ISSACHAR (Is'sa-kar), (Hcb. yis-saws kawr', he will bring reward).
1. Che Ninth Son of Jacob. Son of Jacob and Leah, born B. C. about 2000, who gave name to one of the tribes of Israel (Gen. xxx:i8; Num. xxvi:25).
2. The Tribe of Issachar. (1) Character istics. Jacob, on his deathbed, speaking meta phorically of the character and destinies of his sons, or rather of the tribes which should spring from them, said, 'Issachar is a strong ass couch ing down between two burdens' (Gen.
15). Remembering the character of the ass in eastern countrics, we may be sure that this com parison was not intended in disparagement. The ass is anything but stupid ; and the proverbial obstinacy which it sometimes exhibits in our own country is rather the result of ill-treatment than a natural characteristic of the animal. Its true attributes are patience, gentleness, great ..:a pability of endurance, laborious exertion, and a meek submission to authority. Issachar, there fore, the progenitor of a race singularly docile, and distinguished for their patient industry, is exhibited under the similitude of the meekest and most laborious of quadrupeds. The descriptive character goes on: 'And he saw that rest was good, and the land that it was pleasant, and he bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a servant unto tribute;' which probably does not imply that reproach upon Issachar, as addicted to ignomini ous ease, which some commentators find in it. It seems simply to mean that finding itself in pos session of a most fertile portion of Palestine, the tribe devoted itself to the labors of agriculture, taking little interest in the public affairs of the nation. Accordingly Josephus says*that the heri tage of the tribe 'was fruitful to admiration, abounding in pastures and nurseries of all kinds, so that it would make any man in love with hus bandry' (rIntiq. v. T. 22). But although a de cided preference of agricultural over commercial or military pursuits is here indicated, there seems no reason to conclude, as some gather from the last clause, that the tribe would be willing to pur chase exemption from war by the payment of a heavy tribute. The words do not necessarily
imply this ; and there is no evidence that the tribe ever declined any military service to which it was called. On the contrary, it is specially com mended by Deborah for the promptitudc with which it presented itself in the war with Jabin (Judg. v:15) ; and in the days of David honor able testimony is borne to its character (I Chron. xii :32). In this passage the 'children of Issa char' are describcd as 'men that had understand ing of the times, to know what Israel ought to do;' which, compared with Esther i :13, has been supposed to mean that they were skilled in the various practical applications of astronomy. But what need there was of astronomy on the occasion of calling David to the throne of Israel after the death of Abner and Ishbosheth, is not very easy to discover. It more probably means that they were mcn held in esteem for their pru dence and wisdom, at1-1 who knew that the time was come when it was no longer safe to delay calling David to the throne of all Israel.
(2) Numbers. Quitting Egypt the tribe of Is sachar numbered 54,000 adult males, which gave it the fifth numerical rank among the twelve tribes, Judah, Simeon, Zebulun, and Dan being alone above it. In the wilderness it increased nearly To,000, and then ranked as the third of the tribes, Judah and Dan only being more numerous (Num.
i :xxvi).
(3) Territory. The territory of the tribe com prehended the whole of the plain of Esdraclon and the neighboring districts—the granary of Palestine. It was bounded on the cast by the Jordan, on the west and south by Manasseh, and on the north by Asher and Zcbulun. It contained the towns of Megiddo, Taanach, Shuncm, Jez reel, and Bethshah, with the villages of Endor, Aphek, and Ibleam, all historical names ; the mountains of Tabor and Gilboa, and the valley of Jezrcel, were in the territory of this tribe. and the course of the river Kishon lay through it.
3. The seventh son of Obed-Edom; a Kor hite Levite, who was doorkeeper in the Temple (I Chron. xxvi:5), B. C. 1014.