Zebulun

Biblical Account

Zebulun was the tenth son of Jacob and the sixth son born to Leah. According to Genesis 30:19–20, Leah named him, saying, "God hath endued me with a good dowry; now will my husband dwell with me." The name resembles a Hebrew word meaning "gift" as well as a word rendered "to dwell with" or "to honor," so the passage is read as a wordplay on both meanings (on Leah, see Rachel and Leah). Genesis 46:14 lists his sons Sered, Elon, and Jahleel. Beyond this, Scripture records nothing further about Zebulun as an individual. In later Scripture, "Zebulun" refers chiefly to the tribe descended from him.

The biblical record of the tribe of Zebulun includes the following:

• Wilderness period: In the wilderness censuses, the number of fighting men is recorded as 57,400 (Numbers 1:31) and later as 60,500 (Numbers 26:27). The tribe encamped on the east side together with the tribes of Judah and Issachar (Numbers 2:3–7).
• Allotment of the land: When the land of Canaan was divided, Zebulun received the third lot, a territory in southern Galilee (Joshua 19:10–16).
• Period of the judges: When Deborah and Barak fought the Canaanite army, Zebulun took the lead together with the tribe of Naphtali. The Song of Deborah praises them: "Zebulun and Naphtali were a people that jeoparded their lives unto the death" (Judges 5:18). The tribe also answered the call of Gideon (Judges 6:35), and the judge Elon came from this tribe (Judges 12:11–12).
• Period of the monarchy: Fifty thousand men came to help David; "they were not of double heart" (1 Chronicles 12:33). When Hezekiah summoned the northern tribes to keep the Passover, many mocked, but some men of Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 30:10–11).

Significance in Scripture

Before his death, Jacob blessed him: "Zebulun shall dwell at the haven of the sea; … and his border shall be unto Zidon" (Genesis 49:13). Moses likewise blessed the tribe, saying, "Rejoice, Zebulun, in thy going out," and declared that they would partake of the abundance of the seas (Deuteronomy 33:18–19).

Isaiah prophesied that "the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali," trampled and despised under Assyria, would one day be made glorious (Isaiah 9:1–7). The Gospel of Matthew presents Jesus' settling in Capernaum and beginning his ministry there as the fulfillment of this prophecy (Matthew 4:13–16; Matthew 4:15–16). Revelation 7:8 mentions twelve thousand sealed from the tribe of Zebulun.

Interpretation and Debate

• The "haven of the sea" question: Judging from the boundaries in Joshua 19 alone, Zebulun's territory does not appear to have bordered either the Mediterranean Sea or the Sea of Galilee directly. Interpretations of the seacoast language in Genesis 49:13 therefore differ. Some take it to refer to trade routes leading to the coast, others hold that the boundaries changed over time, and still others regard it as prophetic or symbolic language.
• Order of the names: Although Issachar was the elder brother, Genesis 49 and Deuteronomy 33 name Zebulun first. The text does not explain why.
• Extrabiblical tradition: Jewish tradition holds that Zebulun engaged in commerce to support Issachar's study of the Law. This tradition is understood to derive from the interpretation of Deuteronomy 33:18 and does not appear directly in the biblical text.
• Relationship to Nazareth: It is often noted that Nazareth lay within the territory of Zebulun. However, since the name Nazareth does not occur in the Old Testament, this is an inference drawn from the boundary records.

In the Korean Church

Few sermons focus on Zebulun himself. Instead, his name comes up when Isaiah 9—"The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light"—is read or preached around Advent and Christmas. In churches that follow a lectionary based on the church year, Isaiah 9 and Matthew 4 are read together on a Sunday during the Epiphany season. Judges 5:18 is also cited as an example of devotion that does not spare one's own life. In Sunday school, Zebulun is usually covered when children learn the names of Jacob's twelve sons and the twelve tribes of Israel.