We are still in chapter 35 of Genesis with our word for today which is a number that is made up of two words or numbers. שְׁנֵ֥ים עָשָֽׂר literally two and ten or we would say twelve. It is used 73 times in the Old Testament. Numbers in the Bible are often repeated showing that there is often times a greater significance to them than simply a measurement of counting. We see it used of measuring years Genesis 14:4 For שְׁתֵּ֤ים עֶשְׂרֵה֙ twelve years they had been subject to Kedorlaomer, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled. It is also used to count springs. Exodus 15:27 Then they came to Elim, where there were שְׁתֵּ֥ים עֶשְׂרֵ֛ה twelve springs and seventy palm trees, and they camped there near the water.
When we look at this number twelve we find it coming up in reference to special groups. In the Old Testament the group referred to is usually the twelve tribes of Israel as we see the beginnings of which are in our chapter from the sons of Jacob. Genesis 35:22 Jacob had שְׁנֵ֥ים עָשָֽׂר twelve sons. From these sons God brought about an entire nation made up of these twelve tribes of Israel. This special group of twelve God continued to recognize with symbols. Exodus 24:4 Moses then wrote down everything the Lord had said. He got up early the next morning and built an altar at the foot of the mountain and set upוּשְׁתֵּ֤ים עֶשְׂרֵה֙ up twelve stone pillars representing the twelve tribes of Israel. Exodus 28:21 and 39:14 There are to be שְׁתֵּ֥ים עֶשְׂרֵ֖ה twelve stones, one for each of the names of the sons of Israel, each engraved like a seal with the name of one of the לִשְׁנֵ֥י עָשָׂ֖ר twelve tribes. 1 Kings 18:31 Elijah took שְׁתֵּ֤ים עֶשְׂרֵה֙ twelve stones, one for each of the tribes descended from Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord had come, saying, “Your name shall be Israel.”
The other special group of twelve in the Bible is the apostles. Mark 3:13-14 Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach. Luke 6:13 When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles.
There is an interesting connection with the twelve tribes of Israel and the twelve apostles. Matthew 19:28 Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. In the book of Revelation, we find both these special groups as well. Revelation 21:12-14 It had a great, high wall with twelve gates, and with twelve angels at the gates. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south and three on the west. The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. We don’t know exactly the full meaning of how God uses this word twelve. Other than the basic observations we can find from how the word is used in the Bible. One thing we can be certain of is that God used twelve tribes to accomplish his purpose of establishing a nation where he would bring his son into the world to save us. And that he set up the twelve apostles to get that wonderful news of salvation out to the world through setting up his church. I’ll close with this passage that puts this all together in the analogy of a beautiful building. Ephesians 2:19-20 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. Jesus came into the world through the nation of Israel to bring everyone regardless of being Jewish or Gentile to himself all into one church.
