From 242-240 BC, the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tribal_Assembly Tribal Assembly] (comitia tributa) in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Republic Roman Republic] was organized in 35 Tribes (4 "Urban Tribes" and 31 "Rural Tribes"). The Latin word as used in the Bible translates as Greek [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phyle phyle] "race, tribe, clan" and ultimately the Hebrew [http://he.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D7%A9%D7%91%D7%98 שבט] (ʃe.væt) or "sceptre". In the historical sense, "tribe," "[[race]]" or "[[clan]]" can be used interchangeably. | From 242-240 BC, the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tribal_Assembly Tribal Assembly] (comitia tributa) in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Republic Roman Republic] was organized in 35 Tribes (4 "Urban Tribes" and 31 "Rural Tribes"). The Latin word as used in the Bible translates as Greek [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phyle phyle] "race, tribe, clan" and ultimately the Hebrew [http://he.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D7%A9%D7%91%D7%98 שבט] (ʃe.væt) or "sceptre". In the historical sense, "tribe," "[[race]]" or "[[clan]]" can be used interchangeably. |