Eleven of the sons of Jacob/Israel and the two
sons of Joseph became the 13 tribes of Israel.
Often the tribes are misnamed the 12 tribes instead of 13. Two
reasons may be:
1. The Levites were not given land because they were not to farm the
land but to work in the temple so the land was divided up twelve
ways.
2. Rev 7:4-8 says: “And I heard the
number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred
and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of
Israel. Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand
(1). Of the tribe
of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand
(2). Of the tribe of Gad were sealed
twelve thousand
(3). Of the tribe
of Aser were sealed twelve thousand
(4). Of the tribe
of Nepthalim were sealed twelve thousand
(5). Of the
tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand
(6). Of the tribe
of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand
(7). Of the tribe of Levi were sealed
twelve thousand
(8). Of the
tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand
(9). Of the tribe
of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand
(10). Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed
twelve thousand (11).
Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand
(12).”
That listed 12 tribes | |