Twelve is chiefly connected with Israel in the Word, God dealing with the nation according to the number of its tribes. This gives the character above named, of complete administration, to number 12. In a wider way, this may be seen in the 12 hours of the day, and of the night, and again in the 12 months of the year.
The people are to say "Amen" 12 times to the 12 curses in Deut. 27. The stones in the breastplate are 12 and the loaves on the shewbread table.
Twelve stones were taken out of the Jordan, and 12 lions stood on the steps to Solomon's throne.
The spies sent by Moses in Num. 13, the princes who number Israel (Num. 1), who head the encampment, lead the march through the desert, and make offering when the tabernacle is reared, the priests who bore the ark into Jordan, are all connected with the nation in its entirety and completeness of action accordingly.
2 Sam. 2:15 shows 12 of David's men and 12 of Ishbosheth's men selected for decisive contest, but 12 against 12 is administrative balance, and neither can win, they are all 24 equally victors.
There will be found in the Old Testament, 12 persons named who were anointed with oil (Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar, Lev. 8, Saul, 1 Sam. 10:1, Absalom, 2 Sam. 19:10, David, 1 Sam. 16:13, Solomon, 1 Kings 1:39, Jehu, 2 Kings 9:6, Joash, 2 Kings 11:12, and Jehoahaz, 2 Kings 23:30). (It will be seen that David was first anointed by Samuel, again by "the men of Judah," 2 Sam. 2:4, and again in 2 Sam. 5:3, by the "elders of Israel," Also, in 1 Kings 19:15, Elijah was told by Jehovah to anoint Hazael, Jehu and Elisha, but it is not recorded that he did either, while Jehu was anointed by Elisha's messenger.)
The "avenger of blood" is mentioned 12 times in the text (Num. 35:19, 21, 24, 25, 27 twice, Deut. 19:6,19:12, Josh. 20:3,5,9, and 2 Sam. 14:11).
In the Revelation are many 12's connected with administration, founded on the number of Israel's tribes. The 12 gates of the heavenly Jerusalem carry the names of the tribes, and the "gate" is the place of administration characteristically.