Lively Stones - The Key of Knowledge

LIVELY
STONES
Personalities of the Tribes of Israel
Advantage TM
INSPIRATIONAL
JAN MATTHEWS

Jan Matthews
Lively Stones: Personalities of the Tribes of Israel by Jan Matthews
Copyright © 2008 by Vanessa J. Matthews
All Rights Reserved.
ISBN: 1-59755-109-0
Published by: ADVANTAGE BOOKS TM
www.advbookstore.com
This book and parts thereof may not be reproduced in any form, stored in
a retrieval system or transmitted in any form by any means (electronic,
mechanical, photocopy, recording or otherwise) without prior written
permission of the author, except as provided by United States of America
copyright law.
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, King
James Version.
Library of Congress Control Number: 2008935291
Covenant Woman Ministries Worldwide, Inc.
PO Box 161607
Fort Worth, TX 76161
www.covenantwoman.org
First Printing: August 2008-10-17
08 09 10 11 12 13 14 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
2

Lively Stones
CONTENTS
Acknowledgments . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Brigades . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
1 REUBEN. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
2 SIMEON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
3 LEVI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
4 JUDAH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
5 DAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
6 NAPHTALI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
7 GAD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
8 ASHER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
9 ISSACHAR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
10 ZEBULUN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
11 JOSEPH
Tribe of Manasseh . . . . . . . . 205
Tribe of Ephraim . . . . . . . . . 223
12 BENJAMIN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
About the Author . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261
3

Jan Matthews
4

Lively Stones
Dedication
This study is dedicated to all Israel,
both natural and spiritual,
our Christian roots and heritage.
To the "first family" of God as promised to
Abraham that he would be the
father of a multitude, or many nations.
Through Abraham and Sarah came Isaac, through Isaac and Rebecca
came Jacob, through Jacob and wives Leah and Rachel, and concubines
Bilhah and Zilpah, came Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali,
Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph and Benjamin . . .
which formed the 12 Tribes of Israel
(13 with the division of Joseph into Ephraim and Manasseh).
God wanted a family. He chose one man.
Much can be gleaned from the temptations the first family of God
experienced, the hardships they endured, and the challenges they faced.
They were called out from the world system to be separated unto God.
That's what they were told.
All they had was a promise.
They moved toward that Promise and the Divine Destiny
God had prepared for them.
And for us.
To become the sons of God.
Together.
5

Jan Matthews
A very special appreciation to
three people who influenced my life mightily and helped build in me a
love for our Hebrew roots and an appreciation of our Christian heritage.
They set me on a quest to search out the deeper truths of the Word of God.
Dr. Fuchsia Pickett, founder of Fountaingate Bible College. Dr. Pickett's
inspirational and in-depth teachings of the Word of God ignited a fire in
my heart that cannot be quenched.
Barbara Collins, who taught at Fountaingate. Her Spirit-filled messages
were so alive that I was carried by the Spirit into the Presence of the living
God on more than one occasion.
Gary Clevenger, the most awesome Bible teacher ever! His teachings on
Old Testament typology made the Bible come alive, and created an
insatiable hunger in me for the Word of God.
Thank you,
to all the powerful men and women of faith who have influenced my life the
most as the Body of Christ prepares for this final hour—including Kenneth
Hagin, Kenneth & Gloria Copeland, Jerry Savelle, Andrew Wommack,
and Bill Winston. Their powerful teachings and life testimonies have caused
the faith of Christendom to soar. With their swords drawn and pointed forward,
they lead the way as . . . the saints of the Most High take the Kingdom, and
possess the Kingdom forever, and ever, and ever (Daniel 7:18).
6

Lively Stones
A special thanks to
Drs. John and Karen Pelizzari, Pastors of Agape Christian Center at
Belton, Texas, for your friendship, support, and expertise shared for the
compiling of this book, Lively Stones Personalities of the Tribes of Israel.
Your knowledge and understanding of the personality types helped me to
bond with and understand each member of our "first family" heritage.
Your input has proven invaluable to this project. Because of it, I have been
able to connect with the sons of Jacob and hopefully introduce our Jewish
brethren to the Body of Christ.
On a personal note, you're very precious to our family as well as to our
ministry. We are people of like faith, we share much of the same vision,
many of the same interests, and a lot of the same friends . . . and of course,
a son, a daughter, and a grandbaby, Ezra-bear.
7

Jan Matthews
And last but not least, I'm grateful for my divine appointment
with Donna Siegrist. I "stumbled" across her Web site while in search of an
artist to design the clipart symbols and gemstones for the Lively Stones
project.
Donna, thanks for working closely with me on this project, emailing little
critters, symbols, and jewels back and forth into the wee hours of the
morning.
Your artwork "simply" captures the tone of this project, the liveliness of the
personalities, and the heart of the Lord toward His people. Your creative
designs help us to see others as God does, and to not take ourselves so
seriously, as we, with childlike faith, continue in our personal conquest of
the Promised Land.
Thank you for sharing your gift.
8
Jan Matthews, Founder
Covenant Woman Ministries
Donna Siegrist is a freelance artist, who works nonstop
until she gets the job done. Her motivation and innovation
match her endless creativity. What a pleasure to work with!
Donna may be contacted for your artwork and clipart needs at:
www.magicwondertags.com
info@magicwondertags.com

Lively Stones
Formation in the Wilderness
Servant
Servanthood
MANASSEH
EPHRAIM
BENJAMIN
NAPHTALI
Son of God
Priest
DAN
LEVI
GAD REUBEN
Son of Man
Humanity
9
ASHER
SIMEON
ISSACHAR
JUDAH
ZEBULUN
King
Authority

Jan Matthews
10

Lively Stones
Introduction
Hello. Before we get started, I want to give you a little background of
our Jewish roots and Christian heritage. I like to keep it simple, so what
better place to start than at the beginning?
Before Time
The Creation
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And
the earth was (became) without form, and void; and
darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of
God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let
there be light: and there was light. And God saw the light,
that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness
(Genesis 1:1-4).
Heaven had revolted against God, and satan had taken over the earth.
God spoke light into the earth, He separated the light from the darkness
and "drew the line in the sand." The battle was on.
God made the firmament. He divided the waters from the dry land,
and He set the sun, moon, and stars in the heavens to give light. He called
forth plant life, created animal life, and finally He made Man in His own
image. And that is the beginning of time as we know it.
About 4000 B.C.
Life in the Garden
God saw that the man needed help. He took a rib from Adam's side
and made Woman. She would surround the man with her assistance,
comfort him with her love, and be a blessing in his life. The man would
love the woman and take care of her. God blessed Adam and Eve. He gave
them dominion and authority over the earth and every living thing in the
earth. He told them to multiply, replenish the earth, and subdue it.
11

Jan Matthews
Satan subtly spoke to Eve, tempting her through the lust of her flesh.
She and Adam fell to the flesh, and their eyes were opened. They sewed
fig leaves together to cover themselves and hid from God among the trees.
But God knew right where they were . . . and He had a better plan.
From the prophecy in Genesis 3:15 when God declared war on satan,
And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy
seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his
heel, to the victorious outcome in Revelation 12:11, And they overcame
him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony . . . ,
we see the war between the flesh and the spirit declared, the battles fought,
and the victory won. God declared the end from the beginning, so satan is
fighting a losing battle. We win. (Rejoice!)
Notice that everything was spoken into existence. God created with
words. Satan tempted Eve through words. God declared war with words.
Everything in the earth responds to words. God has given man the
authority and dominion in the earth. We take dominion through our words.
Driven from the Garden
Life Isn't Pretty
Driven from the Garden of Eden, Adam would now have to earn a
living by the "sweat of his brow." The earth was under the curse brought
on through disobedience. Adam and Eve had three sons: Cain, Abel, and
Seth. Of course, you know the story, Cain killed Abel because of jealousy.
Seth began the bloodline for the seed of Woman to bruise satan's head.
Times were tough, and wickedness was rampant. Eight generations
later, God called a man named Noah to build an ark, saving two of each
species of animal, and his family. God, in His mercy, had Noah preach for
100 years about the coming flood so others could be saved; they would
have been welcomed aboard if they had only believed and responded. No
one took the offer. Only Noah, his wife and three sons, Ham, Shem, and
Japheth, along with their wives, entered into the ark. Waters covered the
earth for a year. Finally the waters subsided, and Noah and his family
went forth to replenish the earth. But the seed of wickedness grew. There
were giants in the earth, and men began to build a tower to God, making
12

Lively Stones
their own religious system. God had to scatter men and scramble their
language at the Tower of Babel to thwart their unity and progress. About
2,000 years had passed since the Fall of Man, and God's plan was about to
escalate greatly through His call to Abram, a descendant of Shem.
About 2000 B.C.
The Call of Abram
Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy
country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto
a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great
nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou
shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and
curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the
earth be blessed. So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken
unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and
five years old when he departed out of Haran (Genesis 12:1-4).
The Promise of a Son
Abram left his family and traveled with his wife Sarai and his
nephew Lot (symbolizes the flesh). They settled in Canaan. And the
LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this
land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto
him (Genesis 12:7). God also promised Abram a son. He later changed
Abram's name to Abraham, meaning father of a multitude, and He
changed Sarai's name to Sarah (princess).
Because Sarah was barren, it took 25 years before Abraham and Sarah
had Isaac. After 25 years of believing and waiting—and the birthing of
Ishmael because of impatience—the promised son was born. Isaac.
Jacob and Esau
The Promise to Abraham hinged upon the birth of Isaac (laughter). From
Isaac and Rebecca came twin brothers, Jacob and Esau. Esau was the eldest
13

Jan Matthews
twin and would have had the birthright; however, Jacob which means
supplanter, tricked Esau (shaggy) into giving up his birthright for a pot of stew!
Later on when Isaac grew old and his eyes were dim, he was also tricked into
giving "the Blessing" to Jacob, which fulfilled the deal the boys had made.
Jacob flees to Laban
Jacob had to flee from Esau for safety. He went to live with his uncle
Laban, where he met Leah and Rachel. Jacob loved Rachel and worked
seven years to marry her . . . but woke up with Leah the morning after the
ceremony. He'd been tricked by Laban! This is certainly a family of deception
and trickery, it would seem. However, Jacob did receive Rachel as his wife,
with the agreement that he would work seven more years for Laban. Wow!
Jacob got Rachel on a credit plan! Anyway, Leah, Rachel, and their two
handmaidens, Bilhah and Zilpah, became the mothers of the 12 sons who
formed the Tribes of Israel. Most of the boys were born while Jacob worked
for Laban. Benjamin (type of the Church) was the only son born in Canaan
after Jacob had taken his family and left his time of servitude to Laban. Before
Benjamin’s birth, God had changed Jacob's name to Israel (prince of God).
Joseph brings the family to Egypt
Time progressed and the 12 sons grew into young men. The jealousy
against Rachel's sons, Joseph and Benjamin, escalated because of Jacob's
partiality and love for them. Joseph had a vision of the family bowing down
to him, and he shared it with his brethren. Their jealousy got the best of them
and they plotted to dispose of him. Joseph was sold into slavery in Egypt, and
wound up second in command of the nation. He was instrumental in
delivering his entire family later when the great famine came to the land.
Joseph is the most perfect type of Christ in the Bible, and just as Jesus
went to the cross for our salvation and forgave the people for crucifying
Him, Joseph comforted his brethren and said, But as for you, ye thought
evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this
day, to save much people alive (Genesis 50:20). Joseph moved his family
to Egypt where they lived for over 400 years.
14

Lively Stones
Moses delivers the Israelites out of Egypt after 400 years
The blessings of Egypt turned to bondage after the death of Joseph.
Israel came out of Egypt when God wrought a great deliverance for them
under Moses' leadership. They began the 11-day journey to the Promised
Land, but because 10 spies brought back an evil report when scouting out
the land, they had to wander around in the Wilderness for an additional 40
years. Only Caleb and Joshua brought back a good report, so they were
kept alive through the Wilderness experience. Finally, Moses died, and
Joshua led the way into the Promised Land, taking one city at a time. The
Promised Land was divided among the 13 Tribes of Israel.
The Tribes are listed in birth order:
Reuben ● Simeon ● Levi ● Judah ● Dan ● Naphtali ● Gad ● Asher
Issachar ● Zebulun ● Joseph (Manasseh & Ephraim) ● Benjamin
That's it in a nutshell, and it brings us up to the sons of Israel. I hope you
enjoy this study of the Tribes of Israel and get as much out of it as I did. May
the information packed in the Lively Stones trigger a desire in your heart to
further search out the secrets in the stones and the mysteries of the Kingdom.
May you also "find yourself" among the Tribes and learn to emphasize
your strengths and overcome your weaknesses through application of the Word
of God. Let this study of the Tribes strengthen your relationships with others as
you gain understanding and insight into their personalities.
Be blessed and enriched through this study, and may your heart be
filled and satisfied through the deeper revelations by the Holy Spirit in this
work. If Lively Stones creates a hunger in you for more of the Word of
God, then it is a success, and its purpose has been fulfilled.
If you are prompted to further study the Tribal conquest of the
Promised Land, much can be gleaned from the warfare strategies they used
and the battles they fought. We can learn from our first family how they
took the land, and we can apply those principals to our pursuit in this hour
as the Body of Christ presses diligently into the Kingdom of God.
Blessings to you! Jan
15

Jan Matthews
Land Allotment for the 13 Tribes
16

Lively Stones
This Study of the Tribes of Israel will expand your
knowledge and understanding of God's plan for man. From the birth of Jacob's
firstborn son (Reuben) to the taking of the Kingdom by the Church (Benjamin),
we see the story unfold through the Creation, the Fall, and the progressive
history of Israel, climaxing with the life of Christ, then His death, burial and
resurrection . . . and the ultimate victory of the Church! Just as the stars of
heaven reveal God's eternal plan, so it is with the birth order of the sons. God
has written history and destiny into the lives of these men.
For instance, Reuben, the firstborn son, is symbolic of Adam. Though he
had the right to everything—the scepter, the priesthood, and the double
portion—he lost it all because of sin. The government went to Judah, the
priesthood to Levi, and the double portion to Joseph's two sons, Manasseh and
Ephraim. Looking at Simeon, the second son, we see a man who, like Moses,
took matters into his own hands to administer justice. Through affliction in the
Wilderness, Simeon became a man whose name means hearing and obeying.
In the third son, Levi, the priesthood was established with the Tabernacle
in the Wilderness. Then, of course, we see Judah, the fourth son, created to
praise and worship God. From Dan was to come the prophets and judges of
Israel, and from Naphtali the teachers. From Gad the evangelists, Asher the
givers, sharing the abundant blessings of the Promised Land, and Issachar the
workers, representing the ministry of helps. In Zebulun, the tenth son, we see
the apostolic ministry gift, which represents the dispersion of Israel into other
nations as they were carried away. Though they were in captivity, they were
still a witness that the hand of God was upon His people. Finally, Joseph is the
type of Christ; and then Benjamin (the baby) is symbolic of the Church.
When God established the Tabernacle in the Wilderness, He told Moses
how the tribes should camp around Levi, the priesthood. The Tribe of Levi
carried the Ark of the Covenant which represented the Presence of God in the
midst of the camp. Levi traveled in the center of the formation, with the 12
tribes encamped around them, three tribes on each side. Levi was God's
inheritance and He was theirs. No land was allotted to them. They were chosen
of God to minister to the children of Israel and to live from the tithes and
offerings. God was their only Source. He was their Portion, their Exceeding
Great Reward. The Levites represented God to the people. The tribes camped in
four brigades: North, East, South and West. The encampment order was:
17

Jan Matthews
The EAST BRIGADE – Lion (Christ as King)
The East Brigade consisted of the Tribes of Judah, Issachar, and
Zebulun, and they traveled under the Standard of the Lion, representing
authority and kingship. Just look at the tribe combination God put together!
Each tribe represents modern-day evangelism and Kingdom advancement.
Praisers (Judah), Workers (Issachar), and Apostles (Zebulun). These tribes
are the "point men" of the entire formation in the Wilderness.
A missionary journey would need all three functions in order to
establish a new work: Intercessors and worshippers to lead the way; the
workers to do the physical aspect of ministry, such as building housing for the
communities, and assisting through the ministry of helps; and the apostles to
establish the work and set the fivefold ministry in place as the Lord instructs.
Notice that the Tribe of Judah is on the front line of the procession
headed toward the Promised Land. God sets His army with the praisers in
front! Praise clears the way for the workers, teachers, pastors and
administrators. The Lion of the Tribe of Judah represents our Lord Jesus
Christ, who is, in fact, our Savior and Commander-in-Chief.
The NORTH BRIGADE – Eagle (Christ as Priest)
The North Brigade Tribes were Dan, Naphtali and Asher. Whoa! They're
all so different, yet God set them side by side to travel together. These three
brothers were born of the concubines, yet they traveled under the Standard of
the Eagle, depicting the Son of God, Jesus, as High Priest. Their ministry gifts
are the Prophets (Dan), the Teachers (Naphtali), and the Givers (Asher).
Taking cities requires direction, teaching and training, and financial backing.
God's purpose is revealed in each tribe, and every one of them had a
specific part to play in establishing the Kingdom. Of course, every tribe had its
share of teachers, workers, financiers, prophets and evangelists. And there were
varied personalities throughout all Israel. But just as families have general
personality traits, so it is with the Tribes of Israel. God's plan is revealed
through the birth order of the sons, the meaning of their names, and the basic
personalities of each tribe. Every tribe is unique and designed with purpose and
destiny—a witness for all to see the magnificent plan of God . . . and the
ultimate defeat of satan!
18

Lively Stones
The SOUTH BRIGADE – Man (Christ's Humanity)
These tribes traveled under the Standard of the Son of Man, showing the
humanity of Christ, and the frailties of man's flesh. The South Brigade Tribes
are Reuben, Gad and Simeon. What a combination! Simeon is the warrior
tribe, yet his gift is Mercy! We see the gift of Leadership in Reuben in spite of
his weak flesh. Then Gad's gift is to be the Evangelists, and he's practically bipolar!
God truly uses men and women of like passions and weaknesses—
people like you and me—to carry the gospel.
Jesus Himself came as a man and did the works of God through the
anointing of the Holy Spirit in His earthen vessel. He was the sinless, spotless
Son of God in a flesh body, casting out devils by the Spirit of holiness!
God used these men to take the land and rid it of evil influences.
Whenever missionaries take a land, they must use these gifts to show mercy,
evangelize the people, and establish leadership. The nature of these men proves
once again that God uses the weak and the base to confound the wise and the
mighty, and to establish His covenant in the earth. Man's wisdom is the folly of
all heaven! In other words, we keep the angels laughing!
The WEST BRIGADE - Ox (Christ as Servant)
The West Brigade Tribes of Ephraim, Manasseh and Benjamin are under
the Standard of the Ox, the servanthood tribes. Ephraim and Manasseh were
Joseph's boys; Benjamin was the "the baby" of the 12. These three tribes
represent the Pastors (Ephraim & Manasseh), and the Administrators
(Benjamin).
Ephraim and Manasseh, sons of Joseph and nephews of Benjamin,
constitute the Tribe of Joseph. These sons of Joseph received the double
portion when Reuben lost it because of his sin. They both have the pastoral
ministry gift operating through them. Joseph is the most perfect type of Christ
in the Bible, and he pastored the people in Egypt. What satan had meant for
evil, God meant for good, and He used Joseph to deliver Israel when there was
famine in the land.
Benjamin, the type of the Church, is hovered over, nourished and
protected by God until he comes into maturity and is ready for the Master's use.
Benjamin (the Church) will take the Kingdom in the last days . . . and the Body
of Christ is moving into position and learning to take the Kingdom right now!
19

Jan Matthews
20

Lively Stones
Ye also, as lively stones
are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood,
to offer up spiritual sacrifices,
acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture,
Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious:
and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them
which be disobedient, the stone which the builders
disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,
And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence,
even to them which stumble at the word,
being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy
nation, a peculiar people;
that ye should shew forth the praises of him
who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
Which in time past were not a people,
but are now the people of God:
which had not obtained mercybut now have obtained mercy.
Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims,
abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul . . .
1 Peter 2:5-11
21

Jan Matthews
Breastplate of the High Priest
Formation in the Wilderness
REUBEN
-
22

Lively Stones
The Tribe of
R E U B E N
The Heart of God
The First Son of Promise
(First son of Leah)
23

Jan Matthews
A Famous Reubenite
Reuben
Infamous Reubenites
Dathan
Abiram
24

By Jacob
Lively Stones
Prophecies by Jacob and Moses over the Tribe of
REUBEN
Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the
beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the
excellency of power:
Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou
wentest up to thy father's bed; then defiledst it: he went up to
my couch.
Genesis 49:3, 4
By Moses
Let Reuben live, and not die; and let not his men be few.
25
Deuteronomy 33:6

Jan Matthews
SOUTH BRIGADE (Gad, Reuben, Simeon)
SON of MAN
Christ's Humanity
(Gospel of Luke)
REUBEN #1
MEANING: Sonship, Behold a Son
STONE: Sardius (Ruby) (Red)
SYMBOL: Mandrake, Rising Son
MOTIVE GIFT: Leadership
Reuben, you are my firstborn, the beginning of my strength.
Genesis 49:3
Reuben is the firstborn son of Israel, eldest son born to Jacob and
Leah. Though it should be a time of rejoicing—and it probably was—the
fact remains that Jacob loved Rachel, not Leah. He had been tricked by his
father-in-law, Laban, on the wedding night when Leah, the eldest daughter
was sent to Jacob's tent instead of the woman he thought he had married.
So with the arrival of the firstborn, there was probably tension as well as
rejoicing in the camp. There was continual strife between the two sisters
for the affections of Jacob, and the competition escalated with the birth of
each child.
Though Reuben was equipped with leadership ability, he lacked the
stability, the courage, and the tenacity it takes to be a leader. When blessing
his sons, Jacob described Reuben as being, Unstable as water, and said to
him, thou shalt not excel . . . (Genesis 49:4). Reuben lost his firstborn
birthright because of an adulterous act with Bilhah, his father's concubine.
Besides Reuben's fling with Jacob's concubine, which cost him
everything including his honor, position, and inheritance, he had a few
other dark spots in his history. During the time of Moses, two easily
influenced Reubenites, Dathan and Abiram, were ringleaders with prideful
Korah when they rebelled against Moses' leadership (Numbers 16). The
26

Lively Stones
Bible tells us in 1 Samuel 15:23 that, Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft,
and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry . . . God caused the earth to
open up and swallow the men, their families and all they had! The
Scripture said God did this so everyone would, understand that these men
have provoked the Lord (Numbers 16:30).
Reuben likes to stay in his comfort zone. During the conquest of
Canaan, he requested to settle in the green pastures of the land east of
Jordan, along with Gad and the half Tribe of Manasseh. He didn't want to
go to battle. However, at Moses' insistence, Reuben did go to battle for
five years and then returned to settle down. Reuben is generally easy to
lead. Finally, Deborah also rebuked the children of Reuben in Judges 5 for
selfishness when they refused to go to war.
Is it possible that Reuben's instability, fleshly desires, and noncommittal
attitude were spawned from the shallow relationship of his parents? Could it
be that an insecure home life affected his ability to be morally stable?
Whatever the case, if Reuben had only been able to rule his flesh, he could
have ruled all Israel. Later on, Reuben did show strong family ties and strength
of character when he objected to the plot to kill Joseph (Genesis 37:22), and
again when he offered to sacrifice his own two sons if Benjamin did not return
from Egypt with them. Slay my two sons, if I bring him not to thee: deliver
him into my hand, and I will bring him to thee again (Genesis 42:37).
It is clear that Reuben was a good family man. He was a lover, not a
fighter. Following his heart was sometimes a snare that allowed his emotions
to cloud his good judgment. Reuben had double excellency at his fingertips,
yet his vacillating nature caused him to lose all honors that should have been
rightfully his. Like Adam who lost everything because of sin, Reuben's sin
permanently impoverished his posterity; no hero, prophet, or judge ever came
from the Tribe of Reuben. The scepter went to Judah, the priesthood to
Levi, and the double portion went to Joseph's sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.
But God is merciful. In Moses' benediction we see redemption and
restoration for Reuben. Deuteronomy 33:6 says, Let Reuben live and not
die. God's mercy and grace promote Reuben to prominence in the Golden
City with his gate placed on the north with the most honored tribes, Levi
and Judah (Ezekiel 48:31-34). Then again in Revelation 7:5 we see the
Tribe of Reuben in an honored position, being mentioned second, right after
the Tribe of Judah in the sealing of the 144,000.
27

Jan Matthews
Reuben's Gemstone
SARDIUS
(Ruby)
Hebrew word:
odem (o-dem)
Root word:
adam
(To show blood,
to flush, earthy, or
turn rosy red)
Sardius symbolizes:
SALVATION
FORGIVENESS
COMPASSION
LOVE
The sardius stone, or ruby, is blood red in
color and speaks of salvation through the Blood
of Jesus. It is the foundation stone, the first
stone on the breastplate of the ephod, and its
placement, reading from right to left, would be
right over the heart of the High Priest. Reuben's
weakness in the flesh can be purged only by the
Blood of our High Priest, Jesus.
The sardius stone, much like the garnet or
ruby, was a brilliant, transparent gemstone used
by engravers at Sardis for making signets and
seals. Because of its high quality and the slick
polished surface of this magnificent stone, wax
could not cling to it.
We as believers are cleansed by the Blood,
sealed with the Holy Spirit, and "highly polished"
by the Word of God. As we allow ourselves to be
continually purged by the Blood of Jesus, the
debris of this life will fall away and have no grip
on our lives.
28

Lively Stones
Reuben's Banner Symbol
The banner symbol for Reuben is usually a
man, water, a rising sun, or a mandrake plant.
The man, sun, and mandrake symbolize new life
and new beginnings with hope for the future,
while water represents Reuben's instability and
vacillating nature.
The mandrake has long been known for its
poisonous properties. In ancient times it was
used as a narcotic and an aphrodisiac. It was
also believed to have magical powers. The bestknown
species, M. officinarum, has a short stem
bearing a tuft of ovate flowers, with a thick,
fleshy, often forked root. When pulled from the
ground, its forked root, supposed to resemble
the human form, was said to utter a shriek that
killed or drove mad anyone who heard it. The
plant was said to provide soothing sleep, heal
wounds, induce love, and facilitate pregnancy.
Reuben was a teenager when he found
mandrakes while walking home one evening.
Hoping to cheer his mother's aching heart he
hurried home with his coveted gift. He knew it
29
(Man & water not shown)
MAN, WATER,
RISING SUN,
MANDRAKE
Mandragora officinarum
Hebrew word:
duwday (doo-dah-ee)
Root word: dowd
(To boil, to love, a love
token, lover, beloved)
Mandrake, man, water,
& rising sun symbolize:
HOPE
FUTURE
NEW LIFE
NEW BEGINNINGS
DESTINY
was just the thing to capture the attention of her husband, if for only one
night of love. But when Rachel saw it, she wanted it. She said, Give me, I
pray thee, of thy son's mandrakes . . . and Jacob shall lie with thee
tonight . . . By an act of faith, Leah complied with Rachel's wishes and
gave the mandrakes to her. God opened Leah's womb and she bore
Issachar (Genesis 30:14-17).
Reuben is a lover and a giver. He's compassionate and kind, and has a
tender heart and conscience. These characteristics are seen in this story of
the mandrakes Reuben took home to his mother.

