Israel et ses tribus selon Genèse 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.