THE ORIGIN OF THE TWELVE TRIBES OF ISRAEL
Jacob, who was called Israel, spoke a word over each of his sons from his death bed. He bestowed a double portion to Joseph, giving his two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, equal standing to his own sons. And so, when the twelve tribes of Israel move out of Egypt 400 years later, two of the tribes are called Ephraim and Manasseh.
Yet, how can 12 + 2 = 12?
Here’s how: First, there is no Israelite tribe called Joseph. Joseph became two tribes, Ephraim and Manasseh. However, when Israel is in the Promised Land, and the kingdom splits into two, the Scripture sometimes refers to the Northern Kingdom as the “House of Joseph” (2 Sam. 19:20). Why? Because Ephraim and especially Manasseh, had become so large and dominant in the North that the ten tribes of the North were sometimes called the “House of Joseph.”
Second, the tribe of Levi was no longer included in the twelve after God claimed them as His own. God instructed Moses not to give them an inheritance in the Promised Land for the “Lord would be their inheritance” (Deut. 18:2). Levi would become the priestly tribe of Israel.
Therefore the math works as follows: 12 – 2 (Joseph & Levi) + 2 (Ephraim & Manasseh) = 12.
The last words of Jacob are explanatory and prophetic. They explain the origin of the twelve tribes of Israel, and they predict the coming of the Messiah to the tribe of Judah (Gen. 49:8-12). Genesis is a book of beginnings. It describes the creation and the fall of humanity. It begins the story of God’s rescue through Jesus Christ, His Son.
PRAYER: Dear Father, we are amazed at Your plan of redemption for us. How from the beginning You set in motion Your plan to redeem us back from sin and death by giving Your only begotten Son, Jesus. We are in awe of You. Forgive us that we are often anxious about tomorrow. For You have all of our days from beginning to the end in Your plans. You have saved us. You will keep us. We are Yours. In Jesus’ name, amen.