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Bible Dictionaries
Zebulun
Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary
or the sixth son of Jacob and Leah, Genesis 30:20 . He was born in Mesopotamia, about A.M. 2256. His sons were Sered, Elon, and Jahleel, Genesis 46:14 . Moses acquaints us with no particulars of his life; but Jacob, in his last blessing, said of Zebulun, "Zebulun shall dwell at the haven of the sea; and he shall be for a haven of ships; and his border shall be unto Zidon," Genesis 49:13 . His portion extended along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, one end of it bordering on this sea, and the other on the sea of Tiberias, Joshua 19:10 , &c. In the last words of Moses, he joins Zebulun and Issachar together, saying, "Rejoice Zebulun, in thy going out, and Issachar in thy tents. They shall call the people unto the mountain, there shall they offer sacrifices of righteousness. For they shall suck of the abundance of the seas, and of treasures hid in the sand,"
Deuteronomy 33:18; meaning, that these two tribes being at the greatest distance north, should come together to the temple at Jerusalem, to the holy mountain, and should bring with them such of the other tribes as dwelt in their way; and that being situated on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, they should apply themselves to trade and navigation, and to the melting of metals and glass, denoted by those words, "treasures hid in the sand." The river Belus, whose sand was very fit for making glass, was in this tribe. When the tribe of Zebulun left Egypt, it had for its chief Eliab the son of Elon, and comprehended fifty-seven thousand four hundred men able to bear arms, Numbers 1:9-30 . In another review thirty-nine years afterward, this tribe amounted to sixty thousand five hundred men of age to bear arms, Numbers 26:26-27 . The tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali distinguished themselves in the war of Barak and Deborah against Sisera, the general of the armies of Jabin, Judges 4:5-6; Judges 4:10; Judges 5:14; Judges 5:18 . It is thought these tribes were the first carried into captivity beyond the Euphrates by Pul and Tiglath Pileser, kings of Assyria, 1 Chronicles 5:26 . They had also the advantage of hearing and seeing Jesus Christ in their country, oftener and longer than any other of the twelve tribes, Isaiah 9:1; Matthew 4:13; Matthew 4:15 .
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Watson, Richard. Entry for 'Zebulun'. Richard Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/wtd/z/zebulun.html. 1831-2.
