The 12 Tribes of Israel: A Biblical Overview

Jacob, the patriarch of Israel, had twelve sons through his wives Leah and Rachel and their handmaidens, Zilpah and Bilhah. These sons became the progenitors of the twelve tribes: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, and Benjamin.