Twelve Tribes, Twelve Apostles
Cenacrew, we’re back! Now, I never actually asked if you like that name, but here we are. Let’s debate it later, maybe over some virtual coffee. For now, let’s get into what you actually came here for—NUMBERS! (I sang that, but I realize it doesn’t translate well in text. Just pretend I hit a high note.)
So, last time, we talked about seven, but today, we’re skipping a few steps forward. No, not eight, not nine—no offense to them—we’re diving straight into Twelve. And trust me, Twelve is the Michael Jackson of biblical numbers. It’s everywhere, running the show, and making sure everything is in divine order.
At first glance, Twelve is just a dozen eggs or the number of months you need to endure before your next birthday, but in Christianity, this number holds serious weight. The first thing that probably comes to mind. The Twelve Disciples—later apostles. (Yes, contrary to popular belief, our infamous betrayer, Judas Iscariot, was an apostle. Don’t argue with me, argue with Google.) But the significance of Twelve goes far beyond just those guys. It appears a whopping 187 times in the Bible, symbolizing divine governance, authority, completeness, and God’s power. So, let’s dig into why Twelve is basically the blueprint for Christian symbolism.
Twelve Tribes of Israel: The OG Squad
Before the apostles, before the Last Supper seating arrangement, there were the Twelve Tribes of Israel. These were descended from Jacob’s Twelve Sons: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph (later split into Ephraim and Manasseh), and Benjamin. If this sounds like a biblical family drama, that’s because it was.
God made these Twelve tribes the backbone of Israel. They even got real estate deals in the Promised Land! The high priest’s breastplate had Twelve Stones to represent them, Joshua set up Twelve Stones from the Jordan River as a memorial, and Twelve Spies were sent to scope out Canaan (aka the biblical version of a house inspection).
Even the Tabernacle played along, with Twelve Loaves of Showbread before God, because nothing says divine symbolism like carbs.
Jesus and the Twelve Apostles: The Ultimate Small Group
Fast forward to the New Testament, and we see Jesus keeping up with this whole Twelve trend when choosing his apostles. You know them: Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James (son of Alphaeus), Simon the Zealot, Judas (son of James), and of course, Judas Iscariot, who… well, let’s just say he took a career detour.
Jesus even made it clear that Twelve was the number of governance, telling the apostles they’d sit on Twelve Thrones judging the Twelve Tribes (Matthew 19:28). And let’s not forget how he fed 5,000 people with five loaves and two fish, then conveniently had Twelve Baskets of Leftovers. Divine mathematics? Probably. A miracle? Definitely.
Even when Jesus was a kid, Twelve made an appearance—he was Twelve years old when he first flexed his wisdom in the Temple, leaving the teachers shook. You know, as one does.
Twelve’s Company, Thirteen’s a Crowd!
The number Twelve shows up all over the Bible, and it’s not just about the tribes of Israel. Ismael had twelve sons, there were Twelve Lions on the steps to Solomon’s throne, and a woman healed by Jesus had suffered from bleeding for Twelve Years. The temple also featured Twelve Bulls. In 1 Kings, the prophet Ahijah tore his cloak into Twelve Pieces to symbolize the division of Israel’s kingdom—Ten tribes for Jeroboam and two for David’s family. This act foreshadowed the kingdom’s split and the rebellion against the Davidic dynasty. Twelve represents both unity and division, from sons to tribes, lions to bulls, and even in prophecy!
Twelve in Revelation: The Grand Finale
If Twelve were a movie franchise, Revelation would be its biggest box-office hit. The New Jerusalem? It has Twelve gates, each named after a tribe of Israel, and Twelve Foundations, each named after an apostle. Even the heavenly Tree of Life bears Twelve Kinds of Fruit. Clearly, God was serious about keeping this number going strong.
And then there’s the 144,000 servants of God—12,000 From Each Tribe. Talk about exclusive membership.
Twelve in Christian Traditions: It’s Everywhere
Twelve isn’t just a biblical superstar; it’s still making waves in Christian traditions today. Ever heard of the Twelve Days of Christmas? (And no, I don’t mean the endless loop of that song about partridges and pear trees.) There are also Twelve Articles in The Apostles’ Creed, Twelve Stars In Mary’s Crown (Revelation 12:1), and let’s not forget the Twelve Knights Of The Round Table—okay, not biblical, but still inspired by it.
Orthodox Christianity even has Twelve Great Feasts, marking key events in Jesus’ life. There are also Christian prayers with Twelve Repetitions, Twelve Monks founding early monasteries, and in some periods, Twelve Senior Cardinals advising the Pope. Basically, Twelve is like the MVP of Christianity.
Twelve and the Holy Spirit: Spiritual Perfection
Some Christian traditions even list Twelve Fruits of The Holy Spirit—things like charity, joy, patience, and self-control. (Yes, self-control. Looking at you, midnight snackers.) And St. Bernard of Clairvaux? He had a whole Twelve-Step Program for Christian perfection, way before modern self-improvement books made it trendy.
The Divine Dozen: Why Twelve Still Matters
So, what’s the deal with Twelve? Why is it everywhere in the Bible? Simple. It’s the number of divine order, completeness, and governance. From the Tribes of Israel to the Apostles, from the gates of heaven to the loaves of bread—Twelve is a pattern, a divine fingerprint left all over history.
It reminds us that God is a God of order, structure, and completion. It’s a number of divine appointments, where things aren’t just random, but meticulously planned. And, let’s be honest, it just sounds cool. If seven is the number of divine perfection, Twelve is the number of divine execution.
So, the next time you see Twelve of anything—whether it’s a jury, a dozen bagels, or the hours on a clock—just remember: this number has been making history since the dawn of time. And now? It’s made it into this blog.
Until next time, Cenacrew—unless we change the name. But that’s a debate for another day.
