...continues from Israel:

...The twelve tribes.of ancient Israel.(see map).comprised those of the nine and one-half tribes until they split:.Numbers 34:14,15.

The twelve tribes included.descendents of Joseph, who had two sons Ephraim and Manasseh:.Genesis 48:17-20. 

The twelve tribes were all out of their father Jacob, whose name was changed by God to the name Israel. Each tribe had their own land.

These twelve children of Jacob/Israel all turned into huge tribes:.Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Dan, Gad, Asher, Naphtali, Joseph.(the land of the tribe of Joseph {Genesis 48:1-20} was passed onto his two sons Ephraim and Manasseh), Benjamin.

The different characteristics of each son were evident in the individual tribes that eventually expanded from each one of them as they grew in numbers. The characteristics of each tribe are listed here:.Genesis 49:1-28.

Never worry about who your ancestors may have been. Why?.Galatians 3:28 "There is neither one of Hebrew nor Greek origin, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Emmanuel."

Comprised with.American Tract Society Bible Dictionary:."Jacob whose name was changed from Jacob to the name of Israel, had twelve sons who were heads of so many families, which together formed a great nation, each of these families was called a tribe. But this patriarch on his death-bed adopted Ephraim and Manasseh, the two sons of Joseph and would have them also to constitute two tribes in Israel:.Genesis 48:5. 

Instead of twelve tribes, there were now thirteen, that of Joseph being two because of his sons Ephraim and Manasseh's blessing by Joseph's dad:.Genesis 48:17-20. However, in the distribution of lands by Joshua under the order of God, they reckoned but twelve tribes and made but twelve lots. The tribe of Levi, being appointed to the sacred service, had no share in the distribution of the land, but received certain cities to dwell in, with the first-fruits, tithes, etc. of the people. Each tribe had its own leaders and tribunals and the whole twelve, in their early history, constituted a republic somewhat resembling the United States of America. In the division made by Joshua of the land of Canaan, Reuben, Gad and half of the tribe of Manasseh had their lot beyond Jordan, east. All the other tribes and the remaining half of Manasseh had their distribution on this side the river, the west side. 

The twelve tribes continued united as one state, one people and one monarchy, till after the death of Solomon, when ten of the tribes revolted and became the nation of Israel.(the other 2 became known as Judah)."

The tribes became scattered all throughout the world and are now to a great extent in the commonwealth countries and the United States, predominantly being Manasseh, with England being Ephraim.

Comprised with.New and Concise Bible Dictionary:."In seven passages a list of the twelve tribes is given, but the order of the names varies in each. Some of the passages list them by birth or by heads of tribes or by blessed by Jacob or by blessed by Moses or by dividing of the land or by north to south division, etc. After the tribe of.Levi.was separated for the priesthood, the number twelve was maintained by Ephraim and Manasseh being mentioned instead of Joseph. In Numbers 1:1-44 there are two lists of the tribes. One being the heads of the tribes, the other when the tribes were numbered to see how many were in each.

Genesis 49:2-4 "Gather yourselves together and hear, you sons of Jacob and hearken unto Israel your father.(above a bit). Reuben, you are my firstborn.(eldest son of Jacob and Leah), my might and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity and the excellency of power; Unstable as water, you shalt not excel, because you went up to your father's bed then defiled it. He went up to my couch.".Rest of the story on the twelve tribes of Israel:.Genesis 49:5-28.

Following here are the rest of the sons:

Simeon:.Second son of Jacob by Leah, whose descendents were called the Simeonites.

Comprised from American Tract Society: 'born in Mesopotamia, Levi was third son of Jacob by Leah; Levi was also father of three sons and of Jochebed the mother of Moses:.Genesis 29:34; Exodus 6:16-20; though none of the sons of Jacob whose descendants became tribes and whose three sons became the Levitical priesthood, were consistently honorable, the Creator nevertheless made an agreement with Levi:.Malachi 2:4-7. 

The tribe of Levi was, according to Jacob's prediction, scattered over all Israel and the tribe of Judah, when it later split from Israel, was also scattered; the tribe of Levi, had no share in the cities like the portions given to other tribes.

Genesis 49:5-7 "Simeon and Levi.(Levi is below a bit on page).are brethren. Instruments of cruelty are in their habitations. O my soul, come not you into their secret, unto their assembly, mine honour, be not you united. For in their anger they slew a man and in their selfwill they digged down a wall. Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce and their wrath, for it was cruel. I will divide them in Jacob and scatter them in Israel.

Judah:.Judah was the fourth son of Jacob by Leah.

Genesis 49:8-12 "Judah, you are he whom your brethren shall praise. Thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies. Your father's children shall bow down before you. Judah is a lion's whelp. From the prey, my son, you are gone up. He stooped down, he couched as a lion and as an old lion, who shall rouse him up? The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. Binding his foal unto the vine and his ass's colt unto the choice vine. He washed his garments in wine and his clothes in the blood of grapes. His eyes shall be red with wine and his teeth white with milk."

