How could Ephraim and Manasseh (Joseph's sons) both be counted as tribes of Israel and there would still be 12 tribes?
Hi NotmebutHim, as far as the division of the Promised Land goes, the 12 tribes were these: Reuben, Simeon, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh.
The tribes of Levi were priests w/o their own land/territory in Israel, as they lived among all the tribes and in all the lands/territories of Israel. And the tribe of Joseph became the tribe(s) of Ephraim and Manasseh instead.
So that is at least one way that it can be said there were 12 tribes in Israel.
~Deut