The Twelve Tribes of Israel
The center of the Tribe of Israel is Jacob. One has to understand the story of Jacob in order to understand the twelve Tribes of Israel. This is the account of Jacob, whose name was changed to Israel by the LORD GOD. Isaac was the son of Abraham and Sarah. Isaac had two twin sons Esau and Jacob. They struggled together within the womb of Rebekah the wife of Isaac. The LORD told her that there were two nations within her womb and two manners of people. One people shall be stronger than the other people and the elder shall serve the younger. The first twin came out red all over like a hairy garment and was called Esau. The second twin had his hand on this brother’s heel and his name was called Jacob. Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field, and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents. Esau was the favorite son of Isaac because he did eat of his venison. The favorite son of Rebekah was Jacob. (Genesis 25:23-25).
Jacob cooked pottage (a stew) one day when his brother Esau came in from the field faint with hunger. Esau told Jacob to feed him some of the red pottage because he was faint; therefore, his name was called Edom. Jacob told his brother to sell him that day his birthright. Esau said he was at the point to die and swore to give Jacob his birthright. Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentils. Esau ate and drank, rose up and went his way. Esau despised his birthright. (Genesis 26:19-34).
When Isaac was old and his eyes were dim and he couldn’t see he called Esau to go get him some venison. Isaac wanted to eat the savory meat that he loved so his soul may bless Esau. Rebekah heard this and told Jacob to go to the flock and bring two good kids from the goats. Rebekah made a savory meat for Isaac. Rebekah took raiment belonging to Esau to put on Jacob. She put the skins of the kids of the goats upon the Jacobs hands and upon his smooth neck. Jacob took the venison into Isaac and received the blessing. “God give thee of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine: Let people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee: be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother’s sons bow down to thee: cursed be every one that curseth thee, and blessed be he that blesseth thee.” (Genesis 27:1-29).
Jacob had scarcely gone out from the presence of Isaac, that Esau came in from his hunting. Shortly after entering his fathers tent with his savory meat Esau found out Jacob had received his blessing. Esau was upset and cried bitterly because Jacob had twice circumvented and held onto his heel. Jacob had taken away the birthright and the blessing. Esau asked his father if there was not a reserved blessing for him. Isaac told Esau his dwelling shall be the fatness of the earth and of the dew of heaven from above. He shall live by his sword and he shall serve this brother. It shall cont to pass when Esau gets restless that he shall break his yoke from off his neck. (Genesis 30-40).
Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing from his father. Esau vowed after the death of his father he would slay Jacob. Rebekah warned Jacob of the fury against him by Esau. Rebekah sent Jacob to her brother Laban, who lives in Haran. (Genesis 27:41-46). Isaac sent Jacob to Padanaram unto Laban, son of Bethuel the Syrian, the brother of Rebekah to find a wife. Isaaic told Jacob not to marry a Canaan wife. (Genesis 28:5-10). Meanwhile Esau went unto Ishmael, the son of Abraham and Hagar, the Egyptian handmaiden to Sarah, the wife of Abraham. Esau took unto the wives he already had Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael to also be his wife.
Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran. Jacob stayed the night at a place where he dreamed of a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven. The angels of God ascended and descended on it. The LORD stood above it and said “I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac; the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to they seed; and thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shall, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of”. When Jacob woke up he said the LORD was in this place and he didn’t know it. Jacob took a stone that he had put for his pillows and set it up for a pillar and poured oil upon the top of it. He called the name of that place Bethel, but the name of that city was at first called Luz. Jacob vowed if God would be with him and keep him in the way that he goes, will give him bread to eat, and raiment to put on, and he again return to his father’ house in peace, then shall the LORD be his God. (Genesis 28:13-22).
