45.  THE ORDER AND GROUPING
OF THE TWELVE TRIBES.



There are twenty different lists given of the Twelve Tribes.  These vary according to the different objects with which they are given, and the different connection in which they stand, according to birth :  mothers, encampment, numeration, blessing, geographical relation, &c.  All are worthy of attention and study (*1).  They may be thus presented :--



I.  GENESIS.
 
 
29, 35
46

49
1. Reuben    
2. Simeon    
3.  Levi    
4.  Judah    
5.  Dan Issachar Zebulun
6.  Naphtali Zebulun Issachar
7. Gad   Dan
8. Asher   Gad
9. Issachar Joseph Asher
10. Zebulun Benj. Naphtali
11. Joseph Dan Joseph
12. Benj. Naphtali Benj.
13.      
14.      


II.  EXODUS.
 
 
1
1.  
2.  
3.   
4.  
5. Issachar
6. Zebulun 
7. Benj.
8. Dan
9. Naphtali
10. Gad
11. Asher
12. *
13.  
14.  


III.  NUMBERS.
 
 
1:1-15
1:20-43
2:7, 10
13
26
34
1. Reuben Reuben Judah Reuben Reuben ‡
2. Simeon Simeon Issachar Simeon Simeon Judah
3. Judah Gad Zebulun Judah Gad  
4. Issachar Judah Reuben Issachar Judah Simeon
5. Zebulun Issachar Simeon Ephraim Issachar Benj.
6. Ephraim Zebulun Gad Benj. Zebulun Dan
7. Man. Ephraim Ephraim Zebulun Man. Man.
8. Benj. Man. Man. Man. Ephraim Ephraim
9. Dan Benj. Benj. Dan Benj. Zebulun
10. Asher Dan Dan Asher Dan Issachar
11. Gad Asher Asher Naphtali Asher Asher
12. Naphtali Naphtali Naphtali Gad Naphtali Naphtali
13. † † ‡ † † ||
14.            


IV.  DEUTERONOMY.
 
 
27
33
1. Simeon Reuben
2. Levi Judah
3. Judah Levi
4. Issachar Benj.
5. Joseph Joseph
6. Benj. Zebulun
7. Reuben Issachar
8. Gad Gad
9. Asher Dan
10. Zebulun Naphtali
11. Dan Asher
12. Naphtali  
13.   §
14.    


V.  JOSHUA.
 
 
13, &c.
1. Reuben
2. Gad
3. Man. E.
4. Judah
5. Ephraim
6. Man. W.
7. Benj
8. Simeon
9. Zebulun
10. Issachar
11. Asher
12. Naphtali
13. Dan
14. §§


VI.  JUDGES.
 
 
5
1. Ephraim
2. Benjamin
3. Machir = Man
4.  
5. Zebulun
6. Issachar
7.  Reuben
8.  
9. Gilead = Gad
10. Dan
11. Asher
12. Zebulun
13. Naphtali
14.


VII.  1 CHRONICLES.
 
 
2:1-
2:3-8
12
27
1. Reuben Judah Judah Reuben
2. Simeon Simeon Simeon Simeon
3. Levi Reuben Levi Levi
4. Judah Gad Benj. Aaron = Levi
5. Issachar Man. E. Ephraim Judah
6. Zebulun Levi Man. E. Issachar
7. Dan Issachar Issachar Zebulun
8. Joseph Benj. Zebulun Naphtali
9. Benj. Naphtali Naphtali Ephraim
10. Naphtali Man. W. Dan Man. W.
11. Gad Ephraim Asher Man. E.
12. Asher Asher Reuben Benjamin
13.     Gad Dan
14.   ** Man. W. ††


VIII.  EZEKIEL.
 
 
48
1. Dan
2. Asher
3. Naphtali
4. Man.
5. Ephraim
6. Reuben
7. Judah
8. Levi
9. Benj.
10. Simeon
11. Issachar
12. Zebulun
13. Gad
14.  


IX.  REVELATION.
 
 
7
1. Judah
2. Reuben
3. Gad
4. Asher
5. Naphtali
6. Man.
7. Simeon
8. Levi
9. Issachar
10. Zebulun
11. Joseph
12. Benj.
13.  
14. ‡‡



*  Joseph omitted, he being in Egypt.

†  Levi omitted.

‡  This is the only order which occurs three times.  Levi mentioned in ch. 2:17 after Gad.  The order is that of importance.

||  Eastern Tribes omitted.

§  Simeon omitted.  Benjamin before Joseph, because the order is geographical.

§§  Here the Tribes are in the four groups which are to furnish cities for the four classes of Priests.

  Judah and Simeon omitted.

**  Zebulun and Dan omitted, unless Dan is read in 7:12.

††  Gad and Asher omitted.

‡‡  Dan omitted.





(*1)  Two orders mentioned but not detailed. 
(1) The order "according to birth", on the two stones of the High Priest's shoulders (the place of strength). 
(2)  The order on the twelve stones of the High Priest's breastplate (the place of love).  This was according to their tribes, as chosen by Jehovah's love.




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