Leaders of the tribes of Israel
The Torah gives several lists of leaders of the tribes of Israel.
First list
The first, and main, list appears in Numbers 1:1-19. It lists the leaders who supervised the first census of the Israelites, and who led them during their travels in the wilderness. Numbers 1 gives the list of those leaders who supervised the census:
| Reuben | Elizur the son of Shedeur | |
|---|---|---|
| Simeon | Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai | |
| Judah | Nahshon the son of Amminadab | |
| Issachar | Nethanel the son of Zuar | |
| Zebulun | Eliab the son of Helon | |
| Joseph | Ephraim | Elishama the son of Ammihud |
| Manasseh | Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur | |
| Benjamin | Abidan the son of Gideoni | |
| Dan | Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai | |
| Asher | Pagiel the son of Ochran | |
| Gad | Eliasaph the son of Deuel | |
| Naphtali | Ahira the son of Enan | |
In the following chapters, these same leaders are recorded as being heads of their tribes during the encampments of the tribes in the wilderness. (Numbers 2, 10:11-28) These leaders also brought donations from their respective tribes on the occasion of the completion of the Tabernacle. (Numbers 7) They were summoned together to meet with Moses by the sounding of one silver trumpet (sounding both silver trumpets being the signal for the whole Israelite community to move forward on their Exodus journey).[1]
The spies
A second list is given in Numbers 13:1-16: these are the men who were sent by Moses to spy out the Land of Canaan. They are also described by the text as leaders of their tribesmen (Num. 13:2):
| Reuben | Shammua the son of Zaccur | |
|---|---|---|
| Simeon | Shaphat the son of Hori | |
| Judah | Caleb the son of Jephunneh | |
| Issachar | Igal the son of Joseph | |
| Ephraim | Hoshea the son of Nun | |
| Benjamin | Palti the son of Raphu | |
| Zebulun | Gaddiel the son of Sodi | |
| Joseph | Manasseh | Gaddi the son of Susi |
| Dan | Ammiel the son of Gemalli | |
| Asher | Sethur the son of Michael | |
| Naphtali | Nahbi the son of Vophsi | |
| Gad | Geuel the son of Machi | |
Third list
Numbers 34:16-29 gives the list of the leaders of the tribes who took possession of the Land of Canaan. This list omits Reuben and Gad, who, at their request, only received inheritance on the east bank of the Jordan, and not in the Land of Canaan.
The list begins with Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, who led the entire nation. Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh appear on this list as well as the list of the spies, the other ten spies having died in punishment for slandering the Holy Land.
| Judah | Caleb the son of Jephunneh | |
|---|---|---|
| Simeon | Shemuel the son of Ammihud | |
| Benjamin | Elidad the son of Chislon | |
| Dan | Bukki the son of Jogli | |
| Joseph | Manasseh | Hanniel the son of Ephod |
| Ephraim | Kemuel the son of Shiphtan | |
| Zebulun | Elizaphan the son of Parnach | |
| Issachar | Paltiel the son of Azzan | |
| Asher | Ahihud the son of Shelomi | |
| Naphtali | Pedahel the son of Ammihud | |
References
- ↑ Numbers 10:4