Have you ever wondered how the twelve tribes of Israel were formed? Well, it all began long ago when God made a covenant with Father Abraham in Genesis chapter 17. In Genesis 17:5 we read, "No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations."

Many years later, God met and blessed Abraham's grandson, Jacob, giving him the new name of Israel. In Genesis 35:10 we read, "God said to him, 'Your name is Jacob, but you will no longer be called Jacob; your name will be Israel.' So He named him Israel." And in Genesis 35:12 we read, "The land I gave to Abraham and Isaac I also give to you, and I will give this land to your descendants after you."

God established this covenant with Jacob, now named Israel, at Bethel. Israel was promised in Genesis 35:11 that, "A nation and a community of nations will come from you, and kings will come from your body." In Genesis 35:23-26 we learn that Israel had twelve sons. Thus this is how we get the twelve tribes of Israel. The twelve tribes consist of the descendants of Israel's twelve sons. See also Exodus 1:1-5 and 1 Chronicles 2:1-2.

We have prepared two puzzles below, which contain the names of Israel's twelve sons. The first letter of each name has been provided as a clue.

The Sons of Leah were:

R __ __ __ __ __ who was the firstborn of Jacob, S __ __ __ __ __,

L __ __ __, J __ __ __ __, I __ __ __ __ __ __ __, and Z __ __ __ __ __ __.

The Sons of Rachel were:

J __ __ __ __ __ and B __ __ ___ __ __ __ __.

The Sons of Rachel's Maidservant Bilhah were:

D __ __ and N __ __ __ __ __ __ __.

The Sons of Leah's Maidservant Zilpah were:

G __ __ and A __ __ __ __.

In Ezekiel 48:30-35 we read that the city gates in the New Jerusalem also contain the names of the twelve tribes of Israel.

On the North --- R __ __ __ __ __, J __ __ __ __, and L __ __ __.

On the East --- J __ __ __ __ __, B __ __ __ __ __ __ __, D __ __.

On the South --- S __ __ __ __ __, I __ __ __ __ __ __ __, Z __ __ __ __ __ __.

On the West --- G __ __, A __ __ __ __, N __ __ __ __ __ __ __.