Difference between revisions of "Issachar"

<p> [[Hebrew]] text Υisaskar , ("he is hire"); but the Masoretes as KJV Issachar, ("the hired one"). </p> <p> '''1.''' Leah's oldest son, Reuben, by presenting to Rachel, hired Jacob for Leah, the fruit of which intercourse was a fifth son by her, the first born after the interval from &nbsp;Genesis 29:35 to &nbsp;Genesis 30:17; the ninth son of Jacob. (See [[Mandrakes]] (supposed to produce fertility).) Two reasons for his name are assigned: first, because she hired Jacob by the selfdenying gift of the mandrakes; secondly, as she says "God hath given me my hire, because I have given my maiden (Zilpah, &nbsp;Genesis 30:9) to my husband." Both, in her view, were successive parts of one self denial (her aim being the multiplication of offspring) and the ground for naming him Israel. His sons Tola, Phuvah, Job (or Jashub, &nbsp;Numbers 26:24), and Shimron, were heads of the four chief families of the tribe (&nbsp;Genesis 46:13). </p> <p> Jacob prophetically describes the tribe, "Israel is a strong donkey crouching down between two burdens (the cattle pens or sheepfolds, Speaker's Commentary; 'the hurdles,' Keil; found only in &nbsp;Judges 5:16); and he saw that rest was good, and the land that it was pleasant; and bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a servant (slave) unto tribute" (&nbsp;Genesis 49:14-15), namely, unto the tribute imposed by the various invaders attracted to his land by the abundant crops. The strong boned he-ass used for field work (not the lighter and swifter she-ass for riding), crouching down between panniers or amidst sheepfolds, symbolizes a race content with agricultural labours instead of aspiring to political rule; a robust race, with a pleasant inheritance inviting to ease, as not requiring such toil as less fertile lands; ease at the cost of liberty. Pleasant serfdom, however suitable to Canaanites, was unworthy of Israelites, called of God to rule not serve (&nbsp;Deuteronomy 20:11; &nbsp;1 Kings 9:21; &nbsp;Isaiah 10:27). </p> <p> The name [[Israel]] is akin to the Hebrew "daily labourer." But in the conflict with [[Jabin]] and [[Sisera]] "the princes of Israel were with Deborah, even Israel and also Barak"; indeed the battle was perhaps on Israel's territory, "by Tadhath at the waters of Megiddo" (&nbsp;Judges 5:15; &nbsp;Judges 5:19). Conder however suggests that the whole scene of the battle was near [[Tabor]] within a radius of five or six miles. The kings assembled at Taanach, by the waters of Megiddo; but their fall was at Endor, according to &nbsp;Psalms 83:10. [[Barak]] would not be likely to desert the fastnesses of Tabor and march 15 miles over the boggy plain to attack the [[Canaanites]] strongly placed on the sides of the low hills at Taanach. [[Scripture]] says, "I will draw unto thee Sisera ... unto the river Kishon." From [[Endor]] the kings ventured into the open plain S.W. of Tabor. [[Megiddo]] thus answers to Mujedda, a mound with ruins in the [[Jordan]] valley. </p> <p> From it flowed "the waters of Megiddo" in the valley of Jezreel. The defeat of Sisera drove his host into "that river of battles (so [[Gesenius]] translates for 'ancient'), the river Kishon." [[Harosheth]] of the [[Gentiles]] answers to [[El]] Harathiyeh. The "wooded country" answers to the oak woods on the hills W. of Kishon, to which those Canaanites who went through the swamps fled. The [[Kedesh]] in &nbsp;Judges 4:9 is not that of [[Naphtali]] 30 miles off, but that on the sea of [[Galilee]] 16 miles from Tabor, a place suited for a gathering of the tribes, and within Naphtali's boundaries. Between this Kedesh and Tabor there is a broad plain in which is a place called Bessum = Bitzanaim, the plain to which Sisera fled (Palestine Exploration Quarterly Statement, October, 1877, p. 191). On the march in the desert [[Issachar]] was on the E. with Judah and [[Zebulun]] his brothers, the foremost in the march (&nbsp;Numbers 2:5; &nbsp;Numbers 10:14-15); [[Nethaneel]] was their commander. [[Igal]] represented Issachar among the spies (&nbsp;Numbers 13:7). </p> <p> Paltiel, Israel's representative, was