Jan Matthews
Reuben's Motivational Gift
LEADERSHIP
Leadership. Just about everyone wants the title, the authority, and the
recognition of being a leader. But do they want the responsibility, the
accountability and the accessibility required of a leader? Anyone who has
owned his own business, headed up a corporation or supervised people
understands that leadership is more than giving instructions and having a
position.
While some people are born with God-given talents for creativity,
such as art or music, others may be gifted with the qualities it takes to be a
leader. And just as anyone can study art or music and become a fairly
accomplished artist or musician, a man or woman who desires a leadership
position can be developed into a good leader. But if you're both called to
leadership and willing to assume the responsibility to God, commitment to
the people, and dedication to the vision . . . you're destined for greatness!
Three Foundational Elements of Leadership
A good follower: The first qualification of a good leader is being able to
follow. The Centurion told Jesus, I am a man under authority (Matthew 8:9).
He was also a man in authority. But he understood submission and authority.
And submission is not submission until you yield your will to someone else's
authority. Real submission is demonstrated when you do something you don't
want to do! A good follower is excellent material for developing a great
leader. A good follower asks, "What can I do to help you accomplish the
vision?" These people are invaluable to the team, and their gift will surely
make room for them in leadership.
30

Lively Stones
Faithfulness: The most valuable quality any team member should
demonstrate, whether as a leader or follower, is faithfulness. Proverbs 20:6
says, . . . a faithful man who can find? Also, God told Aaron and Miriam
when they spake against Moses,
Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the
LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and
will speak unto him in a dream. My servant Moses is not so,
who is faithful in all mine house. With him will I speak
mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches:
and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold: wherefore
then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?
(Numbers 12:6-8)
Now that's real talk. It sounds like Moses crawled right up into God’s
lap! God said that He would speak "up close and personal" with Moses
because of his faithfulness. Not because of a prophetic gift or because he
was a great leader. Because of faithfulness! It will get you everywhere
with God.
It doesn't matter how anointed you are, how equipped you are, or if you
were called through a divine visitation from God—if you can't be faithful,
you're of no use in leadership to any ministry or business. Why? Because
you won't show up, you won't be on time when you do, and you won't be
there when you're needed the most. If a person is not faithful in the small
things, he can't be trusted to handle financials and confidentialities; and he
certainly cannot be entrusted with the lives of people.
Accountability: All leaders are subject to a higher authority. We all answer
to someone. Checks and balances keep us on course and moving together
as a team focusing on the vision at hand. No true leader is an island to
himself. That attitude stems only from pride and self-exaltation, and it
always leads to downfall and destruction.
31

Jan Matthews
All leadership qualities stem from
Honor ♥ Integrity ♥ Faithfulness
Good leadership requires full involvement.
______________________
LOYALTY (Heart) Loyal to superiors and loyal to the people
following you. It's easy to submit to someone who has your best interest at
heart. Reuben demonstrated his loyalty to his family when his brothers
wanted to kill Joseph. Loyalty is expressed through honor, integrity, and
faithfulness.
ENERGY (Mental and physical) Motivated, energetic. Be a selfstarter.
Don't require someone to light a fire under you. There is no room
for laziness in a leadership position.
ACTIVE (Physically) Participation. Take an active role and participate
in corporate functions. Be available for your followers to receive from you.
DELIVER (Produce) Underpromise, overdeliver. Meet deadlines, go
the extra mile. Don't make promises you can't keep. Be honorable in
business dealings.
ENDURANCE (Stability, steadfast) Long-term commitment,
focused, stable. Willing to press through until the job is done. Come early,
leave late.
RELATIONSHIP (Communication) Open communication and a
positive attitude create a pleasant work environment for the entire team.
SACRIFICE (Give yourself) Sacrifice for the vision. Sacrifice your
finances, time, livelihood. Let the vision be a priority, not just a job or task.
32

Lively Stones
Leadership Notes
The following is an excerpt from the
Lively Stones Tribes of Israel Bible Study
We may not all be leaders of the pack, but we are all influencing
someone. Every one of us is being observed from time to time, and we
could be influencing a peer, a family member, a coworker, or even a child
who is observing our conversation, lifestyle and moral character. Our
opinions, responses and body language can have the same influential
impact as the words we speak.
We should be aware of the messages we are sending whether in the
home, on the job, or in the marketplace. We are constantly affecting
someone else's viewpoint whether we mean to or not. And particularly
when it comes to children who are developing their character through the
observance of others. We do not want to cause little ones to stumble or
have bad attitudes and judgmental opinions of others. We are our brother's
keeper, and accountable to God for the lives we are influencing. It's all
part of leadership.
Have you ever been a leader, supervisor, or in charge of other people?
_______ Explain ____________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
What would you look for in appointing leaders? ____________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Do you recall a boss, supervisor, or other leader you really admired? ____
If so, what outstanding qualities did he or she have? _________________
___________________________________________________________
33

Jan Matthews
Could you be a Reubenite?
These are Reuben's strengths and weaknesses. To find the Tribe your
personality is most like, be sure to fill out the profile sheet,
Strengths
□ compassionate
□ giver
□ lover
□ strong mind
□ physically strong
□ determined
□ tender conscience
□ wants to please God
□ miserable sinner
□ accountability
□ willing to sacrifice
□ takes responsibility
□ good-hearted deeds
□ beautiful spirit
□ courageous
□ forgiving
□ peacemaker
□ family loyalty
□ brother's keeper
□ honors parents
□ receives rebuke
□ honest
□ "can do" person
□ confident
or take your test online at:
www.covenantwoman.org
34
Weaknesses
□ need for approval
□ vascillating nature
□ easily influenced
□ uncontrolled passion
□ little moral strength
□ somewhat prideful
□ must be exhorted
□ impulsive
□ unstable at times
□ gets off course
□ does his own thing
□ passive in wartime
□ must be encouraged
□ can be led astray
□ weak in the flesh

Lively Stones
Do you identify with the Reubenite personality? ____________________
If so, how? __________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
See the Strengths and Weaknesses pages. How many boxes are checked?
Strengths______ Weaknesses______
What are the Strengths? _______________________________________
___________________________________________________________
What are the Weaknesses? _____________________________________
___________________________________________________________
How could a Reubenite develop his or her strengths? ________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
How could a Reubenite overcome his or her weaknesses? ____________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
What other tribal personalities do you identify with?__________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Do you know any Reubenites? __________________________________
____________________________________________________________
How can a Reubenite personality avoid the pitfalls of the flesh? ________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
What are some New Testament scriptures to help Reuben fight the good
fight of faith? ________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
35

Jan Matthews
Reuben's personality combination is
NOBLE-RULER-Oracle-Loyal
Noble-Ruler. Even the name implies royalty! This unique personality
would have all the qualities necessary for leadership, and would most likely be
an appreciated and loved leader because of his Noble heart. While having the
ability to stay focused on the project at hand and keep a visionary eye on the
ball, Nobles are able to rally the troops by generating enthusiasm among the
ranks. Noble-Rulers tend to lead more by inspiration than by force. Because the
predominant Noble buffers the powerful Ruler, this easygoing personality
could be misconstrued by some as a weakness. But just try to take advantage of
his pleasant nature—you'll see the Ruler rise to the surface and assume the top
position. And it might not be pretty when this demonstrative Ruler comes out
to play! The Noble's adaptable nature will step aside and let the Ruler do what
he does best—take charge. We saw much of this same temperament in King
David. Though he was led by his heart, he was also a fearless, powerful, and
forceful leader of the people.
This Noble-Ruler with a touch of Oracle and Loyal—what a beautiful
person! The rough edges of the Ruler are flanked by the pleasant Noble and the
spirited Oracle. A pleasant, but strong leader who is easy to converse with and
has a congenial personality—what a mix! The primary weakness of Noble-
Rulers would be their soft tender heart, which has been known to cloud their
good judgment and cause them to make some foolish decisions based on
brotherly love or kindness. On the upside of this flaw, you can never go wrong
loving too much. Nobles are true to the cause, and the very essence of their
nature is to lend a hand, protect, encourage, and nurture. The Ruler takes charge
and leads, while the Oracle inspires and motivates. The touch of Loyal helps
keep the entire personality in step, on time and over the top.
Because the Noble and Ruler personality types each make up less than10
percent of the population, this is truly a unique and rare blend. Not many
Reubens around! The only other personality so unique as that of Reuben, the
firstborn, would be that of Benjamin, the last born son. First and last, Reuben
and Benjamin—the sons of promise.
36

Lively Stones
Reuben's Cameo & Charge to Reubenites
GOOD-HEARTED, LOVER, SOMETIMES WEAK IN FLESH
Ruled by his heart, Reuben knows right from wrong but tends to be weak in the
flesh. He's the first son of promise! He's a lover, not a fighter. Saved by grace.
(See Romans 7, 8)
_______________
O Reuben, what a wonder you are! The firstborn son of Jacob and
Leah, you're the first son of promise. Though your lack of restraint caused
you to lose your inheritance, you never lost heart. Your tender conscience
and protective nature toward the brethren cause you to excel in beauty.
Reubenites have what it takes to conquer and rule the world . . . if
they'll first subdue their own flesh. Reuben had a heart toward God, yet,
his flesh pulled him toward passion, comfort, and non-commitment in his
latter days. Though he was very family oriented, when faced with an hour
of emergency during the time of Deborah, the Reubenites chose to stay in
their comfort zone tending their flocks and land, rather than going to battle
with Israel. When they were most needed, they were unreliable. The Tribe
of Reuben had the ability to go to war and to be great leaders, yet they
failed in their final hour of testing. Reuben felt that the battle was not his
and he would rather not be involved. But Reuben's true colors and his
sense of personal responsibility surfaced when he offered to sacrifice his
own sons if Benjamin did not return with the brethren from Egypt.
If you are predominantly a Reubenite spirit, follow your strengths,
continue to love people, and begin to face those weaknesses of the flesh
that so easily beset you. Plant your feet in spiritual truth, trust God and
don't be moved! Purpose to be faithful, loyal, honorable and strong in the
Lord. Take your rightful position and don't let the enemy steal it from you
because of character flaws. Become buff in the spirit and have tenacity
about your convictions. (See Hebrews 12:1.) Reuben, you are a beautiful
and unique tribe. Your most predominant trait is that of a lover.
Ruled by his heart, Reuben is compassionate, understanding and a
peacemaker. Reuben is redeemed by the Blood of Jesus and restored to
honor and dignity in the New Jerusalem.
37

Jan Matthews
A Reubenite
would make a good: secretary, supervisor, school principal, hotel manager,
personnel manager, counselor, police officer, mentor, teacher, doctor, nurse,
firefighter, caseworker, surgeon, receptionist, childcare worker, clergy,
psychologist, chiropractor, travel agent, veterinarian, animal caretaker,
switchboard operator, social worker, paramedic, home health aide, physical
therapist, special ed teacher, flight attendant . . .
You can add to this confession, using scripture to emphasize
strengths and overcome weaknesses.
Confession
I walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit. I am stable in all my
ways, knowing what the will of the Lord is, and I follow hard after Him.
My foot will not be taken and I will not slip, fall or turn back and fail. God
is able to make me stand. I seek honor from God only and walk in a
manner worthy of His calling. I am His sheep, I hear His voice and the
voice of a stranger I will not follow. My mouth is enlarged over my
enemies. I am strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. God has
given me the spirit of power, of love, and of a sound mind. ____________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
38

Lively Stones
Your personal notes on
REUBEN
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
39

Jan Matthews
Breastplate of the High Priest
Formation in the Wilderness
40
SIMEON

Lively Stones
The Tribe of
SIMEON
The Warriors of God
The Second Son
(Second son of Leah)
41

Jan Matthews
Famous Simeonites
Simeon
Simon Peter
(He might be)
Simeon
(The old prophet at the birth of Jesus)
42

By Jacob
Lively Stones
Prophecy by Jacob over the Tribe of
SIMEON
Simeon and Levi are brethren; instruments of cruelty are
in their habitations. O my soul, come not thou into their
secret; unto their assembly, mine honour, be not thou united:
for in their selfwill they digged down a wall. Cursed be their
anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel: I will
divide them in Jacob and scatter them in Israel.
Genesis 49:5-7
43

Jan Matthews
SOUTH BRIGADE (Gad, Reuben, Simeon)
SON of MAN
Christ's Humanity
(Gospel of Luke)
SIMEON #2
MEANING: Hearing, Hearkening
STONE: Topaz (Brownish yellow)
SYMBOL: Pitcher & Dagger, City Gates
MOTIVE GIFT: Mercy
Simeon learned understanding and mercy through chastening.
Simeon is the second son of Jacob, born of Leah. Though Simeon's
name means to hear and obey, he had to develop that character trait the
hard way. Simeon's basic nature is that of a warrior—fierce, cruel,
deceitful; and he's eager to take judgment into his own hands. Because
Simeon and his brother Levi were probably about a year apart, they were
very close as children and developed their mischievous ways at an early
age. As they grew, Jacob saw that their camaraderie produced nothing but
trouble; he separated the two boys so they could both mature spiritually.
One prime example of their vindictiveness would be when Shechem,
son of Hamor, took their sister Dinah, the family's only daughter, and lay
with her. Simeon and Levi took the matter into their own hands. Though
Shechem loved her and asked her hand in marriage, the two brothers
plotted an attack against their city. They told Shechem they could not
intermarry with the uncircumcised, so Shechem and the men of the city
were circumcised. While the men were still sore and recovering, Levi and
Simeon slew all the males of the city with the sword, and took Dinah back
home with them. Then the rest of Jacob's sons took the women and
children captive and captured the wealth of the city. The ruthless attack
was not orchestrated by God, and it was an untimely justice.
44

Lively Stones
Immature Simeon is a man of wrath who is more than willing to draw
his sword in vengeance. Could Simon Peter possibly be of the Tribe of
Simeon? Hmm.
In his youth, Simeon was self-willed and rebellious along with Levi
(joined). During his Wilderness experience, his time of trials and testing,
his buddies were Gad ( a troop) and Reuben (a son). But in Simeon's latter
years we see him hanging out with Judah (praise), an indication of
spiritual growth learned through his sufferings. Simeon began to look to
God for his strength and not to himself.
45

Jan Matthews
Simeon's Gemstone
TOPAZ
Greek word:
topazion
(Gold stone)
Topaz symbolizes:
OBEDIENCE
CONSECRATION
OVERCOMING
WISDOM
MERCY
The topaz is the second stone on the
breastplate of the ephod and is usually yellowish
or amber, which speaks of the glory of God. It is
a very hard transparent gemstone that can be split
by a single blow, much like a diamond. This
ability to split clean along the basal plane makes
it possible to distinguish the gem from other
gems of similar appearance. The blow that would
destroy most gems to powder brings out the inner
beauty of the topaz when opened in this manner.
When heated or rubbed, it has the power of
refraction, which means it changes in appearance
because of how light hits it, and it produces
electricity, or "comes alive" as it is heated up.
The topaz indicates the ability to change under pressure, to be transparent
and unique in identity. It reveals the ability of God's chastising hand to break
the self-will without destroying the gem entirely. Forty years in the
Wilderness reduced Simeon from the third largest tribe of 59,300 to the
smallest tribe of 22,200, with 31,100 Simeonites dying in the Wilderness.
Job 28:19 compares wisdom to the topaz, and James 3:17 says,
Wisdom that is from above is first pure, peaceable, gentle and easy to be
entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without
hypocrisy. This beautiful stone symbolizes wisdom and mercy, and
reveals that Simeon, who was so eager to administer swift judgment in his
old nature, can be molded into a man full of mercy transformed by the
power of God. The "old man" of Simeon exhibits man's wrath at its worst,
but his life is molded into that of quality as he becomes a companion of
Judah (praise) in his latter days. His change of heart exhibits, Not my will
but thine be done, and his consecration to the Father brings out the best in
Simeon. His heart is tenderized, and as said in James 2:13, Mercy
rejoiceth against judgment, in this powerful warrior of God.
46

Lively Stones
Simeon's Banner Symbol
The banner symbol for Simeon is usually a
dagger, and/or city gates. They both symbolize
war and victory. The Simeonites were born
fighters, and the dagger symbolizes the warlike
characteristics of this tribe. It took a lifetime of
molding by the Lord to bring Simeon to the
point where his trust was in God's power and
not his own strength.
The gates represent victory because God
promised Abraham in Genesis 22:17, Thy seed
shall possess the gate of his enemies. We too
are the seed of Abraham in that he is our father
of faith. We have that same promise in Romans
8:37, that, We are more than conquerors. The
Simeonites came out of the Wilderness broken
and few in number. They fought side by side in
the Promised Land with Judah, and received
portions of Judah's inheritance because it was
too much for Judah alone.
Simeon, once delivered from his violent
DAGGER/
CITY GATES
A dagger symbolizes:
SPIRITUAL
WARFARE
City gates symbolize:
VICTORY OVER
ENEMIES
"Thy seed shall possess
the gate of his enemies."
Genesis 22:17
and deceitful nature (see Psalms 72:14), was a vessel prepared for war in
the army of the Lord. In 1 Chronicles 12:25 when King David gave a call
to war, Simeon came with 7,100 mighty men of valor to fight alongside
Judah's 6,000, Levi's 4,000, Benjamin's 3,000 and Issachar's 200! The
Simeonites came with a vengeance and the call of the King in their
hearts! They are ever ready to follow the call of the Spirit and are on the
front lines of involvement whenever God's doing a new thing.
Luke 2:26 says, It was revealed to him (Simeon) by the Holy Ghost
that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. As
surely as this Simeonite was right there at the birth of Jesus to take Him in
his arms and proclaim, Mine eyes have seen thy salvation (Luke 2:30), the
Tribe of Simeon will be on the front lines at the return of Jesus Christ
waving their banner high in praise and salutation of the King of Kings and
Lord of Lords, the Holy One of Israel!
47

Jan Matthews
Simeon's Motivational Gift
MERCY
Mercy and grace are two of the most misunderstood words in the
Bible. Webster's Unabridged Dictionary describes mercy: compassion or
forbearance shown to an offender or subject: clemency or kindness
extended to someone instead of strictness or severity.
Simeon had such a ruthless, fierce and cruel nature that he had to
endure great affliction and suffering in order to afflict his soul to the point
of repentance and humility. In his early years, he showed judgment
without mercy and often took matters into his own hands, not at God's
direction. His resentment toward Joseph bred hostility in him to the point
of hatred, vengeance, and murder. Simeon was also very deceitful. And
because of sowing deceit, he himself was prone to being deceived—
particularly by ungodly women who seduced the Israelite men.
Jesus told Simon Peter a parable about two men who owed a creditor
and neither had money to pay the debt. The creditor forgave both men
their debts, one 500 shekels, and the other 50 shekels. Jesus asked Simon
Peter, Tell me therefore, which of them will love him the most? Simon
answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he
said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged (Luke 7:42, 43).
The Simeonite personality can identify with the man who was
forgiven much, so that mercy can prevail toward others. Simeon had been
forgiven much and, therefore, became a man of love for his brethren. He
was as man constrained by the love of God, who learned to walk in the
Spirit by hearing and obeying.
It could be said of Simeonites who have been purged of their old
nature that, He shall have judgment without mercy, that hath showed no
mercy; (but now) mercy rejoiceth against judgment (James 2:1); and,
Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath
reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness
unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 5:20, 21).
48

Lively Stones
Mercy Scriptures
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
Matthew 5:7
___________________
For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy;
and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.
James 2:13
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his
mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the
Holy Ghost;
Titus 3:5
Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord
Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
Jude 1:2
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may
obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
49
Hebrews 4:16
They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy.
Jonah 2:8
Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and
shew mercy and compassions every man to his brother:
Zechariah 7:9

Jan Matthews
50

Lively Stones
Mercy Notes
In your words, describe mercy. __________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Have you ever needed great mercy in this life? ______________________
____________________________________________________________
Have you ever needed to be merciful instead of judgmental in a situation?
If so, did you show mercy? _____________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Who is the most mercy-motivated and forgiving person you know? _____
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Have you ever received mercy when you really deserved judgment
instead? ____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Have you ever cried out to God for mercy when you didn't know how to
pray, and received a miracle? ____________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Share more about the mercy of God, if you can. _____________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
51

Jan Matthews
Could you be a Simeonite?
These are Simeon's strengths and weaknesses. To find the Tribe your
personality is most like, be sure to fill out the profile sheet,
or take your test online at:
www.covenantwoman.org
Strengths
□ hearing heart
□ learns obedience through chastening
□ mental strength
□ physical strength
□ follows the Spirit
□ courageous
□ defender of brethren
□ defender of God
□ wants to please God
□ "can do" person
□ sensitive to the Holy Spirit
□ peacemaker
□ hears & obeys
□ family loyalty
□ protector
52
Weaknesses
□ deceitful
□ self-willed
□ loves a good fight!
□ mean nature
□ cruel
□ sets his own rules
□ rebellious
□ impulsive
□ secretive
□ complainer
□ fault finder
□ reckless
□ acts in anger
□ takes matters into own hands
□ easily led into mischief
□ argumentative

Lively Stones
Do you identify with the Simeonite personality? _____________________
If so, how?___________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
See the Strengths and Weaknesses pages. How many boxes are checked?
Strengths______ Weaknesses______
What are the Strengths? _______________________________________
___________________________________________________________
What are the Weaknesses? _____________________________________
___________________________________________________________
How could a Simeonite develop his or her strengths? ________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
How could a Simeonite overcome his or her weaknesses? ____________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
What other tribal personalities do you identify with?__________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Do you know any Simeonites? __________________________________
___________________________________________________________
How can a Simeonite personality avoid being angry and taking matters
into their own hands? __________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
What are some New Testament scriptures to help Simeon fight the good
fight of faith? ________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
53

Jan Matthews
Simeon's personality combination is
RULER-LOYAL-Oracle-Noble
The Ruler-Loyal is probably the most self-sufficient and capable of all
the temperaments to accomplish a task. This leader could be tough to work for
because he would not only be a goal-driven achiever, but he would also know
how to roll up his sleeves and do the tasks at hand. You couldn't cut corners or
halfway do a job working for him because he has firsthand knowledge of what
needs to be done, how to do it right, and how long it should take. These
competitive and determined problem solvers are aggressive perfectionists who
will get the job done at any cost. And yes, they are critical, demanding and
controlling—but they're winners. They're the best. Their team always produces
or achieves the highest rank and honors when it comes to competition and
productivity. They'll work nonstop till a job's finished . . . and they expect the
same of their entire team. Loyal and dependable, you can count on them!
The Ruler-Loyal is a fighter from the "get-go" and more than willing
to pass judgment and administer vengeance when he feels he's been
wronged. Or, you've been wronged. Or, anybody's been wronged! These
rescuer-protectors love to fight for what they believe is right. They
sometimes have to learn the hard way to relax, depend upon the Lord and
let Him lead. But when tempered by the Holy Spirit, they are clearly the
MVP's in the Kingdom. They're the warriors! The defenders of God! The
frontline generals!
The introverted Loyal may have depressed moments, but the optimistic
Ruler inside rises to the occasion at hand and overcomes. The touch of
Oracle-Noble are the only redeeming factors of this dynamic personality.
The Oracle imparts a lively spirit to their temperament, and the Noble gives
them a little bit of "heart." The more Oracle-Noble present, the better.
A Spirit-filled Ruler-Loyal has what it takes to run any major
corporation, country, or planet! He could even run a church if there is
enough of the Holy Spirit present! Ruler-Loyals are tough people to deal
with sometimes, but very necessary in the Body of Christ. About 45
percent of the population are Loyals, but only 5 percent are Rulers.
54

Lively Stones
Simeon's Cameo & Charge to Simeonites
WARRIOR SPIRIT
Strong in the flesh, must keep with good spiritual companions. Can be led astray
into mischief by hanging with the wrong people. Led by the Spirit when renewed
in the mind and associating with godly people.
(See James 1:19)
___________________
The Simeonite is a warrior at heart and can only be tamed by God.
Simeon was purified through affliction, God's chastening, and discipline in
the Wilderness, and he was molded into a beautiful warrior for the army of
the Lord as he associated with the Tribe of Judah while entering the
Promised Land. Together they fought side by side taking cities in Canaan,
and Simeon was rewarded with portions of Judah's inheritance.
The Simeonite personality generally has to learn the hard way and
through personal experience, rather than instruction and warning. Because
of their hard-hearted ways before regeneration, Simeonites sometimes fall
into deceitful traps of the enemy. But when they cry out to the Lord, He
turns their captivity into victory and they come out of the fire seasoned for
the Lord and fit for the Master's use. Simeonites are very family oriented,
loyal, and protective of the brethren. They'll sacrifice their lives in defense
of others but must guard against taking matters into their own hands
without the leading of the Lord.
Just as Ruben is a lover not a fighter, Simeon is a fighter, not a lover.
A tempered and molded Simeonite is an MVP in the army of the Lord
because of his zeal and ability to follow the Spirit by simply hearing and
obeying. Renewed Simeonites are sensitive to the voice of the Lord and
can always be found on the front lines of a new move of God! They're
privy to the tricks of the enemy and are continually storming the gates of
hell releasing captives through intercession and praise because of their
close association with the Tribe of Judah (praise). The most important
warning to a Simeonite personality is to be careful with whom you
associate—good or bad, they will rub off on you.
55

Jan Matthews
A Simeonite
would make a good: CEO, district attorney, manager, director, athletic
manager, team owner, professor, judge, economist, financial manager,
geologist, police detective, astronomer, pharmacist, architect, business
owner, store manager, IRS worker, bank president, computer programmer,
military general, dictator, control freak . . .
You can add to this confession, using scripture to emphasize
strengths and overcome weaknesses.
Confession
The love of God is shed abroad in my heart by the Holy Spirit, and I
am a worshipper of God and a lover of people. I walk by faith and not by
sight, and I follow after peace with all men. I take no account of an evil
done to me and pay no attention to a suffered wrong. I let the Lord fight
my battles; He is my Redeemer, my Defender and the Lover of my soul. I
am kind hearted, and God the Father is my Judge and Vindicator. I see the
good in others and yield to the Holy Spirit, hearing and obeying the Word
of the Lord. __________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
56

Lively Stones
Your personal notes on
SIMEON
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
57

Jan Matthews
Breastplate of the High Priest
Formation in the Wilderness
LEVI
58

Lively Stones
The Tribe of
LEVI
The Priesthood
The Third Son
(Third son of Leah)
59

Jan Matthews
Famous Levites
Moses
Aaron
Miriam
Prophet Samuel
Jeremiah
Ezekiel
Ezra
Zacharias
John the Baptist
Infamous Levites
Eli and his sons
Ichabod
60

By Jacob
Lively Stones
Prophecies by Jacob and Moses over the Tribe of
LEVI
Simeon and Levi are brethren; instruments of cruelty are
in their habitations. O my soul, come not thou into their
secret; unto their assembly, mine honour, be not thou united:
for in their selfwill they digged down a wall. Cursed be their
anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel: I will
divide them in Jacob and scatter them in Israel.
Genesis 49:5-7
By Moses
Let thy Thummim and thy Urim be with thy holy one,
whom thou didst prove at Massah, and with whom thou didst
strive at the water of Meribah; Who said unto his father and
to his mother, I have not seen him; neither did he
acknowledge his brethren, nor knew his own children: for
they have observed thy Word, and kept thy covenant. They
shall teach Jacob thy judgments, and Israel thy law: they shall
put incense before thee, and whole burnt sacrifice upon thine
altar. Bless, Lord, his substance, and accept the work of his
hands: smite through the loins of them that rise against him,
and of them that hate him, that they rise not again.
Deuteronomy 33:8-11
61

NO BRIGADE
Jan Matthews
LEVI #3
MEANING: Joined, United, Knotted
STONE: Carbuncle (Garnet) (Blood red)
SYMBOL: High Priest's Ephod
TABERNACLE MOTIVE GIFT: Exhortation
MINISTRY
Priestly Tribe teaches, exhorts and applies the Blood
through prayer and intercession for the brethren.
Levi is the third son of Jacob, born of Leah. He and his brother
Simeon were instruments of cruelty and wrath. They killed an entire city
of Canaanites because Shechem took their sister Dinah. Because of that
great treacherous deed, at Jacob's death, the Spirit of the Lord prophesied
through him, Cursed be their anger . . . (Genesis 49:7). Jacob was 147
when he died, but he still had not forgotten his sons' cruel sin against
Shechem and his city.
Anger and hatred were the sins of Levi and Simeon. Just as Reuben's
uncontrolled passion led him into adultery, their anger and wrath led them
to murder. It's just possible that at Jacob's death, he was not cursing his
sons, but casting out that murderous and violent spirit that had plagued
them their entire lifetime. As we have seen, Simeon was changed into a
vessel of honor for the Lord through years of chastisement, and Levi was
chosen for the priesthood.
Levites are special and set apart unto the service of the Lord. When
Moses came down from the mount and found Israel dancing around the
golden calf built by Aaron, he cried out, Who is on the Lord's side? Let
him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves unto
him . . . (Exodus 32:26).
62

Lively Stones
Notice, the sons of Levi gathered themselves unto Moses. Because of
their consecration to the Lord, the Tribe of Levi was chosen to be God's
firstfruits instead of the firstborn of Israel. They were to be set apart and
consecrated unto the Lord and the work of the ministry. They would
handle the operations and upkeep of the tabernacle, the Ark of the
Covenant, and the ministry to the people. They were not allowed to amass
wealth through labor as the other tribes, but God Himself was their
portion. He was their . . . exceeding great reward, as told to Abram in
Genesis 15:1. Then again in Numbers 18:20, And the Lord spake unto
Aaron, Thou shalt have no inheritance in their land, neither shalt thou
have any part among them: I am thy part and thine inheritance among
the children of Israel.
The Levites belong to God. He said in Numbers 3:11, I have taken
the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the firstborn
that openeth the matrix among the children of Israel: therefore the
Levites shall be mine . . .
Just as the Levites are separated from the world unto God for the
priesthood, the spiritual Levites of these final days are separated unto God
for the work of the ministry before the return of the Lord Jesus Christ.
And He is still our "exceeding great reward"!
63

CARBUNCLE
(Garnet)
LATIN word:
granatum
(Pomegranate)
Carbuncle symbolizes:
DEVOTION
FAITHFULNESS
STRENGTH
PROTECTION
LIGHTING THE WAY
Jan Matthews
Levi's Gemstone
The carbuncle stone is more commonly
known as a garnet. The garnet is generally a
deep red, however, it can come in a variety of
colors such as green and orange, almost any
color except blue.
The garnet is known for its ability to
change under pressure and heat, transforming it
into a precious stone. Also known for its high
refraction of light, it is reported that Noah used
lanterns from garnet to safely steer the ark
through the night. Garnets have the excellent
hardness of 7 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale.
Because of their hardness, it is believed that
garnets were used for projectiles or bullets in
ancient weapons. Garnets are believed to repel
evil spirits and light the way, to ensure safety
during travel.
This magnificent gem ultimately represents
the ability of the precious Blood of our Lord
Jesus Christ to change us into beautiful vessels fit for the Master's use;
whereby we are translated out of the kingdom of darkness and into His
marvelous light.
64

Lively Stones
Levi's Banner Symbol
The banner symbol for the Tribe of Levi is
the high priest's breastplate with the stones of
the original 12 Tribes of Israel. Each stone has
the name of the tribe engraved on it.
Manasseh and Ephraim are represented by
the "Joseph" stone, the onyx, located at the
bottom of the breastplate which is called the
fourth row, center stone. Because Reuben's
double portion went to the Tribe of Joseph, his
two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh encamped BREASTPLATE
under the West Brigade, next to their "Uncle The Breastplate
Benjamin," ultimately making 13 tribes in the symbolizes:
encampment, with Levi (the priesthood) in the GOVERNMENT
middle of the camp.
JUDGMENT
The high priest wore the ephod with the FATHER'S HEART
breastplate of stones on it whenever he went MINISTRY
into the Holy Place before the Lord. And Aaron
UNITY
shall bear the names of the children of Israel PURPOSE
in the breastplate of judgment upon his heart, DESTINY
when he goeth in unto the holy place for a
memorial before the Lord continually (Exodus 28:29).
Pastors carry their flock in their heart much like parents carry their
children in theirs. They bear them up before God and are sensitive to the
things going on in their lives, so they are able to intercede for them before
the Lord continually. All Levites are separated unto the Lord; however, not
all Levites are of the order of Aaron, the priesthood. Levi had three sons:
Gershon, Merari, and Kohath. They handled the ministry of helps, including
upkeep of the tabernacle, the coverings, the vessels, repairs and general
maintenance. Levi's daughter, Jochebed, married Kohath's son Amram, and
from that union was born Aaron, Moses and Miriam. The descendants of
Aaron are the spiritual leaders, the priesthood. They are given charge of the
tabernacle, and they minister spiritually to the people of God.
65

Jan Matthews
Levi's Motivational Gift
EXHORTATION
Exhortation. Encouragement. It is a wonderful gift to be able to lift
the spirits of people and help them to see with their spiritual eyes and
hear with their heart, thus enabling them to receive from God. After all,
For as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he (Proverbs 23:7).
Levites, they are the ministers, pastors, and teachers of the Word.
They are gifts of God to the Body of Christ. They're not to lord their
spiritual leadership over them, but to lead and exhort by word and
example. Any correction and disciplinary words should always be
followed up with uplifting words of exhortation and encouragement that,
"You can do it!" Rather than bind individuals to their faults by judging
them, allow them to be free by showing them the way out of their sin or
problem, and at times walking with them through it.
Of course, we don't close our eyes blindly to people's needs or
faults, but we want to let God be God and let the Holy Spirit convict
them of unrighteousness. Then He will be able to direct their steps
toward victory over sin. We share the Word in love, and the Holy Spirit
will turn the water into wine for them and it will become liberating life.
Exhortation empowers and uplifts. It enables people to excel and to
soar in the Spirit and be empowered by the life of God! He is a "can do"
God! In the New Testament we constantly see the Apostle Paul warning
the people against the sinful flesh, but he always closes his messages
with an exhortation on a positive note. Our God is a good God, and His
mercy does endure forever.
66

Lively Stones
Exhortation Scriptures
Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season;
reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
2 Timothy 4:2
___________________
And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save
yourselves from this untoward generation.
67
Acts 2:40
The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a
witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that
shall be revealed.
1 Peter 5:1
Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
1 Timothy 4:13
And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto
children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint
when thou art rebuked of him.
Hebrews 12:5