Jacob continued his journey and came into the land of the people of the east into the land of Haran. Then Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban, the brother of his mother. Jacob loved Rachel, the youngest daughter of Laban. Jacob promised to serve Laban seven years for Rachel. Completing the seven years Jacob expected to marry Rachel, but was tricked to marry Leah, the older daughter. Zilpah was the hand maid sent with Leah. Jacob worked another seven years to marry Rachel and her handmaid Bilah. (Genesis 29:15-30). Leah was unloved by Jacob, but God opened her womb and she conceived five sons. Then she stopped bearing. Rachel gave her handmaid to Jacob and she gave him two sons. Leah then gave her handmaid Zilpah to Jacob. Zilpah bore Jacob two more sons. Reuben, the first born found mandrakes in the field, Rachel told Leah if she would give her son’s mandrakes to her, she would give Jacob to Leah for the night. Leah conceived and bore Jacob a fifth son, and then again, the sixth. Afterward she bore a daughter.
Rachel became envious of her sister, Leah, because she was barren. Rachel gave her handmaid Bilhah to bear a child on her knees, to give to Jacob as a wife. Bilhah gave Jacob two sons. Then God remembered Rachel, and opened her womb. She conceived and bore a son. They journeyed from Bethel toward Ephrath, which is Bethlehem, Rachel labored in child birth, and she had hard labor. As her soul was departing, she gave birth to a son, called Benjamin. Rachel died and was buried on the way to Bethlehem. (Genesis 29-30).
These are the sons of Jacob by Leah… Reuben, the first born, Simeon the second born, Levi the third born, Judah the fourth born, Zebulen the tenth born, and a daughter Dinah. The sons of Jacob by the handmaid of Leah, Zilpah, were Gad the seventh son, Asher the eighth son, Issachar the ninth son. The sons of Jacob by Rachel were Joseph the eleventh son, Benjamin the twelfth son. The sons of Jacob by the handmaid of Rachel, Bilhah were Dan the fifth son, and Naphtali the sixth son. (Genesis 29-30).
The LORD said unto Jacob to return unto the land of his fathers, and to his kindred, and the LORD would be with him. Jacob rose up, and set his sons and his wives upon camels, he carried away all his cattle, and all his goods which he had gotten, the cattle which he got in Padan aram, and went to Isaac his father in the land of Canaan. Rachel had stolen the images that were her father. Jacob stole away and Laban the Syrian was unaware. Jacob was gone three days before Laban found out. Laban took his brethren with him and pursued after Jacob. It took them seven days to overtake Jacob in the mount Gilead. The LORD came to Laban in a dream and warned him speak either good or bad to Jacob. Laban said to Jacob why had he stolen away unawares to him and carried away his daughters and didn’t tell him so he might send them away with mirth, songs, with tabret, and with harp. Laban wasn’t even able to kiss his sons and daughters and ask Jacob why he had done this to him. Laban could understand that Jacob missed his father but why did he steal the gods belonging to Laban?
Jacob answered to Laban it was because he was afraid Laban would try to take his daughters by force. Whomsoever Laban found his god, Jacob said let them not live. Jacob did not know it was Rachel who had stolen the gods from the house of her father. Laban went into the tent of Jacob, into the tent of Leah and the tents of the two maidservants but he did not find the gods. Rachel had taken the images and put them in the furniture of the calels and sat upon them. Laban searched all the tents but found no gods. The camel that Rachel sat upon was not searched because she claimed the custom of women was upon her and she could not get up.
Jacob was angry and rebuked Laban asking what his trespass was, what his sin was that Laban had so hotly pursued after him. Everything had been searched and found nothing. Jacob said he had been with Laban for twenty years in his house. He served fourteen years for his two daughters and six years for his cattle, Laban had changed his wages ten times. Except the God of his father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had been with him; surely Laban would have sent him away empty.
Jacob and Laban made a covenant to be a witness between them. Jacob took a stone and set it up for a pillar; he made a heap and ate there upon the heap. Laban called it Jegarsahadutha; but Jacob called it Galeed. It was to be a witness between Leban and Jacob therefore the name of it was called Galeed, and Mizpah because the LORD watched between them. Laban said to Jacob the heap was a witness, and the pillar a witness that he would not pass over the heap to Jacob and that Jacob shall not pass over the heap and this pillar unto Laban for harm. Jacob offered sacrifice upon the mount, and called his brethren to eat bread and they tarried all night in the mount. It was early in the morning Laban rose up, kissed his sons and his daughters, blessed them then departed. (Genesis 31:3-55).
