Issachar
Issachar | |
|---|---|
יִשָּׂשכָר | |
 Painting byFrancisco de Zurbarán(fromJacob and his twelve sons,c. 1640–45) | |
| Pronunciation | Yissakhar |
| Born | 10Av |
| Died | (aged 122) |
| Resting place | maybe inSidon[citation needed] |
| Spouse | Aridah |
| Children | Tola (son) Puah (son) Jashub (son) Shimron (son) [1] |
| Parents | |
| Relatives | Reuben(brother) Simeon(brother) Levi(brother) Judah(brother) Dan(half brother) Naphtali(half brother) Gad(half brother) Asher(half brother) Zebulun(brother) Dinah(sister) Joseph(half brother) Benjamin(half brother) Rachel(aunt/stepmother) |
Issachar(Hebrew:יִשָּׂשכָר,romanized:Yiśśāḵār,lit. ' "There is reward" ')[2][3][4]was, according to theBook of Genesis,the fifth of the six sons ofJacobandLeah(Jacob's ninth son), and the founder of theIsraeliteTribe of Issachar.However, someBiblical scholarsview this as aneponymousmetaphorproviding anaetiologyof the connectedness of the tribe to others in the Israeliteconfederation.[5]
Name
[edit]Two differentetymologiesfor the name ofIssacharhave been proposed based on the text of the Torah, which sometextual scholarsattribute to different sources—one to theYahwistand the other to theElohist.[6]The first derives it fromish sakar,meaningman of hire,in reference to Leah's hire of Jacob'ssexual favoursfor the price of somemandrakes.[7]The second derives it fromyesh sakar,meaningthere is a reward,in reference to Leah's opinion that the birth of Issachar was a divine reward for giving her handmaidZilpahto Jacob as a concubine.[8]Scholars suspect the former explanation to be the more likely name for a tribe,[citation needed]though some scholars have proposed a third etymology—that it derives fromish Sokar,meaningman of Sokar,in reference to the tribe's perhaps originally worshippingSokar,an Egyptian deity.[9]
Historical theories
[edit]In the Biblical account, Leah's status as the first wife of Jacob is regarded bybiblical scholarsas indicating that the authors saw the tribe of Issachar as being one of the original Israelite groups;[9]however, this may have been the result of a scribal error, as the names ofIssacharandNaphtaliappear to have changed places elsewhere in the text, and the birth narrative of Issachar and Naphtali is regarded bytextual scholarsas having been spliced together fromits sourcesin a manner which has highly corrupted the narrative.[6][5]A number of scholars think that the tribe of Issachar actually originated as theShekeleshgroup ofSea Peoples[10][11]- the nameShekeleshcan be decomposed asmen of the ShekelinHebrew,a meaning synonymous withman of hire(ish sakar);[11]scholars believe that the memory of such non-Israelite origin would have led to the Torah's authors having given Issachar ahandmaidenas a matriarch.[5]
Rabbinical interpretations
[edit]Inclassical rabbinical literature,it is stated that Issachar was born on the fourth ofAv,and lived 122 years.[9]According to themidrashic Book of Jasher,Issachar marriedAridah,the younger daughter ofJobab,a son ofJoktan;the Torah states that Issachar had four sons, who were born in Canaan and migrated with him toEgypt,[1]with their descendants remaining there untilthe Exodus.[12]The midrashic Book of Jasher portrays Issachar as somewhat pragmatic, due to his strong effort in being more learned, less involved with other matters which led him to such actions like taking a feeble part in military campaigns involving his brothers, and generally residing in strongly fortified cities and, depending on his brotherZebulun's financial support in return for a share in the spiritual reward he gains.[9]
TheTalmudargues that Issachar's description in theBlessing of Jacob-Issachar is a strongasslying down between two burdens: and he saw that settled life was good, and the land was pleasant; and bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a servant unto tribute[13]- is a reference to the religious scholarship of the tribe of Issachar, though scholars feel that it may more simply be a literal interpretation of Issachar's name.[14]
In Islam
[edit]Some Muslim genealogists link Shuayb toAbrahamthrough both Sarah andKeturahby making Shuayb's genealogy to be Shuayb b. Isaachar b. Midian b. Abraham.[15]
Tomb
[edit]ASamaritantradition recorded in the late 19th century considered Neby Hazkil nearRamehto be the burial place of Issachar.[16]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^abGenesis 46:13
- ^Khan, Geoffrey (2020).The Tiberian Pronunciation Tradition of Biblical Hebrew, Volume 1.Open Book Publishers.ISBN978-1783746767.
- ^"Strong's Hebrew Concordance - 3462. yesh".
- ^"Strong's Hebrew Concordance - 7939. sakar".
- ^abcPeake's commentary on the Bible.
- ^abRichard Elliott Friedman.Who wrote the bible?.
- ^Genesis 30:16
- ^Genesis 30:18
- ^abcdThe Jewish Encyclopedia.
- ^Yigael Yadin.And Dan, Why Did He Remain in Ships.
- ^abSandars, N.K.(1978).The Sea Peoples. Warriors of the ancient Mediterranean, 1250-1150 BC.Thames & Hudson.
- ^Book of Exodus.
- ^Genesis 49:14–15
- ^"Tribe of Issachar".The Jewish Encyclopedia.
- ^Noegel, Scott (2002).Historical Dictionary of Prophets in Islam and Judaism.Scarecrow Press.ISBN9780810866102.
- ^Conder and Kitchener, 1882, SWP II, p.219
External links
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