divinely appointed to take part in dividing [[Canaan]] (&nbsp;Numbers 34:26). Israel was appointed to stand on [[Gerizim]] to bless (&nbsp;Deuteronomy 27:12). The tribe's number at [[Sinai]] was 54,400 (&nbsp;Numbers 1:29); at the close of the wilderness march it reached 64,300, inferior to Judah and Dan alone. In Canaan Issachar's proximity to Zebulun continued. "Of Zebulun Moses said, Rejoice, Zebulun in thy going out (enterprise), and Issachar in thy tents" (comfortable enjoyment): i.e., not merely Zebulun was to be noted for "going out" in maritime traffic and Issachar for nomad life" in tents," and grazing, and agriculture; but, according to poetical parallelism, the whole is meant of both tribes, [[Rejoice]] Zebulun and Issachar in your labour and your rest, in your undertakings at home and abroad, both alike successful. The thought is individualized by its distribution into parallel members. </p> <p> "They shall call the people unto the mountain (they will not make their riches into selfish mammon, but will invite the nations to 'the mountain of the Lord's inheritance': &nbsp;Exodus 15:17; a moral not physical elevation, the [[Holy]] Land and its sanctuary), there they shall offer sacrifices of righteousness (not merely outwardly legal sacrifices, but also in a right spirit of faith and loving obedience: &nbsp;Psalms 4:6; &nbsp;Psalms 51:21; inviting all men to the sacrificial feast, and to join them in the happy worship of Jehovah: &nbsp;Psalms 22:28-31; &nbsp;Isaiah 60:5-6; &nbsp;Isaiah 60:16; &nbsp;Isaiah 66:11-12), for they shall suck of the abundance of the seas, and of treasures hid in the sand" (not merely the fish, purple dye, sponges, and glass; but the richest treasures of sea and land shall flow into Israel, of which Zebulun and Issachar were to be flourishing tribes. </p> <p> Here in Galilee Jesus imparted the spiritual riches, to which the [[Galilean]] apostles in due time "called" all "peoples"): &nbsp;Deuteronomy 33:18-19; &nbsp;Matthew 4:13-16. Its inheritance extended in length from [[Carmel]] to the Jordan; in width to Mount Tabor on the N. (Josephus, Ant. 5:1, section 22); it consisted of the very rich plain of [[Jezreel]] or Esdraelon. Jezreel (whose name = "the seed plot of God" implies fertility) stood in the center, with Mount [[Gilboa]] on one hand and Little Hermon (Ed Duhy) on the other (&nbsp;Joshua 19:17-23). It is the thoroughfare from E. to W. and from N. to S. Here [[Ahab]] had his palace, selecting the site doubtless for its beauty. D. Kerr thinks that Issachar lay to the E. of [[Manasseh]] and Ephraim, along the entire line of the Jordan from the sea of [[Chinneroth]] on the N. to nearly the Salt Sea on the S. Its lot thus was of a triangular form, having its apex at [[Jericho]] and its base to the N. of the plain of Jezreel, where it was met by Zebulun (Palestine Exploration Quarterly Statement, January, 1877, p. 47). </p> <p> [[Tola]] the judge was of Issachar, though his abode was at [[Shamir]] in Mount Ephraim. The nomadic character of Issachar appears in &nbsp;1 Chronicles 7:1-5; no less than 36,000 of its men were marauding mercenary "bands (giduwdim ) of soldiers for war," a term applied elsewhere only to Gad's "troops" and to the irregular bodies of Bedouin-like tribes round Israel. Two hundred "heads" (not as KJV "bands," for it is roshee not giduwdim ) of Issachar came to [[Hebron]] to help in "turning the kingdom of Saul to David"; they were "men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do ... and all their brethren were at their commandment" (&nbsp;1 Chronicles 10:14 ff; &nbsp;1 Chronicles 12:23; &nbsp;1 Chronicles 12:32). Spiritually, [[Christians]] are men "knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep, for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed" (&nbsp;Romans 13:11; &nbsp;Ephesians 5:16; see &nbsp;1 Peter 4:1-4). </p> <p> We should help to transfer the kingdom from Satan to its coming rightful Lord (&nbsp;Luke 19:12-27; &nbsp;Luke 19:44). [[Jerusalem]] fell "because she knew not the time of her visitation." They are truly "wise" who "turn many from the power of Satan unto