Why were there 12 Hebrew tribes?

Answer 1

Jacob was a Hebrew ancestor who had 12 sons. Each son became a tribe (technically, Joseph didn't become a tribe, but rather, his 2 sons did.)

Modern scholarship does not generally accept the biblical notion that the twelve tribes are simply divisions of one family of 12 sons.

This simplistic scheme, it is felt, actually stems from later genealogical speculations which attempted to explain the history of the tribes in terms of familial relationships. The alliance of the twelve tribes is believed to have grown from the organization of independent tribes, or groups of tribes, forced together for historical reasons.

Scholars differ as to when this union of twelve took place and when the tribes of Israel became one nation.

Because Jacob, the father of the Israelites, had twelve sons (Genesis ch.46) who in turn fathered their descendants who became the twelve Israelite tribes.

acob was a Hebrew ancestor who had 12 sons. Each son became a tribe (technically, Joseph didn't become a tribe, but rather, his 2 sons did.)

Modern scholarship does not generally accept the biblical notion that the twelve tribes are simply divisions of one family of 12 sons.

This simplistic scheme, it is felt, actually stems from later genealogical speculations which attempted to explain the history of the tribes in terms of familial relationships. The alliance of the twelve tribes is believed to have grown from the organization of independent tribes, or groups of tribes, forced together for historical reasons.

Scholars differ as to when this union of twelve took place and when the tribes of Israel became one nation.

Answer 2

Jacob was a Hebrew ancestor who had 12 sons. Each son became a tribe (technically, Joseph didn't become a tribe, but rather, his 2 sons did.)

Modern scholarship does not generally accept the biblical notion that the twelve tribes are simply divisions of one family of 12 sons.

This simplistic scheme, it is felt, actually stems from later genealogical speculations which attempted to explain the history of the tribes in terms of familial relationships. The alliance of the twelve tribes is believed to have grown from the organization of independent tribes, or groups of tribes, forced together for historical reasons.

Scholars differ as to when this union of twelve took place and when the tribes of Israel became one nation.

Answer 3

acob was a Hebrew ancestor who had 12 sons. Each son became a tribe (technically, Joseph didn't become a tribe, but rather, his 2 sons did.)

Modern scholarship does not generally accept the biblical notion that the twelve tribes are simply divisions of one family of 12 sons.

This simplistic scheme, it is felt, actually stems from later genealogical speculations which attempted to explain the history of the tribes in terms of familial relationships. The alliance of the twelve tribes is believed to have grown from the organization of independent tribes, or groups of tribes, forced together for historical reasons.

Scholars differ as to when this union of twelve took place and when the tribes of Israel became one nation.

Answer 4

Because Jacob, the father of the Israelites, had twelve sons (Genesis ch.46) who in turn fathered their descendants who became the twelve Israelite tribes.