Revelation 7:8Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Benjamin means son of sickness, or son of day, or son of the morning star. This points either to those who complete the number of the saved because of contrition of heart, or to the Jews who believed and escaped Roman captivity. Most probably it points to the Jews saved through faith at the end of the world. For the apostle also says: “until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; and so all Israel will be saved” (Rom 11:25-26). Yet both interpretations may be accepted.

The equal number of those saved from each tribe, I think, points to the fruitfulness of the apostolic seed. The number twelve, taken twelve times and multiplied by a thousand, gives this number of the saved. They were disciples of the Seed that fell to the earth through love for mankind and brought forth the manifold fruit of universal salvation.

Let it be known that the tribe of Dan is not mentioned with the others because the Antichrist will come from it. In its place the tribe of Levi is mentioned, anciently priestly and not included among the tribes. The meaning of the names allows a certain reflection to be applied to each, as was done above.

Joseph is mentioned in place of his son Ephraim. The number given is considered equal to the number of the ancient heads of the Hebrew tribes and to the twelve apostles, appointed in their stead, as was said, as princes over all the earth (Ps 44:17). Through them the Jews scattered over the earth will be saved.

So that you may understand that the order in which the tribes of Israel are listed here is not accidental, and that the translation of their names symbolizes those who will be at the right hand of Christ, the eternal King, at the coming judgment, Benjamin, as I have already said, stands last. His name is translated son of the right hand, because the enumeration is completed with him.

When the last enemy, death, has been overthrown, the happiness of the future inheritance will be given to the elect. Then either each of the faithful will be called a son of the right hand, or the whole assembly of the Church will be so called. Of her it is sung: “The queen stood at Your right hand in gold of Ophir” (Ps 44:10).

Issachar means reward. For temporal life, there is the radiance of eternal life.

Zebulun means dwelling of strength or fragrance. In those cleansed from every defilement, the Heavenly King who has made His dwelling there gives forth fragrance.

Joseph means addition, promised to all who sought first the Kingdom of Heaven.

Benjamin means son of sickness, or son of day, or son of the morning star. Most probably this refers to the Jews who are saved through faith in Christ at the end of the world. For the apostle also says: “Hardening has come upon Israel in part, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; and so all Israel will be saved” (Rom 11:25-26).

Many think that the tribe of Dan is omitted as unworthy, because the Antichrist will come from it. They base their opinion on the prophetic words of the patriarch Jacob concerning Dan: “Dan shall be a serpent on the road, an adder on the path, biting the horse's heel, so that its rider falls backward. I wait for Your salvation, O Lord!” (Gen 49:17-18). From this tribe they expect the man of sin, the son of perdition, of whom the Apostle Paul speaks (cf. 2 Thess 2:3).

But the omission of Dan already gave ancient interpreters of the Apocalypse, such as Andrew of Caesarea, who lived in the sixth century, reason to suppose that the Antichrist would be born from this tribe. It is far more correct to suppose that this tribe, which earlier and more than the others gave itself over to idolatry (Judg 18), soon merged with the Gentile tribes and was lost among them. Thus it is no longer found among those who returned from the Babylonian captivity (1 Chr 2-8).