The Lord Be with You

How many tribes are there in Israel? Twelve, right?
Sort of.

But in another sense there are 13 – or even 14! Manasseh and Ephraim are added to the 12 sons of Israel – which makes 14. But since Manasseh and Ephraim are the “double portion” of Joseph, they replace Joseph (in most lists), which still leaves 13.

The land, for instance, is apportioned among twelve tribes – with Levi left out. Joshua 13-19 recounts twelve tribes that received land. Here Levi is the thirteenth tribe!

But in other accounts, Simeon is melded into Judah and Levi is the twelfth tribe.

And in Revelation 7 Dan is omitted and Joseph named in place of Ephraim!

We'll look at the blessing of the twelve tribes more next week, but today we are looking at how Manasseh and Ephraim are added to the sons of Jacob. Jacob claims them as his own sons.

And in so doing, Jacob gives to Joseph the “double portion” of the firstborn...