Israelite tribes

The Israelite tribes refer to the twelve groups descended from the twelve sons of Jacob, a key figure in the Hebrew Bible. These tribes formed the ancient people of Israel, each associated with distinct territories in the Promised Land. The tribes include Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph (often split into Ephraim and Manasseh), and Benjamin. They played critical roles in the early history of Israel, including the Exodus from Egypt and the conquest of Canaan, shaping the cultural and social landscape of ancient Israelite society.