Israel's Organization into a Twelve-Tribe Confederacy

The Twelve-Tribe Confederacy

A striking feature in the early organization of the Israelites is their grouping into twelve tribes: each founded on the ancestors in Jacob's family line.

Jacob and his twelve sons

The twelve-tribe structure of Israel is read back into the ancestors described in the book of Genesis, namely: Jacob (who was renamed "Israel" after a crucial experience [Genesis 32:26-30]) and his twelve sons. The twelve tribes of "Israel" thus obtained their name from the twelve sons of Jacob: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, Benjamin, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher [Genesis 35:23-26]. Each of these twelve sons was a leader of a tribe [Genesis 29:16-30:24; 35:16-20]. It was these twelve tribes which settled into Canaan and gained control of the whole country in a span of many generations. Full control of the land came to them in the time of David, around 1000 B.C.

United through the Covenant

Each of the twelve tribes functioned more or less on its own. Although there was no political unity, no central government, they had the Covenant Law and a shrine (where the Ark of the Covenant was kept) in common. Their unity was religious and not yet political. All of them believe that Yahweh was their King and that He fought their wars for them. Since the Yahweh and the Covenant made with Him was their source of unity, they also felt bound to assist each other, especially when one tribe or other was in trouble. As the tribes got together to help each other to fight the enemies, they eventually were led to the process of political unity - beginning with the tribes that settled in the northern territory of Canaan.

"May God rule"

The twelve-tribe confederacy basically was a theocratic community which had their common religious center at Shechem. Shechem was a great Canaanite city-state where Joshua called all the twelve tribes of "Israel" to a reaffirmation of the sacred covenant they made with Yahweh at Mt. Sinai. The reason for this reaffirmation was after entering Canaan and taking the land, "Israel" was tempted to adopt the religious practices of the Canaanites. Joshua thus led "Israel" to choose to serve Yahweh as their God, be faithful to the Covenant, and, in a manner of speaking, follow seriously the meaning of their name, "Israel": "may God rule".

A time of testing

The years after the entry into Canaan and before the establishment of the kingdom under David were rough years for the twelve tribes of "Israel". The people struggled to survive: ighting enemies and learning to farm from their Canaanite neighbours. It was a hard life for the twelve tribes of "Israel": they continually were tempted to follow the gods of their neighbours and thus incurred Yahweh's punishment in the form of encountering enemies and hostile forces. As the people cried out for God's mercy, God raised up a judge (a leader, a hero) to deliver His people. This pattern of sin, punishment, crying out to God, and the sending of a judge, was to be a ommon pattern in the life of the people until the establishment of the kingdom under David's rule.

Related resources:

• "Understanding the Old Testament", by Bernhard W. Anderson
• "Journey: Volume I - Torah", by Msgr. Marcel Gervais
• The Promised Land: Introductory Article
• The Promised Land: Three Theories of the Canaan Conquest
• Three Turning Points in the Life of Early Israel

St. Albert the Great, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

St. Albert the Great, Bishop and Doctor: ca. 1206-1280 A.D.

Feast day, November 15

Born of noble background in Germany
St. Albert the Great was a German, born in the family castle of Lauingen, on the upper Danube, in Swabia, Germany, around the year 1206 A.D. His father was the Count of Bollstädt, a powerful and wealthy ruler. In 1220 A.D., St. Albert was sent to an uncle in Padua so he can be educated in the University of Padua - a renowned center of the liberal arts at the time. In Padua, Albert was influenced by the Dominicans, that in 1222 A.D., when he heard the sermons of Blessed Jordan of Saxony - the one who succeeded Saint Dominic as head of the Order of Friars Preachers (the Dominicans) - Albert entered the Order as one of their postulants. This angered Albert's father, who heard of it, and wanted to remove his son from the Order by force. The Dominicans, however, discreetly moved Albert to another friary, probably at Cologne, where he finished his ecclesiastical studies, and then was ordained a priest.

Teacher of St. Thomas Aquinas
While teaching and studying at Cologne in 1228 A.D., then at Hildesheim, Freiburg-im-Breisgau, Regensburg, and Strasbourg, St. Albert soon developed a widespread reputation for his learning and intellect. He also went to teach and study at the University of Paris, where he received his doctorate in 1245 A.D. Then he was named regent of the newly established school, the studia generalia, at Cologne in 1248 A.D. Among his students at Paris and Cologne was St. Thomas Aquinas, whose genius he early perceived and proclaimed. St. Thomas Aquinas was to be St. Albert's friend and comrade in intellect until St. Thomas' death in 1274 A.D.

