In the Bible, the sons of Issachar were descended from the ninth son of Jacob (also known as Israel). The tribe of Issachar, like its founder, is often overshadowed by the other sons and tribes of Israel. Still, the sons of Issachar played an important role in the nation's history, specifically David's rise to power. So, just who were the sons of Issachar?
When Do We First Meet the Sons of Issachar in the Bible?
To know the sons of Issachar, we must first know a little about their father, founder, and unique and sometimes complicated family history.
According to the book of Genesis, Issachar's father was Jacob. Jacob was Isaac's son and Abraham's grandson. Issachar was also the fifth son of Leah, Jacob's first wife (Genesis 30:18). Unfortunately, the Bible tells us that Jacob had little love or desire for Leah compared to her young sister Rachel, whom he cherished (Genesis 29:30).
Jacob had worked seven years for her father Laban to win Rachel's hand in marriage. However, on their wedding night, Laban tricked Jacob into marrying his eldest daughter Leah instead (Genesis 29:21-28).
Even though Jacob had already consummated his marriage to Leah (apparently without realizing she wasn't Rachel), he made it known that he still wanted Rachel as his bride. Laban then promised Jacob Rachel if he worked another seven years. Jacob agreed (Genesis 29:26-30).
As a result, Leah entered her marriage knowing her father had married her off to a man who neither loved nor even wanted her. To make matters worse, her new husband loved her younger sister instead. However, the Bible tells us that God saw Leah and decided to bless her with many children, while Rachel remained childless (Genesis 29:31).
Unfortunately, Leah believed she would finally win her husband's love by bearing Jacob's sons—as seen in her attitude when she had her first three sons, Reuben, Simeon, and Levi (Genesis 29:31-34). However, by the time Leah gave birth to Judah, her fourth son, she had abandoned this hope altogether. With the birth of Judah (a son whose lineage would play a pivotal role in the future of Israel and the birth of its Messiah), Leah praised the Lord instead (Genesis 29:35). At this time, Leah stopped bearing children.
However, that did not stop a childless Rachel from resenting her sister and taking matters into her own hands. Rachel then gave Jacob her servant Bilhah to sleep with. She then conceived and bore Jacob two additional sons, Dan and Naphtali (Genesis 30:1-8). Here, Rachael celebrated, or rather gloated, saying, "I have had a great struggle with my sister, and I have won." (Genesis 30:8, emphasis added).
Not one to be outdone by her older sister again, Leah decided to keep the sister rivalry going by giving Jacob her servant, Zilpah, to sleep with. Zilpah then gave birth to two sons, Gad and Asher (Genesis 30:9-13).
The family drama did not end there. The strange events that followed directly led to the birth of Issachar.
In Genesis 30, we read that Jacob and Leah's oldest son, Reuben, had found some mandrake plants during the harvest, which he brought to his mother. Rachel then asked her sister for some, to which Leah responded, "Wasn't it enough that you took away my husband? Will you take my son's mandrakes too?" (Genesis 30:14-15)
Rachel begrudgingly agreed to let Leah have Jacob for the night in exchange for some of Reuben's mandrakes. I think we all know what happened next.
Soon after Leah slept with Jacob, she conceived again, giving birth to a fifth son, who she named Issachar, meaning "reward" or "hired workman" (Genesis 30:17-18).
Not much is known about Issachar or what kind of man he grew up to become. As the ninth son with eight older brothers, it makes sense that his older siblings would have often overlooked or overshadowed Issachar. However, we know that Issachar, like almost all of his brothers, resented his young brother Joseph, the favored son of Jacob and Rachel. We also know that Issachar was later involved in the plot to sell Joseph into slavery (Genesis 37:18-36). He would travel with his brothers to Egypt to secure grain for their family during a famine (Genesis 42-45). Like his father and brothers, Issachar would move his family to Egypt shortly after reconciling with Joseph (Genesis 46-47).
In the account of those who traveled to Egypt, we find that Issachar had four sons: Tola, Puvvah, Iob, and Shimron (Genesis 46:13). These would be the immediate sons of Issachar, who would carry on the family lineage.
On Jacob's deathbed, Israel delivered parting and prophetic words to each of his sons. He had this to say to Issachar: "Issachar is a strong donkey, lying down between the sheepfolds. When he saw that a resting place was good and that the land was pleasant, he bowed his shoulder to carry burdens, and became a slave at forced labor" (Genesis 49:14).
What exactly this means isn't fully known. However, renowned commentator Matthew Henry notes that the sons of Issachar would eventually inhabit a more rural, agricultural region of the Promised Land: they were "inclined to labor" and "patiently carrying the burden of its brothers."
Where Did the Sons of Issachar Live in Israel?