Issachar:.was Jacob's fifth son by Leah.

Genesis 49:14,15 "Issachar is a strong ass couching down between two burdens. And he saw that rest was good and the land that it was pleasant and bowed his shoulder to bear and became a servant unto tribute."

Zebulun:.was sixth and youngest son of Jacob and Leah.

Genesis 49:13 "Zebulun shall dwell at the haven of the sea and he shall be for an haven of ships and his border shall be unto Zidon." 

Dan:.a son of Jacob by Bilhah, Leah's handmaid, from whom came the Danish people.(Judges 18:1).with even today on their flag is the mark of Dan.

Genesis 49:16-18 "Dan shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel. Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path, that bites the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backward. I have waited for your salvation, O God."

Gad:.a son of Jacob by Zilpah, Leah's handmaid, who grew into the tribe called the Gadites.

Genesis 49:19 "Gad, a troop shall overcome him, but he shall overcome at the last."

Asher.(a son of Jacob by Zilpah, Leah's handmaid): Genesis 30:12,13; Deuteronomy 33:24,25; Genesis 49:20 "Out of Asher his bread shall be fat and he shall yield royal dainties."

There was also an Asshur.(also spelt Ashur or Assur), from whom the ancient nation of Assyria is traced.

Naphtali:.a son of Jacob by Bilhah. His name means 'a hind let loose' and 'he gives goodly words. One of his sons was Shillem.(Genesis 46:24), also called Shallum. There were many Shallums.

Genesis 49:21 "Naphtali is a hind let loose. He gives goodly words."

Joseph:.was the eleventh son of Jacob and first of Rachel. He was the elder of Rachel's two sons, Joseph and Benjamin, by Jacob:.Genesis 37:3,4,8. Joseph was born approximately B.C.E. 1747 and died in B.C.E. 1637 at the age of 110.

Genesis 49:22-26 "Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well whose branches run over the wall. The archers have sorely grieved him and shot at him and hated him. But his bow abode in strength and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob, from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel. Even by the God of thy father, who shall help thee and by the Almighty, who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lieth under, blessings of the breasts and of the womb. The blessings of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills. They shall be on the head of Joseph and on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren."

Levi.(comprised from.Easton's Bible Dictionary): descendants of the tribe of Levi were called the Levites:.Exodus 6:25; Leviticus 25:32; Numbers 35:1,2; Joshua 21:3,41. This name is, however, generally used as the title of that portion of the tribe which was set apart for the subordinate offices of the sanctuary service.(1Kings 8:4; Ezra 2:70), as assistants to the Levitical priests.

When the Israelites left Egypt, the ancient manner of worship was still observed by them, the eldest son of each house inheriting the priest's office. At Sinai the first change in this ancient practice was made. A hereditary priesthood in the family of Aaron was then instituted:.Exodus 28:1. But it was not till that terrible scene in connection with the sin of the golden calf that the tribe of Levi stood apart and began to occupy a distinct position:.Exodus 32. The religious primogeniture.(first born).was then conferred on this tribe, which henceforth was devoted to the service of the sanctuary:.Numbers 3:11-13. They were selected for this purpose because of their zeal for the glory of God.(Exodus 32:26).and because, as the tribe to which Moses and Aaron belonged, they would naturally stand by the lawgiver in his work. 

The Levitical order consisted of all the descendants of Levi's three sons, Gershon, Kohath and Merari; whilst Aaron, Amram's son.(Amram, son of Kohat).and his issue constituted the priestly order. 

The age and qualification for Levitical service are specified in Numbers 4:3,23,29,30,etc. 

The Levites were not included among the armies of Israel, but were reckoned by themselves:.Numbers 1:45-47; 2:33; 26:62. They were the special guardians of the tabernacle:.Numbers 1:51; 18:21-24. The Gershonites.(Ezra 2:70).pitched their tents on the west of the tabernacle.(Numbers 3:23), the Kohathites on the south.(Numbers 3:29), the Merarites on the north.(Numbers 3:35).and the priests on the east:.Numbers 3:38. It was their duty to move the tent and carry the parts of the sacred structure from place to place. The Levites were given to Aaron and his sons the priests to wait upon them and do work for them at the sanctuary services:.Numbers 8:19; 18:2-6.

As being wholly.consecrated to the service of the Lord, they had no territorial possessions. Jehovah was their inheritance.(Numbers 18:20; 26:62; Deuteronomy 10:9; 18:1,2).and for their support it was ordained that they should receive from the other tribes the tithes of the produce of the land. Forty eight cities also were assigned to them, thirteen of which were for the priests to dwell in, i.e., along with their other inhabitants. Along with their dwellings they had suburbs, i.e., commons, for their herds and flocks and also fields and vineyards:.Numbers 35:2-5. Nine of these cities were in Judah, three in Naphtali and four in each of the other tribes:.Joshua 21st chapter. 

Six of the Levitical cities were set apart as "cities of refuge". Thus the Levites were scattered among the tribes to keep alive among them the knowledge and service of God.....continues to Benjamin