Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand,.... The name of this tribe signifies "hearing", Genesis 29:33; and such an hearing as is attended with obedience; and denotes the spiritual and practical hearing of the Gospel by those who hear, and understand, and believe, and practise what they hear, and yield the obedience of faith unto it.

Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand; this name signifies "joined", Genesis 29:34; and denotes, that these sealed ones were not only joined one to another in love and holy fellowship, but to Christ, and were one spirit with him, and were members of his body, flesh, and bones, and cleaved to him with full purpose of heart.

Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand; the interpretation of this name is "hire" or "reward", Genesis 30:18; and may design those rewards of grace which God bestows upon his faithful servants, in times of tribulation.

Geneva Study Bible

(6) Here the tribe of Levi is listed with the rest, because all the Israelites were equally made priests with them in Christ by his priesthood (Romans 12:1) ; (1 Peter 2:9) ; (Revelation 1:6) ; (Revelation 5:10). Dan is not mentioned, because the Danites long before forsaking the worship of God, were fallen away from the fellowship of God's people, to the part of the Gentiles: which evil many ages before Jacob foresaw (Genesis 49:17-18), and because of which no mention is made of this tribe in the book of Chronicles.

(b) He skipped Dan, and reckons Levi.

Wesley's Explanatory Notes

Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand.

After the Levitical ceremonies were abolished, Levi was again on a level with his brethren.

John Trapp Complete Commentary

7 Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand.

Ver. 7. Of the tribe of Levi] Levi is taken in, Dan cut out of the roll for his shameful recidivation and revolt from the true religion, 18:30-31. This, Jacob foresaw and bewailed in that holy ejaculation on his death bed, Genesis 49:17-18. There is no reckoning made or account given of this tribe (as there is of the rest), 1 Chronicles 7:1; 1 Chronicles 7:6; 1 Chronicles 7:13; 1 Chronicles 7:20; 1 Chronicles 7:30. The fable of Antichrist to come from Dan, is so thin a device, that Bellarmine could not but see through it, and disclaim it (Lib. iii. de Pont. Rom. cap. xii.).

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

See Poole on "Revelation 7:4"

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Simeon

Numbers 1:22; 25:14; 26:14; Joshua 19:1; Judges 1:3

Levi

Genesis 29:34; 35:23; 49:5; Exodus 6:16

Issachar

Genesis 30:18; 35:23; 49:11; Joshua 19:17