We covered this odd list of tribes and focused on those that were deleted from this list. Now, we look at the inclusions of tribes that we would not otherwise find in any normal list of the tribes of Israel.
Levi was not a distinct tribe with its own territory, but Levi made its home amongst the other tribes. Levi is Code for the bondservants of God comprised of both Gentile (identified with Ephraim) and Jewish believers—they are priests of God and minister before Him. As such God has never lacked a “Levite” to serve before Him as priest and to offer spiritual sacrifices, offerings unto God.
Joseph restores the relationship of the First Born—Manasseh. Manasseh is listed first as a separate tribe and then again as the heir of Joseph, receiving a 2x portion, that of the first born. This speaks of the remnant of Jews grafted back into the vine as the bondservants of Jesus. But since Ephraim was also a son of Joseph, it speaks of the gathering of Gentile people from every tribe, tongue, and nation in which Ephraim has been scattered.
And all Israel will be saved, just as it is written. And this image is portrayed through this great collective, this massive gathering of believers in white standing before the throne and before the lamb—the bondservants of Jesus Christ, both Jew and Gentile.