Jan Matthews
MOSES' GREAT EXHORTATION
The "Blessings"
Deuteronomy 28:1-13
In the Wilderness the Israelites encamped around the Tribe of Levi because the
Levites were set apart unto the work of the ministry. They were the priesthood
and attended to the Tabernacle in the Wilderness. The "blessing" portion of
Deuteronomy 28 is probably Moses' greatest exhortation.
It covers spirit, soul, body, financially and socially:
___________________
And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently
unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all
his commandments which I command thee this day, that the
LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the
earth:
And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake
thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy
God.
Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in
the field.
Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy
ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine,
and the flocks of thy sheep.
Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store.
Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt
thou be when thou goest out.
68

Lively Stones
The LORD shall cause thine enemies that rise up against
thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out
against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways.
The LORD shall command the blessing upon thee in thy
storehouses, and in all that thou settest thine hand unto; and
he shall bless thee in the land which the LORD thy God
giveth thee.
The LORD shall establish thee an holy people unto himself,
as he hath sworn unto thee, if thou shalt keep the
commandments of the LORD thy God, and walk in his ways.
And all people of the earth shall see that thou art called by
the name of the LORD; and they shall be afraid of thee.
And the LORD shall make thee plenteous in goods, in the
fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the
fruit of thy ground, in the land which the LORD sware unto
thy fathers to give thee.
The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure, the
heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to
bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto
many nations, and thou shalt not borrow.
And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail;
and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath;
if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD
thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to
do them:
69

Jan Matthews
70

Lively Stones
Exhortation Notes
Are you called to full-time ministry? ______________________________
____________________________________________________________
Are you in full-time ministry?____________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Do you try to encourage and exhort people rather than just correcting them
all the time? _________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Who do you know that is a great exhorter? _________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
When handling a difficult situation, do you try to exhort the person
positively? __________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
When did you last encourage or exhort someone to do better? __________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Write some exhortation verses you could use to encourage someone. ____
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
71

Jan Matthews
Could you be a Levite?
These are Levi's strengths and weaknesses. To find the Tribe your
personality is most like, be sure to fill out the profile sheet,
Strengths
□ consecrated to God
□ great discernment
□ holy vessel (as mature)
□ problem solver
□ peacemaker
□ obedient to God
□ repentant
□ no respecter of persons
□ ministry minded
□ mediator
□ sensitive to the Holy Spirit
□ sacrificial
□ shepherd's heart
□ teacher
□ forgiving
or take your test online at:
www.covenantwoman.org
72
Weaknesses
□ tendency to be cruel
□ tendency to be greedy
□ loves a good fight!
□ mean nature
□ arrogant
□ legalistic
□ prideful
□ impulsive
□ judgmental
□ complainer
□ fault finder, critical
□ reckless
□ acts in anger
□ likes to administer justice

Lively Stones
Do you identify with the Levite personality? _______________________
If so, how? __________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
See the Strengths and Weaknesses pages. How many boxes are checked?
Strengths______ Weaknesses______
What are the Strengths? _______________________________________
___________________________________________________________
What are the Weaknesses? _____________________________________
___________________________________________________________
How could a Levite develop his or her strengths? ________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
How could a Levite overcome his or her weaknesses? ____________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
What other tribal personalities do you identify with?__________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Do you believe you are called to be a Levite? _______________________
____________________________________________________________
How does God talk to you? How did He call you to be a Levite? ________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
What are some New Testament scriptures to help Levi fight the good fight
of faith? ____________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
73

Jan Matthews
Levi's personality combination is
ORACLE-RULER-LOYAL-NOBLE
What a combination! This unique personality has just the right blend of
temperaments necessary to produce the character of Christ. The Spiritual depth
and perception of this priestly individual are unsurpassed. His noble presence
and genteel manner emanate from the confidence of his position, while his
leadership excellence is wrapped in the humility of a servant, the warmth of a
friend, and the authority of a king. This person is truly the essence of perfection
when renewed in the spirit of his mind and walking according to the Spirit of
God and not after the flesh. (Of course, just the opposite would be true if he's
walking after the flesh and not the Spirit—he could display the weaknesses of
all four personality types, as well as his strengths would be weakened.)
But all in all, this balanced personality has the greatest opportunity to excel
in achievement, relationships, and life in general. He would have the lively
spirit and zeal of the Oracle with the ability of the Ruler to focus on the vision
at hand while leading the way to success. This one-of-a-kind personality would
have the capability of a Loyal, being equipped with facts, figures and plans
necessary to accomplish the project at hand. These great qualities coupled
together with the peaceful, pleasant attitude of the Noble leave nothing to be
desired in a personality. Individuals with this personality combination would be
people people, with congeniality galore and personality plus!
Practically perfect in every way, this is truly a person you want to have in
your life as a friend, mate, partner, or neighbor. This is such a rare blend, being
perfectly balanced, that it could truly be said, this person is "one in a million."
The Levite should have produced the nature and character of Christ as no
other. That was God's ideal plan in His choice for the priesthood, to have them
totally dependent upon and yielded to Him as holy vessels and examples to the
children of Israel. Though the Levites fell far short of their call through their
pride and carnality, our High Priest, Jesus, hit the mark of excellence, as our
example. It should be our desire to attain to the perfection of Christ as He lives
through us molding and shaping our lives, conforming us to His image. We
must put off the old man and put on the new as we let Him live through us.
74

Lively Stones
Levi's Cameo & Charge to Levites
PRIESTHOOD
Separated unto God, called to the ministry, but may have to endure some
affliction before answering the call. Stubborn, hard-headed, judgmental, before
renewal, but when regenerated, a holy vessel set apart unto the Lord.
_________________
Levi was an angry, judgmental and vengeful person along with his brother
Simeon. They took matters into their own hands and were ruthless. Like
Simeon, Levi had to learn the hard way. Moses was a Levite who had to go to
the "back side of the desert" for years before he was ready for use. God just
does not get in a hurry when doing a work in His people. He lets us squirm and
sweat it out till we come to the place of absolute surrender. When the Levite
becomes small in his own eyes, he is finally ready for use in ministry.
If you are a Levite, you must guard against religious spirits and
Pharisaical attitudes. Levites have a tendency to judge people, "stone" them,
and slice them up with their tongue. But it is required of Levites, or ministers
of the gospel, to be honorable, kind, merciful, and godly. God has equipped
them with the "Urim and the Thummim" in the Old Testament, two little
stones representing light and truth. In other words, God has given them
spiritual discernment so they can locate where people are and the spirits
they're dealing with. It's a spiritual "tool of the trade," and should be used for
good and not as a weapon against the people they're ministering to. You can't
fool a Levite—he just knows in his knower!
Levites are peacemakers. They’re able to walk into a room of confusion
and take control. They are extremely sacrificial and lay it all down for
ministry. Their only portion is God Himself, and they know that as they lay
down their lives for God, they can expect more of Him. To whomsoever
much is given, of him shall much be required; and to whom men have
committed much, of him they will ask the more (Luke 12:48). Because
they make great sacrifices themselves, they expect the same of others.
Because they are God's chosen, and they know it, God supernaturally
takes care of them. A Levite walking uprightly before God is invincible. God
takes special care of them because He is their only inheritance. Though they've
learned their obedience through chastening of the Lord, those who rise up
against them will be smitten of the Lord. He said in 1 Chronicles 16:22,
Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.
75

Jan Matthews
A Levite
has the full potential to be the do-all, be-all of the entire bunch! They're
equipped with all the personality, enthusiasm, intelligence, and inner
strength it takes to be a leader, follower, counselor, coach, worshipper of
God and lover of people.
You can add to this confession, using scripture to emphasize
strengths and overcome weaknesses.
Confession
I hold the thoughts, purposes and intents of the Father's heart, and
represent Him well in the earth. My heart of love and compassion extend
mercy and goodness to everyone I come into contact with. I believe the
best of others at all times and yield to the heart of God as mercy rejoices
over judgment toward others. Because I carry the heart of God and am
sensitive to the moving of the Holy Spirit, I yield my life to the nature of
God and I purpose to walk in love at all times. ______________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
76

Lively Stones
Your personal notes on
LEVI
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
77

Jan Matthews
Breastplate of the High Priest
Formation in the Wilderness
78
JUDAH
LEVI

Lively Stones
The Tribe of
JUDAH
The Royal Lineage
Messiah
The Fourth Son
(Fourth son of Leah)
79

Jan Matthews
Famous Judahites
Jesus
Caleb
Boaz
King David
King Solomon
King Asa
King Jehoshaphat
King Josiah
Joseph
(Mary's husband)
And the Infamous
Judas Iscariot
80

By Jacob
Lively Stones
Prophecies by Jacob and Moses over the Tribe of
JUDAH
Judah, thou art he whom thy brother shall praise: thy
hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; thy father's
children shall bow down before thee. Judah is a lion's whelp:
from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he
couched as a lion and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up?
The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from
between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the
gathering of the people be. Binding his foal unto the vine, and
his ass' colt unto the choice vine; he washed his garments in
wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes: His eyes shall be
red with wine, and his teeth white with milk.
Genesis 49:8-12
By Moses
Hear, Lord, the voice of Judah, and bring him unto his
people: let his hands be sufficient for him: and be thou an
help to him from his enemies.
Deuteronomy 33:7
81

Jan Matthews
EAST BRIGADE (Issachar, Judah, Zebulun)
JUDAH #4
MEANING: Praise
STONE: Emerald (Green)
SYMBOL: Lion
CHRIST as KING MOTIVE GIFT: Prophecy (Worship, music)
Royalty, Authority
(Gospel of Matthew)
Your brothers shall praise you and your hand
shall be upon the neck of your enemies.
Genesis 49:8
Judah is the fourth son of Jacob, born of Leah. Though his name
predominantly means praise (53 times), it also means to give thanks (32),
to confess (16), to cast out (2), and to shoot an arrow (1). Notice that if
you praise God continually and stay repentant confessing your sins, you'll
make a direct hit on the enemy when you shoot the arrow—the Word of
God—and cast him out! Our God inhabits our praises (Psalms 22:3).
The very first words spoken by Judah in the Bible are about making a
profit. That's right! Natural Judah is all about prosperity and success.
When his brothers wanted to kill Joseph, Judah said, What profit is it if we
slay our brother and conceal his blood? (Genesis 37:26). He wanted to
know what was in it for them! Verse 27 says, Come, and let us sell him.
When Judah spoke, his brothers listened. He was a great influencer of
them. They sold their own brother for 20 pieces of silver! Remind you of
somebody? You probably guessed it. Judas.
They may have sold Joseph into slavery, but in the next chapter, Genesis
38:1, we see Judah going . . . down from his brethren . . . which led to his
own captivity of the soul. As said in 1 Corinthians 15:33, Evil
communications corrupt good manners, Judah's friendship with the king
of Adullam lured him away from his godly home, his character, and his
82

Lively Stones
upbringing. He fell prey to the passions of the flesh—wine, women and
wealth; or drinks, dames and dollars—however you want to say it, he was
overcome by the lust of his flesh because King Hirah made a fuss over
him. He practically sold his soul to the devil, and it took years for him to
recover from the snare of this detour in his life. He took a Canaanite wife,
had children, and life wasn't pretty, being married out of the will of God.
Judah was later tricked by Tamar, his childless daughter-in-law, who
dressed as a harlot and waited until he passed by. He propositioned her,
Tamar's plan worked, and she had two sons, Pharez and Zareh. (Pharez was
in the lineage of Christ.) When Judah realized what he had done, he
confessed his sin and declared her to be more righteous than he. His
humility and repentance turned his captivity and turned his heart toward
home.
In Genesis Chapters 43-44 we see Judah and his family being
reunited with Joseph in Egypt. When Benjamin was "set up" as a thief by
Joseph, Judah pled his case and delivered a heart-rending argument for his
release. Joseph revealed his identity to his brothers and forgave them,
saying, Be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves that ye sold me here;
for God did send me before you to preserve life . . . to preserve you a
posterity in the earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So it
was not you that sent me here, but God (Genesis 45:5, 7, 8).
Judah, a man of passion and greed in his youth, when confronted with
his sin, is like the great King David, the man after God's own heart. The
greatest Judahite of all came from this Tribe of tribes as our Advocate,
Healer, Counselor, Deliverer, Protector, Financier, Intercessor . . . and
Lord.
83

Jan Matthews
Judah's Gemstone
The emerald gemstone is a bright green
transparent stone of the beryl family. It is
harder than quartz and softer than the topaz, the
sapphire, and the diamond. Emeralds are
fascinating gemstones, and because of the
presence of chromium, they have the most
beautiful, intense, and radiant green that can
possibly be imagined.
EMERALD This magnificent stone is developed as
granulated fluid washes over it and through it
Hebrew word:
for centuries of time. A glance through a
nophek
magnifying glass into the interior, or the heart
(To glisten, shine)
of an emerald reveals its tumultuous past.
Emeralds are formed through processes of
Emerald symbolizes:
orogenesis, metamorphism, and crystallization,
NOBILITY
as well as emergences and erosion of the land.
ETERNITY
In short, this little gem has issues! The tension
ENDURANCE
and stress endured in the creation of the
STRENGTH
emerald cannot help but leave some flaws, both
HUMILITY
major and minor. However, the flaws, properly
PRAISE
termed "inclusions" are tolerated in these fine
stones because of the suffering they endure to obtain their inner beauty.
(Selah)
Just as Jesus still has nail prints and scars left on His heavenly body
as a reminder of what He endured for our salvation, the emerald is marred
from abuse and bears signs of the traumatic past it has endured to obtain
its inner qualities.
The emerald symbolizes the pain endured in birth—the birth of the
Kingdom of God into the earth, and the battle scars left on the saints. The
agony and the ecstasy, but oh, the glory! The emerald speaks of endurance
and immortality. It is said to bring healing, expel evil spirits, promote
well-being, and ensure prosperity and life.
84

Lively Stones
Judah's Banner Symbol
The banner symbol for Judah is a lion.
Everyone knows the lion is king of the jungle. As
the lion grows from a whelp into maturity, so does
the newborn child of God. The baby lion is just
that, a baby. He is totally dependent upon his
mother for nourishment and protection. He can't
even defend himself. His life consists of playing,
getting into mischief and annoying the elders. He's
afraid of his own shadow and has to be rescued out
of foolish predicaments he gets himself into. The
young cub's roar—excuse me, his "yelp" makes
the big guys roar laughing! It takes a year to reach
maturity, and they hit prime around six years of
age. Their lifespan is about 25 years.
By the time the young lion reaches adulthood,
he has outgrown his yelping and developed his
roar, along with other growls and purring noises.
Boastful, self-confident and extremely foolish, he
goes about terrorizing the neighborhood with his
newfound expressions. Still very playful he amuses
himself with anything that moves. Fully grown in
size but not in cunning and intelligence, he can be
a danger to himself and still gets himself into
messes he needs help getting out of.
85
LION
Hebrew word:
"lion's whelp"
gur or guwr (goor)
(Baby lion, cub)
aryeh (ar-yay)
(Young violent lion)
lebaowth (leb-aw-oth)
(Mature, stout lion)
Lion symbolizes:
GROWTH of the
KINGDOM OF GOD
YOUNG NAIVITY
STRENGTH
WISDOM
RULERSHIP
DESTINED for the
THRONE!
The full-grown lion is honored and respected of all. He has finally come
into his kingdom and everyone in the jungle knows it! The 400 to 500-pound
lion is about 7 feet long, 9 feet with the tail; he can jump 30 feet, and his roar
can be heard 5 miles away! Male lions rest about 18 hours a day. This
magnificent creature moves in the wisdom of experience and rules over the
darkness of night guarding his kingdom from invasion by the enemy. It's no
wonder that God chose this noble tribe to produce our "Lion King," Jesus of
Nazareth, King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Forever live the King!
_______________________________________________________________________________
[Much of Judah's Lion was gleaned from Gwen Shaw's Tribes of Israel, End Time Handmaidens, Inc., USA
1982. This was just too cute not to share it with the Body. Visit www.eth-s.org, or write Box 447, Jasper, AR 72641]

Jan Matthews
Judah's Motivational Gift
PROPHECY
WORSHIP and DANCE
Judah means praise. This wonderful tribe has the motivational gift of
prophecy—which includes speaking the rhema Word by the Spirit, as well
as praising and worshiping God. There is a difference between the fivefold
ministry of the prophet, and the gift of prophecy. The spirit of prophecy
can come upon any believer from time to time as they speak the Word of
God, or as they give themselves to worship through praise, song, dance,
and celebration before the Lord.
Known for their great oratory skills and their exuberance, the
Judahites know how to stir themselves up in the Lord! They make great
praise and worship leaders, motivational speakers, lawyers and
salespeople because of their uninhibited enthusiasm. They get so excited
themselves that it rubs off on everyone around them. King David, a man
after God's own heart danced before the Lord with all his might—even to
the point of offending his wife, Michal. She was disgusted and ashamed of
him. She was cool and aloof and didn't like it that he "let his hair down"
before the people. When she informed him of her dissatisfaction, he said,
"Hey, I'm going to be even more vile! You don't like that? Well, watch
this!" (2 Samuel 6:22, paraphrased).
Great influencers, Jews can sell you anything, talk their way out of
trouble, convince you they're right, and get you so excited about something
you'll think it was your idea! After all, the gospel is also called the "Great
Persuasion," and the "Great Confession."
But more than anything, they're known for their ability to get excited
about God, sing praises to His name and get everyone else excited about
Him too. They have learned the power of praise through experience and
necessity. That's why God saw fit to put Judah (praise) on the front line of
His army as they moved toward the Promised Land. Praise went before the
entire camp of Israel to stop and still the enemies and activate the power of
God and the angelic host that protected them.
86

Lively Stones
Remember King Jehoshaphat? When a massive army came against
Israel, he called out to God and said, O our God, wilt thou not judge
them? For we have no might against this great company that cometh
against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee
(2 Chronicles 20:12). In other words, God! Help! They're big, we're little
and there's nothing we can do! But we're looking to YOU! They stood
looking toward heaven with their wives and little ones.
The Word of the Lord said, "Don't be afraid. The battle is not yours,
it's Mine. You won't have to fight in this battle. Stand still and see the
salvation of the Lord." And all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell
on their faces before the Lord and worshipped Him. The singers began to
sing, Praise the Lord; for his mercy endureth forever (2 Chronicles
20:21). The Lord caused Israel's enemies to turn on each other, and when
Judah went to the watchtower to look—they were all dead! They had
killed each other in their confusion. Praise stirs up trouble for the enemy!
In Acts 16:25, Paul and Silas sang praises in the prison, there was an
earthquake, and all the prison doors were opened! Praise sets the captives
free!
When Jesus came into Jerusalem, the crowd began to rejoice and
praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen.
When the Pharisees rebuked them, Jesus said, I tell you that if these
should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out (Luke
19:40). Praise will make the rocks sing!
Psalms 67: 5, 6 says, Let the people praise thee, O God, let all the
people praise thee. Then shall the earth yield her increase, and God,
even our own God, shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear
him. Hey, that's awesome! Something's breaking loose! (Shout!)
You're not going to let a pile of rocks out-praise you, are you? Come
on! Be vile like David! Praise God with all your heart! Dance before the
Lord with all your might. Cut loose! Shake a leg! He is worthy of our
praise. Stir yourself up and watch things start happening. (Dance!)
87

Jan Matthews
God inhabits our praise!
Have you ever overheard someone bragging on you, or talking about
something cool that you did? Doesn't it make you feel great? It does your
heart good, right? Well it does God's heart good to hear us brag on Him.
He loves to hear us boast of His goodness. That's right. Next thing you
know, He'll be showing you what else He can do. He'll say, If you thought
that was great, you're gonna love this!
God glories in our praise. He starts looking for more great things to
do for us. Second Chronicles 16:9 says, The eyes of the Lord run to and
fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong on behalf of
them whose heart is perfect toward him.
The Bible tells us that David . . . encouraged himself in the Lord his
God (1 Samuel 30:6). How did he do that? By remembering the great
things God had done for him. He said, "Why, I remember when I killed
the lion and the bear!" He told Goliath, "I come to you in the name of the
Lord, you uncircumcised Philistine!" David knew he had a covenant with
God. He was the "golden boy" of the Tribe of Judah and the only person
referred to as . . . a man after God's own heart (1 Samuel 13:149). David
was a man of passion. When reproved, he always repented before God and
mended his ways. When given a choice of punishment, he said he would
rather be chastened by the Lord than his enemies! David knew God's
mercy.
Let's praise Him together!
We activate the blessings of God in our lives when we praise Him.
Get your Bible. Sit back, close your eyes and relax. Start humming a little
praise song. Go ahead, sing a couple of songs to the Lord! Pray in the
Spirit a few minutes. Begin to meditate on the goodness of God. Think
about some things He's done for you in the past. Write them down.
Father, You are so awesome! I praise You with my whole heart today,
Lord, and want to shout from the rooftops your goodness! I want to thank
88

Lively Stones
You for all You have done in my life. I praise You for Your mercy. Thank
You for being You. I honor You today, Lord.
I remember when I didn't have enough money and You sent finances
and provision by ______________________. I recall when You gave me
that little sign of confirmation about _________________. And how Your
Word brought comfort when _______________________________. Your
healing Presence was manifest for _______________________________.
Thank You for turning the situation around when____________________
___________________________________________________________.
Your Word is the light of my life. I love You with all my heart today,
Lord. I just want to dance before You like David. I praise You! I worship
You! I love You! God, You are totally wonderful! There is none like You!
I'm all about You today, Lord! Thank You for being You!
Worship & Dance Notes
Do you love to worship God? ___________________________________
Have you ever seen a miracle because of praise?____________________
___________________________________________________________
If God inhabits our praises, who inhabits our complaining? Uh-oh.
Project
For the next week, act like everything you say is going to come to pass
within 24 hours—positive or negative. If you slip and say something
really negative, don't forget to cast it down immediately and speak right
words instead. Give God thanks and praise in everything! ____________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
How are you doing?___________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
List things you are grateful for: _________________________________
____________________________________________________________
List things God's already done: __________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
89

Jan Matthews
Could you be a Judahite?
These are Judah's strengths and weaknesses. To find the Tribe your
personality is most like, be sure to fill out the profile sheet,
Strengths
□ hearing heart
□ prosperous
□ organizer
□ visionary
□ finds a way to do it!
□ "big" thinker!
□ quick to repent
□ defender of God
□ wants to please God
□ "can do" person
□ sensitive to the Holy Spirit
□ director
□ orator (articulate)
□ influencer
□ peacemaker
□ respected
□ good reputation
□ mediator, advocate
□ money magnet!
or take your test online at:
www.covenantwoman.org
90
Weaknesses
□ legalist
□ self-assurance
□ could sell birthright
□ judgmental
□ prideful
□ Pharisaical attitude
□ avoids confrontation
□ impulsive
□ stone thrower
□ falls for passion
□ fault finder
□ greedy
□ influenced by riches
□ head turned by glamor & glitz
□ drops values with wrong
company
□ argumentative

Lively Stones
Do you identify with the Judahite personality? ______________________
If so, how? __________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
See the Strengths and Weaknesses pages. How many boxes are checked?
Strengths______ Weaknesses______
What are the Strengths? ________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
What are the Weaknesses? ______________________________________
____________________________________________________________
How could a Judahite develop his or her strengths? ________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
How could a Judahite overcome his or her weaknesses? ____________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
What other tribal personalities do you identify with?__________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Do you know any Judahites? ____________________________________
____________________________________________________________
How can a Judahite personality avoid the pitfalls of the flesh? __________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
What are some New Testament scriptures to help Judah fight the good
fight of faith? ________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
91

Jan Matthews
Judah's personality combination is
ORACLE-RULER-Loyal-Noble
Oracle-Ruler, look out world! Talk about an energetic individual! This
mover 'n' shaker is on stage all the time. The Oracle-Ruler, both extroverts,
has a take-charge personality that rules not only the pack, but the world!
These are the most dynamic, aggressive personality traits, and the two
coupled together—whoa baby, something's about to shake loose or happen!
Life is never going to be mundane, drab or boring around an Oracle-
Ruler. While the more vivacious Oracle leads the way, the undergirding
Ruler directs, commands and stabilizes. Both are like eagles, they can fly
alone, although the personality-plus Oracle always gathers a crowd or has
a following. The Oracle leads by enthusiasm and inspiration, and the Ruler
leads by strength, force, and dominance. The lively Oracle and the
undercurrent of Loyal shave off the rough edges of the Ruler to make for a
pretty exciting and lively, yet refined individual. These traits have the
necessary qualities it takes to be a great leader so long as the impulsive,
life-of-the-party Oracle isn't so predominant that it overpowers the serious
Ruler with foolishness.
The Ruler combined with the Oracle, could be a very beloved leader,
such as King David, who was of the Tribe of Judah. He had the liveliness
of the Oracle to dance and worship before the Lord, while at the same time
he was able to command armies and tend to business! Because the Oracle
is "all play" and the Ruler is "all work," they can sometimes butt heads,
because people don't take them seriously. But don't let the sociable,
friendly Oracle fool you; when it's time for business, the party's over and
the job will get done.
The primary weakness of the Oracle-Ruler would be the tendency to
be critical, cynical, and judgmental. The lively Oracle comprises about 40
percent of the population, and the unique Ruler makes up about 5 percent.
This super-achiever mix are world changers and they make up the Tribe of
Judah from which also comes the Messiah . . . who does, in fact, rule the
universe.
92

Lively Stones
Judah's Cameo & Charge to Judahites
PRAISERS, WORSHIPPERS!
Lovers of God, love to praise and worship God! Leaders in the Kingdom,
organizers. They're intercessors and orators, able to plead cases before God,
and cast out devils by the Spirit of God!
_________________
Judah is extremely prosperity minded, and when wholly submitted to
God, everything he touches turns to gold. Judahites have to guard against
following after riches and the glitz and glamour of the world because
they're impressed by people of means, people who seem to be somebody.
Judah could sell everything he has for a buck, even to the point of selling
his own brother to make a profit! Yet the true riches of the Kingdom—
souls of people—have been entrusted to him and to his brother Levi. To
Levi went the priesthood and to Judah the scepter, which is the authority
to rule and judge the Kingdom.
The Jews never acknowledged their need for a Savior. They wanted a
king, not a Savior. But praise God, they learn from past mistakes and
they're quick to repent. When a Judahite sees the error of his ways, he is
apt to "cut out the eye" that offended him. (Ouch!) Well, maybe not to that
extreme, but rather than take a chance of falling prey again to the same
temptation, he'll take whatever measures necessary to stay free from it.
And that's a good thing!
The Judahite personality doesn't like having to deal with real
confrontation or uncomfortable situations. They value their reputation and
it is important to them that they're respected and held in honor. The new
creation Judahites are gifted intercessors and mediators, and they're
willing to put their lives on the line as a guarantee. Dear Judah, you are a
free spirit, a partier by nature and bold as a lion, but in your maturity, your
compassion, reason, nobility and strength excel to the point of unsurpassed
rulership. You are of royal blood, the seed of the Anointed One and
chosen of God to carry the scepter to the Kingdom. You're a mover 'n'
shaker and know how to make things happen. You're a celebrator of God.
Wave your banners high, singing, dancing, and worshipping the Lord as
you lead us through the enemy's camp and into the Presence of God!
93

Jan Matthews
A Judahite
would make a good: designer, composer, photographer, dancer, singer,
writer, actor, director, architect, jeweler, musician, comedian, cartoonist,
graphic designer, makeup artist, poet, screenwriter, columnist, police
artist, floral designer, newscaster, reporter, disc jockey, medical illustrator,
sculptor, dance instructor, promoter, district attorney, police detective,
engineer, entertainer . . .
You can add to this confession, using scripture to emphasize
strengths and overcome weaknesses.
Confession
I follow not after the things of the world, but am heavenly minded and
tend to spiritual matters. I am not high minded, and walk in humility and
uprightly before the Lord. I believe the best of others and walk in love and
kindness toward them. I respect the call of God on my life and purpose in
my heart to be a person of honor and integrity. I look for the good in
others and take no account of an evil done to me. I do not lord my
leadership ability over others and I extend grace to all, and generate the
love of God in all my endeavors. _________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
94

Lively Stones
Your personal notes on
JUDAH
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
95

Jan Matthews
Breastplate of the High Priest
Formation in the Wilderness
96
DAN

Lively Stones
The Tribe of
DAN
The Prophets
The Fifth Son
(First son of Bilhah, Rachel's handmaid)
97

Jan Matthews
A Famous Danite
Samson
98

By Jacob
Lively Stones
Prophecies by Jacob and Moses over the Tribe of
DAN
Dan shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel.
Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path, that
biteth the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backward. I
have waited for thy salvation, O LORD.
By Moses
99
Genesis 49:16-18
Dan is a lion's whelp: he shall leap from Bashan.
Deuteronomy 33:22

Jan Matthews
NORTH BRIGADE (Naphtali, Dan, Asher)
DAN #5
MEANING: Judge
STONE: Sapphire (Blue)
SYMBOL: Serpent & Scales
SON of GOD MINISTRY GIFT: Prophets (Fivefold Office)
Christ's Priesthood
(Gospel of John)
Dan shall judge his people.
Genesis 49:16
Dan is the fifth son of Jacob, and the firstborn of Rachel's handmaid
Bilhah. He was the product of the competition between Rachel and Leah
for Jacob's love. After Leah had borne Jacob four sons, Rachel's envy
toward Leah overwhelmed her, and she cried out to Jacob, Give me
children, or else I die! Jacob angrily responded, Am I in God's stead, who
hath withheld thee from the fruit of the womb? (Genesis 30:1, 2).
Dan became Rachel's first "Ishmael" when she gave her concubine
Bilhah to Jacob to bear children. One of four sons born to the two
concubines Bilhah and Zilpah, Dan and his brothers were probably
considered born of inferior pedigree to the eight sons of the wives, Rachel
and Leah. Jacob clearly favored Joseph and Benjamin, both born of
Rachel. Genesis 37 tells us that Joseph was constantly telling on the four
"Ishmaels," Dan, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher, for their mischievous deeds,
fueling resentment and anger in them because of Jacob's favoritism.
Called to be the prophets of Israel, Dan's prophecy said he would be a
. . . serpent by the way, an adder in the path, that biteth the horse heels . . .
(Genesis 49:17). It is the function of the prophetic gift to interrupt the paths of
the people in order to point them in the right direction—much like when the
Apostle Paul was thrown off his horse at his encounter with the Son of the
living God, Jesus of Nazareth.
100

