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Israel-©-MEA-20170823-Natan-(N8-)-12-Tribes-8-Gad
Tribes of Israel -Gad
Gad, Jacob’s seventh, was born to Jacob’s first wife’s maidservant Zilpah. When Jacob blessed each of his sons, he said, “Gad will be attacked by a band of raiders, but he will attack them at their heels”. (see Genesis 49:19). The traditional symbol of the tribe of God was a camp with the flag colouring of black and white.
Hundreds of years later, when Moses was blessing each of the Tribes of Jacob (also named Israel), he said of Gad, “Blessed his he who enlarges Gad’s domain! Gad lives there like a lion, tearing at arm or head. He chose the best land for himself; the leaders portion was kept for him. When the heads of the people assembled, he carried out the Lord’s will and his judgements concerning Israel” (see Deuteronomy 33:20-21).
During the conquest for the Promised Land, Joshua gave the Tribe of Gad the best of the new land because they had been very obedient to God. They were also especially dedicated in the fight to conquer the land, as God had intended. Gad saw the ‘bigger picture’ of God’s plan and was very committed to play it’s part.
One of the most important lessons we can learn from Dan’s qualities is to see the ‘bigger picture’ and continue to trust that God know what He is doing, be obedient and keep the faith. Next week we will look at…
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Israel-©-MEA-20170816-(N86)–12-Tribes-7-Dan
The Tribe of Dan
Dan was the fifth son of Jacob (Israel). His mother was Bilhah, maidservant of Rachel. Dan is a peace-maker with the ‘Scales of Justice’ amongst the tribes, an avoider of fraternal conflict yet definitely not weak or afraid. Dan is a doer of justice, and a litigator. Samson, who was a judge of Israel, also came from Dan.
His father’s prophesy over him was, “Dan will judge his people as one of the tribes of Isra’el. Dan will be a viper on the road, a horned snake in the path that bites the horse’s heels so its rider falls off backward. I wait for your deliverance, Adonai.” (Gen. 49:16-18 CJB)
The true saga of the tribe of Dan, “a serpent by the way”, who left a tantalizing, fascinating “trail” of ‘Dan-marks’ along its historical journey throughout Europe and Asia Minor from the time of the Israelites in Egypt. Dan, a remarkable people, a powerful people of farmer-warriors, and sailors, left their indelible imprint on ancient history, wherever they went. They are purported to become a powerful force for good, during the reign of the Messiah, even though they were omitted from the Twelve Tribes of the 144,000 listed in the Book of Revelation.
Check out the Tribe of Gad next week.
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The Tribe of Issachar
Issachar was the ninth son of Jacob and the fifth son of Leah. The numbers accredited to the Tribe of Issachar was 54,400. The important event in which Issachar figures is the major battle of Deborah and Barak (the commander of the Israelite forces). This conflict took place is the Jezreel Valley, Israel. The story is found in Judges,, Chapters 4 and 5: It says, “the princes of Issachar were with Deborah, (and) into the valley they rushed forth behind (Barak)…”
Scripture records Jabin (the King of Hazor), having oppressed the sons of Israel severely for twenty years. It is said that this opposing force had 900 iron chariots, while the Israelites comprised of only foot soldiers. However, when Deborah gave the order to attack, Barak believed and obeyed the God’s word through the prophetess Deborah, and won. The story of this defeat and Jabin’s Commander Sisera’s sorry death when he fled to a nearby town can be found in the Book of Judges.
Deborah praised the sons of Issachar and described them as princes, captains and men of honour. Although the meaning of the name Issachar is somewhat hidden, the scriptures say that, “Issachar is a strong donkey lying down in the sheep sheds”. (Genesis 49:14).
Check out the website next week and learn about Dan, the seventh brother.
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The Tribe of Judah
The Tribe of Judah, which is Y’hudah in Hebrew, is the fourth of Israel (or Jacob) from his first wife Leah. Judah’s lands as described in Joshua 15, encompassed most of the southern portion of the Promised Land, including the Negev Desert, the Wilderness of Zin and Jerusalem. The lion image is the traditional symbol for the Tribe of Judah, and very often represented in Jewish custom, religion, art and sculpture and can be seen everywhere in Jerusalem. Many lions, from small to large stand in silence like soldiers to ‘guard’ the tops of city buildings, around parks, ponds and shop fronts, including the walls of the Old City.
