There were twelve tribes of Israel. These tribes are descended from the twelve sons of Jacob (who was also called Israel). The names of the twelve tribes are Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, and Benjamin. However, in some listings, the tribe of Levi is set apart and does not receive a territorial allotment, while Joseph's two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, are considered separate tribes, still totaling twelve tribes overall through different counting methods.
