Note: I promise this post will be more interesting than the title indicates. If you disagree, I’ll refund your money.
Anytime we encounter lists in the Bible, we’re probably tempted to breeze over them. There are, after all, more exicting things to get to and lists were something that were important to ancient people but less important to us. But, they can, at times, reveal something very near to the heart of the biblical authors.
Take, for instance, the list of the tribes of Israel in Revelation 7:5-8. It would seem straightforward enough, a listing of the 12 tribes is not that difficult to understand, except that when you look closely, the list isn’t quite what you’d expect. Here is the list in the order it’s presented:
- Judah
- Reuben
- Gad
- Asher
- Naphtali
- Manasseh
- Simeon
- Levi
- Issachar
- Zebulun
- Joseph
- Benjamin
Now, there are a number of listings of the 12 tribes in the Bible, and they almost always differ (Genesis 35:23-25; 49; Exodus 1:2-4; Numbers 1:5-15; 26; 1 Chronicles 2-8). I want to focus strictly on one aspect of this particular list, though, to demonstrate how it can reveal the author’s intentions. Levi is left off some lists in the OT, mainly because his sons became the priests of the land and did not receive an allotment of land like the other 11 tribes. Instead, Joseph’s two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, received land, keeping the number 12 intact.
But this list is not for land allotments, so Levi makes an appearance. One would expect, then, that Joseph would be on the list and the number would come out to 12 again, corresponding to the actual 12 sons of Jacob who originally headed the 12 tribes. Joseph does make this list in Revelation 7, but so does one of his sons- Manasseh. Ephraim, on the other hand, does not make it (despite his brother’s presence). Dan, one of the original 12 sons of Jacob, is also left off the list.
The omission of Dan would seem to be confusing, given the presence of the other 11 brothes, and Ephraim’s absence is also confusing because of his brother, Manasseh, making the cut. So, the question is: of the available candidates (14 in all, the 12 sons and Ephraim and Manasseh), why were Dan and Ephraim chosen to be left off this list of tribes?
I would venture to guess that the answer goes back to 1 Kings 12:25-33. I’ll quote vv28-30 (TNIV), with an explanatory comment or two, to make the point:
After seeking advice, the king [Jeroboam, of the Northern Tribes] made two golden calves. He said to the people, “It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. Here are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.” One he set up in Bethel [which was controlled by the tribe of Ephraim, Jeroboam’s tribe], and the other in Dan. And this thing became a sin; the people came to worship the one at Bethel and went as far as Dan to worship the other.
The tribes of Ephraim and Dan became the centers of idolatry for the Northern Kingdom. Instead of going to God’s Temple in Jerusalem to worship and offer sacrifices, the citizens of the northern tribes (all except Benjamin and Judah) would worship at these two centers of idolatry. Hosea even changes the name “Bethel” (meaning “House of God”) to Beth Aven (“House of Wickedness,” see Hosea 4:15; 5:8; 10:5).
I don’t think the omission of Ephraim and Dan are random or accidental, especially given their roles in the Old Testament as the centers of idolatry. Idolatry is a grave concern for the book of Revelation because it gives worship that is due only to The One Who Sits on the Throne and the Lamb (see 4:8-11; 5:9-14; 7:10-17).
The churches of Pergamum (2:12-17) and Thyatira (2:18-29) are warned about new incarnations of Balaam (who enticed the Israelites toward idolatry, see Numbers 31:1-24) and Jezebel (who promoted Baal worship in the Northern Kingdom, see 1 Kings 18; 21:25; 2 Kings 9:22). The people of the earth worship the dragon (13:4) and the beast (13:8, 11-17), and kill those who refuse (13:15). Throughout the Bible, adultery and harlotry (chapters 17-18) are images used of idolatry.
But we are encouraged to “worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water” (14:7; 15:1-4). Those who worship the beast and receive his mark will be judged (14:9, 16:2; 19:20-21). Those who reign with Christ in 20:4-6 are those “who had not worshipped the beast or his image.” Idolaters are among those who will have no part in the New Heaven and New Earth (21:8; 22:15).
Looking back at the list of the tribes in Revelation 7, John could have chosen a different way of presenting them. He could have gone with the originally 12 sons of Jacob, leaving out Ephraim and Manasseh and including Dan. He could have gone with the 12 tribes as they received their portions of land, leaving out Levi and Joseph and adding Ephraim and Manasseh. But Ephraim and Dan were the ones omitted.
I submit it was because of their role in leading Israel into idolatry. I want to be clear, I don’t take this list of 12 literally, as if no descendents of Ephraim or Dan have any part in the Kingdom of God. I think there is a theological and literary point John is making throughout the book that is captured in this list, or more specifically, what is omitted from the list. Those who participate in idolatry, who worship anything other than the only One worthy of worship, have no inheritance in God.
Thanks, you have a great blog here! I’m definitely going to bookmark you!
Thanks, this proved to be helpful. Blessings on you!
Elegant and reasonable. Thanks!
