TRIBÙ

TRIBES. – A simple social group of fundamental ethnic significance, though distinct in the classical world (Lat. *tribus*; Gr. φύλαξ), in the biblical world (Vulg. *tribus*, Sept. ξύλο, etc., as translations of the Heb. *shebet*, *matteh*, originally meaning “staff, branch”; also Heb. *’am*, “clan” (*’umah*), *mishpahah*, “families,” or “kindreds”) and in other contexts to which the term was extended, as a transitional group between local and marital groups and the larger political units of nation and state.

In biblical usage, the term is consecrated to designate the twelve divisions into which the people of Israel recognized themselves as divided, and which had social, religious, military, and sometimes administrative applications. The division was understood both genetically (named after the twelve sons of Jacob as progenitors) and topographically (the names were also used for regions). The number twelve was fixed: Levi had no territory, but instead of Joseph, the tribes of his two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, were counted. In total, the tribes were: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulon, Joseph, Benjamin, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Ephraim, and Manasseh (see the individual entries). The tribes were subdivided into kindreds (*mishpahoth*) and households (*beth*, *batteh*); cf., e.g., Josh. 7:14. As they acquired administrative value, the tribes had leaders (*nasi’*, “prince”), whose names are known for certain periods, such as the Mosaic era (Num. 1:44, in the desert; 1 Chron. 37:16ff., for the time of David, etc.). After the exile, censuses were modeled on the ancient tribal scheme, which, however, likely retained only a topographical or even merely conventional value, persisting until the Christian era, when Anna of the tribe of Asher (Luke 2:36) and Paul of Benjamin (Rom. 11:1; Phil. 3:5) are mentioned. The expression “the twelve tribes of Israel” is also used to denote the entirety of the chosen people in a messianic sense (Matt. 19:28; Rev. 7:5ff.; 21:12ff.; cf. Ezek. 47:13–48:35).

TRIBES. – In early Christian basilicas, this term designated the area behind the high altar where the bishop or abbot took his place, surrounded by priests or monks during ceremonies; the name derives from its analogy with the tribunal of civil basilicas.

TRIBES. – A simple social group of fundamental ethnic significance, though distinct in the classical world (Lat. *tribus*; Gr. φύλαξ), in the biblical world (Vulg. *tribus*, Sept. *ξύλο*, etc., as translations of the Heb. *shebet*, *matteh*, originally meaning “staff, branch”; also Heb. *’am*, “clan” (*’umah*), *mishpahah*, “families,” or “kindreds”) and in other contexts to which the term was extended, as a transitional group between local and marital groups and the larger political units of nation and state.

In biblical usage, the term is consecrated to designate the twelve divisions into which the people of Israel recognized themselves as divided, and which had social, religious, military, and sometimes administrative applications. The division was understood both genetically (named after the twelve sons of Jacob as progenitors) and topographically (the names were also used for regions). The number twelve was fixed: Levi had no territory, but instead of Joseph, the tribes of his two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, were counted. In total, the tribes were: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulon, Joseph, Benjamin, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Ephraim, and Manasseh (see the individual entries). The tribes were subdivided into kindreds (*mishpahoth*) and households (*beth*, *batteh*); cf., e.g., Josh. 7:14. As they acquired administrative value, the tribes had leaders (*nasi’*, “prince”), whose names are known for certain periods, such as the Mosaic era (Num. 1:44, in the desert; 1 Chron. 37:16ff., for the time of David, etc.). After the exile, censuses were modeled on the ancient tribal scheme, which, however, likely retained only a topographical or even merely conventional value, persisting until the Christian era, when Anna of the tribe of Asher (Luke 2:36) and Paul of Benjamin (Rom. 11:1; Phil. 3:5) are mentioned. The expression “the twelve tribes of Israel” is also used to denote the entirety of the chosen people in a messianic sense (Matt. 19:28; Rev. 7:5ff.; 21:12ff.; cf. Ezek. 47:13–48:35).

TRIBES. – In early Christian basilicas, this term designated the area behind the high altar where the bishop or abbot took his place, surrounded by priests or monks during ceremonies; the name derives from its analogy with the tribunal of civil basilicas.