Issachar, one of the twelve sons of Jacob, is a significant figure in the biblical narrative, particularly in the context of the tribal confederation of Israel. As the fifth son of Leah and the ninth son of Jacob, Issachar's lineage is foundational to the tribe that bears his name. The tribe of Issachar plays a notable role during the period of the united monarchy under King David.

Genealogy and Birth

Issachar's birth is recorded in Genesis 30:17-18, where Leah, Jacob's first wife, conceives him as a result of divine intervention: "And God listened to Leah, and she conceived and bore a fifth son to Jacob. Then Leah said, 'God has rewarded me for giving my maidservant to my husband.' So she named him Issachar" . The name Issachar is often interpreted to mean "there is recompense" or "reward," reflecting Leah's sense of divine justice and blessing.

Tribal Allotment and Characteristics

The tribe of Issachar was allotted a fertile region in the Jezreel Valley, a strategic and agriculturally rich area in the northern part of the Promised Land. This territory is described in Joshua 19:17-23, where the boundaries and cities of Issachar's inheritance are detailed. The tribe's location made it influential in trade and agriculture, contributing to its prosperity and significance.

Issachar's descendants were known for their wisdom and understanding of the times. In 1 Chronicles 12:32, the men of Issachar are described as "men who understood the times and knew what Israel should do—200 chiefs, with all their relatives under their command" . This insight and discernment were crucial during the reign of King David, as they supported his kingship and contributed to the stability and unity of Israel.

Role in the Time of David

During the reign of King David, the tribe of Issachar played a vital role in the consolidation of his rule over Israel. The support of Issachar, along with other tribes, was instrumental in David's successful establishment as king. The tribe's leaders, known for their wisdom, provided strategic counsel and support, aligning themselves with David's vision for a united Israel.

The military contributions of Issachar are also noted in the biblical record. In 1 Chronicles 7:1-5, the descendants of Issachar are listed as mighty warriors, with a total of 87,000 men ready for battle. This formidable force underscores the tribe's strength and commitment to the defense and expansion of the kingdom under David's leadership.

Prophetic Blessings and Legacy

The patriarch Jacob's blessing over Issachar, found in Genesis 49:14-15, portrays the tribe as industrious and strong: "Issachar is a strong donkey, lying down between the sheepfolds. He saw that his resting place was good and that the land was pleasant, so he bent his shoulder to the burden and submitted to labor as a servant" . This imagery suggests a tribe that values hard work and is willing to bear burdens for the sake of prosperity and peace.

Moses' blessing in Deuteronomy 33:18-19 further highlights Issachar's role in worship and prosperity: "Rejoice, O Zebulun, in your journeys, and you, Issachar, in your tents. They will summon the peoples to the mountain; there they will offer sacrifices of righteousness, for they will feast on the abundance of the seas and the hidden treasures of the sand" . This blessing emphasizes Issachar's participation in religious life and its enjoyment of the land's bounty.

In summary, Issachar, as a son of Jacob and a tribe in Israel, holds a significant place in the biblical narrative, particularly during the time of King David. Known for their wisdom, strength, and industrious nature, the descendants of Issachar contributed to the unity and prosperity of the nation of Israel.1 Chronicles 7:2,5
And the sons of Tola; Uzzi, and Rephaiah, and Jeriel, and Jahmai, and Jibsam, and Shemuel, heads of their father's house, to wit, of Tola: they were valiant men of might in their generations; whose number was in the days of David two and twenty thousand and six hundred.
Nave's Topical Index

The Blessing of Jacob Upon Judah. (Gen. Xlix. 8-10. )
... History does not say anything of Issachar alone having yielded to ... love of the father
towards his son and provider ... goes beyond the human sphere of Jacob, is the ...
/.../hengstenberg/christology of the old testament/the blessing of jacob upon.htm

Chapter xlix
... for all who first heard it there may have been a specific instance available remembered
by all, where Issachar had done just ... Jacob's word to this son is a ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xlix.htm

The Growth of the Old Testament Prophetic Histories
... Arise Barak, and take thy captives, thou son of Abinoam ... And the princes of Issachar
were with Deborah; And ... The so-called Blessing of Jacob (Genesis 49, 2-27) is ...
/.../the origin and permanent value of the old testament/vi the growth of the.htm

On Genesis.
... Issachar desired the good part, resting in the midst of the ... by the hand of the Mighty
One of Jacob," that is to ... Lord of power, who also made His Son blessed in ...
/.../hippolytus/the extant works and fragments of hippolytus/on genesis.htm

Palestine Eighteen Centuries Ago
... as in the ancient possessions of Issachar, Manasseh, and ... From the injunction of Jacob
and Joseph, and the desire ... two manner of nations," says the son of Sirach ...
/.../sketches of jewish social life/chapter 1 palestine eighteen centuries.htm

The visitation
... however ceasing to be the rungs in Jacob's ladder on ... On that occasion Issachar spoke
of the visit of Joseph ... perhaps have been Elioda or Eliada, a son of David's ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/ix the visitation.htm

Scriptural Poems; Being Several Portions of Scripture Digested ...
... now thou dost know Whether it be thy son's coat, yea ... And Jacob knew the coat full
well, and said, Now hath ... putting sackcloth on, He for a long time mourned for ...
/.../scriptural poems being several portions.htm

Book 5 Footnotes
... of Josephus concerning the tribe of Issachar, who foreknew ... 7, should still be called
the son of Hadad ... the younger, Jacob, [or the Israelites,] and Jacob [or the ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/book 5 footnotes.htm

The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
... a mistaken reading, "Issachar with Barak;" Issachar having been ... in Genesis 35:4,
under which Jacob buried the ... Jotham, the youngest son of Gideon, escaped the ...
/.../chapter iiithe hebrews and the.htm

Ancestors of the Blessed virgin
... 19] Matthat, son of Levi ... 2 is named Issachar. ... This portion was the sinew of the thigh,
which in Jacob's wrestling with the Angel withered up on being touched by ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/i ancestors of the blessed.htm

Who was Leah in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

What is the significance of Mount Tabor in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Who were Tola, Jair, Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon? | GotQuestions.org

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