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1. THE TRIBE OF REUBEN: Jacob’s other name is Israel. His offspring are the children of Israel. The founding fathers of Israel are Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Jacob had twelve sons. Each one had enough to form their own tribe. The first son was given birth to by Leah. She named him Reuben. As the oldest son, Reuben was to rule over his brothers (the tribes of Israel) and be the high priest.
Unfortunately, Reuben was a symbol of his attractive but unappreciated mother’s distress. She had spent many years dreading a marriage to Esau, Jacob’s older brother. Several years later she found herself in grief over her husband Jacob’s none appreciation for her. Even with her stunning beauty, his sight for sore eyes was for her younger sister, Rachel, his second wife. God favored Leah by making her fertile while Rachel was barren. Reuben means “God has seen my misery.”
As the oldest son, Reuben was to rule over his brothers (the tribes of Israel)
and be the high priest.”
Reuben was sympathetic to his mother. Jacob had only married her because he thought she was Rachel.”
Polygamy is an accepted practice in Abrahamic teaching. A man is allowed to marry multiple wives, have concubines and also sleep with his wife’s maids. If a husband fathered children with the wife’s maid, those children belonged to the wife. Reuben was the would-be leader of the tribes of Israel until, in spite his father, he slept with his step-mother’s maid. As a result, Jacob stripped Reuben of his birthright. Instead of becoming the ruler and high priest his younger brother was made ruler while another was appointed to the chief priesthood.
Reuben was sympathetic to his mother. Jacob had only married her because he thought she was Rachel. His favoritism for Rachel angered Reuben. Years later, when Rachel died, Jacob moved her maid’s bed close to his, charging that it brought him closer to her. Reuben removed the maid’s bed from his father’s bedroom. His loyalty to his mother, the unappreciated wife, caused tension between him and his father. This led to him being stripped of his rights. As punishment, the tribe of Reuben would never rule.
2. THE TRIBE OF SIMEON: Simeon is Jacob and Leah’s second son. Unsettled with low numbers, this tribe assembled with Ishmael’s descendants. Ishmael is Simeon’s step grand uncle that Abraham had with Sarah’s maid, Haggai. Jacob hated Leah because she was wedded to him through deception. As if karma had come back to bite him for deceiving his father, Isaac and his brother Esau, Jacob did not accept Leah’s love. Leah loved him with all her heart. This is why when she gave birth to a second bouncing baby she named him, Simeon which means, “God sees my suffering.”
When a powerful pagan king from Canaan by the name of Shechem fell in love with Dinah he lured her to his palace and captured her.”
This was her celebration of Yahweh’s acknowledgment of her agony, a reward of the one thing Rachel couldn’t have – children. Simeon also had a beautiful sister by the name of Dinah. She was Leah and Jacob’s daughter. Dinah was so beautiful, rich and powerful kings and princes came from afar to ask for her hand in marriage. But, they were all turned away when they refused to convert to Judaism. The children of Israel were avowed to only marry people who would convert to Judaism and honor its teachings.
When a mighty pagan king from Canaan by the name of Shechem fell in love with Dinah, he lured her to his palace and captured her. While in captivity, the Prince seduced forged a relationship with and ravaged her. During those times men only marry virgins. Shechem thought that by sleeping with Dinah she no other man would want her and this would leave her for him to have. Shechem, whose vast city was named after him, wanted Dinah to be one of his princesses.
Be that as it may, Simeon took offense of this. He recruited Levi and invited Shechem to a sit-down. At the sit down he informed the Prince he could marry his sister once he converted his kingdom to Judaism and the men became circumcised. Shechem agreed, converted his people to Judaism and ordered his men to get circumcised. Being freshly circumcised, the men were in no condition to fight. This temporary weakness gave Simeon a window of opportunity. He attacked and killed Prince Shechem and his men. Simeon also stole Shechem’s wealth and kept it for himself.
Being freshly circumcised, the men were in no condition to fight. This temporary weakness gave Simeon a window of opportunity.”
At this time, the people of Israel were nothing but a large family. Attacking an established kingdom like Shechem, for revenge, may have been noble but it endangered Jacob and his household. At this time, Israel had no army. As a result of this reckless behavior, Jacob put a curse on Simeon. His tribe will be one of division and misfortune. Simeon was fearless in his approach, adopting his father’s deceitful ways to accomplish his goals but he was also envious and hateful. Years later, when Rachel finally had a child, due to Jacob’s love for him, Simeon connived against him because Jacob loved him more than the others. He was jealous and often bullied his stepbrother. He eventually concocted a scheme to have him sold away so Rachel won’t have him. Due to Jacob’s curse, Simeon’s house came to be known as one of misfortune.
