Appendix -The Order of the Tribes

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A. GENESIS. 29-30—Natural order of the sons of Jacob according to their birth
This order speaks to us of man's plans acting according to his own thoughts outside the thoughts of God. We see these plans with Laban's giving his daughters to Jacob and with Rachel and Leah giving Jacob their maidservants. The order indicated here is as follows:
4 sons of Leah: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah.
2 sons of Bilhah, Rachel's maidservant: Dan, Naphtali.
2 sons of Zilpah, Leah's maidservant: Gad, Asher.
2 sons of Leah: Issachar, Zebulon.
2 sons of Rachel: Joseph, Benjamin.
B. GENESIS. 35:23—Order of the sons of Jacob dwelling in Canaan
The first three sons of Jacob had manifested themselves to be murderers and incestuous. Their only guarantee for entering into Canaan lies in the promise given to Abraham and in the free election of grace. Here we find these three guilty sons at the head of the list
6 sons of Leah.
2 sons of Rachel, to whom are joined, so to say, the 2 sons of Bilhah, Rachel's maidservant, and the
2 sons of Zilpah, Leah's maidservant.
In this way, Leah and Rachel are equal in number and possess the same privileges according to the election of grace.
C. GENESIS. 46:8-25—Order of the sons of Jacob at their entry into Egypt
We find the order of nature again here, but according to the wives. God has the upper hand in all that concerns the family of promise, but at the same time Leah and Rachel each reap the fruits of their own self-will. The order is as follows: 6 sons of Leah 2 sons of Zilpah 2 sons of Rachel 2 sons of Bilhah.
D. GENESIS. 49—Typical and prophetic order of the sons of Jacob
We will not enter into this very interesting subject which we have already dealt with elsewhere.1 Let us simply note: Among Leah's six sons, Zebulon and Issachar are transposed. Issachar represents Israel's servitude to the Gentiles before the appearing of Dan, the Antichrist.
Dan himself, the son of Bilhah, is completely out of place. He represents the Antichrist, and after him we find the prophetic history of Israel's restoration. Naphtali, Bilhah's second son, is again out of place and comes only after Gad and Asher, Zilpah's sons, because he represents the joyous final liberty of restored Israel.
Joseph and Benjamin, the sons of Rachel, crown all this prophecy in a marvelous way as types of Christ.
This order differs from that of Numbers 2 and 3.
Joseph, type of Christ, who receives his brothers is entirely set apart from them.
Gad and Asher, sons of Zilpah, are placed last.2
Levi is omitted between Simeon and Judah, as not to be numbered. Asher and Gad are transposed. Ephraim and Manasseh replace Joseph. According to Jacob's prophecy (Gen. 48:14-2214And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Ephraim's head, who was the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh's head, guiding his hands wittingly; for Manasseh was the firstborn. 15And he blessed Joseph, and said, God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my life long unto this day, 16The Angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth. 17And when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, it displeased him: and he held up his father's hand, to remove it from Ephraim's head unto Manasseh's head. 18And Joseph said unto his father, Not so, my father: for this is the firstborn; put thy right hand upon his head. 19And his father refused, and said, I know it, my son, I know it: he also shall become a people, and he also shall be great: but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become a multitude of nations. 20And he blessed them that day, saying, In thee shall Israel bless, saying, God make thee as Ephraim and as Manasseh: and he set Ephraim before Manasseh. 21And Israel said unto Joseph, Behold, I die: but God shall be with you, and bring you again unto the land of your fathers. 22Moreover I have given to thee one portion above thy brethren, which I took out of the hand of the Amorite with my sword and with my bow. (Genesis 48:14‑22)), Ephraim takes precedence over Manasseh.
G. Numbers 1:20-56—Order of numbering for combat
Gad, whose role is more than once to fill in the gaps, replaces Levi, who is absent from the numbering.
H. Numbers 2—Order of the encampment of the tribes
They are arranged under four heads: Judah, Reuben, Ephraim, and Dan. Levi is at the center, surrounding the tabernacle.
I. Numbers 7—Order of the princes of the tribes at the dedication of the altar
The same order as that of the encamping except, naturally, that Levi has disappeared.