Lively Stones
Dan is one of the tribes that never conquered the inhabitants of their
allotted territories because of the resistance of the Amorites. Instead, Dan
migrated northward and took the city of Laish from a more peaceful,
nonresistant people, and renamed it Dan. Their disobedience was further
manifested when they set up a graven image and established a rival
priesthood. The City of Dan became one of two shrines where golden
calves were erected for the cultic worship of Baal, which resulted in the
tribe being taken into captivity and carried off to Assyria.
It would seem that because of the apostasy of the Northern Tribes of
Israel, the Tribe of Dan never fulfilled their purpose as the prophets of
Israel. Though Dan is mentioned in Ezekiel 48 concerning the restoration
of the land of Israel and Jerusalem, the Apostle John did not mention Dan
in Revelation 7 when numbering 144,000 from the tribes of Israel. Some
believe the tribe was eternally lost, and that the Antichrist will come from
the Tribe of Dan. And Jesus did say in John 17:12, Those that thou gavest
me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that
the scripture might be fulfilled.
However, in Revelation 21:19 Dan's beautiful sapphire is mentioned
right after Benjamin's jasper as being the second gemstone laid in the
foundation of the New Jerusalem. The last portion of Dan's prophecy by
Jacob is, I have waited for thy salvation, O Lord. Jacob interceded for his
beloved son that he would be restored, even as Samson was restored and
laid down his life to bring about one of the greatest deliverances Israel has
ever known. As Samson became obedient, his hair grew back and he was
strengthened. He called out to God to be avenged, and God heard Samson
that day and empowered him to "bring the house down."
Judas probably came from the Tribe of Judah, but so did Jesus, and
God did not destroy the entire tribe because of one man. Surely the grace
and mercy of God shall prevail and Dan will be restored when . . . all Israel
shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the
Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my
covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins (Romans 11:26,
27). Israel, including the Tribe of Dan will receive their long-awaited
Messiah—Yeshua!
101

Jan Matthews
Dan's Gemstone
The sapphire stone is generally blue, blue,
blue! This exquisite transparent stone is the
epitome of perfection when cut with skill. The
fancy sapphire comes in an array of colors:
pink, orange, yellow, purple, and red. But the
reds are called rubies, the most precious stone
next to the diamond. Wow! Did you know that?
SAPPHIRE
Well, listen up, there's more.
Hebrew word:
Just as Ezekiel 1:26 and 10:1 liken the
cappiyr
sapphire to the throne of God, the star sapphire,
(Gem used for
when cut convex (half-dome), reflects light in the
scratching other stones.)
form of a 6-legged star (symbolizing the 6 points
on the Star of David) as light dances across the
Sapphire symbolizes: surface of this magnificent treasure. The inner
PERFECTION
beauty of this stone reveals destiny as this
HEAVEN
phenomenon speaks of the eternal throne of God.
REVELATION
Mined sapphires are rough crystals created
DESTINY
by years of pressure and heat; it takes a skilled
and experienced gem-cutter to properly cut and reveal the hidden secrets
locked inside these rare stones.
Sapphires, second only to diamonds in hardness, register "9" on the
Mohs scale. Also called the "shamire stone," sapphires are used for polishing,
or "fine tuning" other stones. The shamire stones, or sapphires were used for
sanding other stones to build Solomon's temple. It's no wonder that the stone
for the Tribe of Dan is the sapphire. The prophet's words go right to the heart,
pull out the rough stony heart and finely sand it until it's a gem prepared for
the temple of God. And some people are the "sapphires" of our life that God
uses to sand off the rough edges and put on the finishing touches we need to
be vessels unto honor fit for the Master's use.
102

Lively Stones
Dan's Banner Symbol
The banner symbol for Dan is usually a
serpent and scales. The serpent in scripture
typically represents satan and sin, and in Numbers
21:8 it is the type of the Lord Jesus being made sin
for us. When the people looked upon the serpent
they would be healed. Jacob's prophecy said Dan
would be a . . . serpent in the way and an adder in
the path. Dan was meant to be a powerful tribe of
judges and prophets, interrupting the lives of the
people and redirecting their paths.
The scales represent truth and righteousness.
But Dan needed direction himself. Though Dan
had great oratory skills, spiritual discernment, and
the qualifications it takes to judge the people, he
never conquered his own flesh. He never laid
down his pride, and he failed to run the "ites" out
of his own land. Dan ultimately forsook his call,
and mocked God by allowing the city of Dan to
SERPENT/
SCALES
Serpent symbolizes:
CORRECTION
JUDGMENT
Scales symbolize:
STANDARD
BALANCE
TRUTH
HONOR
INTEGRITY
RIGHTEOUSNESS
be one of the idol worship shrines for Baal! God had warned in 1 Kings
9:7 that if Israel forsook God and worshipped other gods, they would be a
. . . byword and a proverb among all peoples.
Like Samson, the Tribe of Dan fell short of their call and never fulfilled
their earthly purpose. But we see God's mercy in the eternal destiny
prepared for Dan. When God gathers His people from the north, south, east
and west, the Danites will be included among those who have turned to God
with their whole heart. Dan's tears of rejection are wiped away as he is
restored to honor in the New Jerusalem. Just as Revelation 21:19 mentions
Dan's sapphire as the second stone in the foundation of the New Jerusalem,
Ezekiel 48:32 reveals that Dan's gate is located on the east with the gates of
Jacob's most beloved sons, Joseph and Benjamin. The three tribes are
symbolic of the Church, the pastors, and the prophets, preparing the entry
of the Lord, As the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto
the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be (Matthew 24:27).
Now isn't that just like God! He's good all the time! (Love it!)
103

Jan Matthews
Dan's Ministry Gift
THE PROPHETS
The office of the Prophet is a fivefold ministry gift to the Body of
Christ. Some people fear prophets; others want to be one. The truth of the
matter is, God calls those whom He will, and the call is based upon His
appointment alone. The gifts and callings of God are without repentance,
and He equips those He calls with all the divine power and authority
necessary to fulfill that call on their lives. But it is up to the individual to
walk in that call. And with that call comes responsibility and accountability.
The prophets of the Old Testament gave the people instruction, direction
and warning. There were no Bibles in those days, and men and women could
not read the Word or hear God for themselves. They depended upon the
priests and prophets to guide them in the ways of the Lord. The prophets were
extreme and radical. Their words interrupted and directed the lives of
individuals as well as nations. Kings would call upon the prophets of the day
for guidance and foresight into future events. They would seek their counsel
before going to war and to see if God was with them.
The prophets of today may give insight for the plan of God and the
thoughts He has for us; however, it is up to individuals to seek God for
themselves and let the prophet's word be a confirmation of what they
already have in their heart. Old Testament saints were not born again with
the Holy Spirit dwelling inside them, so they were dependent upon the
prophets. Today's prophet is a seer and a knower. He or she has great
discernment and often will have a word of knowledge or word of wisdom
on a situation. Oftentimes a "word" to an unsaved person is just what that
person needs to cause him to become a believer and to know there is a
God who cares for him and and knows exactly what's going on in his life!
Prophets are as different as night and day in their heritage,
personalities and prophetic style. God calls prophets according to His
purpose that must be fulfilled in the earth. First Corinthians 12:4, 5 tells us
that, There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are
differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are
diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
104

Lively Stones
Some of the most unique Bible prophets are:
DANIEL
Heritage: Probably of royal bloodline from the Tribe of Judah, Daniel was
carried captive to Babylon at about the age of 15.
Administration: Because of his character and prophetic gift as a seer and
interpreter of dreams, Daniel rose to prominence under great historic
monarchs such as Nebuchadnezzar, Cyrus, and Darius. A man of nobility,
integrity, refinement, and impeccable character, he was a statesman,
businessman, and trusted official of the kings.
Prophetic Purpose: To reveal God's future plans for the Kingdom.
JEREMIAH
Heritage: Born a priest (Levite) and called to the prophetic office through a
vision (Jeremiah 1:1-16).
Administration: Jeremiah was an humble man whose writings depict his
sufferings and sacrificial lifestyle (he was never permitted to marry),
which were only comforted by the joy of the Lord. Known as the "Prophet
of Doom," Jeremiah was the weeping prophet who sacrificed all to pour
out his heart in warning to the people of Jerusalem.
Prophetic Purpose: To warn Israel of impending captivity and destruction
if they did not turn from idolatry and wickedness. His message was
basically, Turn or burn. He was reportedly stoned to death.
EZEKIEL
Heritage: Born of a priestly family (Levite), Ezekiel's call came at the age
of 30, and the prophetic gift was then imparted to him.
Administration: The ministry of Ezekiel was much like that of Jeremiah.
Though he was more cheerful and happy, he continually warned against
the downfall of Judah and Jerusalem, and judgment upon the nations. He
was happily married until his wife died, and he was not allowed to lament
her passing, as a sign that Jerusalem's destruction would not be wept over.
Prophetic Purpose: He was a watchman, a sign, an exile, and an ambassador.
Ezekiel was put to death by fellow exiles because he spoke out against their
idolatry.
105

Jan Matthews
ELIJAH
Heritage: Probably a Gadite from Gilead, Elijah is one of the most exciting
and colorful characters in the Old Testament.
Administration: Elijah suddenly bursts upon the scene in 1 Kings 17:1 to
rebuke the apostasy and idolatry of the Jews. His multifaceted personality
is just what it took to fulfill his appointment as prophet of the day. His
moods are no secret as we see him as a fearless, bold and powerful
prophet of God rebuking kings and performing outstanding miracles; yet
he is prone to depression, discouragement, and fallible judgment.
His life and ministry correlated with that of John the Baptist in their
bizarre manner and dress, both recluses in the desert, strong rebuke to the
wicked in authority, their call for repentance, the honor commanded by
their presence, and the continued influence of their lives and the fruit
produced long after their departure. And what a glorious departure Elijah
had as he was whisked away in the chariot of God! (Wow!)
Prophetic Purpose: To expose, rebuke, and reprove the wicked for their
idolatry, to reawaken and restore Israel to their worship of God.
ELISHA
Heritage: The Issacharite Elisha was called into service of the Lord when
Elijah found him plowing and cast his mantle over his shoulders,
symbolizing the call for him to follow and be mentored as his son. Elisha
delayed only long enough to kiss his parents good-bye and to give a
farewell feast for his people.
Administration: Elisha was a tender-hearted healer, restorer, and miracle
worker. His ministry was full of miracles as he reached out to restore life,
increase the widow's oil and meal, and sweeten bitter waters. He . . . went
about doing good . . . as Jesus did in Acts 10:38.
Prophetic Purpose: While Elijah's ministry was to tear down the idolatry,
Elisha's ministry points to Christ as he rebuilt through mercy, showing the
goodness of God. He had double the power and produced twice the
miracles as his master Elijah.
106

Lively Stones
ISAIAH
Heritage: Probably from the Tribe of Judah, Isaiah was the greatest of the
Assyrian prophets.
Administration: Patriot, statesman, reformer, preacher of righteousness,
dreamer, theologian, poet, architect, builder, prophet and teacher—Isaiah
was a counselor of kings and princes, and an orator without peer. The
stern but tender and compassionate Isaiah is Israel's most prominent and
prolific prophet.
His ministry covers it all: the impending destruction of Judah; the
preservation of a small remnant; worldwide redemption through the
Messiah at the First Advent; national salvation for Israel at the Second
Advent; and that redeemed Israel would be a universal blessing to the
world through Messiah.
Some think the Book of Isaiah was written by three "Isaiahs," but
spiritual discernment clearly indicates that Isaiah was caught up in the
Spirit as were John, the Apostle Paul, and others who tapped into future
revelation.
Prophetic Purpose: To point to the coming Kingdom of God and the reigning
Messiah "high and lifted up." Tradition suggests that Isaiah was placed in a
hollow tree trunk and sawn asunder at the command of Manasseh.
Prophetic Notes
In your words, describe the difference in function of a biblical prophet,
and a modern-day prophet. _____________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Have you ever had a "word" for someone, or prophesied over someone?
______ If so, how did you know it was God? ______________________
___________________________________________________________
How does God speak to you? ___________________________________
____________________________________________________________
107

Jan Matthews
Could you be a Danite?
These are Dan's strengths and weaknesses. To find the Tribe your
personality is most like, be sure to fill out the profile sheet,
Strengths
□ great discernment
□ physical strength
□ skilled with hands
□ spiritually equipped
□ gifted, talented, artistic
□ wants to help
□ leadership ability
□ perform great feats
□ sacrificial
□ laughs at impossibility
□ quick witted
□ knows the move of the Spirit
□ loves a challenge
□ self-confident
□ skillful use of words
□ defends righteousness
□ influencer
□ personality plus
□ people magnet
□ charismatic
or take your test online at:
www.covenantwoman.org
108
Weaknesses
□ feels rejection
□ self-willed, rebel
□ religious spirit, idolatry
□ warlike, fighters
□ worldly, materialistic
□ know-it-all, prideful
□ accuses God
□ impulsive
□ no fear of God
□ complainer
□ fault finder, critical
□ prankster, foolish
□ acts in anger, curser
□ speaks in haste
□ impatient, temper
□ argumentative
□ mischievous, pest
□ settles for less
□ dishonorable people
□ crude character

Lively Stones
Do you identify with the Danite personality? _______________________
If so, how? __________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
See the Strengths and Weaknesses pages. How many boxes are checked?
Strengths______ Weaknesses______
What are the Strengths? _______________________________________
___________________________________________________________
What are the Weaknesses? _____________________________________
___________________________________________________________
How could a Danite develop his or her strengths? ___________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
How could a Danite overcome his or her weaknesses? _______________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
What other tribal personalities do you identify with?__________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Do you know any Danites? _____________________________________
___________________________________________________________
How can a Danite personality avoid the pitfalls of the flesh? ___________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
What are some New Testament scriptures to help Dan fight the good fight
of faith? ____________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
109

Jan Matthews
Dan's personality combination is
ORACLE-LOYAL-Ruler-Noble
Wow! Oracle-Loyal, what a mix! While Oracles are typically
extroverts, fun loving, and vocal in their expression, the quieter, more
introverted Loyal helps keep this charismatic people magnet in check. The
risk-taking spirited Oracle lives for the moment, but the more reserved and
skeptical Loyal is analyzing, recording and keeping track of the moments!
The eloquent fast-talking Oracle is never at a loss for words and always has
a comeback answer when challenged, while the quiet and reserved Loyal
prefers to go unnoticed. The adventurous Oracle impulsively chases
bubbles, sparkles, and dreams, while the systematic and level-headed Loyal
studies, analyzes, and devises a plan to catch them or make use of them. They
don't want to get caught in a mid-air crisis. Because the Oracle and Loyal can
easily butt heads, the predominant Oracle should listen to the practical advice
of the Loyal and count the cost before launching into the unknown!
This Oracle-Loyal with a touch of Ruler-Noble has all the energy,
knowledge and leadership ability it would take to excel at whatever he puts
his hand to. Equipped with creativity, charisma and common sense, this
personality-plus charmer knows how to rouse a crowd to start a riot or
revival! But all too often the on-stage Oracle overrides the sensible leading
of the Loyal and makes unwise choices. While Loyals can be too sensitive
and easily offended, the outgoing, exuberant, and sometimes prankster
Oracle has to guard against irreverence, lightly esteeming the call of God,
and taking matters into his own hands. Entirely capable of success at every
turn, Dan has got what it takes to succeed and to be the prophet he's called
to be. The Oracle-Loyal's primary weaknesses would be the Oracle's
frivolous all-about-me attitude, and the Loyal's tendency to focus on past
hurts and disappointments which leads to darkness and despair.
Oracles make up about 40 percent of the population, and Loyals are
about 45 percent. Though the individual personalities are the most common,
there is nothing common, boring, mundane, or drab about this dynamic
personality God appointed to be the prophets of Israel!
110

Lively Stones
Dan's Cameo & Charge to Danites
THE PROPHETS
Charismatic in nature, Danites have much natural ability, but sometimes they take
lightly the things of God and are bound by foolishness. Though domineering and
impulsive, Danites are powerful in the Spirit when their hearts are turned toward God.
_________________
Dan is so talented and gifted, he's a people magnet and he's sure to be
where the action is. Peter Pan at heart, Dan is bound by foolishness in his
youth. Though he has the charisma, tenacity, and capability it takes to be a
great leader, he’s not always taken seriously because of his lighthearted jesting
and sometimes prankster attitude. Dan’s loose lips can get him into trouble only
God can get him out of! The intelligent and capable Danite is easily bored, and
stirs up action wherever he is—even if alone! He’s amused with life and can
entertain himself, or a crowd. Always "on stage," his oratory skills cause him to
stand out in a group and be the leader of the pack as well as life of the party.
The most prominent Danite in the Bible is Samson. He is the epitome of
the Danite personality in his know-it-all attitude and overconfident self image.
This golden boy of the Danites caused self-inflicted trouble because he played
with the things of God and lightly esteemed the call on his life as a Nazarite,
even to the point of resenting his divine purpose. Dan has to guard against
being overthrown by his own flesh, losing focus, and not fulfilling his call.
But when the party's over . . . look out, devil! An on-fire Danite is satan's
greatest nightmare. Danites are some of the most powerful of God's warriors,
and they will sacrifice all to "bring down the house" of the enemy and further
the purpose of God. Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered! (Psalms 68:1).
It's payback time. Because of Dan's high call to be the prophets of Israel,
judging the tribes and speaking God's Word into the earth, the opposition
arrayed against Dan by satan is unsurpassed. God's prophets have always been
the most feared by satan, and the most persecuted by men. Dan's unsurpassed
ability, tenacity and fearless zeal, even to the point of laying his life down for
the gospel, catapult this free spirit to prominence among the tribes.
Though the Tribe of Dan fell short in their earthly call, they are exalted to
prominence in the Millennium when they become the head and not the tail
(Ezeiel 48:1). In the New Jerusalem Dan’s gate is located on the east right next
to Jacob’s most beloved sons, Joseph and Benjamin. Wow! Go Dan!
111

Jan Matthews
A Danite
would make a good: composer, musician, writer, photographer, teller,
bookkeeper, athlete, computer operator, legal secretary, brick mason, word
processor, electrician, dental assistant, medical records tech, hairstylist,
medical assistant , paralegal, flight attendant, file clerk, hostess, treasurer,
banker, school administrator, urban planner, city manager, principal . . .
You can add to this confession, using scripture to emphasize
strengths and overcome weaknesses.
Confession
I highly esteem the things of God and endeavor to walk worthy of the
call upon my life. I am not given to foolish jesting, my mouth speaks as
the oracles of God, and my life brings glory and honor to God at all times.
My heart is strengthened and established in the will of God and I walk in
love and mercy with all men. I will not settle for less and I will not slip,
fall, or fail as I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling in
Christ. I humble myself before Almighty God and remain thankful at all
times. ______________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
112

Lively Stones
Your personal notes on
DAN
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
113

Jan Matthews
Breastplate of the High Priest
Formation in the Wilderness
NAPHTALI
114

Lively Stones
The Tribe of
NAPHTALI
The Teachers
The Sixth Son
(Second son of Bilhah, Rachel's handmaid)
115

Jan Matthews
A Famous Naphtalite
Barak
116

By Jacob
Lively Stones
Prophecies by Jacob and Moses over the Tribe of
NAPHTALI
Naphtali is a hind let loose: he giveth goodly words.
By Moses
117
Genesis 49:21
And of Naphtali he said, O Naphtali, satisfied with
favour, and full with the blessings of the Lord: possess thou
the west and the south.
Deuteronomy 33:23

Jan Matthews
andNORTH BRIGADE (Naphtali, Dan, Asher)
NAPHTALI #6
MEANING: Wrestling, Prevailing
STONE: Diamond (Sparkling, reflective)
SYMBOL: A Hind Let Loose
SON of GOD MINISTRY GIFT: Teachers (Fivefold Office)
Christ's Priesthood
(Gospel of John)
Naphtali is a hind let loose, he gives beautiful words to his people.
Genesis 49:21
Naphtali is the sixth son of Jacob, and the second son born of
Rachel's handmaid Bilhah. At Naphtali's birth, Rachel said, With great
wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister, and I have prevailed . . .
(Genesis 30:8). We see the competition mounting between the sisters as
Rachel pronounces her victory over Leah with Naphtali's birth.
Though Naphtali was a warring tribe, it was also a happy tribe. Up
until this point Rachel had no children of her own. Dan and Naphtali had
been born to her handmaid Bilhah. Rachel probably spoiled the two boys
and placed little to no restraint on them. This could account for Dan's
tendency toward foolishness and Naphtali's independent, hard-headed
nature. Their personalities reflect that unrestrained upbringing. And both
tribes obviously suffered emotionally because of being born of the "lesser"
bloodline. They showed signs of the effects of rejection because of the
favoritism of their father Jacob, particularly after the birth of Rachel's
natural children, Joseph and Benjamin.
But we see Naphtali's pleasant nature surface when the tribes gathered
together to make David king over all Israel. Naphtali was there with
38,000 men, led by 1,000 captains! They had come with perfect hearts,
and 1 Chronicles 12:40 said Issachar, Zebulun, and Naphtali brought
bread, meat, meal, cakes of figs, wine, oil and sheep abundantly . . . for
118

Lively Stones
there was joy in Israel. Naphtalites are participators and givers! They just
can't hold a grudge!
Naphtali's shining star is Barak, the great hero of Naphtali. He was
humble enough to admit that he would not go into battle unless the judge
Deborah went with him against Mount Tabor. He recognized her spiritual
authority and was not afraid to share the glory with a woman. This is a
man of genuine character. His humility catapults him to honor beyond
bravery.
Judges 1:33 tells us that, Neither did Naphtali drive out the
inhabitants of Bethshemesh . . . but dwelt among the Canaanites of the
land . . . nevertheless the inhabitants . . . became tributaries unto them.
In other words, they collected taxes from them. Not good. This reflects a
weakness of greed, a character flaw in the tribe. They compromised the
Word of God for comfort. They were basically being "bought off." Their
heads were turned.
During the days of Jezebel, God sent King Josiah to Naphtali. He
broke the idols that they had permitted to be set up in their territory. It was
God's final attempt to reach out to Naphtali before they were carried
captive into Assyria.
119

Jan Matthews
Naphtali's Gemstone
Diamonds, diamonds, diamonds! The
diamond is the "forever" stone and has been
said to be "a girl's best friend." Unlike most
DIAMOND gems which are silicates, such as the beryl,
garnet, and quartz, or the oxides such as
Hebrew word: corundum, which are sapphires and rubies,
yahalom (yăh hăl ōm) diamonds are in a league all their own. These
Shamir exquisite gems are crystals composed of a
(A hard point) single element—pure carbon—and they are
formed under extreme heat and pressure deep
Diamond symbolizes: under the earth's surface from 93 to 420 miles.
SACRIFICE
Because the diamond as we know it was not
ROYALTY known by the ancients, some believe Naphtali's
AUTHORITY gem may have been a corundum (sapphire or
INDEPENDENCE ruby). However, it is our opinion that God the
STRENGTH Creator knew exactly what He was talking about
ENDURANCE in Exodus 28:18 when naming the stones on the
TRUTH priest's ephod. He knew about diamonds!
FORGIVENESS The Naphtalite personality is formed from
deep within through the pressures of life and
heat of the battle. The single element, carbon, symbolizes purity of heart. A
precious gemstone must be rare, beautiful, and durable.
Naphtalites are the sparkle of the day and the sunshine of their world,
lighting all who travel with them. Their exuberance and free spirit is no
secret and is contagious to whomever they come into contact with! But
don't let their beauty fool you—they're hard! Naphtali has a mind of his
own and can't be moved or controlled. Naphtalites know what they know
and believe what they believe. They guard their hearts and don't let just
anyone in. But they're faithful when they do. Diamonds may not be a girl's
best friend, but if you win a Naphtalite's heart . . . you have won a friend
forever!
120

Lively Stones
Naphtali's Banner Symbol
The banner symbol for Naphtali is a hind let
loose. Naphtali is a free spirit. They're happy!
Some of the most obvious personality traits of a
deer is that it is very aware of its surroundings: It
has a keen sense of smell, hearing, and sight.
Deer are very agile because of their lithe,
compact bodies, and they have long slender ears
as well as long slender legs and paired hoofs.
Deer live in small family groups and keep to
themselves. They can be quick tempered and
easily angered. The males can be downright
dangerous when they become jealous of other
deer, and they will fight over the does.
A Naphtalite can be much like a teenager
with a new car, a few bucks, and no supervision!
He will dash around to and fro with a free spirit
going whichever way the wind blows, hopefully
being led by the Spirit wind! He's on his own. No
one to hinder, no one to answer to. He'll joyfully
flit from one place to the other exploring,
experiencing, and learning, with a song in his
heart, Some think . . . the world is made for fun
and frolic . . . and so do I, Naph-tal-eye.
121
A HIND LET
LOOSE
Hebrew word:
shalach (shaw-lakh)
(Send away, let loose,
set free, cast off,
stretch forth, extend,
push away,
forsake, reject)
A hind let loose
symbolizes:
FREE SPIRIT
JOY
DELIGHT
FULFILLMENT
CONFIDENCE
Naphtalites have a mind of their own and cannot be moved off their
dogged determination to "do it their way." And God forbid that they
should relinquish any of their newfound freedom! One interesting fact
about deer is that they have no gall bladder. The gall bladder holds bile
which aids in digestion. Naphtalites have no bitterness, but they retain a
pleasant spirit and hold no grudges. And yes, they pretty much think the
world is made for fun and frolic . . . and made just for them to enjoy!

Jan Matthews
Naphtali's Ministry Gift
THE TEACHERS
Teaching. Exhortation. Discipleship. No wonder Naphtalites are so
inquisitive and adventurous. Their very nature asks questions and explores
every avenue of life. They're never satisfied with complacency and must
keep learning, learning, learning! Their hunger for knowledge and
enlightenment keeps them on the move.
They're born teachers and love to share their new findings with others.
They have an expanded vocabulary and skillfully use beautiful words to
express themselves. Naphtalites are also prolific scribes and writers.
God has set the office of the Teacher as one of the fivefold ministry
gifts for the equipping of the saints. It is a wonderful thing to have a call
and a gift, but along with that appointment comes responsibility and
accountability.
A teacher, or a mentor in someone's life is like a shining light leading
the way. Just as "a picture is worth a thousand words," having someone to
train you and teach you the ways of the Lord can set you on a straight and
narrow path while helping you to avoid pitfalls and detours along the way.
Having a good teacher will speed up your journey and catapult you toward
your destiny as you remain teachable and submissive.
Just as an evangelist has to be witnessing about Jesus, a teacher has to
be teaching, sharing, and unveiling knowledge. It's in his blood! He lives
for it! A teacher is fulfilled as he sees his student enlightened and learning.
It does his heart good to see progress taking place. A good teacher looks
for creative ways to impart knowledge and share his wealth with his
understudy.
122

Lively Stones
Teaching Scriptures
And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists;
and some, pastors and teachers;
Ephesians 4:11
______________
And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily
prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings,
helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
123
1 Corinthians 12:28
The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh
holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good
things . . .
Titus 2:3
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but
after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having
itching ears . . .
2 Timothy 4:3
The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh
holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good
things . . .
Titus 2:3
For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one
teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and
are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
Hebrews 5:12

Jan Matthews
JESUS'S SERMON ON THE MOUNT
The "Beatitudes"
Matthew 5:1-12
And seeing the multitudes, he (Jesus) went up into a mountain: and
when he was set, his disciples came unto him: And he opened his
mouth, and taught them, saying,
____________________
Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of
heaven.
Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after
righteousness: for they shall be filled
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the
children of God.
Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness'
sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute
you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for
my sake.
Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in
heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were
before you.
124

Lively Stones
Teaching Notes
Do you have a passion to teach? _________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Do you have the patience to teach? _______________________________
Do you enjoy explaining to others how to do something, or do you find it
aggravating trying to get them to understand? _______________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Have you recognized the teaching anointing on your life? _____________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Did you have a favorite teacher in school? _________________________
Was there anything unique in his or her teaching style? _______________
____________________________________________________________
Name your favorite teacher of the gospel today. _____________________
Have you ever been discipled by anyone? __________________________
Have you ever discipled someone? _______________________________
What are some methods of teaching that you are aware of? Or, how do
you like to teach? _____________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
125

Jan Matthews
Could you be a Naphtalite?
These are Naphtali's strengths and weaknesses. To find the Tribe your
personality is most like, be sure to fill out the profile sheet,
Strengths
□ heart for God
□ giver
□ free spirit
□ joyful, happy
□ intercessor
□ no bitterness, guile
□ doesn't hold anger
□ great awareness
□ singers, weepers
□ can keep secrets
□ motherly, teacher
□ dances in the Spirit
□ sparkles happiness
□ brings light
□ beautiful words
□ scribe, writer
□ not envious
or take your test online at:
www.covenantwoman.org
126
Weaknesses
□ hard nature
□ independent
□ compromise
□ erratic nature
□ too guarded
□ hard-headed
□ needs motivating
□ self-will
□ will not be controlled
□ impatient
□ inconsistent
□ super spiritual
□ must avoid idols
□ unpredictable
□ disappearing act
□ avoids conflict
□ may be “bought”

Lively Stones
Do you identify with the Naphtalite personality? ____________________
If so, how? __________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
See the Strengths and Weaknesses pages. How many boxes are checked?
Strengths______ Weaknesses______
What are the Strengths? ________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
What are the Weaknesses? _____________________________________
___________________________________________________________
How could a Naphtalite develop his or her strengths? _______________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
How could a Naphtalite overcome his or her weaknesses? ____________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
What other tribal personalities do you identify with?__________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Do you know any Naphtalites? __________________________________
___________________________________________________________
How can a Naphtalite personality avoid the pitfalls of the flesh?_______
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
What are some New Testament scriptures to help Naphtali fight the good
fight of faith? ________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
127

Jan Matthews
Naphtali's personality combination is
ORACLE-NOBLE-Ruler-Loyal
Oracle-Noble. Wow! Talk about an energetic individual! These people
wake up to a new world every day; when their feet hit the floor, they're all
over the court. These lighthearted individuals brighten the day of all they
come into contact with as they skip through the day. The impulsive, livefor-the-moment
Oracle is flanked by the sensible, peaceable and laid-back
Noble, which helps "tame the tiger" within. Though the motto of the Oracle
is, "If it sparkles, follow it, and if it feels good, do it," the stable and
dependable Noble influence helps keep him on track and focused. Everyone
wants to be best friends with this beautiful spirit, and Naphtalites generally
have an entourage following them—if they can just keep up with them! The
Oracle-Noble is as elusive as a feather in the wind, just when you're about to
catch it, a little breeze suddenly carries it out of reach again.
The introverted and independent Noble is an idealist at heart, with
dreams of a perfect world, while the extroverted Oracle spends the day
musing over and discovering the one at hand. While the Oracle energizes
the Noble to follow his dreams, the touch of Ruler adds just enough
"umph" to this beautiful spirit to keep him in the "real" world with his feet
almost touching the ground! Though Naphtalites travel to the beat of a
different drum, these delightful people always follow their heart.
The primary weakness of the Oracle is his tendency to be critical and
cynical, while the Noble's weakness would be complacency. But the two
complement each other so much that the peaceable Noble keeps the
Oracle's tongue in check, while the spirited Oracle is just the pin it takes to
prick the otherwise complacent Noble into action!
Oracles comprise about 40 percent of the population, and Nobles are
only about 10 percent. This beautiful, whimsical tribe may not be forceful
leaders, but they always have onlookers watching to see what's going to
happen next. Oops! There goes another bubble . . . better get it before it
pops. And Naphtali's following close behind.
128

