As a musician, a piano tuner and Holy Spirit infused worshipper, it is be belief that there are some direct correlations between the musical (western) scale, heavenly worship and sound frequency, and certain patterns concerning the Tribes of Y’israel and chosen disciples and apostles as ordained by YHWH in His Word, The Holy Bible.
To begin with describing these revelations, let me first outline the basics of the musical scale upon which our worship is constructed and used predominantly in the western hemisphere (at least).
Musical Scale Composition
12 different notes which are called ‘semi-tones’ and 7 different notes which are called ‘tones’.
The above comprised one octave when including the same root note ie C to C is on octave that has 13 semitones and 8 tones.
Therefore, the only notes used in all circumstances are these below irrespective of how they are ordered:
| C, C#, D, D#, E, F, F#, G, G#, A, A#, B, C | 12 different notes/13 in one octave |
| C, Db, D, Eb, E, F, Gb, G, Ab, A, Bb, B, C | 12 different notes/13 in one octave |
Each of the above ‘notes’ also represent musical ‘keys’ which are used for all songs ie a ‘key signature’ is used or there can be several key signatures used with any given musical work/song or composition. It is relevant to note also that there are two different key signatures for each note ie C ‘Major’ and C ‘Minor’. So for the 12 different semitones or notes within the octave, there is the possibility to have 24 different ‘keys’ or ‘key signatures. This is important when we consider the following.
Tribes of Y’israel
According to the bible as Moses wrote in Genesis Chapter 49, Jacob had 12 sons from which the tribes of Israel were formed, these being in birth order:
- Reuben
- Shimon
- Levi
- Yehudah
- Dan
- Naphtali
- Gad
- Asher
- Y’issaskar
- Zebulun
- Yoseph
- Binyamin
According to the bible as written in Exodus 28, God instructed Mosheh to create an ‘Ephod’ which was a garment for the high priest to wear when offering the sacrifices for the sins of Y’israel. Upon this garment were to be 12 stones set in four rows of three stones and each stone was to depict each tribe of Y’israel. In researching a variety of translations of the Word of God, I have come up with the following list of the precious gemstones that were used in this ancient Ephod: Sardius, Topaz, Carbuncle, Emerald, Sapphire, Diamond, Jacinth, Agate, Amethyst, Beryl, Onyx, Jasper.
Taught-ones, The Apostles
Another parallel level to this revelation I believe are the 12 New Testament Apostles/Disciples as recorded in Mathew Chapter 10:
- Simon called Peter
- Andrew
- James (son of Zebedee)
- John
- Philip
- Bartholomew
- Thomas
- Mathew
- James (Son of Alphaeus)
- Lebbaeus
- Simon the Canaanite
- Judas
Associated with the above I believe is the scripture as recorded in Revelation Chapter 4, where the Apostle John describes in his heavenly vision the twenty four seats surrounding the throne of God, upon which sat twenty four elders, clothed in white raiment with crowns of gold upon their heads.
Summary
I believe there is a link between the 12 notes of the musical scale, the 12 tribes of Y’israel, (and 12 associated gemstones on the Ephod), the 12 Apostles and the 24 elders described in Revelation 4, and the 12 foundations of the wall of the New Yerushalyim in which are the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb, and the 12 gates of the New Yerushalyim where 12 angels have written on them the 12 names of the Tribes of Y’israel.
I cannot confess that I know the full significance of how this is connected to worship and music, however I can thus far depict my understanding as follows:
- Each musical note or key can be aligned to each of the 12 tribes of Israel
- The 12 Apostles in Revelation 4 together with Jacob’s sons, who formed the tribes of Israel, are the 24 elders that are sitting on the seats surrounding Fathers throne and worshipping Him
- As there are a total of 24 possible keys (including both major and minor) this can be therefore aligned to the 24 elders
- There are 12 precious gemstones listed in revelation that are garnishing the foundations of the wall of the city, the New Jerusalem. These I believe represent the 12 gemstones that are set in in the Ephod used by the High Priest as ordained by God in Exodus 28.
- The musical scale has 13 semitones included in one octave including the root note ie C to C etc. The tribes of Israel number 13 when including the two tribes of Joseph which are Efrayim and M’nasheh. The number of New Testament Apostles when including Paul equates to a total of 13 also.
I have therefore contrasted a potential chart depicting these correlations as below:
| Tribe | Major | Minor | Stone | Apostle |
| Reuben | C | C | Sardius | Peter |
| Shim’on | C# | Db | Topaz | Andrew |
| Levi | D | D | Carbuncle | James |
| Yehudah | D# | Eb | Emerald | John |
| Y’issaschar | E | E | Sapphire | Philip |
| Zebulun | F | F | Diamond | Bartholomew |
| Dan | F# | Gb | Jacinth | Thomas |
| Naphtali | G | G | Agate | Matthew |
| Gad | G# | Ab | Amethyst | James |
| Asher | A | A | Beryl | Lebbaeus |
| Yosef | A# | Bb | Onyx | Simon |
| Binyamin | B | B | Jasper | Judas |
| Efrayim/M’nasseh | C | C | Paul |