The Twelve Tribes of Israel

The color, symbol, and banner information are found in an ancient bible study (called the Midrash Rabbah: Hebrew for "Great Study") related to the book of Numbers, called Numbers Rabbah.

Let's briefly look at all thirteen tribes beginning with the eldest son, Reuben:

Reuben

Birth order: 1 (Genesis 29:32)

Hebrew name: ראובן

Transliterated: Reuven

Meaning: "He has seen" (Genesis 29:32)

Mother: Leah

Color: Red

Stone: Ruby (Exodus 28:17)

Associated symbol: water (Genesis 49:4)

Position around tabernacle: south (Numbers 2:10-16)

Banner: the color of his flag was red, and embroidered on it were mandrakes.

Simeon

Birth order: 2 (Genesis 29:33)

Hebrew name: שמעון

Transliterated: Shimon

Meaning: "he has heard" (Genesis 29:33)

Mother: Leah

Color: Green

Stone: Topaz (Exodus 28:17)

Associated symbol: Shechem (Genesis 49:5)

Position around tabernacle: south (Numbers 2:10-16)

Banner: his flag was green with the town of Shechem embroidered on it.

Levi

Birth order: 3 (Genesis 29:34)

Hebrew name: לוי

Transliterated: Levi (pronounced LEV ee)

Meaning: "attached" (Genesis 29:34)

Mother: Leah

Color: Black, red, & white

Stone: Bareqet (emerald?) (Exodus 28:17)

Associated symbol: chosen (the breastplate with twelve stones the high priest wore)

Position around tabernacle: around (Numbers 2:17)

Banner: the color of his flag was a third white, a third black, and a third red; embroidered on it were the Urim and Thummim

Judah

Birth order: 4 (Genesis 29:35)

Hebrew name: יהודה

Transliterated: Yehudah

Meaning: "I will praise" (Genesis 29:35)

Mother: Leah

Color: Sky blue

Stone: Carbuncle (turquoise?) (Exodus 28:18)

Associated symbol: lion (Genesis 49:9)

Position around tabernacle: east (Numbers 2:3-9)

Banner: the color of his flag resembled that of the heavens, and embroidered on it was a lion.

Dan

Birth order: 5 (Genesis 30:5)

Hebrew name: דן

Transliterated: Dan (pronounced dahn)

Meaning: "judged"/"vindicated" (Genesis 30:6)

Mother: Bilhah

Color: Blue

Stone: Sapphire (Exodus 28:18)

Associated symbol: judge/scales (Genesis 49:16), a serpent (Genesis 49:17)

Position around tabernacle: north (Numbers 2:25-31)

Banner: the color of his flag was similar to sapphire; embroidered on it was a serpent

Naphtali

Birth order: 6 (Genesis 30:7)

Hebrew name: נפתלי

Transliterated: Naphtali

Meaning: "wrestling"/ "twisting" (Genesis 30:8)

Mother: Bilhah

Color: Medium red

Stone: Diamond (Exodus 28:18)

Associated symbol: hind/doe (Genesis 49:21)

Position around tabernacle: north (Numbers 2:25-31)

Banner: the color of his flag was like clarified wine of a not very deep red; on it was embroidered a hind

Gad

Birth order: 7 (Genesis 30:10-11)

Hebrew name: גד

Transliterated: Gad (pronounced gahd)

Meaning: "fortunate" (Genesis 30:11)

Mother: Zilpah

Color: Black and white

Stone: Jacinth (Exodus 28:19)

Associated symbol:

Position around tabernacle: south (Numbers 2:10-16)

Banner: the color of his flag was neither black nor white but a blend of black and white; on it was embroidered a camp

Asher

Birth order: 8 (Genesis 30:12-13)

Hebrew name: אשר

Transliterated: Asher (pronounced ah SHAIR)

Meaning: "happy" (Genesis 30:13)

Mother: Zilpah

Color: Aquamarine

Stone: Agate (Exodus 28:19)

Associated symbol: abundant food (Genesis 49:20)

Position around tabernacle: north (Numbers 2:25-31)

Banner: the color of his flag was like the precious stone with which women adorn themselves.  Embroidered thereon was an olive tree.

Issachar

Birth order: 9 (Genesis 30:18)

Hebrew name: יששכר

Transliterated: Yisachar

Meaning: "wages" (Genesis 30:18)

Mother: Leah

Color: Black

Stone: Amethyst (Exodus 28:19)

Associated symbol: donkey (Genesis 49:14)

Position around tabernacle: east (Numbers 2:3-9)

Banner: the color of his flag was black like stibium (antimony); embroidered on it were the sun and the moon.

Zebulun

Birth order: 10 (Genesis 30:19)

Hebrew name: זבולון

Transliterated: Zevulun

Meaning: "gift"/"dwell" (Genesis 30:20)

Mother: Leah

Color: White

Stone: Beryl (Exodus 28:20)

Associated symbol: ships (Genesis 49:13)

Position around tabernacle: east (Numbers 2:3-9)

Banner: the color of his flag was white, with a ship embroidered on it.

Joseph

Birth order: 11 (Genesis 30:22-23)

Hebrew name: יוסף

Transliterated: Yosef (pronounced YO sef)

Meaning: "add another" (Genesis 30:24)

Mother: Rachel

Color: Black

Stone: Onyx (Exodus 28:20)

Associated symbol: grapevine (Genesis 49:22)

Position around tabernacle: n/a (see Ephraim & Manasseh below)

Banner: the color of his flag was jet black; the embroidered design thereon for both princes Ephraim and Manasseh was Egypt because they were born there.

Ephraim

Birth order: n/a

Hebrew name: אפרים

Transliterated: Efrayim

Meaning: "fruitful"

Mother: Asenath (Joseph's wife)

Color: Black

Stone:

Associated symbol: bullock

Position around tabernacle: west (Numbers 2:18-24)

Banner: a bullock was embroidered on his flag.

Manassah

Birth order: n/a

Hebrew name: מנשה

Transliterated: Menasheh

Meaning: "forgetfulness" (Exodus 41:51)

Mother: Asenath (Joseph's wife)

Color: Black

Stone:

Associated symbol: wild ox

Position around tabernacle: west (Numbers 2:18-24)

Banner: a wild ox was embroidered on his flag.

Benjamin

Birth order: 12 (Genesis 35:17)

Hebrew name: בנימין

Transliterated: Benyamin

Meaning: "son of my right hand"

Mother: Rachel

Color: Mixed colors

Stone: Jasper (Exodus 28:20)

Associated symbol: wolf (Genesis 49:27)

Position around tabernacle: west (Numbers 2:18-24)

Banner: the color of his flag was a combination of all the twelve colors; embroidered on it was a wolf.

Praise Banners has created artistic banners for each tribe.

Here is the same information given above in chart format: