Illustration created for this project.
Issachar
The ninth son of Jacob and the fifth by Leah, and founder of the tribe of Issachar. Jacob's blessing pictures him as a strong donkey couching between two burdens, who saw that rest was good and bent his shoulder to bear. The tribe settled in the rich farmland of the Jezreel valley. Chronicles pays them a striking compliment: the men of Issachar were those 'who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do'.
What we know — and how we know it
Bible — stated in scripture (with verse) · 2
Scholarly — supported scholarly belief · 2
Family & lineage
Tribe & people
BibleOf the tribe of Issachar.
Genesis 35:23
Name & titles
ScholarlyThe Hebrew name Yissakhar is popularly connected to the phrase 'ish sakar ("man of hire/reward"), reflected in the birth narrative where Leah names him for the "hire" she paid; the doubled form and unusual spelling have long puzzled Masoretes, who preserve a written but unpronounced second sin.
Onomastic analysis of the Masoretic vocalization of Yissakhar; standard lexica (e.g. HALOT, BDB) on the sakar "hire/wages" root.
ScholarlyThe tribe of Issachar is named among the tribes in the archaic "Song of Deborah," widely regarded by scholars as one of the oldest strata of Hebrew poetry, giving early independent literary attestation to the tribal name.
Scholarly dating of the Song of Deborah (Judges 5) as an early tribal poem; discussed in standard critical commentaries.
Where in scripture
GenesisThe sons of Leah: Reuben (Jacob’s firstborn), Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun.
Genesis 35:23 — Among the sons of Jacob
Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, a public-domain translation.
Family
In art