Jacob went on his way; the angels of God met him. Jacob named the place Mahanaim because Jacob saw them and said “This is God’s host. Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother unto the land of Seir, the country of Edom saying he wanted to speak to Esau. The messengers returned to Jacob telling him his brother Esau was coming to met Jacob with four hundred men with him. Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed. He divided his people that were with him, the flocks, herds, and the camels into two bands so one band would have a chance to escape. Jacob then said to God for deliverance from the hand of his brother Esau. Jacob told God he feared Esau would him and the mother with the children. Jacob then sent his servants with a present for Esau his brother two hundred she goats, twenty he goats, two hundred ewes, and twenty rams, thirty milk camels with their colts, forty cows, and ten bulls, twenty she asses, and ten foals.
Jacob was then left alone and there wrestled with a man until the breaking of the day. Jacob did not prevail against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. Jacob said he would not let this man go even if it was getting day break until he blesses Jacob. The man changed Jacob’s name saying: “Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.” (Genesis 32:28). Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for he had seen God face to face and his life is preserved. The children of Israel do not eat of the muscle of the hip unto this day, because God touched the hollow of the muscle of the hip. (Genesis 32:1-32).
Jacob divided the children unto Leah, and Rachel and the two handmaids. He put the handmaids and their children foremost, and Leah and her children after them, Rachel and Joseph were the last. Esau came with his four hundred men. Jacob bowed himself to the ground seven until he came near his brother Esau. Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him and kissed him. The two brothers wept. Then Jacob introduced his family to Esau. Jacob told his brother now that he had found grace in the sight of Esau. Esau should receive the presents Jacob had sent because God had dealt graciously with Jacob, and because Jacob has enough. That very day Esau returned on his way unto Seir. Jacob journeyed to Succoth and built him a hose, shelters for his cattle and named the place Succoth. Jacob came to Shalem, a city of Shechem, in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padan aram and he pitched his tent before the city. Jacob bought a parcel of a field where he pitched his tent from the children of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for a hundred pieces of money. Jacob erected an altar, and called it El elohe Israel. (Genesis 33:1-20).
Dinah was the daughter of Leah and Jacob. Dinah went out to see the daughters of the land and was seen by Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, who was the prince of the country. He took her and lay with her and defiled her. His soul was strongly attracted to her and he loved her and wanted to marry her. Jacob heard Dinah had been defiled he waited until Hamor came to talk to him. Because these people were not circumcised Jacob said if they would consent that every male be circumcised then he would give Dinah to dwell with them, and they could become one people. Hamor had all his men circumcised. The third day, when they were sore, that two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s brethren, took each man his sword, and came upon the city boldly, and slew all the males. This troubled Jacob who told Simeon and Levi they had made Jacob morally offensive among the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites, and Perizzites and he feared for his life. (Genesis 34:1-31).
God told Jacob to arise and go up to Bethel and dwell there, and make an altar unto God. Jacob told his household, and all that were with him to put away the strange gods that are among them, to be clean, and change their garments. They gave unto Jacob all the strange gods which were in their hands and all their earrings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem. The terror of God was upon the cities that were round about Jacob and they did not pursue after the sons of Jacob. They came to Luz, which is in the land of Canaan, that is, Bethel, he and all the people that were with him. There Jacob built and altar and called the place El beth el; because there God appeared unto him, when Jacob fled from the face of his brother. God said unto Jacob when he came out of Padanaram and blessed him, “Thy name is Jacob: thy name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name: and he called his name Israel.” (Genesis 35:10). Jacob set up a pillar of stone in the place where he talked with God, Jacob poured a drink offering thereon, and he poured oil thereon and Jacob called the name of the place where God spoke with him, Bethel. Jacob journeyed to Bethel near Ephrath when Rachel had hard labor. Rachel knew she was having a son so she named him Benoni meaning son of my sorrow. Jacob renamed him Benjamin, meaning son of my right hand, after the death of Rachel. Jacob set a pillar upon her grave: that is the pillar of Rachel’s grave unto this day.
