Easton's Bible Dictionary Hired (Genesis 30:18). "God hath given me," said Leah, "my hire (Hebrews 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). Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia ISSACHAR is'-a-kar (yissa(se)khar; Septuagint, Swete Issachar; Tischendorf, Issachar, so also in the New Testament, Tregelles, and Westcott and Hort, The New Testament in Greek): (1) The 9th son of Jacob, the 5th borne to him by Leah (Genesis 30:17 f). 1. The Name: His birth is in this passage connected with the strange story of Reuben and his mandrakes, and the name given him is apparently conceived as derived from 'ish sakhar, "a hired workman." There is a play upon the name in this sense in Genesis 49:15, "He bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a servant under taskwork." Wellhausen (Textder Buch. Sam., 95) thinks that the second element of the name may denote a deity; and Sokar, an Egyptian god, has been suggested. The name in that case would mean "worshipper of Sokar." Practically nothing is preserved of the personal history of this patriarch beyond his share in the common actions of the sons of Jacob. Four sons were born to him before Jacob's family removed to Egypt (Genesis 46:13). In that land he died and was buried. 2. The Tribe: At Sinai the tribe numbered 54,000 men of war over 20 years of age (Numbers 1:29). At the end of the wanderings the numbers had grown to 64,300 (Numbers 26:25). In the days of David, the Chronicler puts the figures at 87,000 (1 Chronicles 7:5). See NUMBERS. The place of Issachar in the desert-march was with the standard of the tribe of Judah (along with Zebulun) on the East side of the tabernacle (Numbers 2:5), this group forming the van of the host (Numbers 10:14 f). The rabbis say that this standard was of 3 colors, sardine, topaz and carbuncle, on which were inscribed the names of the 3 tribes, bearing the figure of a lion's whelp (Tg, pseudo. Jon. on Numbers 2:3). The captain of the tribe was Nethanel ben-Zuar (Numbers 1:8, etc.). Later this place was held by Igal ben-Joseph, the tribal representative among the spies (Numbers 13:7). The prince chosen from Issachar to assist in the division of the land was Paltiel ben-Azzan (Numbers 34:26). The position of Issachar at the strange ceremony near Shechem was on Mt. Gerizim, "to bless the people" (Deuteronomy 27:12). 3. The Tribal Territory: Sixteen cities of Issachar are mentioned in Joshua 19:17, but the only indications of boundaries are Tabor in the North and Jordan in the East. We gather elsewhere that the territory of this tribe marched on the North with Zebulun and Naphtali (19:11, 33); on the West with Manasseh and possibly Asher (17:10); and on the South with Manasseh (17:11). It does not seem to have had any point of contact with the sea. The portion of Issachar, therefore, included the plain of Esdraelon, Tabor, the hill of Moreh, and the slopes East to the Jordan. The fortresses along the South edge of the plain were held by Manasseh. Tola, a man of Issachar, held Shamir, a stronghold in Mt. Ephraim (Judges 10:1). To Manasseh was given Beth-shean with her "towns" (Joshua 17:11). No reliable line can be drawn for the South border. The district thus indicated was small; but it embraced some of the most fruitful land in Palestine. By the very riches of the soil Issachar was tempted. "He saw a resting-place that it was good, and the land that it was pleasant; and he bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a servant under taskwork" (Genesis 49:15). "The mountain" in Deuteronomy 33:19 may possibly be Tabor, on which, most likely, there was an ancient sanctuary and place of pilgrimage. This would certainly be associated with a market, in which Issachar and Zebulun, the adjoining tribes, would be able to enrich themselves by trade with the pilgrims from afar. Issachar took part in the battle with Sisera (Judges 5:15). To Israel Issachar gave one judge, Tola (Judges 10:1), and two kings, Baasha and his son (1 Kings 15:27, etc.). 4. Men of Issachar: Of the 200 "heads" of the men of Issachar who came to David at Hebron it is said that they were "men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do" (1 Chronicles 12:32). According to the Targum, this meant that they knew how to ascertain the periods of the sun and moon, the intercalation of months, the dates of solemn feasts, and could interpret the signs of the times. A company from Issachar came to the celebration of the Passover when it was restored by Hezekiah (2 Chronicles 30:18). Issachar has a portion assigned to him in Ezekiel's ideal division of the land (Ezekiel 48:25); and he appears also in the list in Re (7:7). (2) A Korahite doorkeeper, the 7th son of Obededom (1 Chronicles 26:5). W. Ewing

Multi-Version Concordance Issachar (40 Occurrences) Genesis 30:18 Leah said, "God has given me my hire, because I gave my handmaid to my husband." She named him Issachar. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV) Genesis 35:23 The sons of Leah: Reuben (Jacob's firstborn), Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV) Genesis 46:13 The sons of Issachar: Tola, Puvah, Iob, and Shimron. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV) Genesis 49:14 "Issachar is a strong donkey, lying down between the saddlebags. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS NAS NIV) Exodus 1:3 Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin, (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV) Numbers 1:8 Of Issachar: Nethanel the son of Zuar. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV) Numbers 1:28 Of the children of Issachar, their generations, by their families, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go out to war; (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV) Numbers 1:29 those who were numbered of them, of the tribe of Issachar, were fifty-four thousand four hundred. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV) Numbers 2:5 Those who encamp next to him shall be the tribe of Issachar: and the prince of the children of Issachar shall be Nethanel the son of Zuar. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV) Numbers 7:18 On the second day Nethanel the son of Zuar, prince of Issachar, gave his offering. