Hananya Naftali
Nov 7, 2026
The Twelve Tribes
The Short Answer
The twelve tribes of Israel descend from the twelve sons of Jacob, who was renamed Israel. They are Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Joseph and Benjamin. Joseph's share was divided between his sons Ephraim and Manasseh, while the priestly tribe of Levi received no territory of its own.
From Family to Nation
The Book of Genesis tells how Jacob's sons went down to Egypt. Their descendants grew into a nation, left Egypt in the Exodus and entered the Land of Israel under Joshua, where each tribe received its own territory.
The Ten Lost Tribes
After King Solomon the kingdom split in two. In 722 BCE the Assyrians conquered the northern kingdom and exiled its ten tribes, who became known as the ten lost tribes. Most Jews today descend from the southern kingdom of Judah, which included Judah, Benjamin and many Levites.
The word Jew itself comes from Judah. Communities such as the Ethiopian Beta Israel and the Bnei Menashe of India hold traditions of descent from the lost tribes.
Key Facts
The tribes descend from the twelve sons of Jacob.
Joseph's portion went to Ephraim and Manasseh.
Assyria exiled the northern tribes in 722 BCE.
The word Jew comes from the tribe of Judah.