3. THE TRIBE OF LEVITES: Levi was the third son of Jacob and his wife, Leah. She was the beautiful bride who was supposed to marry Jacob’s older brother Esau. When Esau lost his birthright after being conned by his brother, Jacob ended up marrying Leah. She had cried for years, praying to marry Jacob instead of his brother Esau. Sadly, Jacob was hopelessly in love with Rachel. He was promised that if he worked six years on her father’s farm, he could marry her.
He showed her no affection. Leah’s grief continued.”
After six years on the farm, Rachel’s father tricked Jacob at the wedding. Jacob didn’t realize until after the wedding that he had married Leah instead. Arguing that it is wrong for a younger sister to marry before her older sister, the father gave Jacob an option to marry Rachel later. A disgruntle Jacob took Leah who was happy to see her prayers answered. He showed her no affection. Leah’s grief continued. Moreover, Jacob still wanted Rachel, so he returned to the farm and worked for another six years. On the sixth year, Jacob married Rachael, the girl of his dreams. Unfortunately for him, she turned out to be barren. This made him love her even more.
All of Levi’s descendants became known as Levites or priests.”
Leah hoped Jacob would become closer to her since Rachael was barren, but he remained desperately in love with Rachel. This is why when she gave birth to a third son, she named him Levi, which means, “he will join with me.” Leah hoped Jacob would join her in love. When Reuben slept with Rachel’s maid (with whom Jacob later fathered two children), the responsibility of priesthood was transferred to Levi. All of Levi’s descendants became known as Levites or priests.
The Jewish nation is a large family developed from a promise their God (Yahweh) made to Abraham. Levites are expected to upkeep the temple and administer to the spiritual needs of the people. Prophets such as Moses and his brother Aaron were both from the tribe of Levi. For joining his older brother Simeon in the destruction of Shechem, stealing his wealth and killing the freshly circumcised Prince and for recklessly endangering the children of Israel, Jacob also put a curse on the house of Levi. He was cursed with the same affliction as Simeon. Anyhow, Levites remained the ordained tribe of the priesthood.
4. THE TRIBE OF JUDAH: When Leah gave birth to her fourth son she named him Judah – which means “now I will praise God.” With her fourth son, Leah was confident that she had outdone her sister. Having four of Jacob’s sons while Rachel was childless meant her love was in his heart; even if he didn’t show it. She praised God for winning his love. Judah grew up the strongest of all his brothers. Often depicted as a roaring lion, he was not only crowned the ruler of Israel with his own Kingdom of Judah placed within Israel, his descendants were promised they would be kings – from David to Solomon through to the promised Messiah.
Judah rules over God’s people. He is the ruler of the twelve tribes of Israel. Judah was given this blessing, due to a curse that was put on Reuben, the firstborn. The descendants of Reuben would have enjoyed this is reign had Reuben not committed incest with Rachel’s maid – Bilhah. Reuben had slept with her to get back at his father because he had not favored his mother. Reuben, Simeon, and Levi had each angered their father and received generational curses. Judah, however, was blessed. He was the spokesman for Jacob and all the people of Israel.
Today, the tribe of Judah is the most popular of all the tribes.”
When his elder brother, Simeon tried to influence them to kill Joseph, their half-brother, it was Judah who saved Joseph’s life by offering to sell him instead. Years later, when Joseph was discovered in Egypt, Judah gave himself for Benjamin to return to Jacob. Judah had one wife and three children. He also fathered a set of twins with a concubine. Today, the tribe of Judah is the most popular of all the tribes. The strength and blessing of Judah are coveted by many who admire his image. Judah was loved to the point that when he died his tomb became a monument. He’s only of the twelve who’s grave is where pilgrims from several faiths pay respects.
After Leah gave birth to Judah, Rachel felt God was punishing her. She offered her maid, Bilhah, to Jacob.”
5. THE TRIBE OF DAN: Jacob’s second and most beloved wife was desperate to have children. He had loved and spoiled her rotten. She was once cheated from his hand in marriage, but he returned to claim her for the second time. After Leah gave birth to Judah, Rachel felt God was punishing her. She offered her maid, Bilhah, to Jacob. It was customary for a wife to have personal maids and for the wife’s maid to substitute her in bed with the husband and even provide children on her behalf. Jacob slept with Bilhah, she became pregnant and gave birth to a son. Rachel named him Dan – meaning “God has judged me.”
