What is an Israelite?
The Israelites, are the twelve tribes of Israel, named after, and descendant from Jacob (whose name was changed to Israel. Jacob/Israel was the son of Isaac who was the son of Abraham.
“1. Reuben · The firstborn of Jacob and Leah, Reuben's tribe settled in the territory east of the Jordan River.
2. Simeon · Also a son of Leah, Simeon's inheritance was within the territory of Judah.
3. Levi · Levi's descendants were set apart for religious duties, serving as priests and temple workers. They did not receive a specific territory but were given cities throughout Israel.
4. Judah · From Leah, Judah's tribe became prominent, producing King David and ultimately Jesus Christ, as prophesied in Genesis 49:10.
5. Dan · The tribe of Dan, a son of Bilhah, initially settled in the central region but later moved northward.
6. Naphtali · Another son of Bilhah, Naphtali's tribe settled in the northern part of Israel.
7. Gad · The tribe of Gad, a son of Zilpah, occupied land east of the Jordan.
8. Asher · Asher, also a son of Zilpah, settled along the western coast.
9. Issachar · Leah's son Issachar's tribe inhabited the fertile Jezreel Valley.
10. Zebulun · Zebulun, another son of Leah, settled in the region between the Sea of Galilee and the Mediterranean.
11. Joseph · Jacob's favorite son by Rachel, Joseph's inheritance was divided between his two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, making them half-tribes.
12. Benjamin · The youngest son of Jacob and Rachel, Benjamin's tribe settled in the area surrounding Jerusalem.”
(Source: Biblehub.com )
In Genesis 12:1-3 Abraham is promised by the Most High that a great nation would come from him:
Genesis 12:1-3
1 Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: 2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: 3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
In Genesis 29, the tribes are listed with their future blessings from Jacob/Israel
In Joshua 13-21, the Promised Land was divided up for the tribes.
In Ezekiel 48, the tribe’s share of the Kingdom is detailed.
In Revelation 7, the Israelites are sealed with the seal of God before unbelievers are sealed with the mark of the beast.
Revelation 7:1-8
1 And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.
2 And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,
3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
4 And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.
5 Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand.
6 Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nepthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand.
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.
8 Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand.