Twelve Tribes

Dictionary of Biblical Words:

Easy though it may appear to enumerate these, the way the number twelve is preserved constantly varies, from the fact that Joseph is divided into two—Ephraim and Manasseh, thus making thirteen. To counterbalance this, Levi was given to the Lord, and had no territorial possessions except forty-eight cities. Still it is sometimes enumerated and some other left out. The remnant of two of the tribes only were left in the land at the time of the Lord, ten having been carried away entirely; and probably exist as some obscure people somewhere in small numbers, which will rapidly increase before they return to their own land at the beginning of the millennium. These ten tribes, having had no share in crucifying Christ, will not suffer under the reign of Antichrist. It is remarkable to see the faith of James in writing to the whole twelve tribes at a time when even the two were almost gone. So Elijah also builds his altar on. Mount Carmel with twelve stones.

Concise Bible Dictionary:

See TRIBES.