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Tuesday, December 29, 2020

Leah and Jacob's 6th Son, Zebulun, Known to Isaiah, But Jacob's 10th Child

 Nadene Goldfoot                                             

Zebulun was the tenth son of Jacob and sixth of Leah and father of the tribe of Zebulun, one of the twelve tribes of Israel.

When he was born Leah said "God has provided me with a good dowry" (Hebrew: zvad).

 He was part of the plot to sell Joseph into slavery, and later one of the group sent to Egypt to buy corn. 

 Jacob blessed  the tribes individually, each in line with its own character and ability, so that they would be directed toward the paths for which G-d had suited them, for hiss blessings would make clear that each of the tribes has its own  unique mission.  

                                                                              


Zebulun (Hebrew: זְבֻלוּן‎, זְבוּלֻן‎, זְבוּלוּן‎, Tiberian Hebrew Zəḇūlūn; also Zebulon, Zabulon, or Zaboules; Standard Hebrew Zevulun/Zvulun) was, according to the Books of Genesis and Numbers, the sixth and last son of Jacob and Leah, and the founder of the Israelite Tribe of Zebulun.

When the first census was taken, Zebulun had 57,400 men.  At the last census, they had 60,500, making a gain of 3,100 over the 40 years.   Issachar and Zebulun were close brothers living in close to each other.  At the end of the census, Issachar had 3,800 more men than Zebulun did, but Zebulun helped Issachar out financially as they were the merchant types.  Zebulun had started the Exodus off with 3,000 more than Issachar!                                                 

Zebulun's descendants, the tribe of Zebulun, received territory in central Eretz Yisrael of the Valley of Jezreel, although its exact extent is unclear.  The status of the tribe declined during the period of the monarchy, but it maintained its identity and its territory and is mentioned by Isaiah 8:23)  and in Ezekiel (48:26-27).  the rabbis associated Zebulun with trade, the scholarly descendants of Issachar being supported by the tribe of Zebulun.                                                     


Jacob's prophesy for Zebulun was that Zebulun should settle by seashores. He shall be at  the ship's harbor, and his last border will reach Zidon (Sidon).  Sidon, known locally as Sayda or Saida, is the third-largest city in Lebanon. It is located in the South Governorate, of which it is the capital, on the Mediterranean coast. Tyre to the south and Lebanese capital Beirut to the north are both about 40 kilometres away.

 Zebulun precedes his brother, Issachar.  Although Issachar was older, Jacob gave precedence to Zebulun because Zebulun engaged in commerce and supported Issachar.  This was noted by RashiSo Zebulun was the businessman.   

 Both the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun are mentioned as brave soldiers in the Song of Deborah during the battle against Sisera (Judges 5:18). 

He later lived in Egypt with his three sons Sered, Elon and Jahleel.  His tribe suffered the fate in 721 BCE of being attacked by the Assyrians and the best of the population was taken away and was lost to Judah.  It's presumed the northern 10 tribes were taken to other parts of the land, like today's Afghanistan and Pakistan and parts of India and have become the Pashtuns there.  

Tanakh, the Stone Edition

The New Standard Jewish Encyclopedia

https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/zebulun

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