Person

Issachar

Maleb. 1752 BC

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).

Relationships

Siblings Asher, Benjamin (patriarch), Dan, Dinah, Gad, Judah (patriarch), Levi (patriarch), Reuben, Simeon, Zebulun, Joseph (son of Jacob), Naphtali

Parents Jacob (Israel), Leah

Children Shimron, Tola, Jashub, Puah

Member of Tribe of Issachar

Events Birth of Issachar, Joseph sold to Egypt, 7 years of famine, Joseph's brothers return to Egypt

Active in Egypt

Appears in Numbers, 1 Chronicles

Key verses

1 Chronicles 12:32

Of the children of Issachar, men who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, their heads were two hundred; and all their brothers were at their commandment.

2 Chronicles 30:18

For a multitude of the people, even many of Ephraim and Manasseh, Issachar and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet they ate the Passover otherwise than it is written. For Hezekiah had prayed for them, saying, “May the good Yahweh pardon everyone

1 Chronicles 2:1

These are the sons of Israel: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun,

Genesis 35:23

The sons of Leah: Reuben (Jacob’s firstborn), Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun.

1 Kings 15:27

Baasha the son of Ahijah, of the house of Issachar, conspired against him; and Baasha struck him at Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines; for Nadab and all Israel were laying siege to Gibbethon.

Genesis 46:13

The sons of Issachar: Tola, Puvah, Iob, and Shimron.