writer, however, when speaking of the order of the names of the twelve tribes, makes the

observation, "There are no two cases in the whole Bible where the order and number are

the same". The following table may be useful as a guide to the underlying reasons for

this variation of what at first would seem to be a fixed subject:-- (see next page)

We have not attempted to set out all the lists that occur in the Scriptures as the above

(next page) will be sufficient for our purpose. The first, the order of birth, needs no

comment.  Where the order differs from this one, however, an explanation seems

necessary. The omission of Levi from four of the lists (Nos. 4-7) is explained in

Josh. 18: 7, "The Levites have no part among you, for the priesthood of the Lord is

their inheritance". These four lists deal with the earthly inheritance. Levi finds a place in

No. 8 which deals with the heavenly inheritance. Ephraim is omitted in No. 8, but

Joseph is named, while in Nos. 4-7 Joseph is omitted, Numb. 13: 11 explaining the

omission of Joseph's names, "Of the tribe Joseph, namely, of the tribe of Manasseh".

This also would stand good in an opposite sense in No. 8, and Joseph would there stand

for Ephraim, Manasseh being mentioned by name, the omission of Simeon from the

blessing of Moses is unexplained in the narrative, and so far as we know is unexplained

by any interpretation of Scripture.

Why is Dan omitted from No. 8? The sealing was that all the tribes of the children

of Israel (Rev. 7: 4). Dan is by no means excluded from blessing, as may be seen in

No. 7, for the very first to be assigned its portion is this tribe. Dan was the first tribe to

set up idolatry after the entry into the land, but it must not be forgotten that before Dan's

image was made Aaron and all the tribes had been involved in the matter of the golden

calf. Again, while Dan may have been the first to lapse into idolatry, what tribe is there

that is clear from that sin?

The promises of the Revelation are addressed to persons, and are related to personal

actions; they take no account of either the good or the bad record of the person's

ancestry. It is essentially "to HIM that overcometh". It may seem strange that not one

individual of the tribe of Dan should have been found worthy to receive the seal of the

living God, but it is possible that in the light of the fulfilment of this passage abundant

reason will be found. If, as some believe, Antichrist is to be of the tribe of Dan, that

would possibly have some influence on the tribe as a whole, but this has to be proved,

and we prefer to wait. We do not expect to see the fulfilment of this passage, believing

that the blessed hope of the calling wherewith we have been called will have been

realized before the day of the Lord sets in: the church of the one body has no promise that

any of its members will be sealed in their foreheads, but the same principle obtains in this

dispensation as in that of the Revelation, as the teaching of Phil. 3: bears witness.