Jacob had taken his family to dwell in the land of Canaan. Joseph was around seventeen years old when he had to endure the hatred of his brothers. The LORD changed Jacob’s name to Israel after he wrestled with God. Jacob was called Israel because he was a prince and has power with God and with men, and prevailed. (Genesis 32:24-32). Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age. Jacob made Joseph a coat of many colors. The brothers of Joseph saw their father loved Joseph more that all of them and they hated him. They could not speak peaceably to him. They hated Joseph even more when Joseph told his brothers his dreams. Joseph dreamed they were binding sheaves in the field and the sheaf of Joseph arose and stood upright. The sheaves belonging to the brother were made to bow down to the sheaf of Joseph. Then in yet another dream Joseph the sun and the moon and eleven stars were made to bow down to Joseph. Joseph told these dreams to his father as well as his brothers. That is when the plotting started against Joseph. The brothers were feeding their father’s flock in Shechem (some 60 miles from Hebron where they lived) when Jacob, Israel, sent Joseph to check on them. Joseph couldn’t find his brothers in Shechem and was found by a man wandering in the fields. The man sent Joseph to Dothan to find his brothers. When the brothers saw him coming they conspired against him to slay him. Reuben, his oldest brother, delivered Joseph out of the hands of his brothers and suggested not to kill him but to let him be cast into a pit in the wilderness. The brothers stripped Joseph out of his coat of many colors and cast Joseph into a pit without water. There was a company of Ishmaelites that came from Gilead with their camels bearing spices, balm, and myrrh on their way to Egypt. It was Judah who suggested selling Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver. It was the Ishmaelites who carried Joseph to Egypt and sold him to Potiphar, an officer of the Pharaoh, and captain of the guard. The brothers took Joseph’s coat of many colors, killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the coat in the blood. They then returned to their father. Jacob, Israel, knew his beloved son had been devoured by an evil beast. Jacob, Israel, rented his clothes and put on sack clothes and mourned for Joseph for many days and could not be comforted. (Genesis 37:1-36).
Joseph found favor in the sight of Potiphar who made him overseer over his house and over his field. The wife of Potiphar also was impressed with Joseph and told him to lie with her. Joseph refused saying she was his master’s wife. Day after day she demanded he lie with her; day after day Joseph refused. One day when Joseph went into the house to do his business there was no men in the house. The wife of Potiphar caught Joseph by his garment and demanded him to lie with her. Joseph left his garment in her hand as he fled the house. Potiphar’s wife cried with a loud voice to the men of her house and told them that the Hebrew had mocked them and came in unto her to lie with her, when she screamed he fled the house leaving his garment behind. When Potiphar heard this he was furious and had Joseph thrown into prison. While Joseph was in prison he was joined by the butler of the king of Egypt and his baker who had offended the king of Egypt and was thrown in prison for their offense. They both had dreams the very same night. They asked Joseph to interpret their dreams. Joseph informed them that he did not interrupt dreams that interpretations of dreams belong to God. The chief butler told his dream to Joseph. He saw a vine before him with three branches and it was budded and blossoms were shooting forth, and the clusters brought forth ripe grapes. Pharaoh’s cup was in his hand, and the chief butler took the grapes and pressed them into Pharaoh’s cut and gave the up to Pharaoh. Joseph interpretation of the dream was the three branches were three days. The Pharaoh will within three days restore the chief butler unto his place and he shall be delivered. The chief baker shared his dream asking Joseph for an interpretation. The dream was the chief baker had three white baskets on his head full of all kinds of baked goods for the Pharaoh. The birds ate out of the basket upon his head. Joseph gave the interpretation saying the three baskets were three days. Within three days the Pharaoh will lift off the head of the baker and shall hang him on a tree. The birds shall eat the flesh from him. Three days later the Pharaoh had a birthday and made a feast for all his servants. Pharaoh restored the chief butler unto his butlership and the butler gave the cup into Pharaoh’s hand. The chief baker was hanged. The butler forgot Joseph.
