The Twelve Tribes of Israel: Difference between revisions

The twelve tribes of Israel in the [[Bible]] represent all of the Israelites who received God’s blessing. Throughout the [[The Old Testament|Old Testament]], many instances occur where twelve stones were arranged to signify the continuity of God’s blessing, starting from [[Abraham]] and passing through [[Isaac]], Jacob, and Jacob’s twelve sons. For instance, when [[Moses]] had the ceremony of making a covenant with God on Mount Sinai, he set up twelve stone pillars representing the twelve tribes of Israel.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.studylight.org/study-desk.html?q1=Exodus+24%3A4-8&q2=&ss=0&t1=eng_n84&t2=eng_kjv&t3=eng_nas&ns=0&sr=1&ot=bhs&nt=wh&hv1=1&b=verse&d=3 |title=Exodus 24:4–8 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref> Similarly, when the Israelites, under Joshua’s leadership, crossed the [[Jordan]] River, they brought twelve stones, corresponding to the twelve tribes, and placed them at both the riverbed and Gilgal.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.studylight.org/study-desk.html?q1=Joshua+4%3A8-9&q2=&ss=0&t1=eng_n84&t2=eng_kjv&t3=eng_nas&ns=0&sr=1&ot=bhs&nt=wh&hv1=1&b=verse&d=3 |title=Joshua 4:8–9 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref> Even in times of strife, such as when the prophet [[Elijah]] confronted the prophets of [[Baal and Asherah|Baal]] on Mount Carmel, twelve stones symbolizing Jacob’s descendants were used to restore God’s altar.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.studylight.org/study-desk.html?q1=1+Kings+18%3A30-31&q2=&ss=0&t1=eng_n84&t2=eng_kjv&t3=eng_nas&ns=0&sr=1&ot=bhs&nt=wh&hv1=1&b=verse&d=3 |title=1 Kings 18:30–31 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref>