Twelve Tribes - Definition and Overview

This is a list of the Tribes of Israel.

Although there are always said to be twelve tribes, there are fourteen names. This is because there are two different lists, each of twelve, and four of these names each only appear in one of the two lists.

The simple list of the sons of Jacob, also known as Israel, includes Joseph and Levi. The traditional list of the twelve tribes, however, omits these two names and includes instead Joseph's two sons Ephraim and Manasseh.

• Tribe of Reuben
• Tribe of Simeon
• Tribe of Levi (the Levites served as priests and had no land)
• Tribe of Judah
• Tribe of Issachar
• Tribe of Zebulun
• Tribe of Dan
• Tribe of Gad
• Tribe of Napthali
• Tribe of Asher
• Tribe of Joseph (Also House of Joseph. Joseph is the father of Ephraim and Manassah, so this tribe may be seen as composed of these two and is never listed with them)
• Tribe of Ephraim (a son of Joseph)
• Tribe of Manasseh (a son of Joseph)
• Tribe of Benjamin