King James Bible Dictionary

Hired (Genesis 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; Numbers 26:23, 25).

Issachar, Tribe of, during the journey through the wilderness, along with Judah and Zebulun (Numbers 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 (Deuteronomy 27:12). The allotment of Issachar is described in Joshua 19:17-23. It included the plain of Esdraelon (=Jezreel), which was and still is the richest portion of Palestine (Deuteronomy 33:18, 19; 1 Chronicles 12:40).

The prophetic blessing pronounced by Jacob on Issachar corresponds with that of Moses (Genesis 49:14, 15; comp. Deuteronomy 33:18, 19).

reward; recompense

1. Son of Jacob:

General references
Genesis 30:18; Exodus 1:3; 1 Chronicles 2:1

Jacob's prophetic benedictions upon
Genesis 49:14-15

In the time of David
1 Chronicles 7:2; 1 Chronicles 7:5

2. Tribe of:

Military forces of:

Taken at Sinai
Numbers 1:28-29; Numbers 2:6

Taken on the plains of Moab
Numbers 26:25

Moses' blessing upon
Deuteronomy 33:18-19

Place in march and camp
Numbers 2:3; Numbers 2:5; Numbers 10:14-15

Parts of Canaan allotted to
Joshua 19:17-23; Joshua 17:10-11

Join Deborah and Barak in war against Sisera
Judges 5:15

Insurgents from, joined David
1 Chronicles 12:32; 1 Chronicles 12:40

Join with the kingdom of Judah after the conquest of the land by
2 Chronicles 30:18

Things common to all the tribes
Israel, 3, Tribes of

(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.

1. A Korhite Levite, one of the door-keepers of the house of Jehovah, seventh son of Obed-edom. (1 Chronicles 26:5)