Issachar
“There is reward, or he will bring reward”
Summary
The ninth son of Jacob, born to Leah, whose tribe settled in the fertile valley between Galilee and Samaria.
☩Birth and Name
Issachar was the ninth son of Jacob and the fifth son of Leah. His birth followed Rachel's giving of mandrakes to Leah, and his name reflects Leah's interpretation of the event as God's reward for giving her handmaid to Jacob. The name means 'there is reward' or 'he will bring reward,' commemorating what Leah perceived as divine compensation.
☩Jacob's Blessing
In Jacob's final blessing, Issachar is compared to a strong donkey crouching between two burdens, who saw that rest was good and the land pleasant, and bowed his shoulder to bear and became a servant under forced labor. This prophecy has been understood as predicting the tribe's agricultural character and possibly their willingness to accept subjection in exchange for enjoying their fertile territory.
☩Tribal Territory
The tribe of Issachar received territory in the rich plain of Esdraelon (Jezreel), one of the most fertile regions in all Palestine. The allotment included sixteen cities with their villages. This strategic location, though agriculturally rich, made the tribe vulnerable to invasion, as it lay on the main route between Egypt and Mesopotamia.
☩Notable Members and History
The tribe produced several notable figures: Tola was a judge who judged Israel twenty-three years; Baasha was a king of northern Israel who usurped the throne from Nadab. The tribe was praised for having 'understanding of the times' to know what Israel ought to do, suggesting wisdom and discernment among its leaders. At David's coronation, the men of Issachar who came were described as expert warriors.
Related Verses46 mentions
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Issachar," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. IV (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Issachar," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. III (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).