12  TRIBES  OF  ISRAEL  TODAY 

By Rebbetzin Sherry A. Hord

      Many people today are coming into the Two House Message of the Bible, and are finding that the scattering of the ancient children of Israel into the world may just be a clue to their own personal heritage.  As a result, they wonder if they are personally related to one or more tribes of the people called “Israel.“  They have many questions and seek answers. 

      It can be a difficult question to answer as to what tribe or tribes a person may descend from.  There is no concrete answer for anyone because of the intermixing of the tribes among one another, and their intermarriage with people of the world.  With the exception of Levi, Jews cannot really know if they are personal descendants of the Tribe of Judah or  Benyamin, or if their families were converts to the religion of Judaism at one time in their history.  Unfortunately, all birth records of these Tribes including Levi were destroyed when the Temple at Yerusalem was burned in 70 A.D. by the Romans. 

      However, it maybe somewhat possible in the case of Levi, if the family has retained family or a tribal name that could be a clue to their ancestry such as Levy, Levi, Cohen, Kohen, the Levitical priestly line, and derivatives of the names. 

      The problem with the Tribes of Judah, Benyamin, and Levi is that not all of them returned to Yerusalem after their 70-year exile in Babylon to keep a proper or pure lineage.  The remainder of the Babylonian exiles which included Judahites, Benyamites, and Levites migrated into the world and did not return to the Land of Israel.  Many of these exiles joined the other 10 Tribes of Yisrael in their wanderings, and eventual northward migrations.  Many of these Judahites, Benyamites, and Levites left Torah behind (their religion), and married into other tribal families.  Some may have married pagans.  After leaving Torah behind, they assimilated into pagan cultures, and adopted pagan religions. 

      Those Judahites, Benyamites, and Levites that continued to keep Torah in their midst throughout their wanderings in pagan lands often settled in areas and built synagogues.  Many were eventually run out of settled areas to resettle somewhere else.  Today it is possible to find pockets of Torah keepers throughout the world including Asia that refer to themselves as Jews, and believe that they know their original tribal names. 

      Today, however, anyone one that goes to synagogue and keeps Torah are automatically called “Jews” but they may or may not be descendants of the Tribe of Judah, Benyamin or Levi.

      Research today can give us a pretty good clue where the 12 Tribes went in their migrations, and where they settled in large numbers and established kingdoms or nations.  We can take a pretty good guess from this as to what tribe or tribes that we may have a lineage to by tracing the areas where our relatives came from.

      For instance, my Mother was Dutch, and her people came to the US from Holland, the Netherlands.  But my Father‘s Mother, my red-haired Grandmother who was a twin, and some of her brothers and sisters on my Father’s side all came to the US in the early 1900’s from the Ukraine.  Their history shows that they came as “Jewish” immigrants to the US to escape the terrible “pograms” that were taking place against the Jews (Torah keepers) in the Ukraine during that time period.  When my Father’s people arrived in the US, they hid their Jewishness, took new names, and entered into the Catholic Church religion.  They felt that they could start a new life here, and if they hid the fact that they were Jews, they would not suffer any more persecution. 

      When I was 40, and growing spiritually in the Ruach of Yehowah, I asked my Father about our family history on his side.  To this day, my Father is a staunch Roman Catholic, and did not want to tell me that we had a heritage of “Jewish” descent.  He said, “Just because you are my daughter, I will tell you once and only once, yes we were (are) Jewish.”  So, that explained why I always understood the Bible from a “Jewish” or actually a “Hebrew” perspective when all my church friends understood it from a Greco-Roman mindset.

      Therefore, the reader will find the following information on the 12 Tribes of Israel compiled for those that are seeking to know their spiritual and possible personal heritage.  Research information has been taken from the book The “Lost” Ten Tribes of Israel…Found! by Steven M. Collins.  The author of this article has also included insight received from the Ruach HaKodesh on her own personal heritage.

