The Bible contains several lists of the sons of Jacob and/or the tribes of Israel (see Genesis 35:23–26; Genesis 49:3–27; Numbers 2:3–31; Numbers 34:19–28; 1 Chronicles 4:1 – 7:40; 1 Chronicles 12:23–37). There is variation in the order of the names of the sons/tribes in these lists, and the list in Revelation 7:1–17 is different again.
The following may be noted. Judah is mentioned first because from Judah came the kingship (David) and ultimately Jesus Christ. Reuben is mentioned second because he was the firstborn. Then comes—surprise!—the sons born to the maidservants of Jacob’s two wives. The sons of Zilpah, maid to Jacob’s less favoured wife, Leah, are mentioned first (Gad and Asher), then come the sons of Bilhah, maid to Jacob’s favoured wife, Rachel, (Dan and Naphtali). Only after the sons of the servants are mentioned do we come to Leah’s (other) sons (Simeon, Levi, Issachar, Zebulun) and Rachel’s sons (Joseph and Benjamin). Christ Jesus came into the world to save the weak, the lost, the rejected (Luke 19:10; 1 Corinthians 1:26–29). That is the sort of people who receive pride of place in the New Testament church.
5 12,000 from the tribe of Judah were sealed, 12,000 from the tribe of Reuben, 12,000 from the tribe of Gad,