Two years later Pharaoh had a dream he was standing by the river. Out of the river came seven fat cows feeding in a meadow. Then came seven other cows out of the river what were thin upon the edge of the river. The thin cows ate up the seven fat cows. Then Pharaoh woke up. Then Pharaoh dreamed the second time there was seven ears of corn that came up on one stalk very plump and good. Then there was seven thin ears and blasted with the east wind sprung up after them. The seven thin ears devoured the seven plump ears of corn. Pharaoh woke up. Pharaoh was troubled and he sent for all the magicians and wise men of Egypt to interpret his dreams. They all failed. The chief butler remembered Joseph and told Pharaoh of him. Pharaoh sent for Joseph and told Joseph of his dream. Joseph told Pharaoh it is not him who interprets dreams but it is God who shall give Pharaoh and answer of peace. Pharaoh told Joseph his dream. God has showed Pharaoh the seven good cows are seven years, the seven good ears are seven years. The two dreams are one. There is seven thin cows that come after the seven years and the same with the blighted empty ears with the east wind shall be also seven years of famine. There will be seven years of great plenty through all the land of Egypt. There shall arise after the great plenty the seven years of famine that shall consume the land and shall be grievous. The dream was told twice unto Pharaoh because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass. Pharaoh needs to put a discreet and wise man to set over the land of Egypt and appoint him to take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt in the seven years of plenty. They should gather and lay up to store to be used in the years of famine. Pharaoh made Joseph ruler over Egypt and second only under the Pharaoh. Pharaoh gave Joseph the name of Zaphnath-paaneah. Joseph was thirty years old. He gathered up all the food of the seven years of plenty. Joseph was given a wife, Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On by Pharaoh. Joseph had two sons before the years of famine with Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On. The first born Joseph called Manasseh, for God said he, had made Joseph forget all his toil, and all his fathers house. The name of the second son was called Ephraim, for God had cause Joseph to be fruitful in the land of his affliction.
Then the seven years of famine started. When all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread. They were sent to Joseph to be told what to do. When the famine was over all the face of the earth then is when Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold to the Egyptians and the other countries that came into Egypt to buy corn. Joseph gathered up all the money that was in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, for the corn which they bought. All the cattle and all the land, and at last the Egyptians themselves, became the property of Pharaoh. Jacob, Israel, sent ten of his sons to Egypt to buy corn. Benjamin, who was the youngest brother whose mother was Rachel like Joseph, was kept behind to protect him from harm.
Joseph was the governor over the land, and it was his to sell to all the people of the land. The brothers came from Canaan to buy corn. Joseph recognized his brothers but they did not recognize him. He remembered the dreams which he had dreamed of his brothers, and said unto them, they were spies. Three days later to prove they were not spies Joseph directed his brethren to return to their home and bring the youngest brother, Benjamin. Joseph commanded to fill their sacks with corn, and to restore every man’s money into his sack, and to give them provision for their way Simeon was left behind to make sure they came back.
Once they all returned with Benjamin Joseph made himself known to all his brothers telling them he was Joseph who they sold into Egypt. Joseph asked if his father was alive and told them to bring him to Egypt. They were afraid but were told to hurry and get his father and tell him his son Joseph is alive. Joseph gave them wagons, according to the commandment of Pharaoh, and gave them provision for the way. Jacob, Israel, could hardly believe Joseph was alive, and governor over all the land of Egypt. Jacob, Israel went to Egypt to see his son Joseph. Judah was sent ahead to inform Joseph to meet the father at Goshen. Joseph made ready his chariot, and went up to meet Jacob, Israel his father, to Goshen, and presented himself unto him; and he fell on his neck, and wept on his neck a good while. Joseph told Pharaoh, his father, brothers, and their flocks, and herds, and all that they have, have come out of the land of Canaan; and, behold, they are in the land of Goshen. Joseph presented his family to the Pharaoh and Jacob, Israel, blessed Pharaoh. Pharaoh gave them a possession in the land of Egypt, in the best of the land, in the land of Rameses. That is how the Israelites came into the land of Egypt. Before the death of Jacob, Israel, Joseph asked his father to bless his sons. Joseph took both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel’s left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel’s right hand, and brought them near unto him. Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Ephraim’s head, which was the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh’s head, guiding his hands wittingly; for Manasseh was the firstborn. Joseph tried to remove his fathers hand to correct this mistake. Jacob, Israel, told Joseph he knew what he was doing. Manasseh shall become a people, and he shall be great. Ephraim, the younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become a multitude of nations. And he blessed them that day, saying, “In thee shall Israel bless, saying, God make thee as Ephraim and as Manasseh: and he set Ephraim before Manasseh.” (Genesis 39-48). Jacob called his sons to gather so he could tell them that which shall befall them in the last days. Jacob gave each of the twelve sons a prophecy concerning them.