EPHRAIM AND MANASSEH

      The two Tribes, Ephraim and Manasseh, pretty much migrated north to the European areas and eventually to North America.  In Genesis 48:14-16, Jacob blessed Ephraim and Manasseh by saying, “…let my name (inherited Jacob’s name) on them, and the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude…”  The two Tribes pretty much stayed together in their migrations as brother tribes.  They took on the name of Isaac.  In old English, they were known as the “Sacs,” “Sacae,” “Saka,” or Saxons.”  The names “Saxon” means “Saac’s sons” or “Isaac’s sons.”  The Saxon people settled in the British Isles, and a few in the areas of France and Germany.  The French word “Alsace” comes from the same name.  Not all French and Germans though are related to these “sons of Isaac,” (Collins).

      In Genesis 48:19, Jacob prophesied that Manasseh “shall become a people, and he shall be great (outstanding and many in number), but added that Ephraim’s descendants “shall be greater than (Manasseh), and his seed (descendants) shall become a multitude of nations.”  This prophecy brought the two Tribes into Jacob’s birthright promises of Genesis 35:11 “a nation and a company of nations.”  Genesis 48:19 specifically foretold the descendants of Ephraim (the younger brother) would become the “multitude of nations” while Manasseh’s descendants would become a single great nation, (Collins).

      The modern nations, which descended from an Anglo-Saxon heritage, are England, Canada, Australia, New Zealand (what is left of the reign of England today), and the United States of America.  These nations have fulfilled the prophecy about large populations.  When you combine the populations of these modern nations, and the history of England and America, these two nations in particular uniquely fulfill the prophecy.  They produced great wealth, kings and queens, great leaders, and world commerce, banking, military conquests, land acquisitions, etc. more so than any other nations in the world during their historic reigns,  Also, the two brother Tribes have had the “English Language“ as a common bond between their countries of settlement, (Collins).

      PLEASE NOTE:  this is not  “British-Israelism” teaching but actual facts taken from migration research.  Another clue as to Ephraim and Manasseh settling in the European areas and then in North America is found in their religions. 

      After the 10 Tribes of the Northern Kingdom of Israel were scattered out into the “gentile” or heathen nations as a result of their sin of idolatry (mixing Yehowah’s Torah with idols and idolatrous worship that was practiced by heathens; mixing the Holy with unholy things), they adopted the religion of “Rome,” the “catholic” religion that Roman Emporer Constantine developed in 300 A.D. 

      The Roman Catholic Church was very prevalent in the European areas for centuries and still is.  The “ sons of Isaac” upheld and supported the Roman religion to the extent of helping it to become a ruling power over people’s lives for many devastating centuries.  The seed of idolatry had been planted in their hearts to sprout forth a counterfeit religion that would rule and reign for years over the minds of “Isaac’s” people.  It would even cleverly transform itself into giving birth to a more modern religion, more adaptable to the changing “new” world called “Christianity.” 

      Today, the majority of the “sons of Isaac” from the two Tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh are found in the Christian religion, and some remaining in the Catholic religion, and their offshoot religions.  Both the Christian and the Catholic religions have the same mixing of Torah (Bible) and idolatry.  The Catholic Church, however, is more visible in its idolatry with the “eucharist” or symbol of Rome’s sun god, the beads from the Hindu religion, the statues of the dying “Jesus“ and dead saints, and its “Virgin Mary” idol.  Along with these, is sun-day worship that is so esteemed by Catholics and Christians.  Sun-day was Rome’s #1 day devoted to the sun-god worship of Tammuz, Rome‘s highest and most venerated sun god.  All Roman crucifixions, and people fed to the lions became human sacrifices to honor Rome’s sun god, Tammuz, on the day of the sun (Sunday) in ancient Rome.  That sun-day still exists today, and is honored as a holy day of worship by Catholics and Christians alike.  The Christian Church does not worship statues but still retains leftovers of the Roman Catholic Church; the day of worship set aside for Rome’s Tammuz sun-god, the manmade idol “Jesus,” and other aspects of the Roman religion such as the holidays of Christmas and Easter that were incorporated in Rome‘s sun god and goddess religion.  Thus, one can see the continuing practice of mixing Torah (Bible) and idolatry in the adopted religions of the descendants of the Tribes of Ephraim and Manassah.

