IsraelThe David's Start

"May the Lord send his blessing on you and keep you;

May the Lord's approval be resting on you and may he give you peace."

Numbers 6:24-26

ISRAEL

Hebrew: יִשְרָאֵל, Yisra'el. Country in Southewest Asia located on the southeastern edge of the Mediterranean Sea. With a population of about 7.2 million, Israel is the world's only Jewish state, Jerusalem is the nation's capital.

The name originated from a verse in the Bible where Jacob is renamed Israel after successfully wrestling with an angel of God. Israel means "God rules" or "God judges"; or "the prince of God" or "El fights/struggles".

Jacob's wives gave birth to twelve sons: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, and Benjamin.

In Egypt the tribe of Joseph was divided into two tribes, Ephraim and Manasseh, by the virtue of Jacob's blessing.

For this reason, the twelve tribes are:

1. Reuben

The mandrakes in Reuben's coat -of-arms are based on the story where young Reuben brought his mother Leah mandrakes from the field.

2. Simeon

Was one of the strongest tribes during the wandering in the desert. The symbol is that of a gate representing the city of Shecem.

3. Levi

Levi refers to Leah's hope for Jacob to join with her, implying a derivation from yillaweh, meaning he will join. Between his notable descendants are Moses, Aaron, Miriam, Samuel, John the Baptist, etc.

4. Judah

The tribe of Judah stood apart from the others as the leading tribe of the Kingdom of Judah, and from the tribe came the kingdom's rulers.

5. Dan

Dan's symbol is a scale representing justice. Dan was known as the tribe of great judges. The most famous was Samson.

6. Naphtali

"Naphtali" The symbol of this tribe is a gazelle-a very quick animal. The people of Naftali were famous for being great runners.

7. Gad

The tribal name derives from a deity worshipped by the tribe, Gad being thought by scholars to be likely to have taken its name from Gad, the semitic god of fortune.

8. Asher

Identification with the tribe of Asher is plausible according to views that place the Exodus at the end of the Hyksos period but conflicts with views.

9. Issachar

the territory of Issachar was conquered by the Assyrians, and the tribe exiled; the manner of their exile lead to their further history being lost.

10. Zebulun

The tribe of Zebulun numbered 57,400 men fit for war, this army, under the command of Eliab the son of Helon, encamped with Judah and Issachar east of the Tabernacle and with them made up the vanguard of the line of march. Among the spies sent by Moses to view the land of Canaan, Gaddiel the son of Sodi represented Zebulun.

11. Joseph

With his two son:

Menasheh and Ephraim

The territories of Menasheh and Epahraim were conquered by the Assyrians, and the tribe exiled; the manner of their exile lead to their further history being lost. However, several modern day groups claim descent, with varying levels of academic and rabbinical support. The Samaritans claims that some of their adherents are descended from those tribes.

12. Benjamin

In the Blessing of Jacob, Benjamin is referred to as a ravenous wolf; traditional interpretations often considered this to refer to the might of a specific member of the tribe, either the champion Ehud, king Saul, or Mordecai of the Esther narrativa, or in Christian circles, the apostle Paul.