Issachar

Hired (Gen. 30:18). “God hath given me,” said Leah, “my hire (Heb. sekhari)...and she called his name Issachar.” He was Jacob’s ninth son, and was born in Padan-aram (comp. 28:2). He had four sons at the going down into Egypt (46:13; Num. 26:23, 25). Issachar, Tribe of, during the journey through the wilderness, along with Judah and Zebulun (Num. 2:5), marched on the east of the tabernacle. This tribe contained 54,400 fighting men when the census was taken at Sinai. After the entrance into the Promised Land, this tribe was one of the six which stood on Gerizim during the ceremony of the blessing and cursing (Deut. 27:12). The allotment of Issachar is described in Josh. 19:17-23. It included the plain of Esdraelon (=Jezreel), which was and still is the richest portion of Palestine (Deut. 33:18, 19; 1 Chr. 12:40). The prophetic blessing pronounced by Jacob on Issachar corresponds with that of Moses (Gen. 49:14, 15; comp. Deut. 33:18, 19).

(reward). I. The ninth son of Jacob and the fifth of Leah. (Genesis 30:17,18) (B.C. 1753-45) At the descent into Egypt four sons are ascribed to him, who founded the four chief families of the tribes. (Genesis 46:13; Numbers 26:23,25; 1 Chronicles 7:1) The number of the fighting men of Issachar, when taken in the census at Sinai, was 54,400. During the journey they seem to have steadily increased. The allotment of Issachar lay above that of Manasseh. (Joshua 19:17-23) In the words of Josephus, “it extended in length from Carmel to the Jordan, in breadth to Mount Tabor.” This territory was, as it still is, among the richest land in Palestine. It is this aspect of the territory of Issachar which appears to be alluded to in the blessing of Jacob.

IS'SACHAR (God hath given me my hire). The fifth son of Jacob and Leah. Gen 30:18. The prophetical description of him uttered by his father, Gen 49:14-15, was fulfilled in the fact that the posterity of Issachar were a laborious people and addicted to rural employments, and were subject to the tributes of marauding tribes. See Tribes. A Korhite Levite. 1 Chr 26:5.

reward; recompense

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.