James 1:1

 James, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad: Greetings.

There are several men named James in the New Testament and I read and saw different ideas as to which James wrote the Epistle of James. It really doesn’t matter who the book or the letter of James, cause the author wanted it to be known, he was a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. He directs his letter to the twelve tribes of Israel, but who are the twelve tribes of Israel when James is writing this letter and plans to send and have read by them. The twelves tribes are sons and grandson of Jacob, they are listed a few times in scripture.

Deuteronomy 27:12 “When you cross the Jordan, these tribes shall stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin. 13 For the curse, these tribes shall stand on Mount Ebal: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.

The twelves tribes were somewhat lost at this time, each tribe member would have a relationship with each other, and keep direct bloodline. Because Israel was captured and taken into bondage in 721 B.C by the king of Assyria. While they were there, they started having relationships with the people of Babylon. Only two tribes were to keep track of each other because they were released early; Judah and Benjamin. Judah be preserved was and is very important to the word of God and prophecy. Jesus the Messiah, is the genealogy of Judah and the gospel of Matthew 1:1-17 gives a family tree from Judah to Jesus Christ. It’s not part of prophecy but maybe the tribe of Benjamin was preserved so that the apostle Paul caused the gospel to be delivered to the gentile nation, because Paul had clearly stated he was from the tribe of Benjamin.

Philippians 3:4 although I myself could boast as having confidence even in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he is confident in the flesh, I have more reason: 5 circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee;

If James is writing the letter the twelve tribes of Israel who are saying greetings too? To answer a question about scripture, praying to God and asking His Holy Spirit for guidance and He will show the answers else where in scripture. Since this is big subject I will leave a hint and explain the rest next, if the Lord allows me to and I am still alive and kicking and Jesus hasn’t returned. God bless you all, Jesus loves you and so do I, a bondservant of God. Samuel H.

Revelation 7:4 And I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000, sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel: 5 from the tribe of Judah, twelve thousand were sealed, from the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand, from the tribe of Gad twelve thousand, 6 from the tribe of Asher twelve thousand, from the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand, from the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand, 7 from the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand, from the tribe of Levi twelve thousand, from the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand, 8 from the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand, from the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand, and from the tribe of Benjamin, twelve thousand were sealed.