Issachar was the ninth son of Jacob and the fifth son of Leah in the Old Testament. His name means “reward” or “hire” in Hebrew. Issachar’s birth is recounted in Genesis 30:14-18:
During wheat harvest, Reuben went out into the fields and found some mandrake plants, which he brought to his mother Leah. Rachel said to Leah, “Please give me some of your son’s mandrakes.” But she said to her, “Wasn’t it enough that you took away my husband? Will you take my son’s mandrakes too?” “Very well,” Rachel said, “he can sleep with you tonight in return for your son’s mandrakes.” So when Jacob came in from the fields that evening, Leah went out to meet him. “You must sleep with me,” she said. “I have hired you with my son’s mandrakes.” So he slept with her that night. God listened to Leah, and she became pregnant and bore Jacob a fifth son. She said, “God has rewarded me for giving my servant to my husband.” So she named him Issachar.
A few key points about Issachar’s birth:
- He was born as part of the rivalry between Leah and Rachel, Jacob’s two wives.
- His name means “reward” or “hire” because Leah hired Jacob with her son’s mandrakes.
- He was Leah’s fifth son, after Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah.
- His birth showed God rewarding Leah by opening her womb as Rachel remained barren.
Issachar’s Place Among the 12 Tribes
Issachar went on to father one of the 12 tribes of Israel. His descendants, the Tribe of Issachar, were allotted territory in central Canaan when the Israelites entered the Promised Land after the Exodus:
On the east side the boundary will run between Haphraim and the Sea of Galilee, south of Zebulun. The southern boundary will go from the Sea to Aznoth Tabor, then to Hukkok, and touch Zebulun on the south. On the west side, the boundary will run south from Aznoth to the Brook of Kishon, ending at Mount Carmel and Hazar-hatticon. The northern boundary will leave Mount Carmel at the Brook of Kishon, run east to the territory of Zebulun, then north to some springs near Yaphia and end at the Jordan River. (Joshua 19:10-13)
So the tribal land of Issachar was just south of Zebulun, east of Manasseh, north of Manasseh and Ephraim, and west of the Sea of Galilee. They did not drive out some of the Canaanites who lived there, so Issachar had to live among them (Joshua 17:12-13).
The Prophecy of Issachar
When Jacob blessed his sons before his death, he gave this prophecy about Issachar in Genesis 49:14-15:
Issachar is a strong donkey
lying down among the sheep pens.
When he sees how good is his resting place
and how pleasant is his land,
he will bend his shoulder to the burden
and submit to forced labor.
This prophetic blessing indicates some key things about the character and fate of the Tribe of Issachar:
- They were compared to a strong donkey, known for being hardy beasts of burden.
- They took pleasure in their pleasant territory and lifestyle.
- As a result, they submitted to forced labor and servitude under others.
- They carried heavy loads and burdens for other tribes and nations.
This prophecy proved accurate, as Issachar was dominated by the Canaanites within their borders and later did forced labor under the Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, and Greeks in subsequent centuries.
The Tribe and Leaders of Issachar
When Moses took a census before entering the Promised Land, the tribe of Issachar had 64,300 men twenty years old or older who could serve in the army (Numbers 26:23-25). Their leader was Nethanel son of Zuar.
During the distribution of the land, the leader of Issachar was Paltiel son of Azzan (Numbers 34:26). At the time, the tribe had 54,400 men who could serve in the army (Numbers 1:28-29).
Issachar’s leader when Moses blessed the tribes was Tola son of Puah (Deuteronomy 33:23), who later became a judge over Israel (Judges 10:1). He was succeeded by Jair, another Issacharite judge (Judges 10:3).
Two other leaders of Issachar were mentioned:
- Zebulun – helped David combat Ammonites and Arameans (1 Chronicles 12:32)
- Omri – an officer over Issachar under King David (1 Chronicles 27:18)
Issachar During the Kingdom Period
After the kingdom split, Issachar was part of the northern kingdom of Israel. Baasha, the third king of Israel, was from Issachar (1 Kings 15:27).
During the days of Ahab, Obadiah hid 100 prophets of the Lord in two caves, 50 in each, and provided them with food and water. This act of faith took place in the land of Issachar (1 Kings 18:3-4).
