Tribes of the Kingdom of Judah
Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2013 7:12 am
In this campaign setting, Tribes function essentially the same way as races in a traditional AD&D setting. As such, they come with benefits and limitations. Here is a little history about the tribes of Israel.
During the conquest of Canaan, in the 14th century BCE (some 700 years before the events of our campaign) the lands were divided between 12 of the Tribes of Israel. These can be divided into 3 general groups:
The Northern Tribes:
Dan
Ephraim
West Manasseh
Issachar
Zebulun
Naphtali
Asher
The Trans-Jordanian Tribes
Reuben
Gad
East Manasseh
And those to which I intend to call our attention, the Southern Tribes:
Simeon
Judah
Benjamin
Unlike the rest of the Tribes, Levi was given no tribal allotment. They were reserved as special servants of God and dispersed throughout the tribal lands. As such, Levites lived in all cities throughout the lands, and controlled their own special cities known as Cities of Refuge. These too were dispersed throughout the lands. Cities of Refuge served as places that those accused of the accidental murder of another Israelite (and other lesser crimes) could go to pay penance while being protected from retribution.
In the 11th Century BCE, the tribes were united under the rule of King Saul. Saul was eventually overthrown by David the Prophet King, who was in turn succeeded by his son King Solomon the Wise. In all, the tribes enjoyed nearly 100 years of relative harmony.
However, when Solomon's son, Rehoboam was anointed King of Israel, the Northern and Trans-Jordanian tribes revolted against the rule of the Tribe of Judah under the leadership of Jeroboam I. Together, they retained the name of the Kingdom of Israel. In the following years they drove the Levites out of their lands - forcing them to go into hiding or flee to what was now known as the Kingdom of Judah - the lands of the Southern Tribes still loyal to the House of David.
Since that time, at the beginning of our campaign nearly 140 years have passed, and the Northern and Southern Kingdoms are still at war. Uzziah has just been anointed King of Judah while Jeroboam II has been King of Israel for a little over a year.
That said, let's take a look at the Tribes of the Kingdom of Judah.
During the conquest of Canaan, in the 14th century BCE (some 700 years before the events of our campaign) the lands were divided between 12 of the Tribes of Israel. These can be divided into 3 general groups:
The Northern Tribes:
Dan
Ephraim
West Manasseh
Issachar
Zebulun
Naphtali
Asher
The Trans-Jordanian Tribes
Reuben
Gad
East Manasseh
And those to which I intend to call our attention, the Southern Tribes:
Simeon
Judah
Benjamin
Unlike the rest of the Tribes, Levi was given no tribal allotment. They were reserved as special servants of God and dispersed throughout the tribal lands. As such, Levites lived in all cities throughout the lands, and controlled their own special cities known as Cities of Refuge. These too were dispersed throughout the lands. Cities of Refuge served as places that those accused of the accidental murder of another Israelite (and other lesser crimes) could go to pay penance while being protected from retribution.
In the 11th Century BCE, the tribes were united under the rule of King Saul. Saul was eventually overthrown by David the Prophet King, who was in turn succeeded by his son King Solomon the Wise. In all, the tribes enjoyed nearly 100 years of relative harmony.
However, when Solomon's son, Rehoboam was anointed King of Israel, the Northern and Trans-Jordanian tribes revolted against the rule of the Tribe of Judah under the leadership of Jeroboam I. Together, they retained the name of the Kingdom of Israel. In the following years they drove the Levites out of their lands - forcing them to go into hiding or flee to what was now known as the Kingdom of Judah - the lands of the Southern Tribes still loyal to the House of David.
Since that time, at the beginning of our campaign nearly 140 years have passed, and the Northern and Southern Kingdoms are still at war. Uzziah has just been anointed King of Judah while Jeroboam II has been King of Israel for a little over a year.
That said, let's take a look at the Tribes of the Kingdom of Judah.