Although Dan was Bilhah’s biological son, since she was Rachel’s maid Dan belonged to Rachel. He grew up to become the evilest son of them all. Some believe the anti-Christ will come from the tribe of Dan. He was known to worship pagan gods in violation of Jewish customs. All the same, Jacob’s blind love for Rachel caused him to bless Dan even though he was arguably the black sheep of the family. Jacob put Dan as judge over Israel also thought he was so evil, they used a serpent to describe him.
He was known to worship pagan gods in violation of Jewish customs.”
When Simeon concocted the plot to kill Joseph, Dan devised the plan to dip Joseph’s clothes in goat blood so they could deceive their father that Joseph was killed by a wild animal. Dan was one of the leading ringleaders in the conspiracy to kill Joseph. Had Judah not intervened, Joseph would have been left to die in a pit with no food or water. In fear of his father’s wrath, Ruben planned to rescue Joseph from the hole and return him to home, but the brothers sold him before Reuben could do that. With Rachel’s love, Dan was granted one of the most critical positions in Israel.
6. THE TRIBE OF NAPHTALI: At a time when providing a male heir to a man’s household was the primary duty of a woman, Jacobs unending love for Rachel meant less than her desire to bear his child. Especially since her sister Leah had conceived four of his sons. She planned to use her maid to carry children on her behalf, and it worked. Once again, Rachel offered Bilhah to Jacob. This time Jacob saw the birth of his sixth son. Rachel named him Naphtali – which means “my struggle.” At this point, the women were in full rivalry. Though they were sisters and maids of the sisters, each one wanted to bear a child for Jacob. With two sons, Bilhah was now his principal concubine.
This time Jacob saw the birth of his sixth son. Rachel named him Naphtali – which means “my struggle.”
Bilhah was proud that she had given birth to two of Jacob’s sons, even if they were born on Rachel’s behalf. Naphtali grew into an athletic and energetic man. He was known as the fastest runner. For this reason, they likened him to a deer and gave him the responsibility of leading the army. Naphtali lived a quiet life. He deviated from Yahweh’s teachings at one point and pronounced some curses of his own. – “Cursed is the man who kills his neighbor secretly,” “Cursed is the man who withholds justice from the fatherless or the widow,” “cursed it the man who moves his neighbor’s boundary stone.”
While the children of Naphtali led, the children of Gad were the warriors.”
7. THE TRIBE OF GAD: When Leah saw that Rachel had turned her maid into Jacob’s childbearing concubine, she decided to offer her maid to Jacob as well. Leah’s revenge for not being the favorite wife was to give birth. Now Rachel was using her maid to have children, so Leah decided to do the same. That way she won’t be outdone by Rachel who already had Jacob’s, heart. Eventually, the maids, who were also stepsisters born out of wedlock to Leah and Rachel’s father, Laban, went from being maids to becoming Jacobs concubines. His seventh son was on the way.
Jacob eventually married Bilhah and Leah’s maid Zilpah, totaling his wives to four. Leah named Zilpah’s first son Gad – which means “good luck.” Gad was solid; he helped his brother Naphtali with the army. Every country needs a fierce warrior tribe.
Gad was that tribe. While the children of Naphtali led, the children of Gad were the warriors. Gad provided the troops. It is said that “raiders will raid Gad, but he will raid at their heels.” This means enemies ran when they had an encounter with Gad. Moses described Gad as the ‘blessed tribe,’ saying, “Gad lives like a lion, tearing at arms or heads.”
Leah and her maid both bore children.”
8. THE TRIBE OF ASHER: Once again Leah offered her maid to Jacob. This time when the maid bore a son, Leah named him Asher – which means “happy.” When Asher grew up, he became a very successful agriculturist. Asher is said to “come with the richest food; he provides the king’s delights.” Asher was blessed with enormous wealth. Even though polygamy was customary, Jacob still only loved one woman, and she was Rachel. If it were up to him, Leah would still be living with her father, unmarried with no children and he would be with Rachel. In his quest to marry Rachel he had been tricked to have Leah as well.
Jacob ended up having both sisters, yet the one he loved was unable to bear his children. Rachel believed God blocked her womb because Jacob adores her. In desperation to keep up with her sister who had given birth to four sons, she used her maid to bear children on her behalf. This plan backfired after the maid’s second son since Leah soon offered her maid to Jacob. Leah and her maid both bore children. The maids became Jacob’s concubines, and later they became wives number three and four. The tribe of Asher is the farmers of Israel. They supplied the culinary needs of God’s people.
