The Tribe of Issachar, one of the twelve tribes of Israel, traces its lineage to Issachar, the fifth son of Jacob and Leah. This tribe is noted for its role and contributions during the formative years of the Israelite nation, particularly in the context of its military forces as recorded in the biblical narrative.

Military Forces at Sinai

The military census of the Israelites, as recorded in the Book of Numbers, provides a detailed account of the strength and organization of the tribes during their wilderness journey. At Mount Sinai, God commanded Moses to take a census of the entire Israelite community by their clans and families, listing every man by name, one by one, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go to war (Numbers 1:2-3).

For the Tribe of Issachar, the census revealed a significant number of fighting men. Numbers 1:28-29 states: "From the sons of Issachar: their genealogies according to their clans and families, those registered by name, every male twenty years old or older, all who could serve in the army, those registered to the tribe of Issachar numbered 54,400."

This substantial number highlights the tribe's capacity and readiness for military engagement. The men of Issachar were counted among the warriors who would participate in the conquest of the Promised Land, demonstrating their importance in the collective strength of Israel.

Role and Characteristics

The Tribe of Issachar is often associated with wisdom and understanding, as suggested by later biblical references. In 1 Chronicles 12:32 , the men of Issachar are described as "men who understood the times and knew what Israel should do." This characteristic may have contributed to their strategic importance in military and political matters.

The tribe's military prowess, as evidenced by the census at Sinai, reflects their readiness to fulfill their role in the divine plan for the nation of Israel. Their numbers and capabilities were integral to the overall military strategy as the Israelites prepared to enter and possess the land promised to their forefathers.

Significance in Israel's History

The military forces of Issachar, as recorded at Sinai, underscore the tribe's contribution to the collective efforts of the Israelite nation. Their readiness for battle and their understanding of the times positioned them as a key component in the unfolding narrative of Israel's journey from slavery in Egypt to the establishment of a nation in the Promised Land.

The Tribe of Issachar's legacy, as part of the larger Israelite community, is marked by their commitment to the covenant and their role in the fulfillment of God's promises to the patriarchs. Their military strength, as documented in the census at Sinai, serves as a testament to their faithfulness and dedication to the divine mission entrusted to the people of Israel.Numbers 1:28,29
Of the children of Issachar, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;
Nave's Topical Index

Numbers 2:6
And his host, and those that were numbered thereof, were fifty and four thousand and four hundred.
Nave's Topical Index

The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
... a mistaken reading, "Issachar with Barak;" Issachar having been ... which constituted
the half-tribe of Manasseh ... the leader, on the other, of the military forces. ...
/.../chapter iiithe hebrews and the.htm

The First Chaldaean Empire and the Hyksos in Egypt
... meeting-place where most of the military nations of ... districts, and by thus restricting
each tribe to a ... plain, which soon contracts, however, and forces it into ...
/.../chapter ithe first chaldaean empire.htm

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