 RUEBEN

      The Tribe of Reuben settled largely in France but spread their seed throughout the lands that they explored and conquered.  The Reubenites have really fulfilled their destiny of Genesis 49:3-4 which states, “Rueben, you are my first born…pre-eminent in pride and pre-eminent in power.  Unstable as water, you shall not have preeminence because you went up to your father’s bed: then you defiled it.”  The French have had much pride and some power during their reign of kings and queens but have dwindled down in power today.  Their pre-eminence did not last but they lost their birthright promise to Joseph (Ephraim and Manasseh nations).  Rueben’s people are volatile, and emotional like “unstable as water.”  They are famous for their physical and sexual passionate appetites.  France retains some power and dignity through its language, and a slight allegiance to his brothers of the 10 Tribes by being a permanent member of the U.N. Security Counsel.  Rueben’s descendants of today pretty well measure up to Jacob’s prophecy, (Collins).

ZEBULON

      Genesis 49:13 states, “Zebulon shall dwell at the haven of the sea; and he shall be for a haven of ships; and his border shall be unto Zidon.”  The only nation that truly has inhabited an area that became a “haven” or shelter from the sea is Holland, the Netherlands via its famous dikes.  It is literally sheltered from the sea by its dike system.  The Dutch port of Rotterdam has become the busiest seaport in the world (haven for ships).  In Dueteronomy 33:18-19, Moseh prophesied that Zebulon would “suck of the abundance of the seas” and have “treasures in the sand.”  The Dutch “sucked” the “seas” out of the way to have their land to live on through their dike and windmill systems.  They found hidden in the “sand” one of the largest deposits of oil in the world, and petroleum production has become a wealthy treasure.  The Royal Dutch/Shell Oil Company is a premier oil-producing company in the world, (Collins).

      The people of the Tribe of Zebulon settled in the area of Holland for centuries.  At a later time, some would go into other parts of Europe and over to North America to settle in communities in Pennsylvania, Michigan, etc.  Michigan has a large Dutch community of farmers and dairy raisers, and is known by its vast tulip fields in Holland, Michigan. 

      Zebulonites are a “settled” people mostly engaged in shipping, agriculture, and smaller craft type of businesses.  They are of a “protestant” persuasion in religion, but contary to the anti-semetic element in the church, they have exhibited a love for the Jewish people, hiding them at personal risk during WWII.

      Zebulon’s people have an unusual outlook on sex and drug use.  This may come from the part of Jacob’s prophecy where he speaks “and his border shall be unto Zidon.”  The Hebrew word for border literally means “thighs.”  This word is also found in Daniel 2:32 indicating that the legs of the statue are different from the thighs of the statue.  It means that the “thighs” are an area of penetration.  With the use of the same word for “thighs” in Zebulon’s prophecy, Jacob was referring to Zebulon’s manner of all erotic/sinful sexual pleasures that he enjoyed.  The Dutch capital of Amsterdam is world famous for its “red light district” offering all that man can sinfully desire.  These practices were compared to the ancient Sidonians (Zidon) who were famous for officially mandating sinful sex practices, which were part of the fertility cult practices of Ba’al worship.  Queen Jezebel was a Sidonian, and her name became synonymous with the brazen sexual practices that became a sex-trade to other nations.  Sex-trade in the Netherlands is comparable to those ancient practices, (Collins).        

      My Mother’s family were Zebulon people.  I can see now how I inherited both good and bad characteristics of these people.  As a child and young adult, I exhibited good morals, and obedience to my Mother.  Upon marriage, I became a “settled-down homemaker/mother exhibiting a good solid Dutch person‘s nature that was “protestant,”

      The good moral “protestant” nature remained intact within me until my divorce in 1966.  Then I swung over to the other side of Zebulon’s nature to the “seamy side of life” until Yahshua redeemed me.  Those years before redemption were bad news.  Upon redemption, Yahshua quickly redeemed me from my lifestyle and restored my mind and life back to the “good” moral side of my Dutch nature.  Now years later,  He has restored me to Torah, and both sides of my Zebulon Dutch, and Benyamin inheritance are equaling out in Messiah.  Zebulon’s “seamy” nature is fully gone now; the good moral “protestant” side of Zebulon is lined up with Yehowah’s commandments for daily living, and the “Jewish” side from my Father’s Benyamite people works especially well in “battling” the spiritual realm.  See Benyamin.