Lively Stones
Naphtali's Cameo & Charge to Naphtalites
THE TEACHERS
Pleasant personality, happy-go-lucky people, but can be tossed to and fro with
every wind of doctrine if not grounded. Sparkling, shining and hard. They light up
the room and can't hold a grudge. No guile found in this one.
This free spirit has got to fly!
_________________
O Naphtali! What a beautiful spirit you are! Enthusiastic about
something one minute, then "following the Yellow Brick Road" the next.
Naphtalites can jump from one whim to the other if not stabilized by the
wisdom of the Word. Just when you think you have them figured out . . .
whoa, baby, here we go again! And don't try to tie them down to a
mundane lifestyle, they may play your game for a little while, but like a
bird in hand, one day, poof! They're flying high again.
"Serendipity" is the word for Naphtali because they're always
discovering new things of interest. After all, good teachers have to be
good learners too! Life is one big discovery to Naphtali. Known for their
ability to slip away from a crowd unnoticed, you'll find them off being
amused by something that has drawn their attention. Because of their great
awareness of their surroundings and what's going on in the "spirit," they
could be headed to a secluded place to pray and intercede. They'll pour out
their heart through tears in intercession, for they carry the heart of God.
They excel at spiritual warfare.
Naphtalites are nurturing, they enjoy teaching, and can be trusted
confidants. Naphtalites love life and they love people. They're all about
enjoyment, pleasure, and happiness. Because of their frailty, Naphtalites
tend to be weak in their choices at times—and "gullible" could be the
word. Though they're hard-headed in their beliefs, they're slow to anger.
One reason they don't hold on to bitterness and anger is because nothing
holds their attention too long! They're clearly the "ADD" tribe of the
whole bunch (smile & enjoy), but it's their strength. It's their "anointing."
And don't even think of casting it out—they love it! This impetuous, lively
spirit is at the core of their being, and it's the very thing that makes
Naphtali so beautiful, rare, and unique.
129

Jan Matthews
A Naphtalite
would make a good: designer, composer, photographer, dancer, singer,
writer, actor, director, architect, jeweler, musician, comedian, cartoonist,
graphic designer, makeup artist, columnist, poet, screenwriter, police
artist, floral designer, newscaster, reporter, disc jockey, medical illustrator,
choreographer, counselor, police officer, teacher, nurse, childcare worker,
paramedic, hairdresser, flight attendant, receptionist . . .
You can add to this confession, using scripture to emphasize
strengths and overcome weaknesses.
Confession
I walk after the Spirit and not the flesh, and expect to be controlled by
the Holy Spirit in all my goings. I'm blessed going out and coming in, I
hear the voice of God and follow Him, and the voice of a stranger I will
not follow. I am steadfast and hold fast to my profession of faith. My life
provides stability and soundness for others to gain strength from. The deep
truths of God's Word are revealed to me as I dig deep to find them . . . and
as a teacher, I share those findings with the Body of Christ to further the
Kingdom! ___________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
130

Lively Stones
Your personal notes on
NAPHTALI
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
131

Jan Matthews
Breastplate of the High Priest
Formation in the Wilderness
GAD
132

Lively Stones
The Tribe of
GAD
The Evangelists
The Seventh Son
(First son of Zilpah, Leah's handmaid)
133

Jan Matthews
Famous Gadites
Elijah
Jephthah
(May be a Gadite, or Manassite)
134

By Jacob
Lively Stones
Prophecies by Jacob and Moses over the Tribe of
GAD
Gad, a troop shall overcome him: but he shall overcome at
the last.
Genesis 49:19
By Moses
And of Gad he said, Blessed be he that enlargeth Gad: he
dwelleth as a lion, and teareth the arm with the crown of the
head. And he provided the first part for himself, because there,
in a portion of the lawgiver, was he seated; and he came with
the heads of the people, he executed the justice of the Lord,
and His judgments with Israel.
135
Deuteronomy 33:20

Jan Matthews
SOUTH BRIGADE (Gad, Reuben, Simeon)
SON of MAN
Christ's Humanity
(Gospel of Luke)
gad #7
MEANING: Troop, Seer, Fortune
STONE: Ligure (Opal) (Blue, yellow, glistening)
SYMBOL: Three Tents
MINISTRY GIFT: Evangelists (Fivefold Office)
Gad shall overcome at the last.
Genesis 49:19
Gad is the seventh son of Jacob, and the firstborn to Leah's
handmaid Zilpah. After Rachel's handmaid birthed Dan and Naphtali,
Leah, who had left bearing, gave Zilpah to Jacob in order to bare child.
Leah felt great victory over Rachel when Gad was born. She said, A troop
cometh, and named him Gad. The third of the four "Ishmaels" born to the
handmaidens, Gad felt inferior to the "royal bloodline" of Rachel and
Leah. He had to perform, fight, scheme, and manipulate his way to
recognition in the family.
Known for his ferociousness, people feared Gad. Moses' prophecy to
Gad depicts him as an astute warrior who attacks the source of power and
heads straight for the king, or the authority. He doesn't mess around with
the foot-soldiers. He goes for the one in charge. There were 11 Gadites
numbered among David's mighty men who were captains over his army;
some were over 100, some were over 1,000 men. The Gadites' faith and
fearlessness is shown in 1 Chronicles 12:15, These are they that went
over the Jordan in the first month, when it had overflown all his banks;
and they put to flight all them of the valleys . . . They jumped into the
raging floodwaters and swam against the torrents to do battle with the
enemy. Real men did this! (Victory dance!)
136

Lively Stones
The Gadites are born leaders, great influencers, and fierce warriors. They
love God and they love religious ceremony. They're willing to make great
sacrifice in order to achieve victory. Gad fights for what's right and goes at it
ruthlessly! When the Ammonites came against Gilead, Jephthah tried to
handle it peaceably, but when efforts failed, they marched south with a wide
sweep and attacked from the rear (Judges 11). The Israelites still use this
fighting method today. They're longsuffering and strive to achieve peace, but
when they've had enough, it's over, buddy! They strike swiftly and do a quick
work before the enemy knows what happened to them.
We see Gad's great zeal without knowledge when Jephthah made the
foolish vow to sacrifice the first thing to come out his door if he returned
victoriously—and it was his only child, a daughter. It was an unnecessary
vow that God never required of him. He would have given Jephthah the
victory anyway! But being a people of integrity, his daughter insisted on her
father keeping his vow, and she became the first female martyr in Israel.
For clarity it must be noted that some believe Jephthah to be a
Manassite. Jephthah was an illegitimate son born of a prostitute. He lived
in the land of Gilead, an area inhabited by Manassites as well as Gadites.
But whichever tribe he is from, living among the Gadites and Manassites,
two intense tribes, Jephthah has characteristics of both. He has the bulldog
faith and patient steadfastness of Manasseh as well as the spontanity and
exuberance of Gad. He is mentioned in the Hebrews 11 "Hall of Faith"
along with David, Samson, and Barak in Hebrews 11:32. After his victory
over the Amonites, he became judge over Israel for six years. You may
read more about Jephthah in the study of Manasseh.
The most magnificent Gadite personality would be the Prophet Elijah,
God's man of power for the hour. Elijah means My Lord is Jehovah. Elijah
knows that his God is God, and his confidence in God's faithfulness is the
empowering force that catapults Elijah to the forefront of the day. Elijah is
the firstfruits example of a God-Man who broke through the "flesh"
barrier and moved with the Spirit of God in the earth! James 5:17 shows
Elijah to be . . . a man subject to like passions . . . who prayed and shut up
the heavens for 3
137
1 /2 years. Though he fears neither man nor beast, one
minute he's calling down fire from heaven or killing the prophets of Baal,
and the next time you see him, he's running from a woman! What's up
with that? Selah.

LIGURE
(Opal)
Hebrew word:
leshem (le-shem)
Greek:
Ligurium
Ligure symbolizes:
COMPLEXITY
CELEBRATION
LIVELINESS
VARIETY
EXCITEMENT
SPONTANITY
ZEAL
Jan Matthews
Gad's Gemstone
The identity of the ligure is probably the
most controversial of all the stones. Some think
it to be a brownish yellow jacinth, while others,
including Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types,
believe the ligure to be a fiery blue opal. After
researching several sources along with scripture,
we believe the opal most appropriately reveals
the Gadite personality. Believe me, there is
nothing mundane or ordinary about this tribe.
Brownish yellow just won't do!
The depth and complexity of the Gadite
soul is depicted by the deep blue of the pictured
opal, while his exuberant and vibrant spirit are
revealed as light dances across the top of the
stone. The multifaceted mood swings and
personality of the Gadite are perfectly depicted
in the fantastic array of colors in this little gem.
Gad is probably bi-polar at best (smile & hug),
but it's the very thing that makes him so . . .
Gad! Gad is exciting and exuberant, yet he is
serious. And he is anything but boring! Pliny the famous Roman author
said, "The opal has the sparkle of almandine, the shining purple of
amethyst, the golden yellow of topaz, and the deep blue of sapphire."
The opal's hardness is only about a 5 on the Mohs scale, and it has the
tendency to be brittle and break or chip, depicting the Gadite's tender
heart. Opals have water in them and need to be worn often to keep them
healthy. Every Gadite needs to keep washed with the water of the Word to
maintain his spiritual stability and not be double-minded. Opals must be
handled with care. They are some of the most beautiful stones in the world
with their shimmering lightshow. Because of their frailty, the value of
these beautiful gems is often overlooked and they're not chosen to adorn a
wardrobe in lieu of a more popular or expensive stone.
138

Lively Stones
Gad's Banner Symbol
The banner symbol for Gad is usually three
tents. The three tents can symbolize various
characteristics of the tribe. But primarily, the tent
represents Gad's indwelt nature as a roamer. Gad
never came into his inheritance on the west side
of the Jordan, but settled on the east side in the
land of Gilead with Manasseh to the north and
Reuben to the south. Gad can't sit still for a
moment. He has to be moving and shaking! He's
going to be rattling somebody's cage all the time
and is never satisfied with the mundane life of
the "same old, same old."
Perfectly happy to live in a tent (or hotel
room) instead of a home, he loves to travel and
can't stand to be tied down to one place all the
time. He's looking for adventure on every side
and has the courage and the chutzpah that it takes
to launch out "where no man has gone before."
Why three tents? Well, he's leading a troop, of
course! Though independent enough to be a
139
THREE
TENTS
Hebrew word:
Ohel (o-hel)
(Covering, home,
tent, tabernacle)
Three Tents symbolize:
CALVARY
VICTORY
COMFORT
UNITY
TRAVEL
recluse, the Gadite's tenacious presence draws loyal followers who team
up with him "till death do they part."
This world is not our home, and God's people have been looking for
that heavenly city since the call of Abraham to leave his country and his
family to follow God. Jesus Himself said He was going to prepare a place
for us. One day soon we will all shed our "tents," our temporary dwellings
made of flesh, and take possession of our "mansion" as we enter into the
joy of the Lord to live happily ever after in our heavenly home.

Jan Matthews
Gad's Ministry Gift
THE EVANGELISTS
Gad's nomadic nature, his charismatic personality and his love for
God are just what it takes to be an evangelist. The evangelistic spirit can't
help but share what he's got. Jesus. Wherever Gadites are—in the store, on
the job, at the golf course—they're going to be talking about Jesus.
Evangelists stop people in the parking lot, on the lake, or at the airport.
They have to drop a word here, ask a question there, pass out a tract.
They're always fishing, looking for new ways to introduce people to Jesus.
If you're walking down the street with an evangelist, you're liable to
notice you're suddenly walking alone because he's stepped aside to witness
to someone as the Lord directs. Don't worry, he'll catch up with you in a
few moments. He's just doing what comes naturally. For you see, life is all
about leading people to Jesus. And everyone is a prospect!
____________________
Have you won many souls to the Lord? The Bible says we are to let
our lives be as open epistles (or letters) read of all men. We need to let our
lifestyle preach the Gospel. There is a saying, "Preach the Gospel
everywhere you go, and only use words if necessary." That simply means
to live the life of Christ so that others want to become Christians. We must
let our lives shine before men, and set our light on a hill for all to see. You
know the song, "This little light of mine . . ." Let it shine!
How can you let your light shine? __________________________
What are some things you should avoid in order to be a good witness in
your lifestyle? ________________________________________
If you were to go witnessing today, what would you say to a stranger to
get his or her attention and a response? ________________________
___________________________________________________
140

Lively Stones
Evangelism Scriptures
And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets;
and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers . . .
Ephesians 4:11
______________
How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost
and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all
that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the
land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and
hanged on a tree:
Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;
Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before God,
even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from
the dead.
And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to
testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the
Judge of quick and dead.
To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name
whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
141
Acts 10:38-43

Jan Matthews
JESUS SENDS HIS DISCIPLES FORTH WITH THE GOSPEL
The "Great Commission"
Mark 16:15-20
After Jesus was risen, He appeared unto Mary Magdalene, then to some of the
disciples, and finally to the eleven as they sat at dinner. He upbraided them for
not believing the others who had testified of seeing Him, and told them:
_____________
Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every
creature.
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that
believeth not shall be damned.
And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name
shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly
thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick,
and they shall recover.
So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was
received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord
working with them, and confirming the word with signs
following. Amen.
142

Lively Stones
Evangelism Notes
Does your heart burn for souls? __________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Do you talk to strangers about the Lord? ___________________________
How often do you witness to strangers? ___________________________
Do you like to go witnessing? ___________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Do you witness when you're in a store or a mall? ____________________
Who is your favorite modern-day evangelist? _______________________
____________________________________________________________
Do you feel the evangelistic call on the inside of you? ________________
_________________________ How would you approach a "cold call," or
a total stranger with the gospel? __________________________________
____________________________________________________________
What is your favorite "ice breaker" question to a stranger on the street that
you're going to witness to? ____________________________ How do
you get his or her attention? _____________________________________
Do you have a plan or system you use to evangelize someone? _________
____________________________________________________________
How do you bring in the "fish"? ____________ In other words, do you
have a closing question or prompt to lead them into the prayer of
salvation? ___________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
143

Jan Matthews
Could you be a Gadite?
These are Gad's strengths and weaknesses. To find the Tribe your
personality is most like, be sure to fill out the profile sheet,
Strengths
□ zealous
□ confident
□ warrior, fearless
□ tenacious
□ rescuer
□ overcomes flesh
□ scribes, writers
□ defender of brethren
□ defender of God
□ adventurer
□ influencer
□ dedicated
□ keeps vows
□ integrity
□ sacrificial
□ courageous
□ worshiper
□ righteous judge
□ deliverance ministry
or take your test online at:
www.covenantwoman.org
144
Weaknesses
□ speaks in haste
□ self-willed
□ settles for less
□ roamer, not settled
□ own worst enemy
□ restless
□ independent
□ impulsive
□ double minded
□ looking for himself
□ foolish vows
□ led away from truth
□ religious spirit
□ easily discouraged
□ not self-motivated
□ perfected in heat
□ argumentative
□ self pity, inferiority
□ high highs, low lows

Lively Stones
Do you identify with the Gadite personality? _______________________
If so, how? __________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
See the Strengths and Weaknesses pages. How many boxes are checked?
Strengths______ Weaknesses______
What are the Strengths? _______________________________________
___________________________________________________________
What are the Weaknesses? _____________________________________
___________________________________________________________
How could a Gadite develop his or her strengths? _______________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
How could a Gadite overcome his or her weaknesses? ____________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
What other tribal personalities do you identify with?__________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Do you know any Gadites? _____________________________________
____________________________________________________________
How can a Gadite personality avoid the pitfalls of the flesh?__________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
What are some New Testament scriptures to help Gad fight the good fight
of faith? ____________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
145

Jan Matthews
Gad's personality combination is
RULER-ORACLE-Loyal-Noble
Whoa! The extroverts of the entire universe! These Ruler-Oracles are
what makes the world go round . . . and round . . . and round. Rulers are the
true leaders of not only the "pack," but their entire world. They're visionaries
and achievers with their eye on the goal. They're at the helm of the ship with
their sword pointed forward. Rulers may seem overbearing, demanding, and
controlling, but it's only because—they are! It's their nature. It's their call.
They're problem solvers, enterprising, competitive, and determined. These
adventurous, goal driven, risk takers are always in charge. But they're
productive. They're focused. Rulers see strategically ahead, they keep the ball
rolling and never skip a beat. And with the energetic Oracle onboard, they're
the wind beneath the Ruler's wings. They can carry the ball farther, make a
more flamboyant show and do the victory dance when they win.
The independent and strong-willed Ruler, and the vivacious and
tenacious Oracle are both like the eagles . . . they fly alone, but generally
have an entourage following just to see what happens next. This lively mix
of Ruler-Oracle provides the impact and the flash necessary to make a
statement or leave a lasting impression. These daring individuals are risk
takers and will leap before the net appears. The prophet Elijah was the
most colorful of all prophets as he called down fire from heaven and did
outstanding feats proving time after time that his God ruled.
The Ruler's confident nature coupled with the Oracle's exuberant
spirit, nothing can parallel this mix for victory other than Judah. The only
tempering factor to these two extroverts is the flanking Loyal, which could
pop their bubble from time to time if there is much Loyal present. But
neither of the two stay down for very long. There's simply too much to do!
The Ruler-Oracle's predominant weaknesses would be the tendency to be
too aggressive, critical, cynical and judgmental. They need to lighten up a bit!
Rulers have a take-charge personality and make up a marginal 5 percent
of the population, and the spirited Oracle comprises about 40 percent.
146

Lively Stones
Gad's Cameo & Charge to Gadites
THE EVANGELISTS
This colorful personality is dynamic! Probably the most beautiful example of one
"on fire" for God. Must guard against being overzealous and getting trapped into
religious activity and unnecessary vows.
_________________
Though Gad tends to be reclusive during his "downtime," he is
always "on go," and is ever ready to take up somebody else's cause or
come to the rescue of a friend. Gad lives life wide open, and his "on stage"
presence is electrifying and commands an audience wherever he goes. The
Gadite's tenacity is sometimes irritating, but nevertheless, the crowd
cheers him on. Though his moods can swing from mountaintop to valley,
Gad is a winner. He will leap when there's no net and he'll act impulsively
without reservation for what he believes. His fiery personality is as
charismatic and magnetic as it is annoying, aggravating and sometimes
downright obnoxious! Life is never boring when a Gadite is around, and
others want to hang around just to see what happens next.
Gad is a fierce warrior when on fire for God, and a major threat to the
kingdom of darkness! Some Gadites are evangelists at heart and delight in
snatching souls from the grip of satan through spiritual warfare! Gad is a
rescuer and a deliverer. The demons know Jesus and Paul, but they also
know Gad and flee in terror from this warrior of God! Extremely
sacrificial, he'll lay it all down for victory, and expects the same of those
who "hang" with him. Because of his zeal for God and spontaneous
nature, he has to guard against making foolish vows or getting caught up
in religious activity that God never called him to do.
But Gad is a celebrator! He's exuberant! Gad is bigger than life! Like
Elisha did, keep an eye on your Gadite friend, because there's always
something just about to happen. And if you happen to be one . . . Hahhah-ha-ha-ha-haaa!
147

Jan Matthews
A Gadite
would make a good: CEO, lawyer, district attorney, judge, manager,
director, promoter, scientist, surgeon, professor, economist, geologist,
astronomer, pharmacist, architect, bank president, computer programmer,
designer, composer, jeweler, actor, columnist, disc jockey, sculptor,
choreographer, police detective, dictator, control freak . . .
You can add to this confession, using scripture to emphasize
strengths and overcome weaknesses.
Confession
I am established in the love of God and hold the thoughts, purposes
and intents of His heart. I keep my mind stayed on Him and look not to the
right or left, but only to the Word of God. I believe the best of others and
look to God only for recognition, honor and help. I set a guard over my
lips that I don't make foolish vows, and I keep watch at the door of my
heart that I be not offended when others oppose me. I have not been given
the spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind, and I walk in peace
with all men. _________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
148

Lively Stones
Your personal notes on
GAD
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
149

Jan Matthews
Breastplate of the High Priest
Formation in the Wilderness
150
ASHER

Lively Stones
The Tribe of
ASHER
The Givers
The Eighth Son
(Second son of Zilpah, Leah's handmaid)
151

Jan Matthews
A Famous Asherite
Anna
152

By Jacob
Lively Stones
Prophecies by Jacob and Moses over the Tribe of
ASHER
Out of Asher his bread shall be fat, and he shall yield
royal dainties.
Genesis 49:20
By Moses
Let Asher be blessed with children; let him be acceptable
to his brethren, and let him dip his foot in oil. Thy shoes shall
be iron and brass; and as thy days , so shall thy strength be.
153
Deuteronomy 33:24, 25

Jan Matthews
NORTH BRIGADE (Naphtali, Dan, Asher)
asher #8
MEANING: Happy, Blessed
STONE: Agate (Multi, opaque)
SYMBOL: Olive Tree
SON of GOD MOTIVE GIFT: Giving
Christ's Priesthood
(Gospel of John)
Asher shall be rich and yield royal food.
Genesis 49:20
Asher is the eighth son of Jacob, and the second son born of Leah's
handmaid Bilhah. The final son born of the handmaids, Asher completes
the inferior bloodline competition between Rachel and Leah. After the
birth of Asher, God opened both of their wombs. Leah bore two more
sons, Issachar and Zebulun, and Rachel bore her only two natural born
children, Joseph and Benjamin. Rachel died in childbirth when Benjamin
was born.
Asher's prophecies from both Jacob and Moses imparted great
blessings. He was promised prosperity as well as spiritual blessings.
Moses' prophecy promised him many children, good family relationships,
a strong anointing, and endurance, when he said, Let Asher be blessed
with children; let him be acceptable to his brethren, and let him dip his
foot in oil. Thy shoes shall be iron and brass; and as thy days, so shall
thy strength be (Deuteronomy 33:24, 25).
The Tribe of Asher inherited the fertile coastal territory when the
Promised Land was divided for settlement; Asher dwelt in plenty and was
the tribe with rich pastures. Because of Asher's hospitality, he extended his
hand to bless his brethren. He was more than willing to share his
abundance with them—which made for good family relations.
154

Lively Stones
Asher was an easygoing, laid-back tribe and enjoyed a life of ease.
Because of his complacency, Asher never drove out the Canaanites from
their land, and the tribe was pleased to dwell with them. "Live and let live"
seemed to be Asher's motto. This attitude eventually resulted in their
decline. However, there were a few bright spots in Asher's history. They
answered the call of Gideon to drive out the Midianites (see Judges 6, 7);
then 40,000 Asherites sided with David to take the kingship.
Asher never produced a judge, national hero or famous figure other
than an 84-year-old widow named Anna who was at the birth of Christ.
But then that is the nature of the born-again Asherite—to sit at the feet of
Jesus. The saying, "They're so spiritually-minded, they're no earthly
good," was probably designed just for Asher.
However, their unwillingness to go to war, or to fight over something
also depicts a great meekness in them. Meekness simply means a wild
horse tamed. Though unwilling to fight their own battles, like Moses,
Asherites are willing to take up arms to help someone else. They are
secure in their purpose, and their eternal destiny has already been
determined, for Jesus said, Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit
the earth (Matthew 5:5).
155

AGATE
Hebrew word:
shebuw
(sheb-oo’)
(Divided into flashes or
streamers)
Agate symbolizes:
FRUITFULNESS
GENEROSITY
JOY
STRENGTH
ABUNDANCE
OVERFLOW
STABILITY
Jan Matthews
Asher's Gemstone
Much like the Jasper, the agate is a
cryptocrystalline quartz with patterns and solid
colors running throughout the stone. Agates are
beautifully veined semi-transparent stones with
delicate striped layers perfect for carving
cameos and creating three-dimensional images.
As agates are created by the intense heat of
erupted lava pouring through the earth, Asher's
character is molded by the workings of the
Holy Spirit. Water is used to polish the agate
just as believers need the washing of the water
of the Word of God for daily cleansing.
These magnificent stones reveal the inner
beauty of the Asherite’s happy heart, and they
depict the joy that resides deep within the heart of
the stone. The Asherite's pleasant nature is
contagious and affects the spiritual "climate"
wherever they go. Asherites are peacemakers and
encouragers in the Kingdom. As agates are easily
carved into beautiful cameos revealing the beauty
within, the soft and tender Ashurite is easily molded and formed into the
image of Christ.
Agates are the humblest of gemstones. Neither costly nor rare, they
pose no intimidation or threat to the status of their valued competitors. But
God has sprinkled the earth with the agates of our lives—Asherites—and
it's up to us to find and appreciate them. Our Asherite friends are gifts from
God. Their peace, contentment, and joy express the nature of our Lord.
Though agates can't compare in price to rubies, sapphires, or diamonds, the
beauty of their humility exalts them far beyond their earthly value. But God
has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise . . . the
weak things to confound the mighty . . . and the base things and despised
things to bring to nought things that are: that no flesh should glory in
his presence (1 Corinthians 1:27-29). Asher. The happy tribe.
156

Lively Stones
Asher's Banner Symbol
Joyful, joyful! They're HAPPY!
The banner symbol for Asher is the olive
tree. In this pleasant-mannered, happy tribe, we
see the joy of the Lord in overflowing abundance.
The olive tree represents the oil of the Holy Spirit.
The Tribe of Asher is called to be a reservoir
of the Holy Spirit ready to be poured out upon
mankind. Asherites live in the Presence of God,
ever ready to make intercession and to give out
of their abundant life to others. This beautiful
tribe is called to shine the light of the glorious
gospel throughout the earth and and to shatter the
darkness with their radiance!
They represent overabundant fruitfulness and
the rich blessings of God. They provide comfort,
nourishment and rest for the weary in times of
need. Asherites are confident and comfortable in
their relationship with God, and they impart their
strength to others. This tribe serves the Lord . . .
with gladness of heart for the abundance of all
things (Deuteronomy 28:47).
157
OLIVE TREE
Hebrew word:
Shemen
(sheh’-men)
(Fat, fatness, oil,
anointing)
Olive Tree symbolizes:
ABUNDANCE
ANOINTING
FRUITFULNESS
OVERFLOW
BLESSINGS
FULLNESS
SUFFICIENCY
STRENGTH

Jan Matthews
Asher's Motivational Gift
GIVING
For God so loved the world, that He GAVE . . .
John 3:16
___________________
Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the
LORD thy God which he hath given thee.
158
Deuteronomy 16:17
He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes
shall have many a curse.
Proverbs 28:27
The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth
mercy, and giveth.
Psalms 37:21
He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread
to the poor.
Proverbs 27:9
Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not
grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
2 Corinthians 9:7
Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and
shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For
with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you
again.
Luke 6:38

Lively Stones
Can you think of times when you have given and seen the blessings of
God flow back to you as a direct result of your giving? _______________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Can you think of a time when you wanted to give but didn't, and then
something happened that consumed what you would have given? _______
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
What do you think about tithing? _________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
159

Jan Matthews
160

Lively Stones
Giving Notes
There is a reward in giving.
For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because
ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.
(Mark 9:41).
_________________
In your opinion, is it possible to outgive God? ______________________
____________________________________________________________
Name some ways of giving, other than money. ______________________
____________________________________________________________
Are you a giver? If so, do you feel that God has blessed you because of
your giving?_________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Who is the most benevolent (giving) person you know? ______________
____________________________________________________________
How do you feel about tithing and sowing financial "seed"?____________
What more could you do for the Kingdom of God? __________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
How can you give of yourself into other people's lives? _______________
____________________________________________________________
Have you ever given something really big to someone? _______________
When is the last time you gave something instead of selling it? _________
Did God bless you back? _______________________________________
161

Jan Matthews
Could you be an Asherite?
These are Asher's strengths and weaknesses. To find the Tribe your
personality is most like, be sure to fill out the profile sheet,
Strengths
□ happy people
□ positive thinkers
□ mental strength
□ physical strength
□ peaceful, joyful
□ courageous, fearless
□ sees good in others
□ fruitful/children
□ hungry for deep truth
□ "can do" person
□ prayers, Spirit led
□ giver, helper
□ adapts to change
□ not irritable
□ friendly, pleasant
□ faithful, loyal
□ sees hidden revelations
□ brings light
□ prosperous
□ think the best
or take your test online at:
www.covenantwoman.org
162
Weaknesses
□ avoids conflict
□ men-pleasers
□ compromising
□ easily deceived
□ too laid back
□ can be too helpful
□ smothers with helps
□ requires comfort
□ non achievers
□ lasciviousness
□ tends to laziness
□ settles for less
□ complacency
□ must be stirred up
□ can let people run over them
□ lack motivation
□ easily influenced

Lively Stones
Do you identify with the Asherite personality? ______________________
If so, how? __________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
See the Strengths and Weaknesses pages. How many boxes are checked?
Strengths______ Weaknesses______
What are the Strengths? _______________________________________
What are the Weaknesses? _____________________________________
___________________________________________________________
How could an Asherite develop his or her strengths? _______________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
How could an Asherite overcome his or her weaknesses? ____________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
What other tribal personalities do you identify with?__________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Do you know any Asherites? ____________________________________
____________________________________________________________
How can an Asherite personality avoid the pitfalls of the flesh?_________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
What are some New Testament scriptures to help Asher fight the good
fight of faith? ________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
163

Jan Matthews
Asher's personality combination is
NOBLE-LOYAL-Oracle-Ruler
Noble-Loyal. These people are solid. They're sensible. They're reserved,
consistent, organized, and peaceable. Noble-Loyals are responsible, they
keep the rules, and they're serious, no-nonsense people. They are the axis that
keeps us on course and the solid foundation of our world. They are the ones
who keep cool, calm and "together" when everything's falling apart around
us. They're the sensible ones. The "normal" ones. You know, they're the
grown-ups of our society. And they're typically content and happy . . . so long
as the Noble is predominant and there is some Oracle flanking as the third
trait. Though they're generally pleasant and joyful, too much Loyal could
cause Asher to be challenged with depression when opposition arises. But if
they stay in the Spirit, they roll with the punches.
Nobles are idealists, peacemakers, and counselors at heart, while the
Loyal organizes, schedules and keeps the books. Nobles are people people
and ever ready to lend a helping hand. They're all about hospitality and
serving, while the more reclusive and practical Loyal prefers to stay in the
background working, organizing, planning and meditating. Both are deep
thinkers and idealists at heart, but there's no rattling cages with these people,
and they're not about to move or shake anything. Unlike the self-motivated,
aggressive Oracles and Rulers, the Noble-Loyals could sit on the solution to
the world's problems, and never say a word until they're asked for their input.
Laid back and content to be at home tending to their own business,
this beautiful personality provides strength and stability in the midst of the
storm. The more of the Oracle and Ruler present, the better! They're the
sparks that can light a fire under the Asherite personality and motivate
them to share the wealth of their knowledge and depth of soul. Like the
Proverbs 31 woman, the Noble-Loyals . . . bring their food from afar
(Proverbs 31:14), through their deep meditations. They provide the world
with beautiful words, writings, music and spiritual insight. They're truly
tapped into the heart of God. Nobles are rare and their honor unique. Nobles
comprise about 10 percent of the population, and Loyals are about 45
percent. Noble-Loyals, they're deep. They're quiet. They're loved.
164