When the tribes of Israel were counted following their Exodus from Egypt, the sons of Issachar over the age of 20 numbered 54,000 (Numbers 1:29). That number only grew in the 40 years Israel wandered the desert, reaching 64,300 as the nation prepared to enter the Promised Land (Numbers 26:25).
Under Joshua's leadership, the sons of Issachar helped the nation defeat the armies of Canaan and claim the land God had promised Abraham and later Jacob.
Following their conquest, Joshua and each tribe's leaders were responsible for dividing the land and determining the appropriate allotment for each tribe.
In Joshua 19, the specific allotment of land given to the sons of Issachar and their families is recorded (Joshua 19:17-23).
Mount Tabor would mark the boundaries of Issachar's tribal land in the north, with the Jordan River delineating the borders of Issachar to the east. The sons of Manasseh would occupy the region directly southwest of Issachar's allotment. At the same time, Zebulun and Naphtali controlled the land to the north in the region of Galilee.
Of course, the area the sons of Issachar controlled was comparatively small to that of their brothers. However, some regarded their land as the most fruitful in Israel. The land was most suitable for farming and agriculture with its rich soil and good weather. In this sense, the sons of Issachar fulfilled what Jacob spoke over Issachar: "he saw that a resting place was good and that the land was pleasant" (Genesis 49:14).
How Did the Sons of Issachar Help David Become King of Israel?
Following the deaths of King Saul and his son Jonathan, David of the tribe of Judah became the next king of Israel. Initially, he ruled only a few tribes from the city of Hebron (1 Samuel 31). However, before David became king at Hebron, various sons of Israel and the leaders of several tribes gradually began to defect to him while he and his mighty men were at Ziklag.
In most cases, the men who rallied to David were men of war. However, a small group of 200 chiefs from the tribe of Issachar and the kinsmen under their command came to David.
"They were men who understood the times, with knowledge of what Israel should do." (1 Chronicles 12:32)
What was it exactly the sons of Issachar understood, and what kind of knowledge did they possess?
In a practical sense, the more industrious and agrarian sons of Issachar would have been discerning in their ability to read the weather, understand soil conditions, and help cultivate a successful harvest. These farmers, serving as agricultural advisors in the new king's cabinet, would have generations of wisdom to offer the nation and its new king.
In a more political sense, the sons of Issachar may have developed an eye for the times as well, discerning that David was the rightful and inevitable king of Israel and therefore worth supporting, if not publicly, then gradually at the onset.
Furthermore, Henry concludes that "the men of Issachar dealt mostly in country business, and did not much intermeddle in public affairs, which gave them an opportunity of observing others and conversing with themselves." Accordingly, "a stander-by sees sometimes more than a gamester."
In fact, in previous generations, the princes of Issachar had proven their ability to stand behind Israel's great leaders as they had famously supported Deborah and Barak in their fight against the king of Canaan.
Over time, the sons of Issachar may have grown adept at living in the shadow of their more outspoken brothers. But in doing so, they had learned to labor quietly, patiently observing the situation and discerning the right course of action from their quiet life in the country.
What Happened to the Sons of Issachar After David's Reign?
It appears the sons of Issachar remained loyal to David throughout his reign. Unfortunately, the sons of Issachar (and the ten northern tribes of Israel) eventually abandoned the house of David.
After David's son, Solomon, died, Solomon's son Rehoboam became king of Israel. Unwilling to alleviate the high taxes and heavy labor levied against them by his father, Rehoboam foolishly declared, "Whereas my father loaded you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke; my father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions" (1 Kings 12:14).
As a result, 10 northern tribes, including Issachar, revolted against Rehoboam and rallied behind a man named Jeroboam I. Two tribes, Judah and Benjamin, remained loyal to the house of David. The rest seceded. Thus, the nation was split into two nations—Israel in the north and Judah in the south.
Both kingdoms would have periods of prosperity and decline under different kings. However, a handful of Judah's kings remained faithful to the God of David. None of the northern kings received the divine seal of approval. Each did "evil in the sight of God."
As part of the northern kingdom, the sons of Issachar were besieged and eventually overtaken by the Assyrian Empire in 722 BC (2 Kings 17).
What happened to the sons of Issachar and other northern tribes is mostly unknown. Some survivors may have been taken back to Assyria. However, once the empire collapsed, the surviving sons of Issachar may have dispersed throughout the known world. Some may have returned to Israel, but once they had, many would have mingled and intermarried with pagan peoples, losing most of their Jewish culture and heritage in the process.
In any case, the sons of Issachar had a specific role to play in the history of Israel and fulfillment of the promise God had made to their father Jacob/Israel. They may have been a small tribe in a small region, but that didn't stop them from providing a valuable service to the nation and its leaders.
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Volodymyr Zakharov
This article is part of our People of Christianity catalog that features the stories, meaning, and significance of well-known people from the Bible and history. Here are some of the most popular articles for knowing important figures in Christianity:
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