The Tribes of Israel Trivia Quiz

Answer: Joseph

Joseph was the son of Jacob by his much loved wife Rachel. As such, he was greatly favoured by Jacob. This caused much anger and resentment among his brothers, so much that they plotted to kill him, eventually settling for selling him to the Ishmaelites.

Answer: Simeon

Simon + E

Simeon was the second son of Jacob and Leah. Some traditions give the meaning of his name as "He has heard my sufferings". Since Leah is described as not being loved or at least not being loved as much as Rachel by their husband Jacob, she is said to have derived solace from the sons she bore Jacob while her sister remained barren.

Answer: Naphtali

Naphtali was the sixth son of Jacob. His mother was Bilhah, the handmaiden of Rachel. Since Rachel was barren for a long time after marriage, she had given her handmaiden to Jacob to bear children on her behalf.

Answer: Reuben

Reuben was Jacob's oldest son and was born of his wife, Leah. However, though he was the eldest, he did not get the blessing due to the first born as he angered Jacob by his immoral behaviour with Bilhah, Rachel's handmaiden and the mother of Jacob's sons, Dan and Naphtali.

Answer: Benjamin

Ben + Jam + In

Benjamin was the youngest among Jacob's children and one of only two children born to him by Rachel, the other being Joseph. He was originally named Benoni which translates to 'son of my pain' by Rachel who died shortly after giving birth to him. Jacob changed his name to Benjamin which means 'son of my right side'.

Answer: Gad

The words 'in the beginning' indicate that the first letters of subsequent letters spell out the answer.

Gad was the seventh son of Jacob and was born to him by Zilpah, the handmaid of his first wife, Leah.

Answer: Dan

...descenDANts...

When Rachel was unable to bear a child, she gave her handmaiden Bilhah as a 'wife' to Jacob. Dan was born to Jacob and Bilhah, and Rachel regarded this as God's favour to her. Later Rachel herself gave birth to two sons, Joseph and Benjamin.

Answer: Levi

The Tribe of Levi was accorded priestly duties. Moses and his brother Aaron were both descendants of this tribe. Given their role among the Israelites, the Levites were not permitted to own land but received them as gifts in exchange for their services.

Answer: Judah

Based on the genealogy of Jesus given in the gospels of Matthew and Luke, it is believed that He is descended from the tribe of Judah. Jesus is also called the 'Lion of Judah' in the book of Revelations.

Answer: Asher

Hear + S

When Jacob blessed each of his sons before dying, he blessed Asher, saying, "his bread shall be fat, and he shall yield royal dainties". This blessing was reiterated by Moses in the book of Deuteronomy (33:24) when he said, "Most blessed of sons is Asher; let him be favored by his brothers, and let him bathe his feet in oil."