ISSACHAR, THE TERRITORY OF

ISSACHAR, THE TERRITORY OF, included the great plain of Esdraelon, or Jezreel, and lay above that of Manasseh; its boundaries are given in Josh 19:17-23. It extended from Mount Carmel to the Jordan, and from Mount Tabor to En-gannim. Zebulun was on the north, Manasseh on the south, and Gilead on the east, across the Jordan. It contained 16 noted cities and their villages. Among them were Megiddo, Jezreel, Shunem, Beth-shan, Endor, Aphek, Taanach; and Jezreel stood almost exactly in the centre of the territory. This region was one of the richest and most fertile in Palestine. Many historical events of great interest took place within the territory. It furnished two kings to Israel — Baasha and Eiah. 1 Kgs 15:27; 1 Kgs 16:6. Their portion of Palestine is still among the most fertile of the whole land. See Jezreel, Plain OF, and Palestine.