Topical Bible: Tribe of Zebulun: Conquest of, by Tiglath-Pileser; Carried Away to Assyria Into Captivity

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Topical Encyclopedia

The Tribe of Zebulun, one of the twelve tribes of Israel, descended from Zebulun, the sixth son of Jacob and Leah. The tribe was allotted a portion of land in the northern region of Canaan, as described in the Book of Joshua (Joshua 19:10-16). This territory was strategically located, bordered by the tribes of Asher, Naphtali, and Issachar, and included fertile lands conducive to agriculture and trade.

During the period of the divided monarchy, the northern kingdom of Israel, which included the territory of Zebulun, faced significant threats from surrounding empires. The Assyrian Empire, under the rule of Tiglath-Pileser III, emerged as a dominant power in the region during the 8th century BC. Tiglath-Pileser III embarked on a series of military campaigns to expand Assyrian control over the Levant.

The biblical account of the conquest of Zebulun by Tiglath-Pileser III is found in 2 Kings 15:29 : "In the days of Pekah king of Israel, Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria came and captured Ijon, Abel-beth-maacah, Janoah, Kedesh, Hazor, Gilead, and Galilee—all the land of Naphtali—and he took the people to Assyria."

This passage indicates that the Assyrian king captured several key locations in the northern kingdom, including areas within the tribal territories of Naphtali and Zebulun. The conquest resulted in the deportation of many Israelites, including those from Zebulun, to Assyria. This event marked a significant moment in the history of the northern tribes, as it led to the loss of their autonomy and the beginning of the Assyrian captivity.

The deportation of the Israelites from Zebulun and other northern tribes was part of a broader Assyrian policy of population displacement, aimed at preventing rebellion and integrating conquered peoples into the Assyrian Empire. The exiled Israelites were resettled in various regions within the Assyrian domain, leading to the dispersion and assimilation of the ten northern tribes, often referred to as the "Lost Tribes of Israel."

The prophetic literature of the Old Testament reflects on the consequences of the Assyrian conquest and captivity. The prophet Isaiah, for instance, speaks of the judgment and eventual restoration of the northern tribes. In Isaiah 9:1 , it is written: "Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those in distress. In the past, He humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future He will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan."

This prophecy alludes to a future hope and redemption for the lands of Zebulun and Naphtali, despite their earlier humiliation and suffering under Assyrian rule. The historical and prophetic narratives surrounding the Tribe of Zebulun highlight the themes of judgment, exile, and the enduring promise of restoration within the biblical tradition.

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2 Kings 15:29
In the days of Pekah king of Israel came Tiglathpileser king of Assyria, and took Ijon, and Abelbethmaachah, and Janoah, and Kedesh, and Hazor, and Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali, and carried them captive to Assyria.
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Isaiah 9:1
Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations.
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