9. THE TRIBE OF ISSACHAR: The degree to which Abraham’s monotheistic traditions changed the world can be traced back to this Middle Eastern time. Christians, Muslims, and Jews equal more than a third of humankind on earth today. This is practically a fulfillment of God’s promise. Leah was blessed, she may have spent many years with a broken heart, but she was rewarded with fertility. After Jacob married Bilhah and Zilpah, Leah became pregnant with her fifth son. She named him, Issachar, which means, “Reward.”
This is practically a fulfillment of God’s promise.”
Leah’s side of the household celebrated their seventh baby boy while Rachel’s had celebrated only two. Both of whom were given birth to by Bilhah, Rachel’s former maid. Issachar grew up into a man of profound intellect. His children are scholars and inventors. These are the backbone of society; the attorneys, doctors, astronauts, astrologers, poets, writers, scientists, mathematicians and scholars of all subjects. Issachar is said to be “a rawboned donkey, lying down between two burdens; and the land was pleasant; He bowed his shoulder to bear the burden.” Issachar is a man of reward.
Yahweh’s promise led the people on a journey – filled with blessings and curses.”
These twelve tribes began with prophetic names given to sons by their mothers. The blessing of each tribe was described in prophetic blessings bestowed at their father’s deathbed. Moses parted the red sea; Joshua brought down the walls of Jericho; Daniel survived in the lion’s den, Elijah went up in a chariot of fire, etc. Yahweh’s promise led the people on a journey – filled with blessings and curses. Jesus Christ is arguably the most popular and yet most controversial religious figure of this lineage. He’s a Jew. The anti-Christ is going to be a Jew.
A majority of Christ’s disciples and apostles were Jews. This majestic bloodline principle from Abraham to Judah and then David to Solomon is the same moniker used by Kingdoms in Europe, Saudi Arabia and parts of Africa today. This is the same bloodline the Jamaicans recognized in the Emperor Salasi the first of Ethiopia when they traced his lineage to King Solomon and identified him as the lion of the tribe of Judah. This is because King Solomon is from the tribe of Judah. This shows the significance for Leah and Rachel to provide offspring for Israel.
10. THE TRIBE OF ZEBULUN: Leah spent her years striving to prove her worth. She was the first daughter of Laban. Even so, Jacob received her with disappointment because she was not his favorite. Rachael had difficulty bearing children. Nonetheless, he adored her. This is why when Leah got pregnant for the sixth time and gave birth to yet another bouncing baby boy, she named him Zebulun – which means “my honor.” Zebulun, the youngest of Leah’s sons, grew into a man who worked at sea. He ran fleets, docks, ports, and harbors. He conducted war at sea. His tribe provided warriors that fend off sea attacks.
…she named him Zebulun – which means “my honor.”
They are fishermen, marine, quarry or Navy men and women. They controlled a symbolic lighthouse and maintained the harbor. Leah’s revenge for being unappreciated was to give Jacob six sons that carried his name, six sons who accounted for six of the twelve tribes of Israel. It would be she, the despised wife, who gave Jacob his heir. With Zebulun, Leah said, “God has presented me with great honor, this time my husband will treat me with honor, because I have borne him six sons” – Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun. Her former maid also borne two sons on her behalf – accounting for two more tribes, Gad and Asher.
After Zebulun Leah got pregnant for the seventh time and gave birth to Jacob’s only daughter, Dinah. In years to come, Dinah would grow into the beautiful damsel who kings and princes yearned to marry. When a bold Prince lured her to his castle, he ravaged her to defile her so he could marry her. However, Simeon and Levi, her older brothers took offense and avenged her by tricking the Prince and killing him for the rape of their sister. Zebulun also pronounced curses. – “Cursed is the man who does not uphold the law by carrying them out,” “Cursed is the man who withholds justice from the alien, the fatherless or the widow,” “Cursed is the man who carves an image or casts an idol – a thing detestable to the Lord…” It is said that “Zebulun shall settle the seashores; he will be a harbor for ships.”
11. THE TRIBE OF JOSEPH: As the story goes, Jacob was in his old age when Rachel finally conceived. She gave birth to a son; it was as if he had never had any children. Humiliation from her sister’s gloating with each of her sons had come to an end. Rachel had finally conceived. She named him Joseph – which means “double or multiply.” Rachel said, “God has taken away my shame.” She called him Joseph because she was now a plus one – doubled. Jacob did not only love Joseph because he was Rachel’s son, but he also loved him more than all his brothers because Joseph was born to him in his old age. He grew up a shepherd who could interpret dreams and foretell the future. His father favored him saying Joseph is a “prince among his brothers,” then he made a unique ‘coat of colors’ for him.