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV) Numbers 10:15 Nethanel the son of Zuar was over the army of the tribe of the children of Issachar. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV) Numbers 13:7 Of the tribe of Issachar, Igal the son of Joseph. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV) Numbers 26:23 The sons of Issachar after their families: of Tola, the family of the Tolaites; of Puvah, the family of the Punites; (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV) Numbers 26:25 These are the families of Issachar according to those who were numbered of them, sixty-four thousand three hundred. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV) Numbers 34:26 Of the tribe of the children of Issachar a prince, Paltiel the son of Azzan. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV) Deuteronomy 27:12 "These shall stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people, when you have passed over the Jordan: Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Joseph, and Benjamin. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV) Deuteronomy 33:18 Of Zebulun he said, "Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going out; and Issachar, in your tents. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV) Joshua 17:10 Southward it was Ephraim's, and northward it was Manasseh's, and the sea was his border. They reached to Asher on the north, and to Issachar on the east. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV) Joshua 17:11 Manasseh had three heights in Issachar, in Asher Beth Shean and its towns, and Ibleam and its towns, and the inhabitants of Dor and its towns, and the inhabitants of Endor and its towns, and the inhabitants of Taanach and its towns, and the inhabitants of Megiddo and its towns. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV) Joshua 19:17 The fourth lot came out for Issachar, even for the children of Issachar according to their families. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV) Joshua 19:23 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Issachar according to their families, the cities with their villages. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV) Joshua 21:6 The children of Gershon had thirteen cities by lot out of the families of the tribe of Issachar, out of the tribe of Asher, out of the tribe of Naphtali, and out of the half-tribe of Manasseh in Bashan. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV) Joshua 21:28 Out of the tribe of Issachar, Kishion with its suburbs, Daberath with its suburbs, (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV) Judges 5:15 The princes of Issachar were with Deborah. As was Issachar, so was Barak. They rushed into the valley at his feet. By the watercourses of Reuben, there were great resolves of heart. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE WBS YLT NAS NIV) Judges 10:1 After Abimelech there arose to save Israel Tola the son of Puah, the son of Dodo, a man of Issachar; and he lived in Shamir in the hill country of Ephraim. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE WBS YLT NAS NIV) 1 Kings 4:17 Jehoshaphat the son of Paruah, in Issachar; (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV) 1 Kings 15:27 Baasha the son of Ahijah, of the house of Issachar, conspired against him; and Baasha struck him at Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines; for Nadab and all Israel were laying siege to Gibbethon. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV) 1 Chronicles 2:1 These are the sons of Israel: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun, (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV) 1 Chronicles 6:62 To the sons of Gershom, according to their families, out of the tribe of Issachar, and out of the tribe of Asher, and out of the tribe of Naphtali, and out of the tribe of Manasseh in Bashan, thirteen cities. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV) 1 Chronicles 6:72 and out of the tribe of Issachar, Kedesh with its suburbs, Daberath with its suburbs, (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV) 1 Chronicles 7:1 Of the sons of Issachar: Tola, and Puah, Jashub, and Shimron, four. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV) 1 Chronicles 7:5 Their brothers among all the families of Issachar, mighty men of valor, reckoned in all by genealogy, were eighty-seven thousand. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV) 1 Chronicles 12:32 Of the children of Issachar, men who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, the heads of them were two hundred; and all their brothers were at their commandment. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV) 1 Chronicles 12:40 Moreover those who were near to them, even as far as Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, brought bread on donkeys, and on camels, and on mules, and on oxen, food of meal, cakes of figs, and clusters of raisins, and wine, and oil, and cattle, and sheep in abundance: for there was joy in Israel. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV) 1 Chronicles 26:5 Ammiel the sixth, Issachar the seventh, Peullethai the eighth; for God blessed him. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV) 1 Chronicles 27:18 of Judah, Elihu, one of the brothers of David: of Issachar, Omri the son of Michael: (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV) 2 Chronicles 30:18 For a multitude of the people, even many of Ephraim and Manasseh, Issachar and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet did they eat the Passover otherwise than it is written. For Hezekiah had prayed for them, saying, The good Yahweh pardon everyone (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV) Ezekiel 48:25 By the border of Simeon, from the east side to the west side, Issachar, one portion. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV) Ezekiel 48:26 By the border of Issachar, from the east side to the west side, Zebulun, one portion. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV) Ezekiel 48:33 At the south side four thousand and five hundred reeds by measure, and three gates: the gate of Simeon, one; the gate of Issachar, one; the gate of Zebulun, one. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)