In defense of the Mendicant Orders
In 1254 A.D., St. Albert was named provincial of the Dominican Order. At about that time also, the mendicant orders of the Franciscans and the Dominicans, were being attacked by William of St. Armour, as not having a legitimate right to teach in the University of Paris. In 1256 A.D., as both St. Thomas Aquinas (Dominican) and St. Bonaventure (Franciscan) were doing their part to defend their religious orders, St. Albert traveled to Rome to support the two from there. St. Albert's mission was successful, because Pope Alexander IV condemned William of St. Armour. While in Rome, the Pope also noticed the role that St. Albert played for the mendicant orders, that he asked St. Albert to become master of the sacred palace and his personal theologian - an office instituted by Saint Dominic and always filled by a Dominican.

Settling his headquarters at Cologne
In 1257 A.D., St. Albert resigned from his position as provincial to devote himself to study. Then in 1259 A.D., with Peter of Tarentasia and Thomas Aquinas, they drew up a new study curriculum for the Dominicans. Although Albert wanted just to teach and write at this time, against his wishes, he was appointed bishop of Regensburg in 1260 A.D. by Pope Alexander IV. After two years, he resigned from this post as bishop and then went to resume his teaching at Cologne. Cologne was then to remain his headquarters for the rest of his life, although he was also called in to make several journeys in behalf of the Church. In 1263 A.D., Pope Urban IV (who succeeded Pope Alexander IV) appointed him to be papal legate to preach in Germany and Bohemia on behalf of a Crusade to the Holy Land.

A voluminous writer of the sciences and theology
A long period in St. Albert's life followed, during which he was able to write a lot. He produced an amazing number of books on every topic of learning known at the time: natural science, logic, rhetoric, mathematics, ethics, economics, politics, mineralogy, anthropology, biology, zoology, botany, weaving, agriculture, geography, navigation, and most especially, philosophy and theology. Though in the light of modern science St. Albert's scientific knowledge would be considered primitive, he is still basically the only one (except for Franciscan Roger Bacon), who seriously investigated the sciences since the time of the ancient Greeks.

Among his writings of a strictly religious nature, St. Albert wrote a treatise on mysticism, a commentary on the Gospel of Luke, and a treatise on the Blessed Sacrament. St. Albert saw in the Eucharist the great sacrament of unity - not only between Christ and the individual, but also among all who participate in the sacrament. The brilliance in these spiritual writings and all his written works (filling thirty-eight volumes), brought St. Albert the title "Universal Doctor", conferred on him by his own contemporaries. It was also his own peers who dubbed him Albert the Great.

Last years and death
In 1274 A.D., St. Albert was active in the Council of Lyons, working for the reunion of the Greek Church with Rome. He also brilliantly defended his disciple Thomas Aquinas (who already passed away) and his philosophical position against Bishop Stephen Tempier and a group of theologians at the University of Paris in 1277 A.D. He was partially successful in this effort since he was not able to prevent the University of Paris from condemning twelve of St. Thomas' theses. In 1278 A.D., a memory lapse progressed into two years of ailing health and mind (probably Alzheimer's Disease), which led to his death in Cologne on November 15, 1280 A.D.

Though he was never beatified, St. Albert was canonized and declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius XI in 1931 A.D. The Pope did this by means of a "Decretal Letter" instead of the usual canonization. St. Albert the Great was also declared the patron of scientists and philosophers. The Church celebrates his feast on November 15.

References of this article

• Dictionary of Saints, by John J. Delaney
• The Doctors of the Church vol 1, by John F. Fink
• A Year With the Saints, by Don Bosco Press, Inc.
• Saints for Our Times, by Ransom

Important Dates in the History of the People Israel

Important Dates in Early Israel's History

The history of the Israelites can be traced to the biblical accounts of the patriarchs, and through historical records that ground their story in the turbulent eras of war in the Fertile Crescent.

1850 B.C. - Abraham

The story of the patriarch Abraham runs in the bible from chapters 12-23 of Genesis. It is a beautiful story of call, vocation, obedience, trust, and faith in Yahweh. According to historians, Abraham's time setting can be placed after the fall of the magnificent Third Dynasty of Ur (2060-1950 B.C.). During this time period, a seminomadic people, called Amorites, made several waves of migrations. Abraham's family may have been part of those migrations.

1720 B.C. - Hyksos rule in Egypt

Though Egyptian culture prospered, by the year 1720 B.C., the Hyksos people invaded Egypt and began their rule. Hyksos people were partly Semitic in origin. Abraham and his descendants also belonged to the Semitic race. It was in this time of history that Jacob, Abraham's grandson, had migrated to Egypt with all of his family, due to the drought and famine in the Canaanite region.

1700 B.C. - Joseph and the patriarchs

This was the period in the history of the people Israel when all of Jacob's descendants thrived in Egypt under the rule of the Hyksos people. For the Hyksos people, they did not mind the presence of foreigners in their midst. In fact, they welcomed it. And the rise to power of Joseph may have been possible because of this favorable context.

