The Twelve Tribes of Israel Quiz

Question 1

How many sons did Jacob have, and from how many different mothers?

Accepted Answer

12 sons from four mothers

Answer

12 sons from one mother

Answer

12 sons from two mothers

Answer

12 sons from three mothers

Question 2

Which tribe was given no territorial inheritance in the Promised Land and why?

Accepted Answer

The tribe of Levi, because God Himself was their inheritance as the priestly tribe

Answer

The tribe of Dan, because of their idolatry

Answer

The tribe of Simeon, because of Simeon's sin at Shechem

Answer

The tribe of Reuben, because Reuben lost his birthright

Question 3

Which tribe did Jesus come from, fulfilling prophecy that the Messiah would come from the 'lion's sceptre'?

Accepted Answer

The tribe of Judah

Answer

The tribe of Levi

Answer

The tribe of Benjamin

Answer

The tribe of Joseph

Question 4

Why did the 12 tribes of Israel become 13 tribal allotments but remain called 'twelve tribes'?

Accepted Answer

Joseph's two sons Ephraim and Manasseh each received a tribal portion, replacing Levi and Joseph

Answer

The tribe of Judah was divided into north and south

Answer

Joseph's son Ephraim died childless so his inheritance was divided

Answer

Benjamin was absorbed into Judah after the civil war

Question 5

Which of Jacob's sons did Jacob rebuke most severely in his final blessing, saying 'you went up onto your father's bed'?

Accepted Answer

Reuben

Answer

Simeon

Answer

Levi

Answer

Judah

Question 6

After the death of Solomon, Israel split into two kingdoms. Which tribes formed the northern Kingdom of Israel?

Accepted Answer

Ten northern tribes, led by Jeroboam

Answer

All tribes except Judah and Benjamin

Answer

Only Ephraim and Manasseh

Answer

All tribes except Judah

Question 7

Which tribe's territory included the city of Jerusalem?

Accepted Answer

Benjamin — though Jerusalem's expansion placed it within both Benjamin and Judah

Answer

Judah exclusively

Answer

Ephraim

Answer

Dan

Question 8

Which tribe was in Jacob's dying blessing compared to a serpent by the roadside and a viper along the path?

Accepted Answer

Dan

Answer

Gad

Answer

Asher

Answer

Naphtali

Question 9

Which tribe occupied the territory furthest north in the Promised Land and is associated with the region of Galilee?

Accepted Answer

Naphtali

Answer

Zebulun

Answer

Asher

Answer

Issachar

Question 10

The tribe of Benjamin produced Israel's first king and later one of the New Testament's most famous apostles. Who were they?

Accepted Answer

Saul and Paul

Answer

Gideon and Peter

Answer

Saul and Barnabas

Answer

Jonathan and Timothy

Question 11

What does Jacob say in his blessing about the tribe of Judah that indicates a coming ruler or king?

Accepted Answer

Both B and C (all of these are in the Judah blessing)

Answer

'Judah will attack his enemies; his brothers will praise him'

Answer

'The sceptre will not depart from Judah...until he to whom it belongs shall come'

Answer

'Judah is a young lion... who will rouse him?'

Question 12

Which tribe settled on the east side of the Jordan River rather than in Canaan itself?

Accepted Answer

Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh

Answer

Dan and Asher

Answer

Zebulun and Issachar

Answer

Ephraim and the other half of Manasseh

Question 13

In Jacob's blessing, which son is compared to a 'fruitful vine near a spring' — a blessing of abundance?

Accepted Answer

Joseph

Answer

Asher

Answer

Issachar

Answer

Zebulun

Question 14

The tribe of Simeon ended up with no distinct territory of its own but was scattered within Judah's land. Why was Simeon's tribe diminished in Jacob's blessing?

Accepted Answer

Because Simeon and Levi angrily killed all the men of Shechem after their sister Dinah was violated

Answer

Because Simeon was the second born and birthright went to Judah

Answer

Because Simeon had fewer descendants than the other tribes

Answer

Because Simeon abandoned Jacob during the famine to go to Egypt

Question 15

What was the Urim and Thummim, associated with the tribe of Levi?

Accepted Answer

Two special stones kept in the high priest's breastplate used to seek God's guidance

Answer

Two bronze pillars at the entrance to the tabernacle

Answer

A pair of silver trumpets used in worship

Answer

Special offerings only the tribe of Levi could make

Question 16

Which tribe's name literally means 'praise' in Hebrew, and why was this name given?

Accepted Answer

Judah — because Leah said 'This time I will praise the LORD' when he was born

Answer

Levi — because the Levites praise God in worship

Answer

Asher — because Leah said 'How happy I am'

Answer

Benjamin — meaning 'son of my right hand'

Question 17

In Revelation 7, the 144,000 sealed servants are drawn from the twelve tribes. Which tribe is missing from this list compared to the Genesis list?

Accepted Answer

Dan

Answer

Reuben

Answer

Ephraim

Answer

Naphtali

Question 18

In the New Testament, what tribe was the prophetess Anna from — the woman who recognised the infant Jesus at the temple?

Accepted Answer

The tribe of Asher

Answer

The tribe of Judah

Answer

The tribe of Benjamin

Answer

The tribe of Naphtali

Question 19

Jacob's blessing of Benjamin in Genesis 49 uses a striking image. How does it describe Benjamin?

Accepted Answer

'Benjamin is a ravenous wolf; in the morning he devours the prey, in the evening he divides the plunder'

Answer

'Benjamin is a swift runner, swifter than the eagle'

Answer

'Benjamin shall strike his enemies from behind like a serpent'

Answer

'Benjamin is the smallest but the most beloved among the tribes'

Question 20

According to Deuteronomy 33, Moses' final blessing describes which tribe as the one who will 'dwell by the sea' and 'be a haven for ships'?

Accepted Answer

Zebulun

Answer

Dan

Answer

Asher

Answer

Naphtali