Zebulun
• 2 min. read • grade level: 10
The tenth son of Jacob and the youngest son of Leah: father of the tribe bearing his name. He entered Egypt with his three sons, but of himself personally nothing is recorded. At the Exodus those numbered of the tribe were 57,400, and at the entrance into the land there were 60,500. Jacob, when he foretold what should befall his sons in the last days, said, “Zebulun shall dwell at the haven of the sea, and he shall be for an haven of ships, and his border shall be unto Zidon” (Gen. 49:1313Zebulun shall dwell at the haven of the sea; and he shall be for an haven of ships; and his border shall be unto Zidon. (Genesis 49:13)): Zebulun is thus representative of Israel having intercourse with the Gentiles for profit. Moses blessed the tribes thus, “Rejoice, Zebulun, in thy going out”; and then, classing him with Issachar, said, “They shall call the people unto the mountain; there they shall offer sacrifices of righteousness: for they shall suck of the abundance of the seas, and of treasures hid in the sand” (Deut. 33:18-1918And of Zebulun he said, Rejoice, Zebulun, in thy going out; and, Issachar, in thy tents. 19They shall call the people unto the mountain; there they shall offer sacrifices of righteousness: for they shall suck of the abundance of the seas, and of treasures hid in the sand. (Deuteronomy 33:18‑19)).
This tribe, like others, did not drive out all the old inhabitants from their possession, but made them tributary (Judg. 1:3030Neither did Zebulun drive out the inhabitants of Kitron, nor the inhabitants of Nahalol; but the Canaanites dwelt among them, and became tributaries. (Judges 1:30)). In Barak’s conflict with Sisera they fought bravely and “jeoparded their lives.” Elon the judge was of this tribe (Judg. 4:66And she sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedesh-naphtali, and said unto him, Hath not the Lord God of Israel commanded, saying, Go and draw toward mount Tabor, and take with thee ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and of the children of Zebulun? (Judges 4:6); Judg. 5:1818Zebulun and Naphtali were a people that jeoparded their lives unto the death in the high places of the field. (Judges 5:18); Judg. 12:11-1211And after him Elon, a Zebulonite, judged Israel; and he judged Israel ten years. 12And Elon the Zebulonite died, and was buried in Aijalon in the country of Zebulun. (Judges 12:11‑12)). Of those who rallied round David on the death of Saul were 50,000 of this tribe, expert in war, who could keep rank, not of double heart (1 Chron. 12:3333Of Zebulun, such as went forth to battle, expert in war, with all instruments of war, fifty thousand, which could keep rank: they were not of double heart. (1 Chronicles 12:33)). And when Hezekiah invited all the tribes to come to Jerusalem to keep the Passover, “divers” of Zebulun humbled themselves and responded to the call (2 Chron. 30:1111Nevertheless divers of Asher and Manasseh and of Zebulun humbled themselves, and came to Jerusalem. (2 Chronicles 30:11)).
Their lot fell towards the north, its center being about 32° 45' N.; and though it did not extend either to the Mediterranean or the Sea of Galilee, they may have pushed forward to both seas. Jacob spoke of their reaching unto Zidon, and the Evangelist says, “Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast [Sea of Galilee], in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim.” Called ZABULON in Matthew 4:13,1513And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim: (Matthew 4:13)
15The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; (Matthew 4:15) and Revelation 7:88Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand. (Revelation 7:8).