Israel Et Ses Tribus Selon Genese 49

This philological and literary study of Genesis 49 argues - against a

widely held scholarly opinion - that the so-called blessings of Jacob do

not represent original documents of Israel’s tribal tradition but rather

belong to the final stage of the redaction of the book of Genesis and of

the Pentateuch. An analysis of the other Old Testament tribal systems

shows that the notion of a Twelve-Tribes Israel originated little

earlier than the exile (6th century B.C.).

Jacob’s sayings adressing his twelve sons are products of two different

authors: Verses 13-21 go back to a North Israelite source from the time

of the Omrides. This source was the only extrabiblical document used by

the second and main author who wrote during the Persian period of Judah.