Thank you for this clarification. Most commentaries point to Ezekiel 48:30-35. This makes more sense.
Good Food for thought .Thanks
Great article, it was very informative and blessed me alot.. Thanks
Thankx a bunch. This is very informative. God bless u.
Great article!! I’ve looked into this a couple times also and your answer is about as good as we can find until we get to see on the other side :) I really like your site!
Reading that passage just two days ago, I noticed that listing and its difference for the first time and did wonder. This is a good explanation. Thank you!
Pretty retarded. Maybe he can explain vast numbers of other internal contradictions like: was the stone rolled away before or after Mary got to the tomb, were there 1 or 3 Angels there, no soldiers there or were they killed by Angels, did Mary “tell no one” or “immediately run and tell the disciples” — depends on which Gospel you read. Worshiping the bible, i.e. imagining it is flawless, is NOT worshiping God. It is amazing how many people worship a book where “God” says kill your children if they talk back, commit genocide and kill children, take slaves, etc., etc., etc. Weird that many think “God” tortures people and simultaneously “loves” them. What a great religion!
People are flawed, not God. He is a loving Father who wants to reveal Himself to you, through His word, and other ways too. Jesus wants us to have a relationship with Him, and that relationship differs greatly from “religion” (as defined as a set of rules or moral code). God can take your big questions. Keep searching and you will find him, John.
I liked the explanation.
Great Blog!! Thanks, for the insight.
One small issue here. The tribe of Ephraim is sometimes called the tribe of Joseph in the Old Testament so that Dan is the sole name omitted. I had read some commentaries which suggested that there was some tradition of the anti-messiah coming from Dan which would explain its omission.
[…] https://bostonbiblegeeks.wordpress.com/2010/05/13/the-12-tribes-in-revelation-7/ for a useful and I believe accurate view on the absence of Emphraim and Dan from the final list. […]
thank you. I really enjoyed reading this.
After reading some of the comments, I was reminded the Lord God loves all of us, in spite of ourselves
This passage in Zechariah 10:7-10 confirms your statements:
“And Ephraim shall be like a mighty one, and their heart shall be glad as by wine. And their sons shall see and be glad; their heart shall rejoice in YAHWEH. I will whistle for them and gather them, for I have redeemed them. And they shall be many as they were many. And I will sow them among the peoples, and they shall remember Me in far countries, and they shall live with their sons and return. And I will return to save them out of the land of Egypt and gather them out of Assyria. And I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon, for room shall not be found for them.”
Gilead (west Jordan) and Lebanon are places where the palestinian persons are located which is NOT in Israel proper.
I forgot to add the passages in Hosea:
4:17 “Ephraim is joined to idols. Let him alone.”
5:3b “O Ephraim, you have fornicated”
6:10 “I have seen a horrible thing in the house of Israel: the fornication of Ephraim is there; Israel is defiled.”
Chapter 9 is a total swap on the backside for Ephraim. Not a good thing to be called out:
Hosea 9:3 “They shall not live in the land of YAHWEH.”
v12 “Though they multiple their sons, yet I will make them childless, without a man. Yea, woe also to them when I turn away from them!”
v15-17 “…I will drive them out of My house for the evilness of their doing…Ephraim is stricken; their root is dried up; they shall bear no fruit. Yea, though they bear, yet I will kill the beloved ones of their womb. My Elohim shall reject them because they did not listen to Him; and they shall be wanderers among the nations.”
I appreciate your views, however, as Nick mentioned in the comments, Joseph only had two sons. So when Manasseh’s name is mentioned, the only son left is Ephraim. Thus, since Jacob blessed Ephraim above Manasseh, we thus assume that Ephraim’s portion is encompassed in Joseph, confirmed by the fact that he is the only heir left unmentioned.
wait… thats not the only reason.. the tribes in Revelations 7 has a secret meaning… find all the meanings of every name… and put them together in that specific order… in the Bible.. Revelations is the only book in which the 12 tribes of Israel are written in that order.. its in that order to send a message. Judah comes up first and the name ‘Judah’ means: I will praise the Lord. if u do that with all the names, then you’ll get this:
I will praise the Lord [for] He has looked on me [and] granted good fortune. I am happy [because] my wrestling, God is making me to forget. God hears me [and] is attached to me. He has purchased me a dwelling [and] will add to me the Son of His right hand.
Hope this makes sense to you :) or is interesting in any way
Amen and amen.
Ezekiel says Judah is His bow and Ephraim is His arrow.
Bible says to whom much is given more will be added but he who hides his coin will lose it.
Joseph was double blessed so both Ephraim and Mannasah inherited a portion in Israel. Since Joseph had most he gets more coin and his name is added.
Dan loses his coin/inheritance. Levi is demoted from God’s cities as holy priests to a portion of Israel. Ephraim is promoted and chosen as Christs bride in Jerusalem.