God" (&nbsp;Daniel 12:3; &nbsp;Acts 26:18). [[Omri]] of the great family of [[Michael]] ruled in David's time; possibly forefather of Omri who usurped the [[Israelite]] throne (&nbsp;1 Chronicles 27:18), and built [[Samaria]] (perhaps on the same hill Shamir on which Tola of Issachar judged). [[Baasha]] son of Ahijah, another usurper, was also of Issachar (&nbsp;1 Kings 15:27-29; &nbsp;1 Kings 16:2; &nbsp;1 Kings 16:11), of lowest birth; his son [[Elah]] and all his kindred were murdered by Zimri, even as Baasha had slain Jeroboam's house, "not leaving to him any that breathed." Retributive justice pays blood with blood (&nbsp;Revelation 16:6). </p> <p> The last glimpse of Issachar we have is, when many of the tribe joined in Hezekiah's [[Passover]] and religious revival (&nbsp;2 Chronicles 30:18), though unavoidably not cleansed in legal order; for these [[Hezekiah]] prayed "the good Lord pardon every one that prepareth his heart to seek God, the Lord God of his fathers, though he be not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary." But Issachar shall again come forth with his 12,000 sealed ones, when the Lord shall restore again the kingdom to Israel (&nbsp;Acts 1:6; &nbsp;Revelation 7:7; &nbsp;Revelation 14:1). </p> <p> '''2.''' [[Obed]] Edom's seventh son, doorkeeper of the sanctuary (&nbsp;1 Chronicles 26:5), one of the eight sons given Obed Edom, "for God blessed him." </p>

<p> [[Issachar]] (''Ĭs'Sa-Kar'' ), ''God Hath Given Me My Hire.'' The fifth son of Jacob and Leah. &nbsp;Genesis 30:18. The prophetical description of him uttered by his father, &nbsp;Genesis 49:14-15, was fulfilled in the fact that the posterity of Issachar were a laborious people and followed rural employments, and were subject to the tributes of marauding tribes. </p> <p> [[Issachar]] (''Ĭs'Sa-Kar'' ), '''The Territory of,''' included the great plain of Esdraelon, or Jezreel, and lay above that of Manasseh; its boundaries are given in &nbsp;Joshua 19:17-23. It extended from Mt. Carmel to the Jordan, and from Mt Tabor to En-gannim. Zebulun was on the north, Manasseh on the south, and [[Gilead]] on the east, across the Jordan. It contained sixteen noted cities and their villages. Among them were Megiddo, Jezreel, Shunem, Bethshan, 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 Elan. &nbsp;1 Kings 15:27; &nbsp;1 Kings 16:6. Their portion of [[Palestine]] is still among the most fertile of the whole land. See Jezreel, Plain of, and Palestine. </p>

<p> Recompense, so named by Leah his mother, &nbsp;Genesis 30:18 , the ninth son of Jacob, born B. C. 1749. The character of his posterity was foretold by Jacob and by Moses, &nbsp;Genesis 49:14,15 &nbsp; Deuteronomy 33:18,19 . </p> <p> The TRIBE OF ISSACHAR numbered fifty-four thousand men in the desert, and on entering Canaan was the third in population, &nbsp;Numbers 1:28 &nbsp; 26:25 . Their portion, having the Jordan on the east, Manasseh on the west, Zebulun north, and [[Ephraim]] south, included a considerable part of the fine plain Esdraelon, the most fertile in the country. They were industrious agriculturists, and are mentioned with honor for their brave and wise patriotism, &nbsp;Judges 5:15 &nbsp; 1 Chronicles 7:15 &nbsp; 12:32 . </p>

<p> ''''' is´a ''''' - ''''' kar ''''' ( ישׂשׂכר , <i> ''''' yissā‛se'khār ''''' </i> ; Septuagint, Swete Ἰσσαχάρ , <i> ''''' Issachár ''''' </i> ; Tischendorf, <i> ''''' Issáchar ''''' </i> , so also in the New Testament, Tregelles, and Westcott and Hort, The New [[Testament]] in Greek): </p> <p> (1) The 9th son of Jacob, the 5th borne to him by Leah (&nbsp;Genesis 30:17 f). </p> 1. The Name <p> His birth is in this passage connected with the strange story of [[Reuben]] and his mandrakes, and the name given him is apparently conceived as derived from <i> ''''' 'ı̄sh sākhār ''''' </i> , "a hired workman." There is a play upon the name in this sense in &nbsp; Genesis 49:15 , "He bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a servant under taskwork." Wellhausen ( <i> Text der Büch. Sam </i> ., 95) thinks that the second element of the name may denote a deity; and Sokar, an Egyptian