J. Numbers 10:11-2811And it came to pass on the twentieth day of the second month, in the second year, that the cloud was taken up from off the tabernacle of the testimony. 12And the children of Israel took their journeys out of the wilderness of Sinai; and the cloud rested in the wilderness of Paran. 13And they first took their journey according to the commandment of the Lord by the hand of Moses. 14In the first place went the standard of the camp of the children of Judah according to their armies: and over his host was Nahshon the son of Amminadab. 15And over the host of the tribe of the children of Issachar was Nethaneel the son of Zuar. 16And over the host of the tribe of the children of Zebulun was Eliab the son of Helon. 17And the tabernacle was taken down; and the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari set forward, bearing the tabernacle. 18And the standard of the camp of Reuben set forward according to their armies: and over his host was Elizur the son of Shedeur. 19And over the host of the tribe of the children of Simeon was Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai. 20And over the host of the tribe of the children of Gad was Eliasaph the son of Deuel. 21And the Kohathites set forward, bearing the sanctuary: and the other did set up the tabernacle against they came. 22And the standard of the camp of the children of Ephraim set forward according to their armies: and over his host was Elishama the son of Ammihud. 23And over the host of the tribe of the children of Manasseh was Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur. 24And over the host of the tribe of the children of Benjamin was Abidan the son of Gideoni. 25And the standard of the camp of the children of Dan set forward, which was the rereward of all the camps throughout their hosts: and over his host was Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai. 26And over the host of the tribe of the children of Asher was Pagiel the son of Ocran. 27And over the host of the tribe of the children of Naphtali was Ahira the son of Enan. 28Thus were the journeyings of the children of Israel according to their armies, when they set forward. (Numbers 10:11‑28)—Marching order of the tribes
The tabernacle, taken down and borne by Gershon and Merari, two of the Levitical families, goes between Judah and Reuben. The sanctuary, borne by Kohath, the third Levitical family, goes between Reuben and Ephraim. The ark alone goes ahead a three days' journey to seek out a place of rest for the people.
When it is a matter of spying out the land, all the tribes are deliberately mixed and mingled.
L. NUMBERS. 26—Numbering after the plague
This is like the numbering for combat, except that Manasseh here again takes his place in relation to Ephraim according to the order of birth, whereas for combat Ephraim occupies his place according to the election of grace. This fact is important: it is as though God were beginning anew under the high priest's administration in grace (see Num. 17) the history of the people in responsibility crossing the wilderness, so that He might bring them into Canaan.
Here the order is absolutely outside that of nature. Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh, having chosen their part beyond Jordan, are omitted. Moses, the only one in view previously as leader of the people, gives place to Eleazar (the priesthood) and to Joshua (Christ in the Spirit) leading the people and determining their inheritance.
N. Deuteronomy. 27—The tribes on Gerizim and Ebal
On Gerizim to bless: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, Benjamin.
All are the sons of the legitimate wives. This list moreover contains the names of those who are types of Christ: Levi, Judah, Joseph, Benjamin.
On Ebal to curse: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, Naphtali.
These, with the exception of Reuben and Zebulun, are the sons of the maidservants. Reuben and Zebulun are the firstborn and lastborn of Leah: they surround the sons of Zilpah. It is as though the curse were being pronounced by the representatives of the entire stock of the first wife and by all that is born of the flesh.
O. Deuteronomy. 33—Prophetic order of the tribes, not according to the aspect presented by Jacob's prophecy, but according to the blessings brought by God's government in grace, according to their faithfulness in the land and according to the faithfulness of Moses, type of the future King
Simeon is omitted, for Israel's history as a people in the flesh has been terminated from the outset on with Reuben (cf. Gen. 49:3-73Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power: 4Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father's bed; then defiledst thou it: he went up to my couch. 5Simeon and Levi are brethren; instruments of cruelty are in their habitations. 6O my soul, come not thou into their secret; unto their assembly, mine honor, be not thou united: for in their anger they slew a man, and in their selfwill they digged down a wall. 7Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel. (Genesis 49:3‑7)). Then after Reuben, Judah the Lawgiver appears ¾ Christ. Levi occupies a place of separation among the tribes: his faithfulness has produced fruit: intelligence, consecration, teaching, intercession, and praise. Joseph, also separated from his brethren, has a double portion in the persons of Ephraim and Manasseh. According to the election of grace, Ephraim once again takes precedence over his brother. Judah, Levi, and Joseph are types of Christ. The tribes which then follow are the picture of the blessings of the age to come: activity and rest, virtue, strength, riches, spiritual blessings, eternal rest.
