Twelve Tribes

Twelve Tribes, twelve family groups into which the ancient Hebrews were divided. According to the Bible they were descended from and named for ten sons of Jacob and two sons of Joseph. Those descended from Jacob's sons were Asher, Benjamin, Dan, Gad, Issachar, Judah, Naphtali, Reuben, Simeon, and Zebulun; the two from Joseph's sons were Ephraim and Manasseh. When the Hebrews finally reached the Promised Land, they divided the country among these twelve family groups. A thirteenth tribe, Levi, third son of Jacob, had no portion of land set aside for it.