Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand.
Judah (praise) stands first, as Jesus' tribe. Benjamin, the youngest, is last; with him is associated second last, Joseph. Reuben, as first-born, comes next after Judah, to whom it gave place, having by sin lost primogeniture right. Another reason (note. Revelation 7:3) for the omission of Dan is, its having been the first to lapse into idolatry (Judges 18:1-31); for which "Ephraim" also (cf. Judges 17:1-13; Hosea 4:17) is omitted, and Joseph substituted. Long before, the Hebrews say (Grotius), it was reduced to the one family of Hussim, which perished subsequently in the wars before Ezra's time. Hence, it is omitted, 1 Chronicles 4:8. Dan's small numbers are joined to Naphtali's, whose brother he was by the same mother (Bengel). The twelve times 12,000 sealed ones of Israel, who resist Antichrist's idolatry, are the nucleus of transfigured humanity (Auberlen), to which the elect are joined, "a multitude which no man could number," Revelation 7:9 (the church of Jews and Gentiles indiscriminately, in which the Gentiles are predominant, Luke 21:24. "Tribes" ('kindreds') implies that believing Israelites are in this countless multitude). Both are in heaven, yet ruling over the earth, as ministers of blessing to its inhabitants; while upon earth the world of nations is added to the kingdom of Israel. The twelve apostles stand at the head of the whole. The upper and the lower congregation, though distinct, are intimately associated.