He was a slave whose master’s wife seduced him but when he refused to have sex with her she accused him of sexual harassment.”
This led to jealousy and caused his brothers to sell him away to Egypt, dip his ‘coat of colors’ in goat blood and lie to their father that he was killed by wolves while minding sheep in the wilderness. After this, Joseph went through much suffering. He was a slave whose master’s wife seduced him, but when he refused to have sex with her, she accused him of sexual harassment. Joseph was a prisoner for more than twenty years before his gift of fortune telling, and dream interpretation was finally recognized. After that, he rose to prominence in Egypt. During severe farming, which he had predicted, his brothers went to Egypt in search of food. To their amazement, Joseph was in high authority there. He arranged for a reunion with his father.
His mother, Rachel had died in his absence. She died while giving birth to Benjamin. Jacob and Rachel thought Joseph was dead. Living with that grief for many years, Jacob never let Benjamin out of his sight. The reunion of Joseph and his father, Jacob was one of the firm hugs, bent knees and a teary admission of despair. Joseph was now married to Pharaoh’s daughter. They had two sons – Ephraim and Manasseh. Because of his suffering and his father’s tremendous love and gratitude for his return, Jacob gave Joseph a double blessing.
The right of the first born was also transferred to Joseph and his son Ephraim.”
Just like his name means to multiply, the tribe of Joseph is two tribes in one. Both of Joseph’s sons – Ephraim and Manasseh became a tribe. If you do the math, all eleven clans plus Joseph’s two tribes give you thirteen tribes in total. But the tribe of Levites is in the priesthood. This role puts Manasseh and Ephraim on a list where Joseph is not directly listed as a tribe. The right of the firstborn was also transferred to Joseph and his son Ephraim. Joseph became a leader to his brothers. His dreams came through. His father, mother and all eleven brothers bowed to him – the second in command of Egypt.
Then there was Joseph, the eleventh son who Jacob called his “Prince.”
12. THE TRIBE OF BENJAMIN: The house of Israel was overwhelmed with jealousy and grief, but it was also filled with the blessings of God. From the time Rachel became Jacob’s favorite, tensions only got higher. If Leah had a baby when Rachel couldn’t, her maid got even. If Rachel’s maid had two sons, Leah’s will also. To spite his father for not appreciating his mother, Ruben slept with Bilhah, his stepmother. Simeon (Leah’s second son) attacked a great Prince in revenge for his sister and recklessly endangered their outnumbered family. Then there was Joseph, the eleventh son who Jacob called his “Prince.” Simeon and Dan’s hatred was so intense; they convinced the rest of their brothers to partake in an elaborate scheme to kill him. Jacob being deceived yet again sunk into permanent despair grieving with Rachel over the supposed death of their only son together.
Miraculously, Rachel conceived again. Only this time, she died during childbirth. Her second son was born of great sorrow. First Jacob lost Joseph, his favorite son; and then Rachel, his beloved wife. Before she died, she named him Benoni – meaning, “the son of my misery.” After she died, Benoni became the only joy in Jacob’s life. He was renamed – Benjamin – which means “my right hand.” Jacob vowed to never let Benjamin out of his sight. Benjamin was confined to his father’s presence, never allowed to leave his view for fear that something terrible might happen to him. Jacob’s sorrows were not lifted until after his reunion with Joseph, who had become an Egyptian ruler.
He was renamed – Benjamin – which means “my right hand.” Jacob vowed to never let Benjamin out of his sight.”
Next, to Joseph, his favorite son, Jacob also loved Benjamin very profoundly. Benjamin is Jacob’s twelfth son. During the famine, when the brothers went in search of food in Egypt, Joseph put a silver cup in Benjamin’s sack and accused the brothers of stealing it. Joseph feared for Benjamin’s safety and preferred if he remained with him in Egypt. Judah put himself forward to take Benjamin’s place, charging that their father would be devastated if Benjamin didn’t return. After Joseph and Jacob’s reunion, Benjamin was said to be “a vicious wolf, devouring the prey in the morning, and dividing the spoils at night.” Being the last brother and the smallest tribe, many great warriors came from the tribe of Benjamin.*
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So you must be on Israel side but you express much love for muslims as well. You love middle easterns