The List of the Twelve Tribes in Rev 7:5–8
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12775/BPTh.2012.003Keywords
The Book of Revelation, 144 000 sealed, twelve tribes of Israel, Manasseh, Ephraim, DanAbstract
The Old Testament and the peritestamental literature contain no list of the sons of Jacob–Israel or of the tribes of Israel which corresponds exactly to the list in Rev 7:5–8, with regard to either order or content. Neither genealogical nor geographical principles apply to the list. If, however, one sees in this list a portrayal of the Church as the restored, eschatological Israel, built out of the twelve tribes on the foundation of the twelve apostles, then both the choice of the names and their order conform to reasonable explanation. The most salient issue, namely the dropping of Dan from the list, is most likely the result of this tribe’s association with idolatry and with Judas Iscariot. Similarly, the mention of Manasseh instead of, as one might expect, his younger but more privileged brother Ephraim, likely stems from the association of the latter with idolatry and rebellion.References
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