P. Joshua. 15-21—Order of the tribes entering into possession of the land
This is a spiritual order. In first place are Judah, Joseph, and Benjamin, types of Christ; only Joseph is represented by Ephraim, the object of the election of grace, and by the half-tribe of Manasseh, which excludes the order according to nature, the other half-tribe having remained beyond the Jordan. Simeon, who according to natural order should be in second place (Josh. 19:11And the second lot came forth to Simeon, even for the tribe of the children of Simeon according to their families: and their inheritance was within the inheritance of the children of Judah. (Joshua 19:1)) does not take his place until the spiritual order (Josh. 15-18) is exhausted, so to speak. Dan (Josh. 19:4040And the seventh lot came out for the tribe of the children of Dan according to their families. (Joshua 19:40)) occupies the last place.
Already cited at the beginning of this chapter of these Meditations. Instead of order, there is apparent disorder, all being equally the objects of the purposes of God in grace.
R. 1 Chronicles. 2:3-8:34—The genealogical order of the tribes in relation to the kingship
The kingship is established according to God's counsels, the character which it always bears in Chronicles. Judah, from whom comes the Lawgiver, is presented first. But Judah is chosen by pure grace; his history teaches us this here. His wife, a Canaanite, gives him a first-born, Er, whom the Lord slew on account of his wickedness. Thus, just as in 1 Chron. 1, we find the natural man here first, the man whose whole history begins with the fall and judgment. Nonetheless, God gives Judah the preeminence because according to His counsels the Prince is to come forth from him (1 Chron. 5:22For Judah prevailed above his brethren, and of him came the chief ruler; but the birthright was Joseph's:) (1 Chronicles 5:2)), and not for any other reason. Also from the beginning of this chapter we see Judah's posterity traced down to David, the Beloved (1 Chron. 2:13-1713And Jesse begat his firstborn Eliab, and Abinadab the second, and Shimma the third, 14Nethaneel the fourth, Raddai the fifth, 15Ozem the sixth, David the seventh: 16Whose sisters were Zeruiah, and Abigail. And the sons of Zeruiah; Abishai, and Joab, and Asahel, three. 17And Abigail bare Amasa: and the father of Amasa was Jether the Ishmeelite. (1 Chronicles 2:13‑17)). In the enumeration of the other tribes, Levi occupies an important place (1 Chron. 6) on account of the major and indispensable role given him under the kingship for the worship and the service of the temple.
Reuben, the firstborn, has lost all preponderance, not only because this is given to the royal tribe of Judah, but also on account of his sin (1 Chron. 5:1-21Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel, (for he was the firstborn; but, forasmuch as he defiled his father's bed, his birthright was given unto the sons of Joseph the son of Israel: and the genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birthright. 2For Judah prevailed above his brethren, and of him came the chief ruler; but the birthright was Joseph's:) (1 Chronicles 5:1‑2)) which relegates him to a place even after that of Simeon, his brother (1 Chron. 4:2424The sons of Simeon were, Nemuel, and Jamin, Jarib, Zerah, and Shaul: (1 Chronicles 4:24)). Besides, we are told that Joseph had the birthright, except for Judah's right to the kingship (1 Chron. 5:22For Judah prevailed above his brethren, and of him came the chief ruler; but the birthright was Joseph's:) (1 Chronicles 5:2)). It was becoming that he who had been rejected by his brethren should have the first place as head of the family of Israel. The tribes of Dan and Issachar are passed over in silence. This latter feature shows us that in Chronicles we are dealing with an incomplete and even fragmentary genealogical order. 1 Chron. 2 demonstrates this in more than one place.