The lion symbol has also appeared on Jerusalem’s municipal flag since 1950. The Lion of Judah is synonymous with the Biblical Tribe of Judah as well the Kingdom of Judah whose capital was Jerusalem. In Genesis 49:8, the prophecy over this fourth son declares: “Judah, your brothers will acknowledge you, your hand will be on the neck of your enemies, your father’s sons will bow down before you”. Judah was described as having the strength of a young lion with courage and vitality, and as a mature lion, have national prominence of a kingship dynasty beginning with David and Solomon. Next week is Zebulun and his historical significance.
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The Tribe of Levi
Last week we looked at the symbol and a little history about the Tribe of Simeon. This week we visit Levi, the third son of the Patriarch Jacob (also known as Israel). Levi’s mother was Leah, who also bore his two older brothers, Reuben and Simeon.
When Joshua led the Israelites into the land of Caanan (Joshua 13:33), the Levites were the only tribe to receive cities, but were not allowed to be landowners, “because they will have no inheritance with their brothers, because Adonai is their inheritance – as he has said to them” (Deut. 18:2 CJB). The Tribe of Levi served particular religious duties for the Israelites. In return the other Tribes of Israel were to give a tithe (a tenth) of their increase to the Levitical (including Aaronic) Priesthood who served in the Temple in Jerusalem. In Numbers 18:2-6, the Levites were charged with keeping watch over the Tabernacle itself and ministering to the Kohanim who had higher priestly duties, such as offering the sacrifices.
Unfortunately, Levi had been party to treachery and violence toward the Shechemites, a story which is told in Genesis 34:24-30. Levi’s anger was accompanied by cruelty and fierceness, which led to the promise of dispersing them throughout Israel. Because of God’s grace and their loyalty to Him, the Tribe of Levi were included in the privileged priestly office.
The big lesson that the Tribe of Levi had to learn, which can also apply to us today, is that once God forgave their sins, He then could then use them in the advancement of His Ministry. Famous people in the Bible who were Kohanim include Miriam, John the Baptist, Ezra, Samuel, Ezekiel and Malachi. Catch up with us next week with a glimpse of other Tribe.
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The 12 Tribes of Israel – Simeon, the second son
We continue our series of photographs of the 12 tribes of Israel with their symbols and standards. Each of the 12 tribes received a blessing from their father, Jacob, just before his death. In the case of the Tribe of Simeon it said in Genesis 49:5-7, “Shim‘on (Simeon) and Levi are brothers, related by weapons of violence. Let me not enter their council, let my honour not be connected with their people; for in their anger they killed men, and at their whim, they maimed cattle. Cursed be their anger, for it has been fierce; their fury, for it has been cruel. I will divide them in Ya‘akov (Jacob) and scatter them in Isra’el.”
This prophecy was fulfilled when the tribe of Levi received no inheritance except forty-eight towns scattered throughout different parts of Canaan. Simeon was originally given only a few towns and villages in the midst of a larger inheritance of the tribe of Judah. In Joshua 19:1 it confirms that: “… the second lot fell to Simeon, to the tribe of the sons of Simeon according to their families (clans), and their inheritance was within the inheritance of the sons of Judah.”
Simeon was known as the aggressors and one of the emblems commonly used for this tribe is a sword or fortress as shown in the mosaic. Jacob’s pronouncement that, “I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them is Israel,” came true, because it became the smallest and weakest of all the tribes in that it was forced to share its territory with Judah, a larger and more powerful tribe.
The lesson we can learn from Simeon is through the warning given to his children: “beware, of all jealousy and envy, and walk in singleness of heart, that God may give you also grace and glory, and blessing upon your heads, even as you saw in Joseph’s case—love each one of his brothers with a good heart, and the spirit of envy will withdraw from you”.
Simon’s advice to his children came from wisdom, for he once plotted to kill his brother Joseph through jealousy. Perhaps his wisdom can rub off onto us.
Next week will see the mosaic of Levi. Catch up with you then.
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