 ASHUR

      The Tribe of Ashur traveled along with Ephraim and Manasseh and refugees of the Tribe of Zebulon (Dutch).  Ashur’s people spent some time in the British Isles.  One branch of the Ashurites is recorded in Numbers 26:45 being called “Heberites.“  In the Hebrew language the consonants H-B-R are the root word for Heber, Hiberia, Hebrides, names found in Ireland and Scotland.  They eventually went to South Africa to begin to fulfill Jacob’s prophecy over them “Ashur’s bread shall be fat, and he shall yield royal dainties” in Genesis 49:20.  The Tribe of Ashur managed the tin mines of Cornwall that contributed materials for Solomon’s temple.  Mining became their number one contribution to the kings of the world; they placed “gold“ dainties on the king’s tables.  Thus establishing South Africa’s Gold Coast and its gold mining trade.  The Republic of South Africa was colonized primarily by a mixture of British and Dutch people called the “Boers,” and Ashurites, (Collins).

ISSACHAR

      The Tribe of Issachar passed through Russia on its way to the Scandinavia areas of Finland, and Greenland.  Genesis 49:14-15 gives us a clue to their whereabouts.  It states, “Issachar is a strong ass (donkey) couching down between two burdens: and he saw that rest was good, and the land that it was pleasant; and bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a servant unto tribute,”

(Collins).

      The nation of Finland has long been a buffer zone between stronger competing nations, caught between Russia and Sweden.  From 1899 to 1905, Russia dominated Finland, and Finland was “under tribute” to the Czar of Russia for an annual contribution.  In 1928, Finland made a treaty with Germany, and again had to pay “tribute” to another nation.  Finland has been a “buffer state” between larger powers fulfilling Jacob’s prophecy in the modern world, (Collins).

 NAPHTHALI

      The Tribe of Naphthali was carried off into Asia by the ancient Assyrians and their tribal name remains virtually unchanged.  They became known as “Ephthalites,” or “Nephthalite Huns” also called the “White Huns” because of their fair-skinned appearance.  They crossed over the Caucus Mountains of Russia.  With their fair-skinned appearance, they became known as Caucasians

And also carried the name of “Isaac” and its derivatives.  At one time in their early history, a tribe called the Yue-Chi, by the Chinese, lived north of the Great Wall of China.  These fair-skinned people called themselves “Sacae” confirming their Israelite origin.  They eventually migrated toward Europe where the rest of the white tribes had previously located.  Thereby, the descendants of Naphthali would be found in Europe, (Collins).

      Genesis 49:21 states, “ Naphthali is a hind let loose: he giveth goodly words.”  Jacob’s prophecy allegorizes Naphthali to be like a female deer during heat.  This implies that Naphthali’s people will be identified with sensuality in particular.  The European area that they settled in to fulfill the prophecy was Sweden, known for its liberal stand on sexual activities and its beautiful blonde women.  The phrase “goodly words” applies to Sweden’s annual presentation of the Nobel Peace Prize.  No other nation is identified with making such a notable award on an annual basis, (Collins).

 BENYAMIN

      The Tribe of Benyamin was the smallest tribe in Judea and the most warlike.

When Judah, including Benyamin and Levites, were taken into exile into Babylon for 70 years for their punishment for the sin idolatry, only a few returned to Yerusalem with the Judahites that returned to rebuild the Temple.  Most of Benyamin’s people remained in Asia (Russia) then migrated over the Caucus Mts. into Europe.  They joined the two brother Tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh in Europe. 

