Levi, though one of the sons of Israel, is usually omitted from Biblical passages listing the tribes. This is because the Levites were priests consecreated to serve God. Instead of giving them an inheritance of land in Palestine, God gave the Levites the tithes and offerings paid by the other tribes of Israel (Numbers 18, etc.). The Kingdom of Israel, also known as the Northern Ten Tribes of Israel, is composed of the tribes of Asher, Dan, Ephraim, Gad, Issachar, Manasseh, Naphtali, Reuben, Simeon and Zebulon. The Kingdom of Judah, also known as the Southern Kingdom, is composed of the tribes of Judah, Benjamin and the priestly tribe of Levi. |
