Jacob's blessing on Joseph's two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, helps explain why there was no tribe of Joseph among the Israelites, though Joseph was one of Jacob's twelve sons. Essentially, Joseph was replaced as a tribe by his two sons, as can be seen in the allotment of the land.<BR>Ephraim's tribe settled on the west side of the Jordan river. It was a very strong tribe.<BR>The tribe of Simeon was originally allotted land in the southern portion of Canaan, but later in the Bible they often seem to be lumped together with the tribe of Judah.<BR>The twelves sons of Jacob, who was renamed Israel, became the ancestors of the twelve tribes of the Israelites. Each of these tribes was allotted land in Canaan.<BR>Each of the tribes of Israel were allotted a special portion of land in Canaan, and it was their duty to conquer and inhabit their designated portion.