Twelve Tribes… But Who’s Counting? Why the Bible’s Tribal Lists Don’t Match

Why does the Bible say there are twelve tribes of Israel—but list them differently in different places?

In this episode of Gospel Gumbo, we explore one of the Bible’s quiet mysteries: the shifting lists of Israel’s tribes. From Genesis to Revelation, the math doesn’t always add up. And that’s not a mistake—it’s a message.

We’ll cover:

• The difference between the 12 sons of Jacob and the tribes that bear their names
• Why Levi is sometimes included—and sometimes left out
• How Joseph’s tribe becomes two (Ephraim and Manasseh)
• Why Dan disappears from Revelation
• What these shifts reveal about God’s priorities in Scripture

This episode is about more than ancient lists—it’s about how God uses structure and story to point us to spiritual truth.

Thanks for listening.

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