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. 49:13): 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. 33:18-19).
This tribe, like others, did not drive out all the old inhabitants from their possession, but made them tributary (Judg. 1:30). In Barak’s conflict with Sisera they fought bravely and “jeoparded their lives.” Elon the judge was of this tribe (Judg. 4:6; Judg. 5:18; Judg. 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. 12:33). 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. 30:11).
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 4:13,15 and Revelation 7:8.