god, has been suggested. The name in that case would mean "worshipper of Sokar." Practically nothing is preserved of the personal history of this patriarch beyond his share in the common actions of the sons of Jacob. Four sons were born to him before Jacob's family removed to Egypt (&nbsp;Genesis 46:13 ). In that land he died and was buried. </p> 2. The Tribe <p> At Sinai the tribe numbered 54,000 men of war over 20 years of age (&nbsp;Numbers 1:29 ). At the end of the wanderings the numbers had grown to 64,300 (&nbsp;Numbers 26:25 ). In the days of David, the Chronicler puts the figures at 87,000 (&nbsp;1 Chronicles 7:5 ). See [[Numbers]] . The place of Issachar in the desert-march was with the standard of the tribe of Judah (along with Zebulun) on the East side of the tabernacle (&nbsp;Numbers 2:5 ), this group forming the van of the host (&nbsp;Numbers 10:14 f). The rabbis say that this standard was of 3 colors, sardine, topaz and carbuncle, on which were inscribed the names of the 3 tribes, bearing the figure of a lion's whelp (Tg, <i> '''''pseudȯ Jon''''' </i> . on &nbsp;Numbers 2:3 ). The captain of the tribe was [[Nethanel]] ben-Zuar (&nbsp;Numbers 1:8 , etc.). Later this place was held by Igal ben-Joseph, the tribal representative among the spies (&nbsp;Numbers 13:7 ). The prince chosen from Issachar to assist in the division of the land was [[Paltiel]] ben-Azzan (&nbsp;Numbers 34:26 ). The position of Issachar at the strange ceremony near [[Shechem]] was on Mt. Gerizim, "to bless the people" (&nbsp;Deuteronomy 27:12 ). </p> 3. The Tribal Territory <p> [[Sixteen]] cities of Issachar are mentioned in &nbsp;Joshua 19:17 , but the only indications of boundaries are Tabor in the North and Jordan in the East. We gather elsewhere that the territory of this tribe marched on the North with Zebulun and Naphtali (&nbsp;Joshua 19:11 , &nbsp;Joshua 19:33 ); on the West with Manasseh and possibly [[Asher]] (&nbsp;Joshua 17:10 ); and on the South with Manasseh (&nbsp;Joshua 17:11 ). It does not seem to have had any point of contact with the sea. The portion of Issachar, therefore, included the plain of Esdraelon, Tabor, the hill of Moreh, and the slopes East to the Jordan. The fortresses along the South edge of the plain were held by Manasseh. Tola, a man of Issachar, held Shamir, a stronghold in Mt. Ephraim (&nbsp;Judges 10:1 ). To Manasseh was given Beth-shean with her "towns" (&nbsp;Joshua 17:11 ). No reliable line can be drawn for the South border. The district thus indicated was small; but it embraced some of the most fruitful land in Palestine. By the very riches of the soil Issachar was tempted. "He saw a resting-place that it was good, and the land that it was pleasant; and he bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a servant under taskwork" (&nbsp;Genesis 49:15 ). "The mountain" in &nbsp;Deuteronomy 33:19 may possibly be Tabor, on which, most likely, there was an ancient sanctuary and place of pilgrimage. This would certainly be associated with a market, in which Issachar and Zebulun, the adjoining tribes, would be able to enrich themselves by trade with the pilgrims from afar. Issachar took part in the battle with Sisera (&nbsp; Judges 5:15 ). To Israel Issachar gave one judge, Tola (&nbsp;Judges 10:1 ), and two kings, Baasha and his son (&nbsp;1 Kings 15:27 , etc.). </p> 4. Men of Issachar <p> Of the 200 "heads" of the men of Issachar who came to David at Hebron it is said that they were "men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do" (&nbsp;1 Chronicles 12:32 ). According to the Targum, this meant that they knew how to ascertain the periods of the sun and moon, the intercalation of months, the dates of solemn feasts, and could interpret the signs of the times. A company from Issachar came to the celebration of the Passover when it was restored by Hezekiah (&nbsp;2 Chronicles 30:18 ). Issachar has a portion assigned to him in Ezekiel's ideal division of the land (&nbsp;Ezekiel 48:25 ); and he appears also in the list in Rev (&nbsp;Ezekiel 7:7 ). </p> <p> (2) A K orahite doorkeeper, the 7th son of [[Obededom]] (&nbsp;1 Chronicles 26:5 ). </p>