King James Bible Dictionary

Dwelling, the sixth and youngest son of Jacob and Leah (Genesis 30:20). Little is known of his personal history. He had three sons (46:14).

Zebulon, dwelling; habitation

1. Called also Zabulun:

Son of Jacob and Leah
Genesis 30:20; Genesis 35:23; Genesis 46:14; Genesis 49:13; Exodus 1:3; 1 Chronicles 2:1

Descendants of
Genesis 46:14; Numbers 26:26-27

2. Tribe of:

Place of, in march and camp
Numbers 2:3; Numbers 2:7; Numbers 10:14; Numbers 10:16

Territory awarded to
Genesis 49:13; Joshua 19:10-16; Matthew 4:13

Aboriginal inhabitants of the territory of, not expelled
Judges 1:30

Levitical cities of
Joshua 21:34-35; 1 Chronicles 6:77

Moses' benediction upon
Deuteronomy 33:18-19

Loyalty of, in resisting the enemies of Israel:

With Barak against Sisera
Judges 4:6; Judges 4:10; Judges 5:14; Judges 5:18

With Gideon against the Midianites
Judges 6:35

With David when made king over Israel
1 Chronicles 12:33; 1 Chronicles 12:38-40

Joins with Hezekiah in renewing the Passover
2 Chronicles 30:11; 2 Chronicles 30:18

Conquest of, by Tiglath-Pileser; carried to Assyria into captivity
2 Kings 15:29; Isaiah 9:1

Jesus dwelt in the land of
Matthew 4:15

Twelve thousand sealed
Revelation 7:8
Israel

(a habitation), the tenth of the sons of Jacob, according to the order in which their births are enumerated, the sixth and last of Leah. (Genesis 30:20; 35:23; 46:14; 1 Chronicles 2:1) His birth is mentioned in (Genesis 30:19,20) Of the individual Zebulun nothing is recorded. The list of Genesis46 ascribes to him three sons, founders of the chief families of the tribe (comp.) (Numbers 26:26) at the time of the migration to Egypt. The tribe is not recorded to have taken part, for evil or good, in any of the events of the wandering or the conquest. The statement of Josephus is probably in the main correct, that it reached on the one side to the Lake of Gennesareth and on the other to Carmel and the Mediterranean. On the south it was bounded by Issachar, who lay in the great plain or valley of the Kishon; on the north it had Naphtali and Asher. Thus remote from the centre of government, Zebulun remains throughout the history with one exception, in the obscurity which envelops the whole of the northern tribes. That exception, however, is a remarkable one. The conduct of the tribe during the struggle with Sisera, when they fought with desperate valor side by side with their brethren of Naphtali, was such as to draw down the special praise of Deborah, who singles them out from cell the other tribes. (Judges 5:18)

In Galilee, to the north of Issachar and south of Asher and Naphtali (Joshua 19:10-16), and between the Sea of Galilee and the Mediterranean. According to ancient prophecy this part of Galilee enjoyed a large share of our Lord's public ministry (Isaiah 9:1, 2; Matthew 4:12-16).

Numbered at Sinai (Numbers 1:31) and before entering Canaan (26:27). It was one of the tribes which did not drive out the Canaanites, but only made them tributary (Judges 1:30). It took little interest in public affairs. It responded, however, readily to the summons of Gideon (6:35), and afterwards assisted in enthroning David at Hebron (1 Chronicles 12:33, 40). Along with the other northern tribes, Zebulun was carried away into the land of Assyria by Tiglath-pileser (2 Kings 15:29).

In Deborah's song the words, "Out of Zebulun they that handle the pen of the writer" (Judges 5:14) has been rendered in the R.V., "They that handle the marshal's staff." This is a questionable rendering. "The word sopher (scribe' or 'writer') defines the word shebhet (rod' or pen') with which it is conjoined. The rod of the scribe' on the Assyrian monuments was the stylus of wood or metal, with the help of which the clay tablet was engraved, or the papyrus inscribed with characters. The scribe who wielded it was the associate and assistant of the lawgivers.'" (Sayce).

the members of the tribe of Zebulun. (Numbers 26:27) only.