The kingdom of Israel fell to the Assyrians in 722 BC after decades of idolatry and corruption. The people of Issachar were among those taken captive and deported from their land at that time (2 Kings 15:29).
Issachar’s Sons
Genesis 46 lists Issachar’s four sons who went down to Egypt with Jacob during the famine:
- Tola
- Puah
- Jashub
- Shimron
In some genealogies, only Tola, Puah and Shimron are listed as the sons of Issachar (Numbers 26:23-24; 1 Chronicles 7:1). Jashub may have been either another name for one of the three or a grandson of Issachar.
Key Facts About Issachar
In summary, here are some key facts about Issachar in the Bible:
- Issachar was the 9th son of Jacob and 5th son of Leah.
- His name means “reward” because Leah hired Jacob with mandrakes.
- His tribe settled territory between Manasseh and Zebulun.
- Jacob prophesied Issachar would be a hard-working servant.
- Issachar had 64,300 men at the first census, 54,400 at the second.
- Their leaders included Tola, Jair, Zebulun, Omri, and Baasha.
- The tribe was dominated by Canaanites and later conquered by Assyria.
- Issachar had 3 or 4 sons: Tola, Puah, Jashub, and Shimron.
So in summary, Issachar was one of the 12 tribes of Israel descended from Jacob’s fifth son by Leah. His tribe settled between Manasseh and Zebulun but struggled under Canaanite control and foreign powers. They were known as strong but compliant servants.
Issachar’s Character and Contribution
Though Issachar did not produce any major Bible heroes, some valuable lessons can be drawn from this tribe:
- Contentment – They valued their pleasant territory and lifestyle of comfort.
- Industry – They had a reputation as hard workers who carried heavy loads.
- Submission – They accepted servitude and bondage rather than fighting back.
- Perseverance – They maintained their tribal identity through centuries of oppression.
Issachar provides both positive and negative examples. Their contentment was admirable but led to complacency. Their work ethic was laudable but enabled oppression when combined with submission to authority. They valued pleasant places and comforts over the difficult fight for freedom. Yet they persevered as a distinct tribe in adverse circumstances.
Christians today need to learn from Issachar’s strengths while avoiding their weaknesses. Be content and thankful, work hard and contribute value, submit to proper authority – but stand firm in the fight for truth, righteousness and liberty. Issachar’s legacy calls us to stay open and flexible to God’s leading, whatever situations and seasons He leads us through.
Issachar and Jesus Christ
While containing no direct prophecies about the Messiah, Issachar’s life and legacy contain foreshadows of Jesus Christ’s ministry:
- Servant Leader – Though King of Kings, Jesus took the form of a servant and carried the burden of humanity’s sin and death (Mark 10:45).
- Yoke of Christ – He invites all who are weary to take His yoke which is easy and light, unlike human bondage (Matthew 11:28-30).
- Freedom in Christ – Jesus offers true freedom from sin, addiction, legalism, and empty religion (John 8:31-36).
- Eternal Perspective – Our hope is set fully on the eternal inheritance Jesus provides, not earthly comforts (Colossians 1:3-5).
Issachar’s hard-working submission foreshadowed Christ’s ministry but also contains warnings about valuing comfort over true freedom and obedience to God. As Messiah, Jesus is the true Servant who brings eternal rest, abundant life, and genuine liberty to all who put their trust in Him alone.
Issachar: Lessons for Believers Today
What timeless lessons can modern Christians learn from Issachar?
- Be content and thankful, not jealous of others’ blessings (Philippians 4:10-13).
- Obey authorities, but stand firm when commands contradict Scripture (Acts 5:29).
- Work diligently with the gifts and opportunities God provides (Colossians 3:23).
- Value pleasant places but set your hope fully on eternity in Christ (Colossians 3:1-4).
- Submit to God’s timing and will in all circumstances, even suffering (James 1:2-4).
Issachar sought comfort and contentment which led to complacency and servitude. Followers of Christ should avoid their mistakes by grounding contentment in the biblical gospel, submitting to authorities without blind allegiance, walking in spiritual freedom with reliance on God’s Spirit, and setting affections on the eternal reward Christ provides.
Though Issachar struggled to stand firm and fight for freedom, God worked through this tribe’s strengths and weaknesses. May believers today learn from Issachar while avoiding their mistakes, persevering by the power of Christ (Philippians 4:13).