Twelve sons of Jacob

Jacob had a total of twelve sons born to him, in a definite order. That order would later be significant in God's design for the breastplate of judgment for the high priests of Israel.

Name	Born	Mother	Name means	Authority
Reuben	2246 AM (1759 BC)	Leah	see a son	Genesis 29:32
Simeon	2247 AM (1757 BC)	Leah	God has heard	Genesis 29:33
Levi	2248 AM (1756 BC)	Leah	joining	Genesis 29:34
Judah	2249 AM (1755 BC)	Leah	to praise	Genesis 29:35
Dan	2249 AM (1755 BC)	Bilhah	judged	Genesis 30:5-6
Naphtali	2250 AM (1754 BC)	Bilhah	my struggle	Genesis 30:7-8
Gad	2251 AM (1753 BC)	Zilpah	troop, company	Genesis 30:10-11
Asher	2252 AM (1752 BC)	Zilpah	happy	Genesis 30:12-13
Issachar	2252 AM (1752 BC)	Leah	reward, recompense	Genesis 30:17-18
Zebulun	2253 AM (1751 BC)	Leah	gifts, honor	Genesis 30:19-20
Joseph	2259 AM (1745 BC)	Rachel	God shall add	Genesis 30:23-24
Benjamin	2266 AM (1739 BC)	Rachel	son of my right hand	Genesis 35:16-18

In addition to these, Jacob had a daughter, Dinah, by his wife Leah. Her birth occurred about 22:54 AM (1750 BC). Genesis 30:21

The sons went on to found the Twelve Tribes of Israel except that Levi was not included in that list and in place of Joseph were his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, thereby keeping a full twelve.

Jesus

In Christian thought, it has been noted that the meanings of the names of the twelve sons prefigure Jesus Christ—son of God, Who has heard the cries of man, seeks to facilitate a joining of man and God, is worthy of praise, is the righteous Judge of the world, assists man in the struggle against sin, can call a troop or company of angels, is the Source of happiness (for without Him no man can be content, while with Him any man can be content), will reward us for our service (though His salvation is a free gift), shall add to our joys, and sits at the right hand of the Father.