12 Tribes of Israel

The 12 Tribes of Israel refer to the descendants of the 12 sons of Jacob, who is also known as Israel in the Bible. Each son became the patriarch of a tribe, which played a significant role in ancient Hebrew society. The tribes include Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph (which split into Ephraim and Manasseh), and Benjamin. They settled in different regions of ancient Israel and collectively contributed to the cultural and religious identity of the Jewish people, influencing their history and traditions.