Jacob Who Was Father of the 12 Tribes of Israel

Jacob was Isaac and Rebecca’s son. Jacob is mentioned in the Holy Bible because Jacob has a very special significance. Jacob’s grandfather’s name was Abraham. One of Jacob’s titles was Israel. By this title, the descendants of Jacob are called Israelites. The Israelites had about 12 tribes. The place where Jacob was born was called Canaan, which is part of Palestine and Israel. Jacob had an older brother named Esau. These two were twins but Esau was born some moments before Jacob and Jacob after him. When Jacob was born, he was holding Esau’s heel because of this incident, Isaac named him Jacob because Jacob means “one who holds”.

Verse

“After this, his brother came out, with his hand grasping Esau’s heel; so he was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when Rebekah gave birth to them.” (Genesis 25:26)

Early Life of Jacob

Rebecca discovered that she was carrying twin children Jacob and Esau when she was pregnant. Although Esau and Jacob were twins, Esau was a little older than Jacob. Jacob was not a hard worker, Esau enjoyed hunting. There was a huge difference between these two brothers. Jacob liked to stay at home whereas Esau enjoyed going hunting. After a long day of hunting, Esau asked for food when he got home. Jacob was in the kitchen at the time. Jacob begged Esau to give me his birthright then I’ll provide food. He took advantage of this opportunity. Esau took the offer because he was really hungry. Another time, just as his father Isaac was about to bless Esau, Jacob betrayed him. It was planned by Jacob’s mother that Isaac would have weakened vision. Jacob takes on the form of Esau, approach him, and accepts his blessing. In doing so, Jacob pilfered Esau’s blessing.

Verse

Esau said, “Isn’t he rightly named Jacob? This is the second time he has taken advantage of me: He took my birthright, and now he’s taken my blessing!” Then he asked, “Haven’t you reserved any blessing for me?” (Genesis 27:36)

Laban With Jacob

Esau was very angry with his brother Jacob and he decided to kill Jacob, because of which Jacob took refuge in the house of his uncle named Laban to save his life. Later, Laban also became the father-in-law of Jacob. Jacob lived with Laban and he had two daughters whom Jacob married. One was named Leah and the other was named Rachel. Both Jacob and Laban used to do business together. Laban always gave weak cattle to Jacob but still God blessed Jacob’s business and made him rich. Jacob stayed with Laban for about 20 years, after that he came to meet his brother Esau. During these 20 years, Jacob had 12 sons. The 12 tribes of the Israelites became from these 12 sons.

Verse

“It was like this for the twenty years I was in your household. I worked for you fourteen years for your two daughters and six years for your flocks, and you changed my wages ten times.” (Genesis 31:41)

Jacob’s Name Changing

After a long time, Jacob thought of meeting Esau, and when he was on his way, Jacob was wrestled by an angel. During this wrestling, Jacob’s leg was also injured, but still he did not let the angel go. He begged him to give back the blessing. On which God created a new identity for him and gave him the name of Israel. Israel means “one who wrestles with God.”

Verse

“That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two female servants and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions. So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. 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.  Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.”But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” The man asked him, “What is your name?” “Jacob,” he answered. 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.” (Genesis 32:22-28)

Twelve Tribes of Jacob

Jacob had two marriages with Leah and Rachel and had some concubines named Zilpah and Bilhah. From which he had 12 children.

• Reuben
• Simeon
• Levi
• Asher
• Judah
• Dan
• Naphtali
• Gad
• Issachar
• Zebulum
• Joseph
• Benjamin

These 12 children became 12 tribes of Israel and God spread these 12 tribes to different parts. One of these 12 sons named Joseph was the most favored son of Jacob who was later elevated to a high position in Egypt. Joseph was the one who saved the children of Israel from famine because he had true dreams.

Verse

“The sons of Leah: Reuben the firstborn of Jacob, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar and Zebulun. The sons of Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin. The sons of Rachel’s servant Bilhah: Dan and Naphtali. The sons of Leah’s servant Zilpah: Gad and Asher. These were the sons of Jacob, who were born to him in Paddan Aram.” (Genesis 35:23-26)

Verse

“All these are the twelve tribes of Israel, and this is what their father said to them when he blessed them, giving each the blessing appropriate to him.” (Genesis 49:28)

Death of Jacob

Jacob was the man from whom the Israelites began. The 12 tribes of Israel came from the 12 sons of Jacob. Before his death, Jacob gathered his sons together and advised them and wished that when he died, he should be buried with his ancestors, his grandfather Abraham and his father Isaac. So when he died in Egypt, he was taken to Canaan to be buried in a Machpelah cave with Isaac and Abraham.

Verse

“So Jacob’s sons did as he had commanded them:  They carried him to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave in the field of Machpelah, near Mamre, which Abraham had bought along with the field as a burial place from Ephron the Hittite.  After burying his father, Joseph returned to Egypt, together with his brothers and all the others who had gone with him to bury his father.”  (Genesis 50:12-14)

Verse

“Then he gave them these instructions: “I am about to be gathered to my people. Bury me with my fathers in the cave in the field of Ephron the Hittite, the cave in the field of Machpelah, near Mamre in Canaan, which Abraham bought along with the field as a burial place from Ephron the Hittite. There Abraham and his wife Sarah were buried, there Isaac and his wife Rebekah were buried, and there I buried Leah.  The field and the cave in it were bought from the Hittites.” When Jacob had finished giving instructions to his sons, he drew his feet up into the bed, breathed his last and was gathered to his people.” (Genesis 49:29-33)

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Conclusion

Jacob has a very important role in history. Because of Jacob, the Israelites were founded. Jacob faced many difficulties in his life. He learned many lessons from his life and strengthened his relationship with God. From Jacob’s life, we learn that if we live steadfastly and pray to God, all difficulties can be faced with great courage.