Memorizing the Tribes of Israel

As we were studying our Bible history, I decided to add the tribes of Israel to our memory work. I'm not sure it's the sort of information that will be useful on a daily basis, but I think it's nice to have a working knowledge of such things. I wanted an easy way to remember them, something along the lines of MVEMJSUNP (for the order of the planets), but I couldn't find anything online. So I made up my own and I'll share it here in the hopes that someone else finds it useful.

Mr. Judah is bringing real Legos. Now go and share Dan's zebras.

• Manasseh and Ephraim (the sons of Joseph)
• Judah
• Issachar
• Benjamin
• Reuben
• Levi
• Naphtali
• Gad
• Asher
• Simeon
• Dan
• Zebulon (or Zebulun)

It doesn't make sense, but it's not supposed to make sense. It's supposed to be memorable. It worked for First Son!

Also, a lovely mom at my parish taught me a mnemonic for the thirteen disciples. I thought I'd share it here, in case there was anyone else out there who hadn't heard it.

B A P T I S M
B is for Bartholomew
A is for Andrew
P is for Phillip and Peter
T is for Thomas and Thaddeus (also called Jude)
I* is for James the Greater, James the Lesser, John, and Judas (the Betrayer)
S is for Simon
M is for Matthew and Matthias (after Judas)

* I believe there is no J in the Latin alphabet. I was used instead.