      Genesis 49:27 says, “Benyamin shall ravin as a wolf: in the morning he shall devour the prey, and at night he shall divide the spoil.”  Wolves are common in northern climates, indicating that Benyamin’s people would settle in the northern latitudes.  Norway and Iceland hold the most Benyamin descendants.  These Benyamin people became the “Viking Norsemen,” great seafaring people.  Norway’s Viking ancestors were known for their preying (wolflike) on all other nations of Europe from various bases they set up in their Northern homelands.  They warred against all other Tribes in bloody civil wars.  The descendants of Benyamin also came to North America in huge Viking ships for exploration, (Collins).

      My Father’s people that settled in the Ukraine (Russia) were most likely Benyamites that had mixed in with the Tribe of Judah and Levi that migrated out into the world.  I, say this because I have inherited from my Father’s side a willingness to love a “good fight,” and exhibit  Benyamite characteristics.  Today, even as a spiritual person, I have been told that I have a “contentious personality.”  In addition to this summation, the Ruach of Yehowah once told me in the 1980’s that I was from “Benyamin” but I did not truly understand it until lately.  After studying Benyamin’s prophecy, and taking into consideration the knowledge that my Father’s relatives came from the location that the Tribe of Benyamin migrated through, and analyzing myself in depth, I can see the likeness to Benyamin’s Tribe quite well in myself. 

      Scrutinizing myself, I can see my personal and spiritual characteristics to be like a “wolf.”  Nothing passes me by that I do not see especially in the spiritual realm.  I have spent years as an intercessor against the things of sin and injustice in the Body of Messiah, and I have the spiritual ability to “tear” into the enemy (HaSatan) with viciousness.  I confront the “enemy” always in the mornings through rebuke, and access everything that led up to a situation that has brought harm, including the sin of myself and everyone involved.  If people do not change after I pray earnestly for them, and have repented of my sin involved in the situation, I confront them whether they like it or not. 

      Another trait is that I am very protective (the Tribe of Benyamin protected the Tribe of Judah), and warlike in my observation and protection when it is needed.  I believe that these strong characteristics come from the Benyamin blood which has become called “Jewish.”

 DAN

      The Tribe of Dan left their name throughout all the areas of their migrations.  Everywhere they traveled, they named their settlements after themselves, which became cities retaining those names.  The Danites main characteristic was to name geographical locations along their migratory paths.  From Russia into Ireland where they eventually established themselves, they left the name of Dan.  Some of the Danites became great seafaring peoples.  A region of Turkey used to be called “Dardania,” and one of the narrow straits between the Aegean Sea and the Black Sea by Russia is still called Dardanelles.

They joined in with Egypt’s exploration fleets during Solomon’s time into the Pacific Ocean as far as Hawaii.  The “fair-skinned” sailors among the Egyptian navy were visible in the Polynesian Islands, Europe, New Zealand, and Israel history records.  History records that after the Assyrian captivity of the 10 Tribes of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, a people called “Tuatha De Danaan arrived in Ireland.  They maybe the earliest settlers of Ireland and the descendants of the Irish people, (Collins).

      For those Danites that stayed on land to migrate northward from the Black Sea region along with refugees of the other Tribes, they left names everywhere they went and settled in Denmark mostly.  However, they traveled through many areas such as “Danzig, Poland to get to “Danmark” as the “Danes” call

Denmark.  Genesis 49:16-17 says, “Dan shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel.  Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path, that biteth the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backward.”  The Hebrew word translated “judge” can be also translated “discern.”  Like snakes that leave a telltale pattern in the dirt of their winding movements, so have Dan’s people left a winding trace of their migrations to be discerned by their leaving names everywhere.  The latter part of their prophecy can be concluded to be the modern day battle of “throwing off the rider” by winning their independence from the British by “biting British heels” with a terrorist campaign.  They won not by open warfare but by “nipping at the heels” of the British via terrorist acts.

Today in modern history, we have seen the left over effects of these terrorist acts brought on by the war of Ireland between Protestant Ireland and the Catholic portion of Ireland.  It was never a war over religion, however, but over land and allegiance to the Queen of England, (Collins).