S. 1 Chronicles. 12:23-27—The order according to which the tribes come to submit themselves to King David
This doubtless depends in part upon their distance and the difficulty or ease of their journey to come to David at Hebron. Thus it is that the two and a half tribes beyond Jordan arrive last. However, Judah, the royal tribe, comes first. followed by Simeon and Levi who in large part depend upon him, and Benjamin, inseparable from Judah and Jerusalem. Benjamin is mentioned three times in this chapter.
T. 1 Chronicles. 27:16-22—Order of the tribes according to their princes
Here again, the order in which the tribes are mentioned is different from the others. Aaron, the high priest, occupies a place apart in the tribe of Levi and Zadok is the prince of the priesthood. He is "the one who shall walk before [Jehovah's] Anointed" forever and who exercises the priesthood, not only during Solomon's reign, but also during Christ's millennial reign. Joseph, type of the rejected suffering Son, has three princes: one for the tribe of Ephraim, one for each of the half-tribes of Manasseh. Dan comes last for the above-mentioned prophetic reason about the millennial reign. Gad and Asher are missing. Their omission seems to be explained by 1 Chron. 27:23-2423But David took not the number of them from twenty years old and under: because the Lord had said he would increase Israel like to the stars of the heavens. 24Joab the son of Zeruiah began to number, but he finished not, because there fell wrath for it against Israel; neither was the number put in the account of the chronicles of king David. (1 Chronicles 27:23‑24). There we see that David's thought at the time of his failure was to number Israel, not only the men of war, but also all the people from the age of twenty years and under. Thereafter he does so no more, for his past action was, perhaps without his realizing it, an act of rebellion against the Lord; something all the more serious since all his life long he was able to experience that his only safeguard was to trust in the Lord. This time he does not number the people "for Jehovah had said He would increase Israel as the stars of heaven" (1 Chron. 27:2323But David took not the number of them from twenty years old and under: because the Lord had said he would increase Israel like to the stars of the heavens. (1 Chronicles 27:23)). He even sets Gad and Asher completely aside, just as Joab was once unwilling to number Levi and Benjamin.
U. Revelation. 7—Order of the tribes sealed by grace
In this prophetic and symbolic picture every distinction is effaced except that Judah occupies the first place, for in Revelation it is a matter of God's government and of Christ's millennial reign. Here we no longer find the half-tribes of Manasseh. Levi is sealed like the other tribes. Joseph replaces Ephraim. Dan is entirely omitted ¾ he is judged according to Jacob's prophecy; the Antichrist and his people, represented by Dan, cannot be sealed.
V. Ezekiel. 48—Order of the tribes established on the millennial earth
Here the temple and the city, the priests, Levi, and the Prince form the center of the land and their position determines the order of the tribes. The position of the latter starts from both sides of this center northward and southward. It is to be noted that the sons of the legitimate wives are closest to the sanctuary, and those of the maidservants at the most distant extremities. Judah and Benjamin, the "Lawgiver" and the "Son of my right hand," occupy the places closest to the sanctuary, to the north and to the south; because here it is a matter of government, of which they are representatives. There follow on the one side and on the other Reuben and Simeon who thus lose their rights according to nature. Levi belongs in the center: he is connected with the temple, as the "Prince" is with the city. Issachar and Zebulon, sons of Leah, to the south, correspond with Manasseh and Ephraim, sons of Rachel, to the north. Ephraim is nearer the sanctuary than Manasseh. Then come the sons of the maidservants. Gad, the son of Zilpah, to the south has, as usual, a place somewhat apart (see F). He corresponds to Naphtali, son of Bilhah, in the north. Dan, the last tribe to the north, as far as possible from the sanctuary,3 once again occupies the place he has always occupied in the distribution of the land. This is perhaps the reason why Asher who, according to a symmetrical plan should be found after Gad to the south, is added to the north, thus accentuating the distance to which Dan is relegated.
David's Last Instructions
1 Chronicles 28-29
 
1. See: Jacob on la discipline (p. 82) by H. Rossier [in the original French], and more especially: Synopsis of the Books of the Bible. volume 1, by J. N. Darby.
3. We find 7 tribes to the north of the sanctuary and only 5 to the south. (For these details, see the helpful map at the back of the French I. N. Darby translation Bible and found also in some English Darby Bibles.)