12 Apostles

[White_Peony]

So Jesus chose 12 apostles to symbolize gathering together all the 12 tribes of Israel. Is it possible that each of the apostles were from a different tribe?

 

[tafan]

So Jesus chose 12 apostles to symbolize gathering together all the 12 tribes of Israel. Is it possible that each of the apostles were from a different tribe?

Impossible. There are two sets of brothers, Simon and Andrew, and James (the greater) and John.

 

[Todd_Easton]

Peter and his brother Andrew would probably be considered from the same tribe. The same would be true for James and his brother John.

 

[White_Peony]

Impossible. There are two sets of brothers, Simon and Andrew, and James (the greater) and John.

True.

(why didn’t I think of that?! :banghead: )

 

[De_Maria]

True.

(why didn’t I think of that?! :banghead: )

I think also, by that time, the 10 tribes were lost. The only two remaining were the Jews (Juda) and the Levites (Levi).

 

[Joe_Kelley]

I think also, by that time, the 10 tribes were lost. The only two remaining were the Jews (Juda) and the Levites (Levi).

Note that some from the other tribes had remained in Judea when Israel fell, or returned there later.

…36* And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanu-el, of the tribe of Asher; she was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years from her virginity, 37 and as a widow till she was eighty-four. …

Luke 2:36-37

and Saint Paul

…If any other man thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; as to the law a Pharisee,…

Philippians 3:4-5

 

[patrick457]

I think also, by that time, the 10 tribes were lost. The only two remaining were the Jews (Juda) and the Levites (Levi).

Actually, the common conception of the ‘Ten Lost Tribes’ is later Rabbinic legend. 2 Chronicles 30:1-11 mentions northern Israelites (in particular, members of Dan, Ephraim, Manasseh, Asher and Zebulun) during Hezekiah’s reign and how members of the latter three went to worship at the Temple in Jerusalem at that time. And earlier than that, 2 Chronicles 15:9 makes mention of members of the tribes of Ephraim, Manasseh and Simeon fleeing to Judah during the reign of Asa (913/10 BC-873/69 BC), although whether these groups were absorbed into the population or remained distinct groups, or returned to their tribal lands is not certain.