THE TWELVE TRIBES

1. Bible History 

a) In this panoramic Bible Story, we present the important events, and gradual development of Bible History, keeping in view, throughout,  the spiritual purpose of divine revelation.

b) It exhibits a part at a time, by being unrolled before the viewer. An unobstructed or complete view in every direction; hence a comprehensive presentation to aid viewer with a better understanding of Bible History.

c) It follows the stream of the Bible narrative, so as to aid viewer in visualizing and grasping the great truths of Bible History.

2. The Twelve Tribes

a) The names of the twelve tribes are given as they "came into Egypt" with Jacob their father. The tribe of Levi, however, was "taken for God" (Numbers 3:12), that is, separated from other tribes and devoted to offices connected with the priesthood.

b) In the allotment of the tribes, Levi was the only tribe not furnished with a territorial home. They were supported by the tribes and offerings of the whole people, and were distributed over the whole land. Cities for the residence of the Levites, with surrounding suburbs, were assigned them from the lots of all the tribes. Pre-eminent among these were the cities of refuge, to which persons could flee who had unintentionally destroyed the lives of others.

c) In the division of the land, therefore, it will be noted that Jacob (Israel) in counting Joseph's two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, as his own, made up the twelve tribes (Levi having been separated unto God. For Ephraim and Manasseh received their father Joseph's portion of the inheritance, which was a double portion due to the first-born Reuben, was actually the first-born of Israel, but he lost the birthright because of his grievous sin. Nether did Simeon, the next in line, or Judah, who was in the messianic line, receive the birthright, he too was guilty of the same grievous sin as Reuben. The birthright was given to Joseph, who resisted the temptation wherein his brothers fell. Thus the material blessings of the birthright, the double portion of the inheritance, went to Joseph's sons, Ephraim and Manasseh. The spiritual blessing of the birthright, however, did not descend by primo-geniture (the right of inheritance belonging to the first-born), but was given to Judah according to God's sovereign will.

d) In 1 Chronicles 5:1-2, written hundreds of years later, we are given the explanation of this unusual changing of the birthright privileges and blessings. "... Reuben the first-born of Israel, (for he was the first-born; but, for as much as he defiled his father's bed, his birthright was given unto the sons of Joseph, the son of Israel: and the genealogy i snot to be reckoned after the birthright. For Judah prevailed above his brethren, and of him came the chief ruler; but the birthright was Joseph's:)" (1 Chronicles 5:1-2).