Lively Stones
Asher's Cameo & Charge to Asherites
THE HAPPY TRIBE
Asher is a happy tribe. Asher's joy comes from deep within. They want everyone
around them to be happy and content. They sometimes tend toward
complacency and settle for less because of their contentment.
_________________
Asherites love to be happy and they want everybody else to be happy
too. They are a prosperous, fruitful, and lighthearted people. They enjoy the
good things of life, but expect the blessings of God to just fall on them—and
they don't think they should have to put forth much effort to receive them!
They're perfectly content to relax at home rather than be always on the go.
Extremely laid back, this tribe stops to smell the roses along life's way.
They're not very motivated and must have the sting of the Holy Spirit to
prompt them to action. About the only thing that "lights their fire" is a Word
from God. A true Asherite will never be accused of being a workaholic.
Their peaceful attitude and continual joy, especially in times of testing or
trouble, can be annoying, and sometimes downright aggravating. You just
can't make an Asher fret or worry. Asherites are true communicators. They
can talk to anyone about anything, and people are comfortable pouring their
heart out to them. They dig deep to find hidden nuggets and new revelations
in the Word. They hunger for the meat of the Word. Though they follow after
peace and generally avoid confrontation, Asherites recognize the move of the
Spirit and can preach hard in-your-face messages if necessary. More like
Mary than Martha, Asherites would rather sit at the feet of Jesus than prepare
for a party. Like Mary, Asher has . . . chosen that good part (Luke 10:42).
Asher is a people person. He's loyal in friendship and can be trusted.
He endeavors to think the best of others, and when it comes to a challenge,
he knows how to turn the lemon into lemonade. Asher is generally an allaround
good person to "hang" with. The primary fault of Asher is his
unwillingness to fight for his rights, his tendency to complain, and his bent
toward complacency. Sometimes Asherites are just too laid back! The
peacemakers of the bunch, they've learned to roll with the punches and let
their faith prevail. They don't try to run the show and they're okay with
following the leader. Given to hospitality, their door is always open, coffee's
on, and they're just about to make some cookies or put on a pot of stew.
165

Jan Matthews
An Asherite
would make a good: counselor, police officer, mentor, doctor, nurse,
teacher, firefighter, caseworker, receptionist, psychologist, chiropractor,
travel agent, veterinarian, hotel worker, home health aide, paramedic,
dietician, bookkeeper, secretary, childcare worker, teller, banker,
administrative assistant, store clerk, business owner . . .
Add to this confession, using scripture to emphasize
strengths and overcome weaknesses.
Confession
I thank You, Lord, for energizing me and motivating me to greatness
and accomplishment. I stir myself up by praying in the Holy Spirit and run
with the vision set before me in the Word of God. I put my hand to the
plow and press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling in Christ.
I have spiritual discernment and purposefully surround myself with godly
people to ensure godly relationships and communication based on faith. I'm
strong in the Lord and the power of His might! _____________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
166

Lively Stones
Your personal notes on
ASHER
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
167

Jan Matthews
Breastplate of the High Priest
Formation in the Wilderness
168
ISSACHAR

Lively Stones
The Tribe of
ISSACHAR
The Workers
The Ninth Son
(Fifth son of Leah)
169

Jan Matthews
Famous Issacharites
Elisha
Abishag
Shunammite Woman
Deborah
170

By Jacob
Lively Stones
Prophecies by Jacob and Moses over the Tribe of
ISSACHAR
Issachar is a strong ass couching down between two
burdens: And he saw that rest was good, and the land that it
was pleasant; and bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a
servant unto tribute.
Genesis 49:14, 15
By Moses
Zebulun, in thy going out; and, Issachar, in thy tents.
They shall call the people unto the mountain; there they shall
offer sacrifices of righteousness: for they shall suck of the
abundance of the seas, and of treasures hid in the sand.
171
Deuteronomy 33:18, 19

Jan Matthews
EAST BRIGADE (Issachar, Judah, Zebulun)
issachar #9
MEANING: He Will Bring a Reward
STONE: Amethyst (Violet)
SYMBOL: Laden Donkey
CHRIST as KING MOTIVE GIFT: Serving, Helps
Royalty, Authority
(Gospel of Matthew)
Issachar shall become a servant to bear burdens.
Genesis 49:13
Issachar is the ninth son of Jacob, and Leah's fifth son. Leah had
borne four sons, after which, four were borne by the handmaidens, Bilhah
and Zilpah. The competition between Rachel and Leah heightened before
the birth of Issachar.
Reuben, Leah and Jacob's firstborn, was about 15 when he found
mandrakes while walking home one evening. Hoping to cheer his mother's
aching heart he hurried home with his coveted gift. He knew it was just the
thing she needed to capture the attention of her husband, if for only one
night of love. But when Rachel saw it, she wanted it. She said, Give me
the mandrakes, and Jacob can sleep with you tonight. This indicates that
Leah had slept alone for quite some time. By an act of faith, Leah
complied with Rachel's wishes and gave the mandrakes to her. God
opened Leah's womb and she bore Issachar.
Leah wanted to win her husband's heart. She'd lived years bearing him
children while Rachel had his heart—and his affections. She prayed that
God would open her womb, and He did. She named the child Issachar,
meaning he will bring a reward. Issachar was the reward of her faith. His
name was a constant reminder to him that he was bought with a price.
Issachar was born to serve. The primary character trait of Issachar is that
of a servant, born in humility.
172

Lively Stones
First Chronicles 12:32 says, The children of Issachar . . . were men
that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do . . .
This tribe's spiritual insight runs deep, and they're going to be on the front
lines when the Spirit of God moves them. They don't run to put out every
brush fire that comes along, but when they discern the moving of the Spirit
of God, they get a fire lit under them. They'll fight to the finish and give
their all to win the victory. We see great sacrifice in their servitude and
humility. Some of the most powerful Issacharites would be Deborah, the
woman judge who Barak insisted that she go with him into battle; Elisha
the prophet, who was a man of great wealth and stature who left all to
follow the call of God when Elijah put his mantle on him; Abishag, the
young woman who tended to David when he was dying; and the
Shunammite woman of great faith.
Issachar, Naphtali, and Zebulun were the heroes of the day when they
came with "perfect hearts" to make David king over all Israel. They
brought with them supplies and food in abundance. The same three tribes
stood side-by-side with Deborah and Barak in the great battle against the
Canaanites. Like our Heavenly Father, these tribes are . . . a very present
help in trouble (Psalms 46:1).
Though Issachar is the humblest of tribes and the servant of all, God
exalted them to march right beside Judah under the standard of the Lion,
symbolizing authority and rulership. Jesus said in Mark 10:43-45,
Whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: and
whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. For even
the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to
give his life a ransom for many.
173

Jan Matthews
Issachar's Gemstone
The amethyst is a happy stone. It is found
in abundance, and in its purest form, amethyst is
colorless. The finest quality amethyst is medium
to medium dark in tone and vivid in intensity
with varying hues of purple, from reddish purple
AMETHYST
Hebrew word:
achlamah
(Dream stone)
Greek word:
Amethystos
(Not drunken)
Amethyst symbolizes:
ROYALTY
SINCERITY
COMPASSION
HUMILITY
GENEROSITY
to bluish purple. Heating removes the color from
amethyst, or changes it to the yellow of citrine.
Most commercial citrine is made in this manner.
Amethyst is the most valuable transparent,
coarse-grained variety of the silica mineral
quartz that is valued as a semiprecious gem for
its violet color. It contains more iron oxide than
any other variety of quartz. Experts believe its
color arises from the iron content.
All forms of quartz, including the amethyst,
are piezoelectric. Crystals which acquire a charge
when compressed, twisted, or distorted are said to
be piezoelectric. Piezoelectricity is extremely
valuable in the field of electronics, the medical
industry, and more. Tourmaline is the only other
gemstone that possesses this property.
Oriental amethyst, or purple sapphire, is not quartz but a variety of
corundum, a much harder and rarer stone. And it is just possible that this is
the true identity of Issachar's stone. After all, the purple stone speaks of
royalty, and it is from the orient! The Issacharite has to be tough. And
Issachar's spirit of humility is certainly a rare find among prideful man.
Whether the quartz amethyst or the Oriental amethyst (corundum),
both stones reveal the value of Issachar. They are not only beautiful, but
their functionality is priceless in today's world. The amethyst symbolizes
royalty, sincerity, humility, compassion, and generosity. Issachar's
amethyst is the 12 th stone in the foundation of the New Jerusalem, in
Revelation 21:19.
174

Lively Stones
Issachar's Banner Symbol
The banner symbol for Issachar is a laden
donkey. The donkey is the perfect animal to
represent the servanthood nature and humility of
Christ. The donkey's very nature and physical
characteristics are that of a burden-bearer. Most
donkeys bear the symbol of the cross on their
backs, called a "shoulder cross." This is a sign of
carrying the cross daily, right on their backs.
These people are carriers of the cross. And they
not only carry their own cross, they help carry
the crosses of others too!
The Issacharite is a workaholic and will work
his fingers to the bone and into the wee hours of
the morning attempting to finish a project. He
always has a million things on a "to do" list,
several books he's going to read and a lot of halffinished
projects underway. He knows a rest
would be nice but he just never seems to get
around to that. He'll work until exhausted and
175
LADEN
DONKEY
Laden Donkey
symbolizes:
HUMILITY
STRENGTH
BURDEN BEARER
ABILITY
ENDURANCE
finally collapse in an easy chair or fall asleep at the office, in church, in the
middle of a conversation . . . The Issacharite is always in need of a "power
nap," and it is one rightly deserved.
Issacharites are usually busy at some project of their own, or fixing,
repairing, and working on something for somebody else. They just can't
seem to say no to adding one more burden to their already heavy load. But
they will express their pain while doing it. They're not complaining
though. It seems to give them strength. Just as the donkey brays, and
makes noises under his burden, so it is the Issacharite's nature to groan or
make a sighing noise when sitting, standing, picking something up,
stretching, relaxing, and sleeping. Ohhhhh . . . sweet. YES!

Jan Matthews
Issachar's Motivational Gift
SERVING
And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant.
Matthew 20:27
_________________
His lord said unto him, Well done, [thou] good and faithful
servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will
make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of
thy lord.
176
Matthew 25:21
But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.
Matthew 23:11
And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them,
If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and
servant of all.
Mark 9:35
No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the
one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and
despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
Matthew 6:24
That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of
the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, in
holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our
life.
Luke 1:74, 75

Lively Stones
If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am,
there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will
[my] Father honour.
177
John 12:26
Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
Romans 12:11
But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to
him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath
left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
Luke 10:40
And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle
unto all [men], apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing
those that oppose themselves;
if God peradventure will give them repentance to the
acknowledging of the truth;
and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the
devil who are taken captive by him at his will.
2 Timothy 2:24-26

Jan Matthews
178

Lively Stones
Serving Notes
Do you know someone who is a great servant? _____________ Who is
that? _______________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Do you feel that you have a servant's heart? ________________________
____________________________________________________________
Name some ways that you can serve in your church. _________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
How can you serve at home? ____________________________________
____________________________________________________________
How can you serve in your community? ___________________________
____________________________________________________________
How can you serve in your school or on the job? ____________________
Who is the best servant you know? _______________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Name some servants in the Bible. ________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Anything to add? _____________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
179

Jan Matthews
Could you be an Issacharite?
These are Issachar's strengths and weaknesses. To find the Tribe your
personality is most like, be sure to fill out the profile sheet,
Strengths
□ born servant, volunteer
□ humble
□ mental/physical strength
□ burden bearer
□ nature lover
□ fights to the end
□ not very talkative
□ recognizes Spirit
□ loves simplicity
□ helps, hospitality
□ quiet, reserved
□ generous giver
□ family/brother's keeper
□ practical, cautious
□ slow, methodical worker
□ worshipper, grateful
□ seeks no recognition
□ quick to admit wrong
□ compassionate
□ valiant warrior
□ pure heart toward God
□ strong faith, endurance
or take your test online at:
www.covenantwoman.org
180
Weaknesses
□ workaholic
□ packrat mentality
□ perfectionist
□ introvert at times
□ quick to anger under pressure
□ forgets God, takes credit
□ hard to get moving
□ too slow
□ loves easy life
□ must be motivated
□ needs to prioritize
□ over-commits
□ can explode under pressure
□ pride, self-exalting
□ stubborn
□ set in own ways
□ sometimes messy
□ disorganized

Lively Stones
Do you identify with the Issacharite personality? ____________________
If so, how? __________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
See the Strengths and Weaknesses pages. How many boxes are checked?
Strengths______ Weaknesses______
What are the Strengths? _______________________________________
___________________________________________________________
What are the Weaknesses? _____________________________________
___________________________________________________________
How could an Issacharite develop his or her strengths? _______________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
How could an Issacharite overcome his or her weaknesses? ____________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
What other tribal personalities do you identify with?__________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Do you know any Issacharites? ________________________________
___________________________________________________________
How can an Issacharite personality avoid the pitfalls of the flesh?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
What are some New Testament scriptures to help Issachar fight the good
fight of faith? ________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
181

Jan Matthews
Issachar's personality combination is
LOYAL-NOBLE-Ruler-Oracle
Loyal-Nobles, the sensible ones. They're practical, hard workers, and the
all-around good guys of the whole bunch. Both traits are introverts, but the
Loyal is a perfectionist, where the Noble is more adaptable, relaxed, and
content. The Loyal leans more toward legalism, as they make the rules, abide
by the rules, and expect the rules to be enforced. While the Loyal is
scheduled, analytical, and detail oriented, the Noble is a laid-back people
person who likes to counsel, inspire, and teach. Loyals have a precise answer,
and a place, for everything. They're actually make-you-crazy organized.
Loyal-Nobles, they both love to help others and are born servants to the
Body. Where the Loyal prefers physical work, such as office work, cleaning,
mechanical, etc., the Noble enjoys encouraging spiritually, counseling, giving
advice, and just listening to someone in need of a friend. Though the
legalistic, workaholic Loyal, and the compromising, complacent, and
sometimes lazy Noble contrast somewhat in purpose, together they produce a
well-balanced, hard-working personality that can be trusted and depended
upon. They are loyal friends and will always go the extra mile to be there for
others. While the Noble-Loyal (Asher) is more like Mary, the Loyal-Noble
(Issachar) is more like Martha.
The primary weakness of the Loyal would be his tendency to focus on
past disappointments and failures, or others' faults, leading to depression. The
predominant weakness of the Noble would be his complacency and
willingness to compromise. The influencing traits of the Ruler and the Oracle
would energize, encourage and motivate the otherwise pessimistic Loyal-
Noble.
Loyals make up about 45 percent of the Body of Christ. Thank God
there's a lot of them! They're the workers. They keep the clocks ticking, the
machines running, and the papers filed. The Nobles make up about 10
percent of the population. And we need them both. They are the caretakers
of our lives.
182

Lively Stones
Issachar's Cameo & Charge to Issacharites
THE HUMBLE SERVANT
Issachar's humility, servanthood, endurance, and strong faith stand out in this
tribe. Quiet and reserved, they dig deep for spiritual truth and must guard against
becoming prideful in their own ability.
_________________
Issachar is all about helps and hospitality. He is his brother's keeper
and will do, and do, and do, and do. This tribe will tend to their own
business and help everyone else with theirs. They never expect any pay for
their labor of love and are true bond servants to the brethren. It's their
calling. It's their gift. Issacharites are reserved and quiet. They keep to
themselves and work methodically and slowly . . . they have to get it right!
Perfectionists? Buddy, you'd better believe it! They'll make you crazy
tending to last minute details and putting everything in its place. They make
themselves late for just about everything because of this. They're packrats
and they know it. It may look like junk to you and appear to be a mess, but
they know right where everything is—you know, under that stack of papers
over there! They can waste hours on end tending to details that are
unimportant to most. They may need to prioritize for true organization.
Issacharites are patriotic and family oriented. They're home bodies and
love the open land. They're not often "city slickers" or jet set types. If so, they
cherish their time home with family and friends. It's hard to get them moving
unless they're taking up arms for the brethren or helping carry someone else's
cross. They stay in the background and don't require praise and recognition.
But don't push them to get a job done fast; they can explode under pressure!
And they usually cause their own pressure, because they can't say no to
someone in need. Issachar may not be in the limelight, but they certainly know
how to brighten your day when they lend a helping hand. But watch out, they
can be stubborn! They will help you out, but they're going to do it their way.
Issacharites have their lamps full of oil and recognize the move of the
Spirit. They dig deep and find revelations in the Word. You won't find Issachar
in a dead church. They're going to be where the "fire" is. They hate religious
hype. Keep an eye on Issachar to follow the next move of God. They'll be on
the front lines with Judah (praisers) and Zebulun (dwelling in peace).
183

Jan Matthews
An Issacharite
would make a good: bookkeeper, teller, athlete, computer operator, legal
secretary, brick mason, mechanic, word processor, electrician, dental
assistant, medical records tech, home builder, paralegal, flight attendant,
file clerk, school administrator, hostess, treasurer, city manager, principal,
counselor, nurse, caseworker, travel agent, doctor, police officer, teacher,
psychologist . . .
You can add to this confession, using scripture to emphasize
strengths and overcome weaknesses.
Confession
I thank You, Father, that You perfect that which concerns me. I walk
not after the flesh but after the Spirit, I put my trust in You, and You
redeem my time. I've learned to be temperate in all things, and will not
allow myself to be caught up in good works, except that which You have
ordained. I will not sacrifice spiritual life for "busy-ness," and will give
You glory and honor in all things. I thank You and acknowledge that You
are Lord of my life. All that I have and possess originates in You, Father
God. I praise You, thank You, and adore You!_____________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
184

Lively Stones
Your personal notes on
ISSACHAR
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
185

Jan Matthews
Breastplate of the High Priest
Formation in the Wilderness
186
ZEBULUN

Lively Stones
The Tribe of
ZEBULUN
The Apostles
The Tenth Son
(Sixth son of Leah)
187

Jan Matthews
A Famous Zebulunite
Jonah
188

By Jacob
Lively Stones
Prophecies by Jacob and Moses over the Tribe of
ZEBULUN
Zebulun shall dwell at the haven of the sea; and he shall
be for an haven of ships; and his border shall be unto Zidon.
Genesis 49:13
By Moses
Zebulun, in thy going out; and, Issachar, in thy tents.
They shall call the people unto the mountain; there they shall
offer sacrfices of righteousness: for they shall suck of the
abundance of the seas, and of treasures hid in the sand.
189
Deuteronomy 33:18, 19

Jan Matthews
EAST BRIGADE (Issachar, Judah, Zebulun)
Zebulun #10
MEANING: Dwelling, Light
STONE: Beryl (Aquamarine) (Blue-green)
SYMBOL: Ship
CHRIST as KING MINISTRY GIFT: Apostles (Fivefold Office)
Royalty, Authority
(Gospel of Matthew)
Zebulun shall dwell at the seashores and be a haven for ship.
Genesis 49:13
Zebulun is the tenth son of Jacob, and Leah's sixth son. The birth
of Zebulun completes Leah's dowry. Genesis 30:19, 20 says, And Leah
conceived again, and bare Jacob the sixth son. And Leah said, God hath
endued me with a good dowry; now will my husband dwell with me,
because I have born him six sons: and she called his name Zebulun. At
this point Leah seems to enter into the rest of God that He will work
everything out for her to win Jacob's heart. By now it is clear to everyone
that Leah has been doubly blessed of God, and He has given her "more
than enough" sons. After Zebulun, Leah bears one daughter, Dinah,
meaning judgment.
Being the last son born to Leah, Zebulun was the "baby boy," and of
course, Dinah was the only girl. These two were probably pampered and
celebrated throughout the family. Jacob saw promise in Zebulun. Because
of favor with the father, this tribe has a healthy attitude and outlook on life.
Zebulunites have their priorities straight, and they know what's worth
fighting for and what's not. They know that if and when they go to battle,
the war is on and it's a fight to the finish. Judges 5:18 says, Zebulun and
Naphtali were a people that jeoparded their lives unto the death in the
high places of the field. About the only thing Zebulun is going to fight
190

Lively Stones
over is allegiance to God. They can't stand double-minded people, and
they're not about to play church.
First Chronicles 12:33 tells us, Of Zebulun, such as went forth to
battle, expert in war, with all instruments of war, fifty thousand, which
could keep rank: they were not of double heart. There were 50,000 men
keeping rank! Each man knew his part, didn't try to do somebody else's
part, and kept in unison with one another. And they had singleness of
heart. These guys were all on the same page. No wonder they're winners!
Zebulun is a tribe with its light "set on a hill" for all to see. They are
called to carry the gospel to the ends of the earth. They're the apostles of
God with their hearts ablaze for souls. Because Zebulun is serious about
souls, they can sometimes get a bit religious or self-righteous, and think
they know better than God . . . like Jonah did.
Here's a little poem about Jonah when the call of God "just wasn't
working out for him."
Oh Zebulun, Zebulun, where's your shining light?
Will your superstar Jonah preach to Nineveh tonight?
"I don't think so, why pick on me?
I don't even like them, I'm going to flee."
He tried to run and hide, God right on his trail,
he was thrown overboard into the mouth of a whale.
Finally he preached and it was just like he said,
all Nineveh repented, then he wished he were dead.
But God chastised him and showed him wherein he did err,
He said, "Why are you angry? Why don't you care?
These people have turned back to worship the Lord,
but you cared less about them than you did for a gourd."
The end of the story is as Jonah thought . . . Nineveh eventually resumed
their evil activities and centuries later the city was so completely destroyed
that not one single trace of Nineveh remains, and the exact location of the city
is long forgotten. But the Apostle Paul did say, If our gospel be hid, it is hid
to them that are lost. In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds
of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ,
who is the image of God, should shine unto them (2 Corinthians 4:3).
191

Jan Matthews
Zebulun's Gemstone
The beryl (aquamarine) is a favorite stone
among jewelry designers because of its ability to be
cut and fashioned artistically. The transparency,
sparkle, intense color, and hardness of 7 on the
BERYL
(Aquamarine)
Hebrew word:
tarshiysh
(tar-sheesh’)
Greek word:
berullos
(Water, sea)
Beryl symbolizes:
BEAUTY
COMPASSION
OBEDIENCE
ADVENTURE
KINGDOM OF GOD
Mohs scale contribute to the stone's popularity. The
inclusions, or flaws on the beryl are considered
acceptable and are sometimes called "the garden"
because of their beauty. The formation of the beryl
comes through intense pressure and heat forming
crystals in the center of the earth. A true minister of
the gospel is formed in the heat of the battle and at
the feet of Jesus. Like the aquamarine, an apostle
must be pliable in the Master's hand and flexible for
use. His life must be transparent, he must have the
"sparkle" of the Holy Spirit empowering him, and
the toughness it takes for endurance. The Apostle
Paul was flexible, anointed, tough, and transparent. First Corinthians 9:19 says:
Though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant
unto all, that I might gain the more. And unto the Jews I
became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are
under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that
are under the law; To them that are without law, as without
law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,)
that I might gain them that are without law. To the weak
became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all
things unto all men, that I might by all means save some . . .
As you gaze into its intense color, the quiet Presence of the Holy
Spirit carries your heart to a distant land, and the peace of the Holy Spirit
rests upon your soul. So is the heart of Zebulun drawn to the nations. You
can see the "call of heaven" in the Zebulunite's eyes when the Spirit of
God is prompting them to cast their net into the deep once again.
192

Lively Stones
Zebulun's Banner Symbol
The banner symbol for Zebulun is a ship. The
open sea of humanity is Zebulun's favorite fishing
spot. They can't be anchored down to one "fishing
hole" because in their heart of hearts, they hear the
call of souls. Equipped with the Holy Spirit as
their guide and strength, Zebulunites fearlessly
bring souls into the Kingdom wherever they go. SHIP
Always ready to share a "fish story," this beautiful Hebrew word:
tribe knows how to catch them.
Oniyah (on-ne-yaw’)
Zebulun is not content to stay put and wait (Men of ships,
for a prospect to come along. They've got to go seamen)
out as one sent with a message and build the
Kingdom of God daily. Wherever they are, that's Ship symbolizes:
where they will throw out the net. Like a DWELLINGPLACE
lighthouse for the weary, their inner light guides HEART OF LOVE
others safely into port. Always looking for a SAFE HAVEN
great "place to fish," they love to travel from port PROVISION
to port.
DESTINY
Zebulunites are evangelistic like Gad, but MISSION
they're also pastoral like the Joseph tribes,
VISION
Manasseh and Ephraim. Evangelists only catch
the fish, but the apostles and pastors clean them and prepare them for use.
Of course, they're all fishing for souls.
They're a people of vision! And they're happy. They're content, for
they are following their purpose. Some Zebulunites are like luxury liners
providing a safe and restful dwellingplace for strangers, while others are
like rescue boats in search of souls to be pulled out of the dark waters and
brought into the Kingdom of light.
193

Jan Matthews
Zebulun's Ministry Gift
THE APOSTLES
Apostles. This fivefold ministry gift is one of the least understood, yet
the title seems to be the most coveted. Apostle simply means sent one. But
there is nothing simple about an apostle. An apostle is one sent with a
message. And they are sent by God. Apostle is not an esteemed position
that one can attain to by climbing the ladder of spiritual success. It's not
just a prestigious title. The title "Apostle" comes with the call. And the
apostolic life is both sacrificial and rewarding. Apostles have their hearts
ablaze with the call of God as they're sent to the nations to establish
ministry works, and carry the gospel to the ends of the earth.
And the apostle is usually all the fivefold ministry gifts packed into
one office. They are evangelistic, pastoral, and teachers of the Word, as
well as operating in the prophetic gifts when needed. They establish
churches and ministries and place the leadership in position. They oversee
the works until fully established. Then they continue to take on the care of
the ministries through prayer and intercession.
Many of today's missionaries are apostles. They are men and women
God has commissioned to travel and plant the Christian flag into the heart of
nations, lands and communities. And while it is a position to be honored, it
oftentimes requires great self-sacrifice, even to the laying down of one's life.
Martyrdom. A man or woman of God certainly should count the cost before
setting their hand to the plow of being an apostle.
When God places the call in an individual's heart, it is impossible to
ignore or set aside. The "still small voice" and heart tugs of the Holy Spirit
draw a man's soul toward his purpose and destiny. But when the wooing
of the Holy Spirit just isn't enough to move God's chosen vessel into
position, God knows how to get his attention with more drastic measures.
Such as the beloved Apostle Paul, who was thrown off a horse and
blinded! Glory to God, he finally "got it," that he was called, appointed,
and anointed to carry the gospel to the Gentile nations.
194

Lively Stones
APOSTLE PAUL
Until God apprehended the Apostle Paul, a Benjamite, on the road to
Damascus, he was a zealot who persecuted Christians by having them
killed. He became the instrument God used to evangelize the world during
his travels throughout Europe, Asia Minor, and Macedonia. Though he
ministered one on one, as well as to groups of people, Paul's primary
evangelistic tool has been his epistles, or letters, many of which were
written from prison. His letters compile two-thirds of the New Testament,
and the Apostle Paul continues to carry the gospel to the ends of the earth
through his writings.
Paul made three great missionary journeys, and finally was martyred
when he was beheaded at Rome in about 64 A.D. during the reign of the
Roman Emperor Nero. Though satan thought he could stomp out the
gospel by eliminating Paul, the Apostle Paul's ministry has proven much
more dangerous to satan's domain since his death than while the apostle
was living on this earth.
Paul's epistles are the primary Believer's portion of the Holy Bible
that Christians live by and pattern their lives after. Paul's letters give
insructions for Kingdom living in this life as "more than conquerors." He
preaches a victorious gospel with a glorious ending for all who choose to
receive the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior. Paul emphasizes satan's
defeat at the cross and magnifies our freedom in Christ, while pointing us
toward the impending return of the Lord and the taking of the Kingdom by
the saints. (Rejoice and look up! Our redemption draweth nigh!)
195

Jan Matthews
196

Lively Stones
Apostolic Notes
Do you love to travel? _________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Do you feel an urge to travel and minister? _________________________
Do you find yourself talking to people about Jesus at the mall, restaurant
or grocery store? _____________________________________________
Do you feel the need to help to build the Kingdom of God? ____________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Do you know anyone who operates in the apostolic gift? ______________
____________________________________________________________
Where would you like to take the gospel? __________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Anything to add? _____________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
197

Jan Matthews
Could you be a Zebulunite?
These are Zebulun's strengths and weaknesses. To find the Tribe your
personality is most like, be sure to fill out the profile sheet,
Strengths
□ humble, loyal
□ apostolic/missionary
□ writers, preachers
□ joyful, happy
□ loves holiness, purity
□ communicator
□ intercessor, prayer
□ loves simplicity
□ hospitable, giver
□ outgoing, talkers
□ traveler, free spirit
□ committed
□ evangelistic, fishers
□ good town crier
□ worshipper, grateful
□ obedient to the call
□ counselor, will correct
□ compassionate
□ valiant warrior
□ singers, musical gifts
□ strong faith, endurance
□ multi-gifted
□ visionary, focused
□ single-minded
□ watchman, overseer
or take your test online at:
www.covenantwoman.org
198
Weaknesses
□ builds walls
□ compromise for peace
□ avoids confrontation
□ introvert at times
□ too talkative
□ becomes offended
□ holds hurts, grudges
□ fears rejection
□ mocks others
□ deceived by wolves
□ too sentimental
□ runs from gifts
□ can become religious
□ demands loyalty
□ can become bitter
□ set in own ways
□ feelings easily hurt
□ won’t defend self
□ fights others' battle
□ uses pen as sword
□ spiritual pride
□ can be a loner

Lively Stones
Do you identify with the Zebulunite personality?_____________________
If so, how? __________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
See the Strengths and Weaknesses pages. How many boxes are checked?
Strengths______ Weaknesses______
What are the Strengths? ________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
What are the Weaknesses ______________________________________
___________________________________________________________
How could a Zebulunite develop his or her strengths? _______________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
How could a Zebulunite overcome his or her weaknesses? ____________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
What other tribal personalities do you identify with?__________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Do you know any Zebulunites? __________________________________
____________________________________________________________
How can a Zebulunite personality avoid the pitfalls of the flesh?______
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
What are some New Testament scriptures to help Zebulun fight the good
fight of faith? ________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
199

