Jos 4:2 | TNotes | STEP | 4:2 The twelve men represented Jacob’s twelve sons. The tribe of Levi was not counted because the Levites settled in designated cities among the other tribes (Gen 49:5-7 ; Num 1:49-52 ; 18:20 ). However, the number of tribes remained at twelve because Joseph’s two sons (Ephraim and Manasseh) were accounted as separate tribes (Gen 48:5 ).

bGen 49:5-7►

cNum 1:49-52►

eGen 48:5►

‏ Joshua 4:2

4:2 ^a The twelve men represented Jacob’s twelve sons. The tribe of Levi was not counted because the Levites settled in designated cities among the other tribes (Gen 49:5-7 ^b; Num 1:49-52 ^c; 18:20 ^d). However, the number of tribes remained at twelve because Joseph’s two sons (Ephraim and Manasseh) were accounted as separate tribes (Gen 48:5 ^e).