The Twelve Tribes of
The names of Twelve Tribes, which appear
in various configurations throughout the Torah, have many important symbolic
ramifications according to the Rabbis. This is particularly evident in their
incision on the gemstones of the Khoshen חושןor
breastplate of the High Priest, where the order and the spelling of the tribal
names are according to their first appearance in the Torah at the birth of each
of the brothers. The total number of the Hebrew letters of all these tribes
adds up to fifty, which is a seminal number, associated with the counting of
the Omer and the 50 gates of Understanding. The major purpose of the incised
names was to serve as a communicating instrument between G-d and the Jewish people, the oracular Urim and
Toomim. Important questions of great consequence to the nation, such as whether
to wage war, would be submitted by the High Priest and answers would be
received as specific lit-up letters on the Khoshen.
Since the Torah is eternal and applies
to all times and states of being, it is my suggestion that one's meditation on
the letters of the Twelve Tribes should have an efficacy, particularly when one
confronts difficult crossroads in one's life. And if one does this in a state
of prayer in one's own internal
The following are some possible
correspondences which I have found to the Twelve Tribes and the gemstones (as
well as the tribal banners in the desert), based primarily on the classical
commentators, Rashi and R. Yakov Kuli (Maam Loh-az), but doesn’t even pretend
to be exhaustive. The viewer is invited to continue further.
REUBEN ראובן was incised on the(אודם)
אדם pronounced Oh-dem, a red stone which most
commentators agree is a ruby, and the basis for the painting’s colors.
The name oh-dem is related to the word, Adam, or man, and suggests also the dudaim,
the human-like mandrakes, which Reuben gave to his mother Leah. The ruby and
the mandrakes have been credited with having the power to aid fertility. This implies in the spiritual
dimension the ability to make `chidushim’ – new creative discoveries - and is
also connected with the first three letters of Reuben’s nameראו , which means seeing, even
otherworldly vision.
וילך ראובן...וימצא דודאים בשדה (Genesis 30:14) Reuben went…and
found mandrakes in the field
SHIMON שמעון was incised on theפטדה Pitdah, which some commentators translate as an
emerald, hence the scintillating green colors in the painting. Other
sources of inspiration include
1) the desert banner of Shimon, which
showed the city of
2) the suggestion of an ear shape or
sound wave ripples which hints at the meaning of the Hebrew word Shimon, “diminutive”
hearing, the inner hearing of the still voice of the soul.
(Genesis 29:33) G-d has heard that I was
unloved כי שמע ה' כי שנואה אנכי
LEVI לויwas incised
on the ברקת Bareket,
which some commentators translate as a scintillating crystal, suggesting lightening.
Symbolically, this applies to the power to enlighten and be enlightened with
Torah studies, which was a special attribute of the tribe. The desert banner of
Levi contained three colors - red, white and black - and included a section of
the specially woven garments of the priests and the Levites.
(Deut 33:8) Your Urim and Tumim belong
to your pious one תמיך ואוריך לאיש חסידך
)Genesis 49:9) Judah is a young lion גור אריה יהודה
ISSACHAR יששכרwas incised
on the ספירSapir, which commentators believe may be a sapphire
of a deep blue tint, the color of the pure sky, since this tribe was known for
the excellence of its Torah and astronomical studies. In the midst of this gem,
one was able to see a form of a dark cloud, suggesting the receiving of the
Torah at Sinai. The desert banner of Issachar contained a drawing of a donkey,
which hints at the tribe’s ability to carry the heavy load of Torah.
(Genesis
49:14) Issachar is a strong-boned
donkey יששכר חמר גרם
ZEBULUN זבולן was incised
on the יהלם Yahalom,
which commentators believe was not a diamond, as its modern Hebrew translation,
but rather a pearl, which is, of course, only found in the depths of the
sea and thus appropriate for this sea-faring tribe. These ideas are hinted by
the pearly and ocean wave texture of the painting.
(Genesis 49:13) Zebulun shall settle the
coast זבולן לחוף ימים ישכן
DAN דן was incised on the לשם Leshem,
which some commentators believe was an orange topaz. It is said that the
gem shows “inverted faces” to hint at the fact that from this tribe came many
judges, who had to show impartiality in judgment to the rich and the poor. To
clearly see this in the painting one can position the painting or oneself
upside down. The banner of Dan also showed a snake and a suggestion of snake
scales may also be detected.
)Genesis 49:16) Dan shall judge his people דן ידין עמו
)Genesis 49:17) Let Dan
be a snake יהי דן נחש
NAFTALI נפתלי was incised
on the שבוShevoh,
which may be a turquoise stone. The banner of Naftali showed an antlered
deer, according to Jacob’s blessing, suggesting dispatch and avidity in
performing the commandments.
)Genesis 49:21) Naftali
is a deer running free נפתלי אילה שלוחה
GAD גד was incised on
the אחלמהAchlama, which some commentators define as a purple
tinted amethyst in the form of a calf's eye which was believed to
prevent cowardliness in battle, an important prerequisite for the tribe which
guarded the frontier. The banner of Gad showed a formation of soldiers and army
camp, which may be discerned in the painting.
)Genesis 49:19) Gad is an
army camp גד גדוד יגודנו
.
ASHER אשר was incised on the תרשיש Tarshish,
which may have been amber the color of olive oil, appropriate for a
tribe which was known for its olive oil production. The banner of Asher actually
showed an olive tree, which is the central composition in the painting.
(Deut
33:24) He shall dip his foot in olive oil וטבל בשמן רגלו
JOSEPH יוסף was incised
on theשהם
Shoham, which was a very
black gem, probably an onyx. The banner of Joseph showed the city of
(Deut
33:22) Joseph is a noble son בן פרת יוסף
BENJAMIN בנימין was incised on theישפה
Yashpeh, or jasper,
which was multicolored. The banner of Benjamin showed a wolf, preying on its
spoil, emanating ferocity. In the painting a frontal view of a wolf is somewhat
hidden behind the reeds, but may be discerned, if you know where to look.
)Genesis 49:27) Benjamin
is a fierce wolf בנימין זאב יטרף
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