Reference: Tribes of Israel
Hastings
The number of the tribes of Israel varied at different periods. The number 12 is an artificial one, as is seen from its application to the descendants of Ishmael (Ge 17:20; 25:13-15), of Nahor (Ge 22:20-24), and of Esau (Ge 36:15-19,40-43). Simeon and Levi were 'divided in Jacob and scattered in Israel' (Ge 49:7) when the tribe of Benjamin arose, so that at that time there would be not 12 but only 11 tribes. Reuben, likewise, in the period of the kings, was an insignificant remnant, and, though mentioned in 1Ch 5:26 as still existing in 734, had apparently become disintegrated long before. As Stade (VI Geschichte des Volkes Israel i. 146) correctly remarks, several of the largest tribes
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And [as for] Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I will bless him and I will make him fruitful, and I will multiply him {exceedingly}. He shall father twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation.
And it happened [that] after these things, it was told to Abraham, "Look, Milcah has also borne children to your brother Nahor: Uz his firstborn and Buz his brother, and Kemuel the father of Aram, read more. and Kesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph, and Bethuel." (Now, Bethuel fathered Rebekah). These eight Milcah bore to Nahor, the brother of Abraham. And his concubine, whose name was Reumah, also bore Tebah, Gaham, Tahash, and Maacah.
And these are the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names according to their family records. The firstborn of Ishmael [was] Nebaioth, then Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, Mishma, Dumah, Massa, read more. Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah.
Then they journeyed from Bethel. And {when they were still some distance} from Ephrath, Rachel went into labor. And she had hard labor. And {when her labor was the most difficult} the midwife said to her, "Do not be afraid {for you have another son}." read more. And it happened [that] when her life was departing (for she was dying), she called his name Ben-Oni. But his father called him Benjamin. And Rachel died and she was buried on the way to Ephrath (that [is], Bethlehem). And Jacob erected a pillar at her burial site. That [is] the pillar of the burial site of Rachel unto this day.
These [are] the chiefs of the sons of Esau. The sons of Eliphaz, the firstborn of Esau: the chiefs of Teman, Omar, Zepho, Kenaz, Korah, Gatam, and Amalek. These [are] the chiefs of Eliphaz in the land of Edom. These [are] the sons of Adah. read more. Now these [are] the sons Reuel, the son of Esau: the chiefs Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah. These [are] the chiefs of Reuel in the land of Edom. These [are] the sons of Basemath, the wife of Esau. Now these [are] the sons of Oholibamah, the wife of Esau: the chiefs Jeush, Jalam, and Korah. These [are] the chiefs born of Oholibamah, the daughter of Anah, the wife of Esau. These [are] the sons of Esau, and these [are] their chiefs (that [is], Edom).
Now these [are] the names of the chiefs of Esau according to their families, according to their dwelling places, by their names: the chiefs Timna, Alvah, Jetheth, Oholibamah, Elah, Pinon, read more. Kenaz, Teman, Mibzar, Magdiel, and Iram. These [are] the chiefs of Edom (that [is], Esau, the father of Edom) according to their settlements in the land of their possession.
Cursed be their anger, for [it is] fierce, and their wrath, for [it is] cruel. I will divide them in Jacob, and I will scatter them in Israel.
After the death of Joshua, the {Israelites} inquired of Yahweh, saying, "Who will go up first for us against the Canaanites to fight against them?"
Likewise, the house of Joseph went up [against] Bethel, and Yahweh [was] with them.
Solomon had twelve governors over all Israel, and they sustained the king and his palace, {each one was to sustain for each month of the year}.
The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel (for he was the firstborn, but when he defiled the couch of his father, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph, the son of Israel, so that he was not enrolled in the genealogy as the firstborn, though Judah became strong among his brothers and a chief [came] from him, but the birthright belonged to Joseph).
So the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul, king of Assyria, and the spirit of Tiglath-Pilneser, king of Assyria, and he took them [into exile], namely, the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh. And he brought them to Halah, Habor, Hara, and the river Gozan, until this day.