The Twelve Tribes: who they were and what came of them

Begin with the year. In seven years in Laban's house eleven sons and a daughter are born; the twelfth, Benjamin, will be born later, in the Land of Israel, at the cost of Rachel's life. Four mothers: Leah, Rachel and their handmaids Bilhah and Zilpah — and each son is named by his mother, who explains the name.

The firstborn — and the only one whose father's blessing breaks off in the middle. He is also the first to speak up for Joseph. The sages read his life as a story of repentance; his tribe's portion lay beyond the Jordan.

With Levi he took up the sword for their sister — and heard from his father not a blessing but a verdict on anger: «I will divide them in Jacob.» The verdict came true peacefully: Simeon's towns lay inside Judah's portion, and from the tribe came the teachers of small children.

The third son — and the only tribe without a portion of land: Levi's share is service. From him come Moses, Aaron and all the priests; and he was the last of the brothers to die in Egypt.

The fourth son, the one who took responsibility for his brothers — and the tribe of kings. «The sceptre shall not depart from Judah»: from him comes David, and from him the Messiah is awaited. The word «Jew» comes from his name.

Bilhah's elder son. «Dan shall judge his people» — and Rashi reads it of one man, of Samson. In the wilderness his tribe marched last, gathering the stragglers; from it also came the second craftsman of the Tabernacle.

Bilhah's younger son, «a hind let loose.» His portion in the north, by the Kinneret; from there came Barak, whom Deborah called against Sisera.

Zilpah's elder son. «A troop shall press upon him, but he shall press upon their heel» — a blessing for a tribe that always takes the first blow. They asked for a portion beyond the Jordan and volunteered to march at the head of the army.

Zilpah's younger son; his portion the olive country of western Galilee. Among those who went down to Egypt the Torah names one woman of the next generation — Serach daughter of Asher, who in tradition becomes a living thread all the way to the exodus.

«He bowed his shoulder to bear» — and Rashi says: the yoke of Torah. From this tribe came «those who had understanding of the times»: masters of the calendar, on whose reckoning every festival depends.

«He shall dwell at the haven of the sea.» Trade and ships — and the compact with Issachar: one goes out and provides, the other sits and learns, and their share is one. That compact is still signed today.

Rachel's beloved son, sold by his brothers and made ruler of Egypt. His share is double: instead of one tribe of Joseph, two stand on the map, Ephraim and Manasseh, adopted by Jacob. By them sons are blessed every Friday evening.

The twelfth, and the only one born in the Land of Israel. Rachel called him Ben-Oni, son of my sorrow, and his father called him Benjamin. The Temple stood in his portion; from his tribe came the first king Saul, and Mordecai and Esther.