Jacob/Israel

The younger of twin sons born to Isaac and Rebekah. Jacob’s name was later changed to Israel, and from that name came the word Israelites. Jacob is most known for stealing the birthright of his brother, Esau. Because of this trickery, Jacob had to go live with his uncle, Laban. After he had stayed with Laban for twenty years, Jacob took his family back to Beersheba, where he was later forgiven by Esau. Jacob settled in Shechem, in Canaan.

Jacob had twelve sons, the families of which later formed the twelve tribes of the nation of Israel. The twelve sons are (in birth order) Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, and Benjamin.

Jesus came from the tribe of Judah. When Jesus visited the territory of Zebulun, He fulfilled a prophecy recorded in Isaiah 9:1–2. King Saul and the apostle Paul were both from the tribe of Benjamin. Deborah, a judge of Israel, was from the tribe of Issachar. Moses and Aaron came from the tribe of Levi.