1250 B.C. - the Exodus

Hyksos rule did not last. Eventually, the Egyptians united themselves and overcame the Hyksos. This regaining of their independence made the Egyptians stronger and more in control of their territories. This shift of rule had a change in the attitude towards the people Israel. Soon, a pharoah "who did not know Joseph" came to the throne and used the people Israel as slaves for his building projects. It was the abject misery of this slavery in the hands of the Egyptians that Moses was called to lead the people Israel out of Egypt and into freedom. This event of freedom from slavery is called "the Exodus".

1220 B.C. - Canaan and the Judges

After escaping from Egypt, the people wandered in the desert for many years. Eventually, they were led to the land promised to them by Yahweh. The people's entry into Canaan was a process that spanned many generations. It took time before they organized themselves. While establishing themselves in the land, judges, led their theocratic twelve-tribe confederacy.

1025 B.C. - Samuel and King Saul

Samuel is the last of the judges of Israel. At this time, the people Israel were clamoring for a king "like the other nations". Samuel, who was the leader of the people, was called by God to anoint the first king of the people: Saul. Saul brought all the tribes of the confederacy into a more organized government.

1000 B.C. - King David and King Solomon

The kingdom of Israel experienced its greatest unity and organization during the reign of David. However, the temple of the people was only constructed during the time of King Solomon. In the reign of both David and Solomon, the kingdom was fully united: the tribes of the north together with the tribes of the south.

930 B.C. - the divided Kingdom

After the reigns of kings David and Solomon, the nation was split into two kingdoms: Israel in the north, and Judah in the south. This was a period when the Hebrew people, especially their kings, started to neglect the law and become unfaithful to Yahweh.

850 B.C. - Elijah and Elisha

Because of the infidelity of His people, Yahweh raises up prophets. These prophets are called by God to remind the people of their covenant with Yahweh. Prophets are basically the spokespersons of God - telling people of their sinfulness and reminding them to repent and amend their ways. Elijah was one such prophet. After Elijah's mission, his follower Elisha, took over.

750 B.C. - Amos and Hosea

This was the period of the prophets Amos and Hosea. Though powerful in word and deed because of the presence of Yahweh's Spirit in them, the prophets are usually ordinary people. Amos was a shepherd from Tekoa (Amos 1:1), and Hosea, was even called by Yahweh to marry a prostitute named Gomer, for the sake of prophesying to Israel.

721 B.C. - fall of Israel

Despite all the calls of the prophets for the people to relent from their sinful ways, they persisted. Eventually, the people experienced what the prophets were warning them about: destruction. In 721 B.C., the Assyrian people conquered and devastated Israel - the northern kingdom.

620 B.C. - Jeremiah and Ezekiel

Again and continually, Yahweh raises up prophets to remind His People to refrain from their wicked ways. This time, He calls Jeremiah and Ezekiel. Jeremiah was hesitant to obey Yahweh's call for he was very young (Jer 1:6-9). Ezekiel, on the other hand, was a priest and the son of Buzi (Ezek 1:1-3). He was called to preach to those who were exiled by the destruction of the northern kingdom.

587 B.C. - Judah falls

Despite all the calls to reform of the prophets, the people did not heed them. Eventually, the southern kingdom, Judah, also falls. They were conquered this time by the Babylonian people. The Babylonians deported the people to Babylonia. This started the period of the Exile.

587-538 B.C. - the Exile

The Exile lasted for about 50 years. Despite the danger of being absorbed into Babylonian culture, the people preserved their cultural and religious identity.

538 B.C. - Cyrus the Persian

At this time, Cyrus the Persian led his armies against the Babylonians. Cyrus permitted the people to return to Canaan and to rebuild their temple. This was another journey of the people in the desert - a second Exodus back to their land.

440 B.C. - Nehemiah

Nehemiah was the cupbearer to the king Artaxerxes (Neh 1:11). He was called by Yahweh to organize the work in rebuilding the Temple for the people. Under Nehemiah's leadership, the walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt, and a sense of purity of community and worship was reestablished.

330 B.C. - Palestine under Greeks

At this time, Alexander the Great's armies marched across Asia Minor. The Greek way of life and culture influenced much of the regions conquered. This included the people Israel - many of whom became Greek-speaking Jews. An example of this Greek influence is the Wisdom of Solomon - a book in the bible that espouses a Hellenistic world view and context.

165 B.C. - the Maccabees

The presence of the Greeks created a Hellenistic movement - the Hellenization of cultures within their domains. This included all of Jewish life. The Jews who rebelled against this Hellenization were the Maccabees. Their resistance movement led to a full-scale war. These and other Jews were able to achieve a century of independence, before a Roman ruler, Pompey, came to Jerusalem in 63 B.C.

Related resources:

• "Understanding the Old Testament", by Bernhard W. Anderson
• "Journey: Volume I - Torah", by Msgr. Marcel Gervais
• The Promised Land: Introductory Article
• The Promised Land: Three Theories of the Canaan Conquest
• Three Turning Points in the Life of Early Israel
• The NRSV, [the New Revised Standard Version] Catholic Edition