Jan Matthews
Zebulun's personality combination is
NOBLE-ORACLE-Ruler-Loyal
O Noble-Oracle, how beautiful are your feet! You have the pleasant
disposition of the Noble fueled by the energy and zeal of the Oracle. You have
a heart on fire for God. What a leader! What a personality to hook up with!
This delightful spirit is everybody's friend. An idealist at heart, the
spirited Noble is the perfect personality for sharing the gospel and winning
souls into the Kingdom. Nobles are peacemakers, and Oracles run with the
vision. This superhero can be a leader or a team player. So long as he has a
vision to follow, he will do his part to carry it out. Nobles act from their
heart and not their head, and they'll do whatever it takes to make it a
perfect world.
Both the Noble and the Oracle traits are pleasant, they're people people,
and extremely inspirational to others. The Oracle is more active, impulsive,
and unpredictable than the Noble, and the Noble has no problem letting the
Oracle lead the way when on a mission. The Noble-Oracle would be an
awesome communicator and conversationalist, and the Oracle's expressive
nature would complement the reserved Noble's easygoing personality.
The primary weakness of Nobles is their complacency, but the Oracle
is the spark that lights their fire and keeps them burning. This person is
truly a sent one, an apostle with a message. It's in Zebulun's blood to "Go
ye." They've got to be evangelizing somebody somewhere, and they'll
always take time to provide a shoulder to cry on, or to assist someone in
need. Truly the sunshine of this life, Zebulunites will brighten the day of
all those they come into contact with.
Nobles are a rare breed, being less than 10 percent of the population,
and Oracles are about 40 percent. The Noble-Oracle, what a beautiful mix!
A sweet-smelling savor to mankind. Zebulun, they carry the torch that
lights the world. Talk about adventurous! These kind-hearted, do-gooders
are always on go . . . but ever ready to stop and lend a helping hand to
someone in need.
200

Lively Stones
Zebulun's Cameo & Charge to Zebulunites
THE ZEALOUS APOSTLES
Zebulun's heart on fire for God is like a magnet, drawing all men unto Jesus.
They are a lighthouse to the weary and they wrap their heart around those in
need. Hospitality is their heart.
_________________
Zebulun is an all-around beautiful tribe. Idealists at heart, they are going
to be on fire for something, whether it's a cause, a vision, or God. When on fire
with the gospel, this joyful, exuberant, and compassionate lover of God is the
Joan of Arc . . . for such a time as this. Zebulunites will run with the vision,
shout it from the housetops, and no stone will be unturned in their endeavor to
carry the gospel to the ends of the earth. They have a zeal for life and nothing is
impossible to the Zebulunite. They'll sacrifice all for the pearl of great price,
and if they have to go alone, they will. If they can't go, they'll send. If they can't
send, they'll intercede for those going. Their zeal for souls burns deep. Linked
with Issachar spiritually, Zebulun carries the burden for souls and they'll not
rest until they win one more. And everybody is a prospect.
Talk, talk, talk! These chatterboxes won't shut up! (Giggle & grin.) If they're
not talking, they're singing. They do have merry hearts. Great writers as well as
conversationalists, these people are communicators to say the least. They can
light your fire or rip your heart out with the pen. Whether being delightful or
cynical, their power of the pen can set the truth in the sunlight for all to see.
The greatest weakness of Zebulunites would be their willingness to
compromise for peace at any cost. Though they are not easily deceived,
because of their open hearts and compassionate nature, they have been known
to open their door to ravening wolves. Their lack of discernment can cost them
dearly. It's hard for a Zebulunite to say no to someone in need of Jesus!
Especially if the person seems to be responding to the Word. Zebulun can fall
into the trap of a religious con because of their good heart. But glory be to God,
the Lord delivers them and they learn through their mistakes.
Lovers not fighters, they flee from confrontation every chance they get.
But when they know there is a righteous cause, they will fight to the finish and
sacrifice their lives for the furtherance of the Kingdom of God. Zebulunites will
not turn back, give up, or be defeated. They're the shining star in God's plan
and the primary carrier of the torch that lights the entire world.
201

Jan Matthews
A Zebulunite
would make a good: counselor, police officer, mentor, teacher, doctor,
nurse, firefighter, caseworker, receptionist, childcare worker, clergy,
health aide, psychologist, chiropractor, travel agent, veterinarian, animal
caretaker, switchboard operator, social worker, physical therapist,
paramedic, special ed teacher, dietician, hairdresser, flight attendant,
promoter, actor, disc jockey, musician, minister, pastor . . .
You can add to this confession, using scripture to emphasize
strengths and overcome weaknesses.
Confession
My steps are directed of the Lord, I hear His voice and the voice of a
stranger I will not follow. I will not be deceived, I have the mind of Christ
and follow the call in my heart. I won't turn back, fall back, or be defeated,
because I'm on a mission for the Lord Jesus Christ. I let my light so shine
before men that I may win them into the Kingdom of God. Set a guard
over my lips, O Lord, that I might not sin against You. I walk in the love
of God and fear neither man nor beast. I'm strong in the Lord and the
power of His might and speak the truth in love. I walk in love and take no
account of evil done to me.______________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
202

Lively Stones
Your personal notes on
ZEBULUN
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
203

Jan Matthews
Breastplate of the High Priest
Formation in the Wilderness
MANASSEH
204

Lively Stones
The Tribe of
MANASSEH
The Faith Bulldogs
Firstborn of Joseph
(Joseph is the Eleventh Son, Firstborn of Rachel)
205

Jan Matthews
A Famous Manassite
Gideon
Jephthah
(May be a Manassite, or Gadite)
206

Lively Stones
Prophecies by Jacob and Moses over the Tribe of
MANASSEH
By Jacob
Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well;
whose branches run over the wall: The archers have sorely grieved
him, and shot at him, and hated him: But his bow abode in
strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands
of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the
stone of Israel:) Even by the God of thy father, who shall help
thee; and by the Almighty, who shall bless thee with the blessings
of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lieth under, blessings of
the breasts, and of the womb: The blessings of my progenitors unto
the utmost bound of the everlasting hills: they shall be on the head
of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was separate
from his brethren.
Genesis 49:22-26
By Moses
And of Joseph he said, Blessed of the Lord be his land, for the
precious things of heaven, for the dew, and for the deep that
coucheth beneath, And for the precious fruits brought forth by the
sun, and for the precious things put forth by the moon. And for the
chief things of the ancient mountains, and for the precious things
of the lasting hills. And for the precious things of the earth and
fullness thereof, and for the good will of him that dwelt in the
bush: let the blessing come upon the head of Joseph, and upon the
top of the head of him that was separated from his brethren. His
glory is like the firstling of his bullock, and his horns are like the
horns of unicorns: with them he shall push the people together to
the ends of the earth: and they are the ten thousands of Ephraim,
and they are the thousands of Manasseh.
Deuteronomy 33:13-17
207

Jan Matthews
WEST BRIGADE (Manasseh, Ephraim, Benjamin)
manasseh #11
MEANING: Forgive, Forget Joseph's son
STONE: Onyx (Black)
SYMBOL: Royal Palm Tree
SERVANT MINISTRY GIFT: Pastors (Fivefold Office)
Christ the Servant
(Gospel of Mark)
From Joseph will come the shepherds of Israel.
Genesis 49:24
Joseph was the eleventh son of Jacob, and Rachel's firstborn.
Because Reuben forfeited the rights of the firstborn to Joseph, Joseph
received the double portion. Joseph's two sons Manasseh and Ephraim
inherited the double portion. At the time Jacob blessed the tribes, though
Manasseh was Joseph's firstborn, Jacob crossed his hands and purposely
placed his right hand on Ephraim and his left on Manasseh, making
Ephraim the greater of the two by prophecy.
Though Ephraim seemingly received the greater blessing, Manasseh
proved time and time again that they weren't giving up lying down. They
pushed forward to receive their inheritance. Years later Manasseh's great-
great grandson Zelophehad died, having no sons, only five daughters. The
law did not make provision for inheritance if there were no sons. The
daughters went before Moses, pled their case and demanded the portion that
would have gone to sons. Moses went before God and God changed the law
because of their faith and tenacity. God made an amendment to His own law!
Now that's bulldog faith! Manassites may not fight for anything else,
but they'll fight for their rights in the Kingdom of God. Their spiritual
warfare is unsurpassed. The daughters of Manasseh will take the Kingdom!
The Manassites know how to press for their rights. In the Promised
Land they received land on the east and west sides of the Jordan River,
208

Lively Stones
giving them four times the land allotment of Ephraim. Manasseh was split
into two half-tribes. Double portion! God gave the half Tribe of Manasseh
the land of Bashan (fruitful) on the east side of Jordan, because they had
conquered King Og and taken the land for their possession. Og had been a
problem for a long time, and nobody else had beaten him. Yes, Manasseh
had to fight for everything they got—but they won!
In Joshua 17:3,4 God used five women to stand on their rights and plead
their case to change the law. Then He used the most fearful man around,
Gideon, to build an army of 300 to fight against 120,000! God truly uses the
"weak to confound the mighty." Gideon worshipped God and gave Him glory.
Another possible Manassite is Jephthah, though some believe him to
be from the Tribe of Gad. Jephthah was a son of Gilead, born of a
prositute. He was cast out of the city by his brothers, but when the
Ammonites came against Gilead, the elders went to get Jephthah to lead
them into battle. That's how it is with Manassites! Everybody runs to them
when they need real faith! Read the account from Judges 11:2-5:
And Gilead's wife bare him sons; and his wife's sons grew
up, and they thrust out Jephthah, and said unto him, Thou
shalt not inherit in our father's house; for thou art the son of
a strange woman. Then Jephthah fled from his brethren,
and dwelt in the land of Tob . . . when the children of
Ammon made war against Israel, the elders of Gilead went to
fetch Jephthah out of the land of Tob: And they said unto
Jephthah, Come, and be our captain, that we may fight with
the children of Ammon.
Jephthah led them to victory and he became judge over Israel for six
years. He's listed in the Hebrews 11 "Hall of Fame" along with David,
Barak and Samson. Manassite or Gadite—Jephthah is truly an icon in Israel.
The final battle between Israel and the nations of the world will take
place in the Valley of Megiddo, the Battle of Armageddon, located in
Manasseh's land. And God is going to show Himself strong in that day as
He pours out His wrath upon the nations raged against His people, Israel.
Manasseh is the tribe who changed their destiny!
209

Jan Matthews
Manasseh's Gemstone
The onyx stone is a chalcedony quartz and
in the same family line as jasper and agate.
These beautiful opaque stones represent the
tribes of both Manasseh and Ephraim. It should
ONYX be noted that like the stone for Benjamin, which
Hebrew word: is jasper, the onyx is an humble but beautiful
shoham (sho’-ham) stone.
(To blanch, to whiten) The onyx also is the perfect stone for
Greek word: engraving upon and carving beautiful cameos
onux and other designs. The inner stripings make no
(Fingernail) two stones alike, each one is individual and
Onyx symbolizes: unique. The color of onyx is typically a striking
FRUITFULNESS highly-polished black with white veins running
GENEROSITY through it. This symbolizes, I call heaven and
STRENGTH earth to record this day against you, that I have
LOVE set before you life and death, blessing and
LOYALTY cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou
COMPASSION and thy seed may live: (Exodus 28:9). But the
BALANCE perfect onyx has pink, flesh-colored veins,
revealing the humanity within.
The reddish brown with white variety of this stone is called sardonyx.
The sardonyx was considered by the ancients to be of greater value than
all other stones and even more precious than gold. It is interesting to note
that the last mention of onyx is in Job when comparing wisdom to riches.
Revelation 21:20 mentions that the sardonyx replaces the onyx and is the
fifth stone in the foundation of the New Jerusalem. This shows the
molding, perfecting, and beautifying of the tribes of Manasseh and
Ephraim. Their part in the Kingdom is priceless!
(Manasseh and Ephraim have the same gemstone—the ONYX—and the
description for the onyx is continued under Ephraim's Gemstone.)
210

Lively Stones
Manasseh's Banner Symbol
The banner symbol for Manasseh is a royal
palm tree. The palm tree is a great symbol for rest,
shelter, provision, and protection. This magnificent
tree is planted by God specifically to withstand the
winds and hurricanes of life. While trees all around
are being torn to pieces, the quiet palm bends with
the wind, flexes with the tumult and is stronger
and more beautiful than ever after the storm.
Though there are about 4,000 species of the
palm, the royal palm stands tall above the others,
and emits a true noble presence among the
"commoners." Their roots are as deep as the tree
is tall, and the fruit-producing palms bring forth
their best fruit in old age. The royal palm
flourishes in the heat of the desert, makes its own
oasis, and is a comfort and life-sustaining source
to weary passersby. They're created for this!
The most threatening enemy of the royal
palm is the royal palm bug. The royal palm is
this little bug's only life source. The female lays
211
ROYAL
PALM TREE
Hebrew word:
Tomer (to’mer)
(Palm tree, post,
column)
Royal Palm
symbolizes:
REST
PROTECTION
SHELTER
JUDGMENT
one egg per day during the spring. It rarely kills the plant, but saps its
beauty, causing the new leaves to wilt and dry up. If left unattended, this
tiny pest will eventually drain the life, appeal, majesty, and purpose of the
plant. The bugs rarely attack trees under 12 feet tall, and the best defense
against them is a healthy root system. (Dig deep!)
Because forgiveness is Manasseh's greatest strength, the primary
threat to their fruitfulness is the spirit of offense. A tiny hint of offense, if
not purged, will eventually drain the heart and soul of the beautiful
Manassite spirit. They will provide no rest, strength, or refreshing to
anyone. So dear Manassite, don't let the "thief" steal your joy through
offense or sensitivity. You must stay strong in the Lord and the power of
His might. Many people look to you for strength, hope, and assurance.

Jan Matthews
Manasseh's Ministry Gift
PASTORAL
Jesus is known as the Good Shepherd,
so we're going to take a look at tending to sheep, or the Flock.
________________
I am the Good Shepherd: the Good Shepherd giveth his life for
the sheep.
But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the
sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and
fleeth: the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.
The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for
the sheep.
I am the Good Shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of
mine.
As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay
down my life for the sheep.
And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I
must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one
fold, and one shepherd.
212
John 10:11-16
For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned
unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
1 Peter 2:25

Lively Stones
If a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone
astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into
the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?
And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth
more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went
not astray.
213
Matthew 18:12, 13
Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the
oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for
filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being
ensamples to the flock.
And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a
crown of glory that fadeth not away.
1 Peter 5:2-4

Jan Matthews
23rd Psalm
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me
beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of
righteousness for his name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of
death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and
thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine
enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth
over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of
my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
THE SHEPHERD'S CARE
Shepherds have to keep the sheep restful and at peace because they
are so influenced by other sheep. Though it is their nature to stay together,
they will sometimes wander astray if not kept in bounds by the shepherd
or a good sheepdog. Sheep face many dangers with predators waiting to
find them away from the flock. They love to play "follow the leader," and
they're considered to be pretty dumb, because the entire flock will follow
one sheep over a cliff.
Sheep also need constant upkeep and attention, or they will die from
insects and disease. The shepherds must "anoint" their heads with oil to
repel flies, mosquitoes and gnats. Insects can be torturous for sheep. The
oil over their heads and around the nose and eye area keeps down
infection caused by cuts, knicks and insect bites. The oil also soothes,
calms, and brings comfort to the sheep.
214

Lively Stones
Pastoral Notes
In your words, describe what you think a pastor's heart is?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Do you have a pastor like that?___________________________________
Do you feel that you have a pastoral anointing on your life? ___________
___________________________________________________________
Describe the ideal pastor, in your opinion. __________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Pastoring is like parenting. How do they compare?___________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Who is your favorite modern-day pastor? __________________________
____________________________________________________________
What do you like about that pastor? _______________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
What should a pastor's duties include? ____________________________
___________________________________________________________
215

Jan Matthews
Could you be a Manassite?
These are Manasseh's strengths and weaknesses. To find the Tribe your
personality is most like, be sure to fill out the profile sheet,
Strengths
□ pastoral heart
□ forgives, forgets
□ systematic, organized
□ great discernment
□ unfooled by flattery
□ flexible, stable
□ sentimental
□ self-motivated
□ gifted in hands
□ encourager
□ agreeable spirit
□ righteous judgment
□ helps others forgive
□ locates people
□ in tune to the Spirit
□ not bound by past
□ humility
□ in background
□ faith runs deep
□ strength runs deep
or take your test online at:
www.covenantwoman.org
216
Weaknesses
□ guard against offense
□ easily hurt feelings
□ doesn’t like change
□ set in their ways
□ guard against idolatry
□ too well organized
□ fault finder
□ guarded walls
□ secret complainer
□ perfectionist
□ reclusive, “self” island
□ a bit greedy
□ hard to love imperfect
□ envious of success
□ controlling
□ judgmental
□ guard against envy
□ hard-headed
□ often late
□ needs a fire lit

Lively Stones
Do you identify with the Manassite personality? ____________________
If so, how? __________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
See the Strengths and Weaknesses pages. How many boxes are checked?
Strengths______ Weaknesses______
What are the Strengths? _______________________________________
___________________________________________________________
What are the Weaknesses ______________________________________
___________________________________________________________
How could a Manassite develop his or her strengths? _______________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
How could a Manassite overcome his or her weaknesses? ____________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
What other tribal personalities do you identify with?__________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Do you know any Manassites? __________________________________
___________________________________________________________
How can a Manassite personality avoid the pitfalls of the flesh?_______
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
What are some New Testament scriptures to help Manasseh fight the good
fight of faith? ________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
217

Jan Matthews
Manasseh's personality combination is
LOYAL-RULER-Noble-Oracle
Loyal-Ruler, watch out! This serious minded, genius-prone individual
knows how to keep the books, enforce the books, and communicate with
others about the books. The Loyal-Ruler has what it takes to lead any team to
victory so long as they lighten up, show their humanity, and don't run the
team off! The scorekeeping Loyal has all their ducks in a row and accounted
for while the dynamic, goal-driven Ruler leads the ducks. If there happens to
be enough of the Noble-Oracle present in this no-nonsense personality, the
rough edges could be smoothed out by the pleasant Noble who would name
the ducks and bond with them, and the lively Oracle, who would play with
the ducks. Because the Loyal is more laid back than the dominating Ruler, he
is perfectly content to go unnoticed while working quietly in the background,
so long as everything goes smoothly.
Loyal-Rulers are extreme perfectionists, and nothing gets past this go-bythe-rules
bunch. They're a good judge of character and usually right. Though
peaceful at heart, these people are born fighters, and they will stand their
ground, plead their case and fight to the finish for what is rightfully theirs.
The primary weakness of both the Loyal and Ruler would be their
tendency to be critical and judgmental of those who are less perfect. Though
the introverted Loyal must guard against negative thinking which can lead to
gloom and depression, it's hard to stay down when the optimistic Ruler lives in
the same "house." The dominant extroverted Ruler rises to the surface, dusts
himself off and runs toward the goal, dragging the Loyal faithfully along!
Loyal-Rulers, the capable ones. The protectors. They provide a safe
haven for all who attach themselves to them. Loyals are just that, loyal . . .
and probably the best friend you'll ever have. And the Ruler, well, they stay
true to their nature too. They rule. This unique personality is comprised of
the predominant Loyal, who makes up 45 percent of the population, and the
Ruler, the minority of all the personalities at 5 percent of the population.
The Loyals keep everything moving and on schedule, and the Rulers, of
course, are the movers 'n' shakers who rule the world.
218

Lively Stones
Manasseh's Cameo & Charge to Manassites
THE PASTORS, FORGIVING HEART
Manasseh's independence and strong faith to stand alone if necessary exalts
them among the tribes. Their forgiving nature catapults them to greatness.
Their strength is in knowing their God.
_________________
Manasseh is the oasis in a desert. They're the Rock of Gibraltar when it
comes to knowing who they are and what's theirs in the Kingdom. They're
independent. Like the royal palm tree, their roots go down deep and they can
stand alone against the storms of life if necessary. Their strength comes from
within. These people are the ones others run to when their foundations are
shaking. Their faith is contagious and their words encouraging. They're like a
magnet to people seeking rest of soul.
Manassites are organized and stable, and they don't like change. They have
great discernment, and are guarded in relationships. They like to keep the same
friends forever. Because they are steadfast in their beliefs, they're also hard
headed! They can tend to be intolerant or critical. After all, they live in a world
of vacillating people who don't believe much of anything. They don't have
much respect for the faithless and are great defenders of God. These people are
the faith bulldogs of the Kingdom, they won't take no for an answer, and cannot
be moved off their convictions. They are willing to risk their lives for what they
believe in, and believe others should do the same.
Manasseh is a fruitful people and very family oriented. They don't need
the limelight and usually stay in the background strengthening the brethren. But
they do demand respect. They can become offended when someone doesn't
acknowledge their spiritual position. It's important to them that others recognize
their commitment to the Lord. They trust God completely and He is their life
Source. The Manassite isn't moving and shaking anything but the devil's cage.
He has tried to steal their inheritance from the beginning, and they've got their
foot firmly planted on his neck! Manassites don't get in a hurry about anything.
They usually have a dry sense of humor and are pretty low key. Weak in their
own strength, they fit the scripture, God has chosen the weak things of the
world to confound the things which are mighty (1 Corinthians 1:27). But don't
let their low profile fool you, they are truly the faith giants of Christendom, and
your Manassite friend is the first person you'll call on when you need real faith.
219

Jan Matthews
A Manassite
would make a good: politician, bookkeeper, teller, athlete, computer
operator, legal secretary, brick mason, word processor, electrician, dental
assistant, medical records tech, medical assistant, paralegal, flight
attendant, file clerk, school administrator, hostess, treasurer, banker, city
manager, principal, CEO, judge, scientist, ministry general, police
detective, district attorney, dictator, control freak . . .
You can add to this confession, using scripture to emphasize
strengths and overcome weaknesses.
Confession
I am the head and not the tail, and I choose to forgive and forget any
wrong done toward me. I take no account of an evil done to me, and I
don't keep score of offenses. I guard against envy, and I trust God to help
me recover all the enemy has tried to steal from me. I walk in humility and
love toward the brethren. God has a plan for my destiny and future, and I
look to Jesus as I walk it out in the love of God. I choose to take the
authority given me by the Word of God and to be numbered among the
saints of the Most High who do know their God and take the
Kingdom!___________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
220

Lively Stones
Your personal notes on
MANASSEH
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
221

Jan Matthews
Breastplate of the High Priest
Formation in the Wilderness
EPHRAIM
222

Lively Stones
The Tribe of
EPHRAIM
Pastoral
The Golden Boy of Israel
Joseph's Second Son
(Joseph is the Eleventh Son, Firstborn of Rachel)
223

Jan Matthews
Famous Ephraimites
Joshua
Samuel
Hannah
Jereboam I
224

Lively Stones
Prophecies by Jacob and Moses over the Tribe of
EPHRAIM
By Jacob
Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well;
whose branches run over the wall: The archers have sorely grieved
him, and shot at him, and hated him: But his bow abode in
strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands
of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the
stone of Israel:) Even by the God of thy father, who shall help
thee; and by the Almighty, who shall bless thee with the blessings
of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lieth under, blessings of
the breasts, and of the womb: The blessings of my progenitors unto
the utmost bound of the everlasting hills: they shall be on the head
of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was separate
from his brethren.
Genesis 49:22-26
By Moses
And of Joseph he said, Blessed of the Lord be his land, for the
precious things of heaven, for the dew, and for the deep that
coucheth beneath, And for the precious fruits brought forth by the
sun, and for the precious things put forth by the moon. And for the
chief things of the ancient mountains, and for the precious things
of the lasting hills. And for the precious things of the earth and
fullness thereof, and for the good will of him that dwelt in the
bush: let the blessing come upon the head of Joseph, and upon the
top of the head of him that was separated from his brethren. His
glory is like the firstling of his bullock, and his horns are like the
horns of unicorns: with them he shall push the people together to
the ends of the earth: and they are the ten thousands of Ephraim,
and they are the thousands of Manasseh.
Deuteronomy 33:13-17
225

Jan Matthews
WEST BRIGADE (Manasseh, Ephraim, Benjamin)
EPHRAIM #11
MEANING: Double Fruitful Joseph's son
STONE: Onyx (Black)
SYMBOL: Grapes
SERVANT MINISTRY GIFT: Pastoral (Fivefold Office)
Christ the Servant
(Gospel of Mark)
From Joseph will come the shepherds of Israel.
Genesis 49:24
Joseph was the eleventh son of Jacob, and Rachel's firstborn.
Because Reuben forfeited the rights of the firstborn to Joseph, Joseph
received the double portion. Joseph's two sons Manasseh and Ephraim
inherited the double portion. At the time Jacob blessed the tribes, though
Manasseh was Joseph's firstborn, Jacob crossed his hands and purposely
placed his right hand on Ephraim and his left on Manasseh, making
Ephraim the greater of the two by prophecy.
No doubt these two boys were spoiled. Rachel had been barren until
the birth of Joseph, so there was great rejoicing when he was born.
Remember when Jacob made Joseph a "coat of many colors"? He was the
envy of the other sons. Just as Leah's sons were favored above the
handmaidens' sons, now the birth of Rachel's first son took jealousy to a
new level. And that jealousy continued through the births of Manasseh and
Ephraim, Joseph's sons. The birth mother, wife of Joseph was Asenath,
daughter of Potiphera. Asenath means dedicated to Neith, so there was
much idol worship influence in their heritage and rearing. The marriage of
Joseph and Asenath was probably arranged by Pharaoh.
Though Ephraim was preferred above Manasseh and given the greater
blessing, he was still envious against Manasseh. While he expected
blessings to just fall from heaven upon him, Manasseh pushed through
226

Lively Stones
opposition and received abundance of blessings too. Ephraim complained
to Joshua, "We should have more land! We're special!" Joshua basically
said, "Since you're so special, get your bad self up to the woodlands, clear
the land of the Perizzite giants and fight the wild beasts." In other words,
"Work for it!" (Real talk!)
The struggle for power between the tribes continued throughout the
conquest of Canaan and resulted in the ultimate division of the entire
Kingdom. The Tribe of Ephraim felt slighted when they were not invited
to help fight in Gideon's army against the Midianites, and in Jephthah's
victory over the Ammonites. As tension and competition grew among the
tribes, Ephraim wanted glory too. Judah was Ephraim's main rival.
Influential Ephraim broke away from Judah and formed Northern Israel
under Jereboam I. Judah and Northern Israel became rival nations. Gosh,
sounds a bit like church people, doesn't it! (Oops, did I say that? Smile.
We’re family.)
Though Ephraim produced godly men and women like Samuel and
Hanna, they also have Jereboam I to their chagrin. But the shining star of
Ephraim is Joshua, son of Nun. Only two of the 12 spies—Joshua and
Caleb—brought back a good report. Joshua led the way into Canaan for
the tribes to take possession of the Promised Land. He never lost a battle
except at Ai, and it was only because there was sin in the camp. When
they cleansed the camp, they conquered Ai too. Under Joshua's leadership,
Ephraim and the other tribes conquered Canaan and received their
inheritance.
For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
James 3:15
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren
to dwell together in unity.
Psalms 133:1
227

ONYX
Hebrew word:
shoham (sho’-ham)
(To blanch, to whiten)
Greek word:
onux
(Fingernail)
Onyx symbolizes:
FRUITFULNESS
GENEROSITY
STRENGTH
Jan Matthews
Ephraim's Gemstone
(Continued from Manasseh's Gemstone)
Besides being worn on the breastplate with
the other 11 stones, the onyx is worn on the
shoulders, as mentioned in Exodus 28:9-12,
And thou shalt take two onyx stones,
and grave on them the names of the
children of Israel: six of their names on
one stone, and the other six names of
the rest on the other stone, according to
their birth . . . make them to be set in
pouches of gold and thou shalt put the
two stones upon the shoulders of the
ephod for stones of memorial, and
Aaron shalt bear their names before the
Lord.
LOVE
LOYALTY
As the Apostle Paul said in 2 Corinthians
COMPASSION 11:28 . . . that which cometh upon me daily,
BALANCE the care of all the churches, Manasseh and
Ephraim have the pastor's heart. They carry the
daily care of the Church on their shoulders, and the people in their hearts.
Pastors get into your business! They're supposed to. They are the fathers,
the mothers, and the overseers of the Church. They watch over your soul.
(Be glad!)
And like their father Joseph, who is the type of Christ and had the
care of all Egypt, as well as the care of his father Jacob's household when
he brought them into Egypt to escape the famine in the land—Ephraim
and Manasseh have their hands full helping to perfect the saints while
bringing into maturity the Body of Christ.
228

Lively Stones
Ephraim's Banner Symbol
The banner symbol for Ephraim is usually
grapes. Abundance. Fruitfulness. Blessings of
God. Life. Health. Joy. Happiness. Prosperity.
When the spies went to explore the Promised
Land, they came back with a cluster of grapes.
And what a cluster it was! Numbers 13:23 says,
And they came unto the brook of Eshcol, and
cut down from thence a branch with one cluster
of grapes, and they bare it between two upon a
staff; and they brought of the pomegranates,
and of the figs.
One cluster of grapes! And it took how
many to carry it? This represents true prosperity.
This is more than enough! This is talking about
too much money! Too much goodness of God!
This is double fruitful.
Grapes are also used for the making of wine,
a type of the Holy Spirit. The Ephraimites are
anointed to bring the Presence of the Holy Spirit
into the lives of all they touch. This is a spiritual
229
GRAPES
Hebrew word:
Enab (ay-nawb)
(Grape, wine)
Grapes symbolize:
ABUNDANCE
FRUITFULNESS
HEALTH
ANOINTING
PROSPERITY
PEACE
JOY
LIFE
tool of the pastoral office to draw men to the Lord. As Jesus said in Luke
4:18, the ministers of God are anointed to set the captives free, for The
Spirit of the Lord is upon (them).
And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet
Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the
place where it was written, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the
poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach
deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the
blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the
acceptable year of the Lord (Luke 4:17-19).

