10. In the Old Testament of the Christian Bible, the number twelve appears prominently in Exodus as describing the number of tribes of Israel. Why were there twelve tribes of Israel?
From Quiz Twelve Is a Magic Number
Answer:
12 was the number of sons that Jacob had
Jacob was the son of Isaac and Rebekah and grandson of Abraham. He also had at least one daughter. He was renamed Israel by God, a name which can be translated as God contended, God rules, God judges, or as "he fights or struggles with God." This name is an apparent reference to Jacob's wrestling match with an angel. See Genesis 32:24-28 (New International Version):
"24 So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. 25 When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob's hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. 26 Then the man said, 'Let me go, for it is daybreak.'
But Jacob replied, 'I will not let you go unless you bless me.'
27 The man asked him, 'What is your name?'
'Jacob,' he answered.
28 Then the man said, 'Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.'