@Tutsany: Your comment that “Ephraim is promoted and chosen as Christs bride in Jerusalem” smells of replacement theology. That the church replaced the nation of Israel. The there is no demotion/promotion.The Messiah did not come to convert the heathen. He did not come to save the world of all sinners. He same as stated in Matthew 15:24, “I was not sent except to the [bring back] lost sheep of the house of Yisra’ěl.” which is all of the top 10 tribes and not just Ephraim.
There is no division of Israel and the church. There is just Israel. If you are a true believer, you are now no longer a foreigner but now part of Israel, and have part of the inheritance which the covenant YHWH made with Abraham and his seed. satan wants Israel to be replaced/removed. Anyone who says similar is child of satan.
Look at the names on the gates on New Jerusalem! they are all names of tribes. There is no others gates for gentile believers.
What was Yeshua’s promise to his disciples? Matt 19:28: “Truly I say to you, when the Son of Aḏam sits on the throne of His esteem, you [12 disciples] who have followed Me in the rebirth, shall also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Yisra’ěl.” There is no judgement of any pagans, heathens, gentiles. There will be no gentiles in paradise. I am not saying only Jews will be there. I am saying when someone becomes a believer, he becomes part of the 12 tribes.
Deuteronomy 7:6 says it all. Those that follow Him and keep his torah are His chosen people: “For you are a set-apart people to יהוה your Elohim. יהוה your Elohim has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a treasured possession above all the peoples on the face of the earth.”
If you did not mean in comment to stand for replacement theology, my apologies. I just wanted to keep things focused that Ephraim as well as the other 9 tribes are restored into fold and not promoted out of order. The only reason why Ephraim is mentioned and not the other 9 as much is because for the top 10 tribes, Ephraim was the leader as Judah was the leader for itself and the tribe of Benjamin.
You are gravely mistaken to limit the work of God and his anointed
Jer 3:17
“At that time they will call Jerusalem The Throne of the LORD,’ and all the nations will be gathered to it, to Jerusalem, for the name of the LORD; nor will they walk anymore after the stubbornness of their evil heart.
Isa 49:6
yea, he saith, It is too light a thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles (NATIONS), that thou mayest be my SALVATION unto the end of the earth.
Also, Gentiles are not grafted into Israel, they become Abrahams seed by faith – yes and even though they are uncircumcised they will be recipients of salvation.
Your Israel-only doctrine is in error just as much as replacement theology.
@aqua stone, about Ephraim being Christ’s bride in Jerusalem. That is replacement theology. The Messiah did not come to do away with the Jews and the other tribes but to gather them back. The disciples will be seated over the tribes to judge them. the names on the gates of the new Jerusalem have the names of the tribes.
There is more about the Law and the church, but this blog is about the 12 Tribes in Revelation 7.
forgot to reply to @withoutseeing: I am so glad you agree with the sadness of replacement theology. Your statement about “Israel-only” is supported by the entire book of Isaiah amongst others. Yes, we are grafted/joined into the vine *that is* of the bride of the Messiah to also receive the inheritance. He does no have two brides. So we both rightly so shun “Replacement”, then what is left? Israel. Bazinga!
this blog is about the 12 Tribes in Revelation 7 which has yet to be refuted. Danny did a good job. You should write a new blog “Only the Mixed Multitude with Inherit the Earth” where was the mixed multitude at the 40 years when Joshua led the nation over the river? Nehemiah 13:3 “And it happened, when they had heard the Torah, they separated all the mixed multitude from Israel.” So the MM did not follow the Torah as the church today does not. Please comment on this one in your new blog. ;)
Is there any other reason why the list differ from old to new.
There is also a quote from the pulpit documentaries that Manasseh is a transcription error of Dan.
@Sandra Fabyan: that would be a slick mistranslation be that Manasseh has sooo many more letters: שבט מְנַשֶּׁה and Dan is only 2: דן, and none of the letters match. Must have been a very drunk scribe doing the translation. But on serious note, it only makes sense that Dan is true in the verse due to the transgressions they made.
Why do you think it’s John who is trying to make a point? John wrote what he was told to write, it’s not his message.
Thank you so much for making sense of the list of tribes in Revelation 7. I totally agree about Revelation being about worship. In fact, in the KJV, worship is mentioned 22 times (if I counted right), which is pretty interesting, since there are 22 chapters. In the very last chapter it states this: Revelation 22:9:
“Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.” Keep up the good work.
Love the logic … thanks
This was really interesting, thank you.
Dan was referred to early as the serpent who bites at the heel of the rider, and Jesus is known to be the one who crushes the head of the serpent with his heel. Dan and Ephraim the adversaries, and Dan must be the one who says he is a jew but is not, and is of the synagogue of satan, he and his Brother have stolen the birthright and desecrated the house of Judah and the house of Israel. This is why they will not enter into the Glory. They were warned!
Don’t forget that the New Jerusalem not only has 12 gates named for the 12 tribes, but it has 12 foundations named for the 12 Apostles. We know from the Scriptures that Judas was stricken from that list, and the Apostle Paul replaced him. Christ chose Paul. The Apostles chose another, but God rejected him. (Matthias Acts cha. 1) Interesting, don’t you think?