Jan Matthews
Ephraim's Ministry Gift
PASTORAL
Ministers of the Gospel must have a good report of all men
Honorable ♥ Blameless ♥ Gentle
Pastors are like parents.
1 Timothy 3:1-7 shows us the pastoral qualifications.
A bishop, or pastor must be:
_________________
BLAMELESS—Life must be above reproach. No accusations can
prove to be true. Must avoid the appearance of evil.
HUSBAND OF ONE WIFE—Men are generally pastors. Some say
it would be difficult for a woman to be the "husband of one wife." We are
aware that there are some fine women pastors as well as women co-pastors.
VIGILANT—Must be temperate and exercise self-control and discipline.
SOBER—Sober-minded and serious about his responsibility as a pastor.
GOOD BEHAVIOR—Must have orderly conduct as well as lifestyle,
being organized, peaceful, holy and reverent.
GIVEN TO HOSPITALITY—Of course, a pastor should welcome
people, be hospitable!
APT TO TEACH—Teacher of the Word of God, not a businessman
attitude for the church. Preach the Word, be instant in season and out of
season.
NOT GIVEN TO WINE—Stay away from alcohol.
230

Lively Stones
NO STRIKER—Not a fighter or a striker. Be a lover of people and a
peacemaker.
NOT GREEDY OF FILTHY LUCRE—Should not be in the
ministry for money, or use the ministry to merchandise and make money.
Of course, the workman is worthy of his hire, and a minister should be
supported through the tithes and offerings into the ministry. A minister
should not require an outside job to survive. If a minister of the gospel
must work for support, it is unlikely that he will be able to give himself to
the prayer and study necessary in order to be available for counsel and
ministry to people .
PATIENT—Be gentle in spirit, not anxious, not agitated.
NOT A BRAWLER—Not a fighter or troublemaker. Remember, the
wrath of man does not work the righteousness of God.
NOT COVETOUS—Not having a desire for more . . . and . . . more.
RULETH HIS HOUSE WELL—The Bible makes it very clear that
if a man cannot rule his own household, he is not able to pastor or rule a
church. His children must be in subjection to him, and his wife should also
be blameless and a good example.
NOT A NOVICE—Must not be a beginner or new Christian.
HAVE A GOOD REPORT OF ALL MEN—Must have a good
report outside the church, get along with people, cause no ill-will, pay his
bills, obey the law, etc.
231

Jan Matthews
232

Lively Stones
Pastoral Notes
How was Joseph like a pastor?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
How was Moses like a pastor? ___________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Name some other pastoral figures in the Bible and how they pastored the
people. _____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Tell about your pastor. _________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Do you have a favorite TV pastor? _______________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
What do you like about that TV pastor? ___________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
233

Jan Matthews
Could you be an Ephraimite?
These are Ephraim's strengths and weaknesses. To find the Tribe your
personality is most like, be sure to fill out the profile sheet,
Strengths
□ tenderhearted
□ strong hands
□ gifted in hands
□ pastor’s heart
□ “Word” people
□ missionary-minded
□ loves righteousness
□ sacrificial
□ heart of God
□ sensitive to Holy Spirit
□ priesthood anointing
□ sanctified life
□ spiritual children
□ grieved at sin
□ dedicated
□ fruitful, prosperous
□ yields to the Word
□ humble
□ strong leader
□ influencer
□ dedicated
or take your test online at:
www.covenantwoman.org
234
Weaknesses
□ hard-headed
□ self-willed, “my way”
□ jealous nature
□ contentious
□ a bit selfish
□ setting up idols
□ individualistic
□ non-conformist
□ complainer
□ fault finder
□ religious spirit
□ envious of success
□ easily offended
□ “spoiled”
□ hold grudges
□ high-minded, proud
□ wants glory
□ lazy spiritually
□ rebellious

Lively Stones
Do you identify with the Ephraimite personality? ____________________
If so, how? __________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
See the Strengths and Weaknesses pages. How many boxes are checked?
Strengths______ Weaknesses______
What are the Strengths? _______________________________________
___________________________________________________________
What are the Weaknesses? _____________________________________
___________________________________________________________
How could an Ephraimite develop his or her strengths? _______________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
How could an Ephraimite overcome his or her weaknesses? __________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
What other tribal personalities do you identify with?__________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Do you know any Ephraimites? __________________________________
____________________________________________________________
How can an Ephraimite personality avoid the pitfalls of the flesh?______
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
What are some New Testament scriptures to help Ephraim fight the good
fight of faith? ________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
235

Jan Matthews
Ephraim's personality combination is
LOYAL-ORACLE-Ruler-Noble
Loyal-Oracle, what a contrasting personality! While the pessimistic
and introverted Loyal is an extreme perfectionist, detail oriented, and
analytical, the optimistic and extroverted Oracle will make the Loyal crazy
with their impulsive, live-for-the-moment attitude. This individual has the
zeal, energy, and flashy personality of the Oracle coupled together with the
incredible depth, creativity and practicality of the Loyal.
Talk about a split personality! The Loyal-Oracle would be anything but
boring and mundane. Pretty much into themselves because of the predominant
genius-prone Loyal and the on-stage personality of the Oracle, this tenacious
talker is a mover 'n' shaker with all their ducks in a row. Gathering a crowd of
followers is not an issue with this brainy and influential individual. Though
the Loyal and Oracle do not have the astute leadership ability of the Ruler,
this serious and systematic Loyal has the charisma of the smooth-talking
Oracle to launch a revival or a provoke a riot—and that's just what Jereboam I
did when he led a revolt against Judah and took 10 tribes with him to form
Northern Israel! The touch of Ruler undergirds the Oracle just enough to
project this Loyal-Oracle-Ruler to greatness and leadership ability.
The primary negative of the Loyal-Oracle would be the Loyal's tendency
to meditate on the negative and become depressed. They reason, calculate,
scheme, and complain if they feel they've been wronged, slighted, or rejected.
They tend to become offended or envious of another's position or success.
However, these deep thinkers are not down for long, because the optimistic
Oracle comes to the rescue with their positive "can-do" attitude which
energizes them with new hope, goals, and vision to move forward.
Though Loyals and Oracles abound in our society, the blend is quite
unusual because they are such opposites. They do however complement one
another when both are predominant traits, and they produce a rather lively
perfectionist for the rest of us to deal with! Ephraim is a type of returning
Israel, and their destiny includes the blessings of the birthright . . . the double
portion! Loyals are about 45 percent of the population, and Oracles comprise
about 40 percent.
236

Lively Stones
Ephraim's Cameo & Charge to Ephraimites
THE PASTORS, TYPE OF THE RETURNING ISRAEL
Ephraim, the Kingdom is theirs for the taking. Unsurpassed leadership,
charismatic, fruitful, prosperous, and full of the Word. Must be cautious against
envy, strife and thinking it's all about them.
_________________
Ephraim, Ephraim, Ephraim! You're so vain . . . you probably think this
life is about you! Well, of course, you're the pride of all Israel. The apple of
God's eye. Spoiled rotten is what it's called. But after all, you're preferred above
the rest and have been equipped with everything you need to succeed. Ephraim
has to guard against selfishness, envy, and pride. Great influencers and
dedicated to the cause—good or evil—Ephraim has the charm, personality, and
leadership ability to start a riot or revival. They are champions.
Two of the most prominent figures of the Old Testament are Jereboam I,
the "bad boy" of Ephraim, who led 10 tribes into revolt and secession, and
Joshua, the most successful military general in history. Definitely leaders of the
pack, they usually have a crowd around them or an entourage close behind. It's
true that their followers look to them for strength, but the fact is, Ephraim also
needs to have others around. They gain strength from their followers. They're
actually a bit co-dependent upon them! They cannot conquer alone.
The Ephraimite can only be tamed and disciplined by God, and they're
called to be set apart unto the Lord. Hosea 7:8 says Ephraim is like a "halfbaked
cake." But when they allow the Lord to flip them over—because they
can't flip themselves—they will provide manna for the nations. Until they're
fully "baked" they can't do anything in their own strength. But when they're
walking in humility and producing fruit, they can strut tall, because they are
truly a most beautiful tribe.
Ephraim, your faith ignites the faith of all those around you . . . so that
requires great responsibility. You're always pastoring or leading someone, for
"from Joseph will come the shepherds of Israel." You have the heart of a father,
the love of a mother, the bond of a friend and the influence of a leader. You
know you're chosen of God for greatness. Ephraim is the type of returning
Israel . . . and that little cake is just about ready to come out of the oven! And
when it does, Ephraim will probably be leading 10 tribes of the 144,000 Jews
who have been sealed and are preparing to evangelize the world!
237

Jan Matthews
An Ephraimite
would make a good: bookkeeper, teller, athlete, computer operator, legal
secretary, brick mason, word processor, electrician, dental assistant,
medical records tech, medical assistant, paralegal, flight attendant, file
clerk, school administrator, hostess, treasurer, banker, city manager,
principal, promoter, hairstylist, writer, entertainer, graphic designer,
composer, interior decorator, artist, politician, business owner . . .
You can add to this confession, using scripture to emphasize
strengths and overcome weaknesses.
Confession
Thank You, Lord, that You cause me always to triumph in Christ
Jesus! I'm swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to wrath, I walk in
brotherly love and look for good things in others. I meditate your Word
daily and You make me a success in all I put my hand to. I'm not easily
offended and use the gifts You have given me for good to further the
Kingdom. This life is all about Jesus, and I give God all the glory in my
successes. Because I am a leader, I purpose to keep with the heavenly
vision and lead by inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Not my will, Lord, but
Thine be done.________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
238

Lively Stones
Your personal notes on
EPHRAIM
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
239

Jan Matthews
Breastplate of the High Priest
Formation in the Wilderness
BENJAMIN
240

Lively Stones
The Tribe of
BENJAMIN
The Church
The Twelfth Son
(Second son of Rachel)
241

Jan Matthews
Famous Benjamites
Benjamin
King Saul
Jonathan
Mordecai
Queen Esther
Apostle Paul
242

By Jacob
Lively Stones
Prophecies by Jacob and Moses over the Tribe of
BENJAMIN
Benjamin shall ravin as a wolf: in the morning he shall
devour the prey, and at night he shall divide the spoil.
Genesis 49:27
By Moses
And of Benjamin he said, The beloved of the Lord shall
dwell in safety by him; and the Lord shall cover him all the
day long, and he shall dwell between his shoulders.
243
Deuteronomy 33:12

Jan Matthews
WEST BRIGADE (Manasseh, Ephraim, Benjamin)
Benjamin #12
MEANING: Son of My Right Hand
STONE: Onyx (Black)
SYMBOL: Wolf
SERVANT MOTIVE GIFT: Administrative
Christ the Servant
(Gospel of Mark)
In the evening Benjamin shall divide the spoil.
Genesis 49:27
Benjamin is the 12th son of Israel (Jacob), and Rachel's second
son. He was the pride and joy of Israel, and the only child born after
Jacob's name was changed to "Israel." Rachel died in childbirth with
Benjamin, and he became the favored son of Jacob, now named Israel. He
is also the only son born in Canaan, after Jacob had left his servitude to
Laban. Benjamin was about six years younger than his brother Joseph.
Though Jacob's prophecy said Benjamin would . . . ravin as a wolf: in
the morning he shall devour the prey, and at night he shall divide the
spoil (Genesis 49:27), Moses' prophecy enveloped Benjamin in love and
protection, The beloved of the Lord shall dwell in safety by him; and the
Lord shall cover him all the day long, and he shall dwell between his
shoulders (Deuteronomy 33:12). Benjamin, the type of the Church, had
the promise that he would grow into maturity in his latter years, and that
he would always be loved and watched over by the Lord. These
prophecies denote the birth, growth, and ultimate destiny of the Church, as
it is being hovered over, nurtured and matured by the Lord
Because Rachel was the love of Jacob's life, when she died at
Benjamin's birth, Jacob was surely heartbroken. Baby Benjamin was
pampered and spoiled by the nurses as well as all the other brethren. He
was the baby boy of the family. Joseph had been picked on, but Benjamin
244

Lively Stones
seems to have been watched over and protected by them. Reuben even
offered his two sons for Benjamin's life, and Judah said he would go to
prison instead of Benjamin when Joseph accused Benjamin of stealing his
silver cup. The brothers probably felt guilty for what they had done to
Joseph, and they knew the heartbreak it had caused their father Jacob.
The Benjamites settled to the north of Judah in the Promised Land,
and the two tribes became "buds." The Tribe of Benjamin looked up to the
Tribe of Judah as the elder brother, and the Judahites watched over them.
They were the first two tribes to go to David's aid when he was still a
fugitive in the Wilderness. Benjamin and Judah flowed together and had
the same vision. They did everything together, whether having a revival,
worshipping God, going to war, or even sinning—they did it together!
They were as one. The two tribes were so close that they both shared
Jerusalem as their capital.
The Benjamites never did drive out the Jebusites from their land. It
was a thorn in their flesh and they themselves fell into some of the same
sins of the Jebusites. Read the story in Judges 19-21. Their failure to rid
the land of the Jebusites almost cost them their entire tribe when it was
dwindled down to 600. However, they were humbled and changed their
ways, so God built their tribe back up again.
The little Tribe of Benjamin produced great people such as Queen
Esther, King Saul, Jonathan, and the Apostle Paul. Thank you, Benjamin,
for the man of God who brought the gospel to the Gentile world and then
laid down his life as a martyr for the Lord Jesus Christ! The Apostle Paul
said:
I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded
that he is able to keep that which I have committed
unto him against that day.
2 Timothy 1:12
245

Jan Matthews
Benjamin's Gemstone
The jasper is in the quartz family. If you gaze
into a crystal ball you will see a quartz, rock crystal,
at the heart of it. Quartz that is formed of not one
single crystal, but finely grained microcrystals is
known as chalcedony. The agate, bloodstone and
JASPER
Hebrew word:
yash-pheh
(To polish)
Jasper symbolizes:
HUMANITY
SERVING
GIVING
DESTINY
HUMILITY
REWARD
OVERCOMING
LOYALTY
jasper are cryptocrystalline quartz with patterns and
solid colors running throughout. They come in an
array of colors, including red, yellow, green, purple,
pink, and more. The jasper has bands and stripes
that sometimes looks like a landscape painting.
Jasper stones range from translucent to opaque, and
when highly polished, they only boast their beauty
on the outside.
Revelation 21:11 says the New Jerusalem will
descend out of heaven from God, Having the glory
of God: and her light was like unto a stone most
precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.
The Tribes of Benjamin, Manasseh, and
Ephraim are the servant tribes under the banner of
the Ox. All three have opaque stones. The lowly. The earthly. You can't see the
inner beauty of the jasper, but its deep inner wisdom is revealed externally.
Man was covered with the glory of God but lost it at the Fall. We became
darkened, opaque. But Jesus came and turned the light back on! He planted His
Spirit inside us (like the rock crystal). His Spirit is working in us to take back
the Kingdom. Mortality will put on immortality, and the glory of God will be
risen upon us, When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be
admired in all them that believe . . . in that day (2 Thessalonians 1:10). God's
eternal plan is, Christ in you, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27). The glory of
God will radiate through Benjamin's transparency as the glory of the Lord fills
the earth! Benjamin's jasper is the last stone on the breastplate, but in New
Jerusalem it is the first foundation stone, fulfilling Matthew 19:30, Many that
are first shall be last, and the last shall be first. Church, Arise, shine . . . the
glory of the Lord is risen upon You! (Isaiah 60:1). (Rejoice!)
246

Lively Stones
Benjamin's Banner Symbol
The banner symbol for Benjamin is the wolf.
What in the world can be said about a man
calling his own son a wolf? Other than the fact
that a wolf eats from two to five pounds of food
a day, and that it can overindulge to the extent of
about 22 pounds of food in one sitting . . . Wow!
Did you know the primary reason for the death
of wolves is starvation? Especially for the pups.
The next reason for death would be territorial
fights with other wolves. Finally, disease and
humans killing them. About 40-60 percent of
wolf pups die each year.
The wolves' primary entertainment is eating. All
they think about is eating. As a matter of fact, eating
is number one on their "to do" list. They are savage
and fearless, and usually hunt in packs of six to eight
247
WOLF
Hebrew word:
Za’eb (zeh-abe’)
(Wolf,
To be yellow)
Wolf symbolizes:
DESTRUCTION
TEARING, RIPPING
GREED
SELF
wolves. They tear and rend their victims, and gorge themselves with the flesh.
Benjamin's prophecy by Jacob says, Benjamin shall ravin as a wolf:
in the morning he shall devour the prey, and at night he shall divide the
spoil (Genesis 49:27). The morning represents that in his immaturity and
younger years he would ravin as a wolf. Benjamin had been so spoiled, he
felt like he had to fight, press and take what he wanted and selfishly keep
it for himself. The night represents Benjamin in his mature state and how
he had mellowed and was willing to share with the brethren. He was
humbled through life experiences, and ultimately many great men and
women of God came from the little Tribe of Benjamin.
One of the foremost figures who "divided the spoil" would be the
great Apostle Paul, who broke the bread of the Word and spread the
gospel to the Gentiles. Paul means small. Benjamin had become almost
extinct through some tragic circumstances. But once again God chose the
"weak to confound the mighty." For from the smallest tribe, Benjamin, the
gospel was carried to the entire earth!

Jan Matthews
Benjamin's Motivational Gift
THE ADMINISTRATORS
Administrators. It's a tough job, but somebody's got to do it! Yes,
there is a business side to ministry. Someone has to keep the books, the
files, and all the paperwork. Someone needs to deal with telephone calls,
products, books, tapes, music, publications, recordings—camera, lights,
action! Who's going to fold the newsletters and go to the post office? Don't
forget about cleaning the offices, washing the vehicles and keeping them
in good mechanical condition. Then there are the various people to deal
with at the city council, local businesses, and people in the community.
How about setting up meetings, hosting events, and planning conventions?
Someone has to handle the general day-to-day operations of the business
side of ministry. Someone needs to answer the phone if you call!
That's right. Ministry is not just sitting around reading your Bible,
praying for people and singing and dancing before the Lord all day! It's
not preaching before the masses, laying hands on people and seeing them
fall out in the floor. And it's certainly not about everybody throwing
money at you! Sometimes it's more like "dialing for dollars," and praying
that others will catch the vision to help you run with it.
Ministry simply means to serve. And it is all inclusive, whether doing the
office work, mechanical, janitorial, electronic—whatever part you play, it is
vital to the operation and success of the ministry. And everyone receives the
same reward for their participation, if they do it with the right heart and attitude.
God has gifted different people with capabilities and skills in order to
carry out His "project salvation and Kingdom takeover" in the earth. And
just as it was in King David's day when those who stayed with the "stuff"
received the same reward as those who went into battle, so it is now. God
rewards everyone involved in a ministry endeavor equally (See 1 Samuel
30:23-25).
And how do you know where you are called? Well, generally God
will equip each individual with gifts and talents to use for the Kingdom.
248

Lively Stones
Remember a movie called Chariots of Fire? It was a true story about the
young men who ran in the Olympics during the 1920's. One of the young
men was a Christian who refused to run on Sunday and forfeited one of the
races. That man made a statement in the movie. He said, "When I run, I feel
His pleasure." He could feel the Presence and the approval of God when he
was racing. He was given a talent and he used it to glorify God. Everyone
knew he was honoring the Sabbath by not running in the Sunday race.
Is there anything in particular that you feel really comfortable doing?
Something that can glorify God and be useful in church or ministry
business?
What is your talent or gift?
I have a talent or gift of ________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
I would like to be talented at ____________________________________
____________________________________________________________
I believe God has called me to ___________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
I don't feel called to ministry, but I really like to_____________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Are you an administrative "can do" person? Explain. ________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
How do you use your administrative gift? _________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
249

Jan Matthews
250

Lively Stones
Administrative Notes
Do you have any of these gifts?
□ secretarial
□ office work
□ accounting
□ maintenance
□ cooking
□ cleaning
□ mechanic
□ sound tech
□ television tech
□ telephone skills
□ writer, editor
□ counselor
□ prayer line
□ correspondence
□ personal assistant
□ civic leader
□ events coordinator
□ publications
□ artist
□ driver
□ bookstore
□ receptionist
□ personal aid
□ public relations
□ management
□ mailout, postal skills
□ pilot
□ stage, lighting design
□ ________________________________________
□ ________________________________________
□ ________________________________________
251

Jan Matthews
Could you be a Benjamite?
These are Benjamin's strengths and weaknesses. To find the Tribe your
personality is most like, be sure to fill out the profile sheet,
Strengths
□ humble
□ influencer
□ moves with Spirit
□ protected by God
□ noble
□ courageous, brave
□ defender of faith
□ fearless, battle fit
□ unique (some left-handed)
□ adaptable
□ sacrificial
□ loyal
□ evangelistic
□ take–charge person
□ self-motivated
□ secure in the Lord
□ helpers, supporters
□ political, patriot
□ dependable
□ good follower
□ submits to authority
□ personality plus
or take your test online at:
www.covenantwoman.org
252
Weaknesses
□ greedy
□ self-willed
□ spiritually lazy
□ prideful
□ spoiled
□ sets his own rules
□ impulsive
□ argumentative
□ fault finder
□ acts in anger
□ control freak
□ judgmental
□ legalistic
□ jealous
□ rebel
□ boastful
□ punisher
□ dangerously zealous
□ wants glory
□ ruthless
□ led by flesh

Lively Stones
Do you identify with the Benjamite personality? ____________________
If so, how? __________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
See the Strengths and Weaknesses pages. How many boxes are checked?
Strengths______ Weaknesses______
What are the Strengths? _______________________________________
___________________________________________________________
What are the Weaknesses? _____________________________________
___________________________________________________________
How could a Benjamite develop his or her strengths? _______________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
How could a Benjamite overcome his or her weaknesses? ____________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
What other tribal personalities do you identify with?__________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Do you know any Benjamites? __________________________________
___________________________________________________________
How can a Benjamite personality avoid the pitfalls of the flesh?______
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
What are some New Testament scriptures to help Benjamin fight the good
fight of faith? ________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
253

Jan Matthews
Benjamin's personality combination is
RULER-NOBLE-Oracle-Loyal
A Ruler-Noble is the most unique of all personalities. This strong but
easygoing leader has the adaptability to yield when necessary. Though Ruler is
the predominant trait, the Noble influence shaves off the rough edges and
brings a pleasant aroma to the personality. The Noble flanked by the Oracle
energizes and brings to life the Ruler-Noble. Everybody wants to work with
this leader! Strong enough to lead proudly, yet human and friendly enough to
show care and consideration for others. This guy is not only a great leader, but
sensitive and sociable. Ruler-Nobles do have to guard against being buddies
with those they lead, lest they lose their esteem as the leader. As Jesus said in
Mark 6:4, A prophet is not without honor, but in his own house and among
his kin. Too much familiarity can breed contempt and dishonor from others.
Ruler-Noble, keep your head up and don't get too loose, lest you lose respect.
The Ruler-Noble would certainly have unsurpassed oratory skills and the
influence to organize a crowd. They're problem solvers and people magnets!
Though Rulers are like eagles and fly alone, you can be sure that the Ruler-
Noble would have a flock or entourage following close behind. Because the
Noble tempers the Ruler, this dynamic personality excels in gathering
supporters and getting everyone on their team to fight for their cause!
Ruler-Nobles lead by instruction and example. They will get right in
there and work side-by-side with the helpers in order to get a job done.
Though they're great achievers and able to keep their eye on the goal, these
awesome leaders are people people and much loved by their subjects, just as
the beloved King David who was a forceful and strong leader. When David
said, O, that someone would give me a drink of water from the well at
Bethlehem, three of his mighty men risked their lives to break through the
Philistines and bring him water. Their beloved leader, David, poured out the
water and would not drink it because he knew they had risked their lives for
him (2 Samuel 23:15-17). He was honorable, and he was loved.
This is a beautiful mix. Because the Ruler and Noble each make up less
than 10 percent of the population, this is truly a rare blend. Benjamin, like
Reuben, is a most unique tribe, and they are the sons of promise!
254

Lively Stones
Benjamin's Cameo & Charge to Benjamites
THE ADMINISTRATORS!
Strong in the flesh, confident and able, courageous, judgmental, impulsive,
influencers and leaders, Benjamites with the love of God do much to further the
Kingdom. Type of the Church.
_______________
The Benjamite's strength comes from his security in the Lord. Everyone
loves a Benjamite! People want to protect him, bless him and give to him.
Protected by friends and family, everyone wants to be Benjamin’s best friend.
But Benjamites are selective in choosing their buddies and hang with the same
ones for life. And it's important who their friends are, because they are not only
influencers, they can be influenced by their peers. And they do care what others
think of them. After all, they've been "babied" all their life by God. Protected,
nurtured, hovered over and spoiled. They don't think it's all about them, they
know it! And they don't have any problem putting themselves first. Nothing is
ever their fault. And it really needs to stay about them. Really. God said.
Benjamites have to be faced with a crisis, or knocked off a horse to get
their attention. Strong in the flesh, they must be motivated. As iron sharpens
iron, Christian fellowship inspires and projects Benjamin to greatness.
Benjamites are zealous. They're idealists and patriots. Rebels with a cause.
And they're focused! They're always "on go," and they're going to be on the
front line of somebody's cause and waving a banner high. They are great
leaders, followers, workers, or supporters. Their service to a cause is priceless.
Benjamites are people people, great speakers and enthusiastic persuaders who
can gather a crowd to get the job done. You can give a Benjamite the ball, and
he will rally the team, organize the game plan, and run with the ball all the way
to the goal line. Equipped, capable, and committed, Benjamites are sacrificial,
and their endurance level is unsurpassed. Benjamites are the cream of the crop!
Benjamin, this is your finest hour. Just as Queen Esther, your life has been
a preparation for . . . such a time as this (Esther 4:14). God has kept His little
Church tucked away while being pruned and disciplined. The "seat of God's
love," and the apple of His eye, God has hovered over, nurtured and protected
Benjamin for this final hour. Spirit-led Benjamites are royalty at heart, noble in
deed, and confident in their position. So arise to the occasion, dear Benjamin,
for the glory of the Lord is risen upon you!
255

Jan Matthews
A Benjamite
would make a good: CEO, business owner, lawyer, manager, director,
surgeon, professor, judge, paramedic, police officer, doctor, teacher,
mentor, clergy, psychologist, supervisor, bank president, travel agent,
team leader, promoter, minister, counselor, caseworker, social worker,
hospital director, principal, pastor, missionary, apostle . . .
You can add to this confession, using scripture to emphasize
strengths and overcome weaknesses.
Confession
Father, I desire to walk worthy of the call upon my life and to bring
honor to You in all I do. I walk in love, look beyond the faults of others
and see their needs. I desire to do Your will, not my own, and seek Your
face for direction to accomplish the destiny for my life and the lives of
those I come into contact with. I run this race with zeal and depend upon
Your wisdom and guidance as I do my part in taking the Kingdom in these
last days. I walk in humility and am not boastful or high-minded, for all I
have and all I am has come from You alone. Glory be to God!__________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
256

Lively Stones
Your personal notes on
Benjamin
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
257

Jan Matthews
258

Lively Stones
REFERENCE SOURCES
All the Men of the Bible, by Herbert Lockyer, D.D., D.LITT. (Grand Rapids, MI,
Zondervan Publishing House, 1958)
A Dictionary of Scripture Proper Names, by J.B. Jackson (Neptune, NJ,
Loizeaux Brothers third edition, September 1957, copyright 1909 by J.B.
Jackson. Printed in USA)
A Dictionary of Bible Types, by Walter L. Wilson (Peabody, MA, Hendrickson
Publishers, Inc., 1999. First published in 1957 by Eerdmans Publishing Co. under
the title: Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types.)
Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible, edited by Walter A. Elwell and associated
editors (USA, Baker Book House Company, 1988)
Dake Annotated Reference Bible, J. Finis Dake's annotations, KJV
Dictionary of Proper Names and Places in the Bible, by O. Odelain and R.
Seguineau (Garden City, NY, Doubleday & Company, Inc. 1981)
The World Book Encyclopedia, (Chicago, IL, World Book Publishing, 1993)
Tribes of Israel, by Gwen Shaw (End Time Handmaidens, Inc., USA, 1982)
This is an outstanding Bible study. You can order it from:
End-Time Handmaidens & Servants, PO Box 447, Jasper, AR 72641
or their website at www.eth-s.org.
The Tribes of Israel, by Messianic Rabbi Dr. Ariel Hargis Ben Ya'akov
(Irving, TX, Ephraim & Judah International, Inc., audio tapes, NOT DATED)
Ungers Bible Dictionary, by Merrill F. Unger (Chicago, IL, Moody Press, 1957,
1961, 1966, twenty-second printing, 1975)
_______________________
ONLINE & PERSONAL REFERENCES
The Lost Books of the Bible, "The Testament of the Twelve Patriarchs,"
(Online version, contains 698 pages)
The author studied and gleaned from various gemology sources, Hebrew
Tribal publications, and personality temperament experts. Every available source
was used, but primarily the leading of the Holy Spirit gave spiritual insight and
inspiration into the personalities of the Tribes of Israel. Research was based
upon the lives and actions of Bible characters, the characteristics and history of
the stones, and the nature and personalities of the symbols for each tribe.
259

Jan Matthews
260

Lively Stones
About the Author
Jan Matthews is the Visionary and Founder of Covenant Woman
Ministries, based in Fort Worth, Texas. She began her faith walk in 1973,
and answered the call to full-time ministry December 1, 1997. She began
accepting speaking engagements at that time and ministering in Texas
prisons, women's meetings and Bible schools.
Jan and her husband Andy have six children: Tim, Angela, Jason,
Abby, Alyson and Joey. The Matthews are both in full-time ministry and
they reside in Fort Worth. Jan says she learned to walk with God in the
heat of the battle and at the feet of Jesus while raising their children and
standing in faith for her husband to take his spiritual place in the family
and serve God.
Mentored by Alyce Matthews for 20 years, Jan says she fell in love
with the Word of God while attending Dr. Fuchsia Pickett's Fountaingate
Bible College in Richardson, Texas from 1975-77. She says her faith soared
when she began following the teachings of Kenneth Hagin, Kenneth and
Gloria Copeland, Jerry Savelle, and Andrew Wommack in the late '70s.
Jan's "plain English" teaching style simplifies and uncomplicates the
Scripture, making the deeper truths of God's Word understandable to
hungry hearts of all ages.
Jan has authored several other books and Bible studies. She is currently
working on the Lively Stones Tribes of Israel Bible Study, a 13-part set of
individual studies of the 13 tribes. Each tribe will be studied for three
weeks. That work is expected to be completed in the near future.
Other works include the Pneumatic Quest Deeper Life Bible Study of
the Book of Ruth; The Frog Prince, A Little Faith Love Story; The Secret
Place Daily Devotional, and others.
Be sure to go to the Covenant Woman Web site for more information
about the organization and the exclusive Covenant Woman tribal jewelry,
banners, and other products.
www.covenantwoman.org
261

Jan Matthews
Jan Matthews is available for speaking engagements and personal
appearances. For more information, contact her at:
Jan Matthews
Covenant Woman Ministries Worldwide, Inc.
PO Box 161607
Fort Worth, TX 76161
www.covenantwoman.org
jan@covenantwoman.org
To purchase additonal copies of this book or other books published
by Advantage Books, call our toll-free order number at:
1-888-383-3110
(Book Orders Only)
or visit our Bookstore Web site at:
www.advbookstore.com
Advantage TM
262
BOOKS
Longwood, Florida, USA
“We bring dreams to life.” TM

Lively Stones
WWW.ADVBOOKS.COM
263