Kabbalah-of-the-Golden-Dawn-Pat-Zalewski - D Ank Unlimited

174 The Kabbalah ofthe Golden Dawn
Of these especially the Bull, the Lion, the Scorpion (but in
good symbolism the Eagle) and the Man are to be noted as
forming the Kerubic figures of Ezekiel and John. To these signs
are allotted the tribes of Ephraim, Judah, Dan and Reuben,
who, as we shall presently see, encamped towards the Cardinal
Points around the Tabernacle of the Congregation, and as the
leaders of the others. The signs of the Twins, the Fishes, and in
a certain sense as a compounded figure,178 the Centaur armed
with a bow, are called bi-corporate or double-bodied signs. To
these refer Manasseh, Simeon, and Benjamin. Manasseh was
divided into two half-tribes with separate possessions (being
the only tribe thus divided), and thus answers to the equal
divisions of the sign of the Twins, Castor and Pollux, the
Great Twin Brethren. Simeon and Levi are classed together,
like the two Fishes in the Sign, but Levi is withdrawn later, to
form as it were the binding and connecting link of the Tribes,
as the priestly caste. Benjamin is the younger brother of
Joseph, for Rachael had only these two sons, and is the only
one of the Sons of Jacob who at his birth was called by two
names, for Rachael called him "Ben oni," but his father Benjamin,
and in the Sign of X the two natures of Man and Horse
are bound together in one symbol.
We shall find much light upon the connection between the
Signs and the Tribes shown by the blessings of Jacob, and of
Moses, from the former of which the Armorial bearings of
the Twelve Tribes are derived.
Let us note also that as in the Tribes Levi was withdrawn,
and the two Tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh substituted for the
simple one of Joseph, so in the New Testament, Judas is withdrawn
from the number of the twelve Apostles and his place
filled by another, Matthias, who is chosen by lot to fill his place.
The following is the order by birth, of the children of Jacob:
Leah bore Reuben; Simeon; Levi, afterwards withdrawn,
and Judah.
Bilhah (Rachel's maid) bore Dan and Naphtali.
Zilpah (Leah's maid) bore Gad and Asher.
Leah again bore Issachar, Zebulon and Dinah (a daughter).
Rachael bore Joseph, whose sons were Manasseh and
Ephriam, but died at the birth of Benjamin, whom she
wished to call Ben-ani.
178 This is [he Assyrian Fish God Oannes, who was half man and fish.