Issachar
- Dates
- 1702–1599 BC
Name means "hired" or "wages." He is Jacob's ninth son, through Leah (her fifth son). Issachar has four sons born to him before he goes to Egypt with his father's family. Jacob's blessing on him depicts a donkey weighed down by a foreign yoke.
In detail
The 9th son of Jacob, and the 5th of Leah (Gen 29:32 to 30:18 35:23). Issachar had 4 sons born to him before he went to Egypt with his father's family (Gen 46:13 Ex 1:1, 3 1 Chr 7:1). When Jacob pronounced blessings upon his own sons shortly before his death, he prophetically likened Issachar and his children to a strong ass crouching down and submitting to foreign yokes as long as he was permitted to remain in his pleasant land (Gen 49:14, 15).
Bible passages
- Genesis 30:17-18
17 And God hearkened unto Leah, and she conceived, and bare Jacob the fifth son. 18 And Leah said, God hath given me my hire, because I have given my maiden to my husband: and she called his name Issachar.
Text of the King James Version.