 GAD

      The Tribe of Gad was taken into captivity by the Assyrians into Asia, and latter migrated into the European areas of Belgium, Switzerland, and Germany.

Genesis 49:20 states, “Blessed be he who enlarges Gad!  Gad crouches like a lion, he tears the arm, and the crown of the head.”  Jacob’s prophecy indicates that Gad would have a large population (“be enlarged”), and act as a predator (like a lion that preys on or hunts its kill to tear it apart to devour).  No other nation of people fit this prophecy like the Germans especially under Hitler.  They not only devoured all of Europe but also went through Europe in search of its prey, the “Jews.”  Germany hunted them down, uprooted and tore them apart from the other people as a lion tears its prey apart.  Germany includes the “sons of Isaac” and also descendants that were called “Prussians.”  The Prussians were not related to Gad, and were a diabolical military presence in that area.  Thus, Germany has traditionally exhibited a split personality as a nation.  It is Gad’s presence in the nation that led to the Protestant Reformation (Roman Catholic Church gave birth to a daughter religion that became Christianity, a reformed catholic religion that the “sons of Isaac” supported), and the Prussian influence that produced Adolph Hitler and Nazism.  Their Prussian martial skills came to force under Hitler to be a scourge to Germany’s neighbors.  Researchers estimate that most modern Germans are a mixture of Gad and non-Israelite bloodlines, (Collins).

 JUDAH

      The Tribe of Judah is easily recognized in the world by its religion, “Judaism.”

However, there are probably more “converts” to the religion than actual descendants of the Tribe of Judah.  A small remant of Torah keeping “Judahites” returned to rebuild the Temple in Yerusalem after their 70-year exile in Babylon (modern day Iraq).  But many more Judahites migrated into Asia and settled in small pockets, and other Judahites mixed in or followed the 10 Tribes into Europe.

      The Judahites that migrated into Europe from Asia are referred to “Ashkenazi” Jews which is a name derived from “Isaac.”  The Ashkenazi Jews are usually fair-skinned, blue, green or light brown eyes, and light hair color, blonde, red or brown.  Other Judahites migrated into Spain, and became known as “Sephardic Jews.”  They usually have olive-skin tones, dark brown to black hair, and dark brown eyes.

      When the Jews in Spain were deported by Queen Isabella, many came to North America along with Christopher Columbus.  It is written that the first person that stepped off the ship onto dry land of North America, the “new world,” was Queen Isabella’s personal physician, a Sephardic Jew, (Collins).  

      Sephardic Jews, in particular that came from Spain eventually migrated to North America, Mexico, Central, and South America.  For those readers that may descend from Sephardic Jewish ancestry, the author of this article would suggest that you read the book Aliyah and other books written by researcher and author, Dr. Dell F. Sanchez.  His books contain historical information and many Sephardic Jewish family names that were taken from Inquisition lists of the Roman Catholic Church.

      Genesis 49:10 says, “The sceptre (a symbol of royal authority) shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet (teach Torah wherever they go) until Shiloh come.”  Shiloh is a reference to Messiah.     The instructors of Torah, the Tribe of Judah, primarily settled in Europe.  History reveals that the royal houses of Europe intermarried with Judah’s people, and thus, the first part of the blessing, having royal authority, has continued with the Tribe of Judah throughout European history until today. 

      The second part of the blessing is that the Tribe of Judah would be Torah teachers.  This has been true to some extent within the religion of Judaism but they have not yet fulfilled their destiny to the world in this respect.  Therefore, Messiah Yahshua will fulfill the second part to the world.  He, who is the “living” Torah will instruct the commandments of Yehowah when He Comes.           

      The Christian Church would like to believe that it is fulfilling the second part of Judah’s prophecy.  But in truth, it has not replaced Judah in the blessing.  Due to the Church’s idolatrous mixture of Torah and sun god worship, it has not had Yehowah’s authority to replace Judah in the blessing nor supercede Judah‘s authority to teach Torah.  This is very evident in the Church’s non-ability to teach Torah, the Prophets or the Brit Chadasha, Renewed Covenant, correctly.  Only the Tribe of Judah has that privilege. The Tribe of Judah will retain Torah and their privileged status until the Messiah Yahshua comes at which time then Judah will hand the sceptre or Yehowah’s authority to Yahshua to reign and rule over the nations with the laws of Yehowah.