The message that Jacob gave to Reuben was “Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power: Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father’s bed; then defiledst thou it: he went up to my couch.” (Genesis 49:3-4).
The prophecy concerning Simeon and Levi which shall befall them in the last days was “Simeon and Levi are brethren; instruments of cruelty are in their habitations. O my soul, come not thou into their secret; unto their assembly, mine honour, be not thou united: for in their anger they slew a man, and in their selfwill they digged down a wall. Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel.” (Genesis 49:5-7).
The prophecy concerning Judah is “Judah thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise: thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; thy father’s children shall bow down before thee. Judah is a lion’s whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up? The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. Binding his foal unto the vine, and his ass’s colt unto the choice vine; he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes: His eyes shall be red with wine, and his teeth white with milk.” (Genesis 49:8-12).
The prophecy concerning Zebulun is “Zebulun shall dwell at the haven of the sea; and he shall be for an haven of ships; and his border shall be unto Zidon.” (Genesis 49:13).
The prophecy concerning Issachar is “Issachar is a strong ass couching down between two burdens: And he saw that rest was good, and the land that it was pleasant; and bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a servant unto tribute.” (Genesis 49:14-15).
The prophecy concerning Dan is “Dan shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel. Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path, that biteth the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backward. I have waited for thy salvation, O LORD.” (Genesis 49:16-18).
The prophecy concerning Gad is “Gad, a troop shall overcome him: but he shall overcome at the last.” (Genesis 49:19).
The prophecy concerning Asher is “Out of Asher his bread shall be fat, and he shall yield royal dainties.” (Genesis 49:20).
The prophecy concerning Naphtali is “Naphtali is a hind let loose: he giveth goodly words.” (Genesis 49:21).
The prophecy concerning Joseph is “Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall: The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him: But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel:) Even by the God of thy father, who shall help thee; and by the Almighty, who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lieth under, blessings of the breasts, and of the womb: The blessings of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills: they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren.” (Genesis 49:22-26).
The prophecy concerning Benjamin is “Benjamin shall ravin as a wolf: in the morning he shall devour the prey, and at night he shall divide the spoil.” (Genesis 49:27).
These are the Twelve tribes of Israel and this is the blessing that their father spoke unto them. Jacob, Israel told his sons he was to be gathered unto his people and be bury with his fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite in the cave that is in the field of Machpelah, which is before Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with the field of Ephron the Hittite for a possession of a burying place. This is where they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife; there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife; and there is where Leah is buried. The purchase of the field and of the cave that is therein was from the children of Heth. With this being said Jacob went to his bed and then yielded up the ghost, and was gathered unto his people.
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MLA Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne. “The Tribe of Israel.” Becker Bible Studies Library March 2022. https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=5150. Retrieved [dateMLA].
APA Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne. (2022). “The Tribe of Israel.” Becker Bible Studies Library. Retrieved from https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p =5150. Retrieved: [dateAPA].
Chicago Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne. (2022) “The Tribe of Israel.” Becker Bible Studies Library (March), https://guidedbiblestudies.com/? =5150 (accessed [dateChi]).
