Fragment: Twelve Tribes

 •  1 min. read  •  grade level: 5
Owing to Joseph’s two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, being brought-in in place of Joseph-there are thirteen instead of twelve tribes. In speaking of the twelve tribes, one of the thirteen is commonly omitted. Attention may well be called to this; and the inquiry raised on what principle now one, and now another of them is omitted; and why the order is different in different places.
JACOB means Supplanter.
ISRAEL, a Prince with God.
REUBEN, Lo! a son.
SIMEON, Hearing.
LEVI, Union.
JUDAH, Praise.
ZEBULON, Dwelling.
ISSACHAR, Hire.
DAN, Judgment.
GAD, a Troop.
ASHER, Prosperity.
NAPHTALI, Wrestling.
JOSEPH, He shall add.
BENJAMIN, Son of the right hand.
MANASSEH, Forgetting.
EPHRAIM, Fruitful.