King James Bible Dictionary

My wrestling, the fifth son of Jacob. His mother was Bilhah, Rachel's handmaid (Genesis 30:8). When Jacob went down into Egypt, Naphtali had four sons (Genesis 46:24). Little is known of him as an individual.

that struggles or fights

1. Son of Jacob and Bilhah:

General references
Genesis 30:7-8; Genesis 35:25

Jacob blesses
Genesis 49:21

Sons of
Genesis 46:24; 1 Chronicles 7:13

2. Tribe of:

Census of
Numbers 1:42-43; Numbers 26:48-50

Position assigned to, in camp and march
Numbers 2:25-31; Numbers 10:25-27

Moses' benediction on
Deuteronomy 33:23

Inheritance of
Joshua 19:32-39; Judges 1:33; Ezekiel 48:3

Defeat Sisera
Judges 4:6; Judges 4:10; Judges 5:18

Follow Gideon
Judges 6:35; Judges 7:23

Aid in conveying the ark to Jerusalem
Psalms 68:27

Military operations of
1 Chronicles 12:34; 1 Chronicles 12:40

Military operations against
1 Kings 15:20; 2 Kings 15:29; 2 Chronicles 16:4

Prophecies concerning
Isaiah 9:1-2; Revelation 7:6

(wrestling), the fifth son of Jacob; the second child name to him by Bilhah, Rachel's slave. His birth and the bestowal of his name are recorded in (Genesis 30:8) When the census was taken at Mount Sinai the tribe of Naphtali numbered no less than 53,400 fighting men, (Numbers 1:43; 2:50) but when the borders of the promised land were reached, its numbers were reduced to, 45,400. (Numbers 26:48-50) During the march through the wilderness Naphtali occupied a position on the north of the sacred tent with Dan and Asher. (Numbers 2:25-31) In the apportionment of the land, the lot of Naphtali was enclosed on three sides by those of other tribes. On the west lay Asher, on the south Zebulun, and on the east the transjordanic Manasseh. (In the division of the kingdom Naphtali belonged to the kingdom of Isr'l, and later was a part of Galilee, bordering on the northwestern pert of the Sea of Galilee, and including Capernaum and Bethsaida.

Ed.)

The mountainous district of Naphtali (Joshua 20:7).

the mountainous district which formed the main part of the inheritance of Naphtali, (Joshua 20:7) answering to "Mount Ephraim" in the centre and "Mount Judah" in the south of Palestine.

On this tribe Jacob pronounced the patriarchal blessing, "Naphtali is a hind let loose- he giveth goodly words" (Genesis 49:21). It was intended thus to set forth under poetic imagery the future character and history of the tribe.

At the time of the Exodus this tribe numbered 53,400 adult males (Numbers 1:43), but at the close of the wanderings they numbered only 45,400 (26:48-50). Along with Dan and Asher they formed "the camp of Dan," under a common standard (2:25-31), occupying a place during the march on the north side of the tabernacle.

The possession assigned to this tribe is set forth in Joshua 19:32-39. It lay in the north-eastern corner of the land, bounded on the east by the Jordan and the lakes of Merom and Galilee, and on the north it extended far into Coele-Syria, the valley between the two Lebanon ranges. It comprehended a greater variety of rich and beautiful scenery and of soil and climate than fell to the lot of any other tribe. The territory of Naphtali extended to about 800 square miles, being the double of that of Issachar. The region around Kedesh, one of its towns, was originally called Galil, a name afterwards given to the whole northern division of Canaan. A large number of foreigners settled here among the mountains, and hence it was called "Galilee of the Gentiles" (q.v.), Matthew 4:15, 16. The southern portion of Naphtali has been called the "Garden of Palestine." It was of unrivalled fertility. It was the principal scene of our Lord's public ministry. Here most of his parables were spoken and his miracles wrought.

This tribe was the first to suffer from the invasion of Benhadad, king of Syria, in the reigns of Baasha, king of Israel, and Asa, king of Judah (1 Kings 15:20; 2 Chronicles 16:4). In the reign of Pekah, king of Israel, the Assyrians under Tiglath-pileser swept over the whole north of Israel, and carried the people into captivity (2 Kings 15:29). Thus the kingdom of Israel came to an end (B.C. 722).

Naphtali is now almost wholly a desert, the towns of Tiberias, on the shore of the Lake of Galilee, and Safed being the only places in it of any importance.