      The Tribe of Judah is likened to a “lion” in the latter times of history and indicates that they will be bold, even predatory, in their military approach.  The modern State of Israel founded in 1948 is widely recognized to be a fulfillment of Zephaniah 2:7 that says, “And the coast shall be for the remnant of the house of Judah; they shall feed thereupon: in the houses of Askelon shall they lie down…for Yehowah their Elohim shall visit them, and turn away their captivity.”

This prophecy sets Judah in our time indicating that not until our time would the Jews have an established homeland like the other Tribes, not until the latter times (1948).  The Jews in the State of Israel will have to be like a “lion,” an aggressive military power because they are surrounded by enemies who want to steal their lands.  The Tribe of Judah mixed with members of other Tribes has certainly established the initial steps for re-gaining all the land for all the Tribes that will return in the near future to fulfill many prophecies of the Scriptures, (Collins).

 LEVI AND SIMEON

      The Tribes of Levi and Simeon would not have nations of their own to distinguish them in history but would remain dispersed among the other Tribes of Israel.  Genesis 49:5-7 states, “Simeon and Levi are brothers; weapons of violence are their swords.  O my soul, come not into their council; O my spirit, be not joined to their company; for in their anger they slay men, and in their wantonness they hamstring oxen.  Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce; and their wrath, for it is cruel!  I will divide them in Jacob and scatter them in Israel

(scatter them as individuals so that they will not band together to be worse in nature).”  The reference to their “slaying men” comes from the story in Genesis 34, when Levi and Simeon massacred all the males of a town because one man had premarital sex with their sister, Dinah, even though she consented.  If Yehowah had not scattered them as individuals, they would have become ruthless, militaristic nations, (Collins).

      The Simeonites sailed with the sea-faring Danites to the British Isles in 720 B.C.  It is believed that they along with the Danites were instrumental in founding the City of Sparta, Greece.  This evidence is found in the Book of I Maccabees, which contains  fascinating correspondence between the Jews and Spartans in the second century B.C. saying to the Spartans “you are our kinsmen.”  Sparta was a war-like city-state that could be very ruthless at times.

It is evident that Simeonites found their way into the British Isles.  The British Celts (Irish) revealed their Spartan military skills by resisting the Roman army

with military actions similar to those used by the Spartans in Greece, (Collins).

      The Tribe of Levi shared Simeon’s capacity for violence, but had a particular zeal for service to Elohim.  The combination of an inclination towards violence and a zeal for Elohim made the Levites Yehowah’s perfect choice to be the priestly tribe of ancient Israel because much of their responsibilities involed killing and butchering animals for sacrificing.  Levites are not squeamish people, and they make good butchers, surgeons, soldiers, morticians, CSI detectives, etc.  The Tribe of Levi also had a special aptitude for music and entertainment.  In ancient times they served as singers and musicians in worship.  Today, we will find Levites in the music, movie and entertainment industries exhibiting their talents, (Collins).

      Although many Levites are among the Jews, and upholding Judaism, they are also found among the other non-Jewish Tribes, nations and religions as well.  Most Levites found in religion are apt to be “pharisaical” type Bible teachers, prideful, stubborn, and hardheaded about their “self-imposed head-knowledge.”  Or their talents will be exhibited through their music and song abilities.  Many Levites have retained their name in some form such as Levi, Levy, or a derivitive of the Hebrew word “cohan/cohanim” such as Cohen, Cohan, Caan, Kohen, etc., (Collins).

      Further insight on the 12 Tribes of Israel can also be found on the website of the Union of Nazarene Congregations at www.2house.org written by Rabbi Moshe Yoseph Koniouchowsky of Your Arms to Israel ministry.

 REFERENCE

Collins, Steven M.  The “Lost” Ten Tribes of Israel…Found!.  Boring:  CPA Books, 1995.