numbers | In Revelation | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birth order |
Son of Jacob |
Birth mother |
1st census | 2nd census | percent change |
144,000 sealed | meaning of the name |
| 1st | Reuben | Leah | 46,500 | 43,730 | (-6%) | Reuben 12,000 | behold a son |
| 2nd | Simeon | Leah | 59,300 | 22,200 | (-62%) | Simeon 12,000 | God hears |
| 3rd | Levi | Leah | ½ tribe Manasseh
32,200 52,700 |
64% | Levi 12,000 | joined | |
| 4th | Judah | Leah | 74,600 | 76,500 | 3% | Judah 12,000 | praise |
| 5th | Dan | Bilhah/Rachel | 62,700 | 64,400 | 3% | Manasseh 12,000 | a judge |
| 6th | Naphtali | Bilhah/Rachel | 53,400 | 45,400 | (-15%) | Naphtali 12,000 | my wrestling |
| 7th | Gad | Zilpah/Leah | 45,650 | 40,500 | (-11%) | Gad 12,000 | good fortune |
| 8th | Asher | Zilpah/Leah | 41,500 | 53,400 | 28% | Asher 12,000 | happy |
| 9th | Issachar | Leah | 54,400 | 64,300 | 18% | Issachar 12,000 | there is hire or reward |
| 10th | Zebulum | Leah | 57,400 | 60,500 | 5% | Zebulum 12,000 | dwelling |
| 11th | Joseph | Rachel | ½ tribe Ephraim
40,500 32,500 |
(-20%) | Joseph 12,000 | may God add | |
| 12th | Benjamin | Rachel | 35,400 | 45,600 | 29% | Benjamin 12,000 | son of the right hand |
- The tribe of Levi was called out to do the duties of the priests and was not counted with the other tribes, Numbers 8:5. The two half tribes of Joseph, (Manasseh & Ephraim) were counted instead with the other ten tribes.
- The tribe of Dan is not recorded in the book of Revelation, perhaps due to a lapse into idolatry and the tribe of Ephraim is also replaced by the tribe of Joseph.