All About Zebulun

Introduction

We are continuing looking at the tribes as a whole as we are looking at the land allotments in the book of Joshua

Today we will be looking at a tribe that doesn’t rust receive an allotment, but that lots were cast in order to determine the land Joshua 18:1-10 (read this on your own time please) which was given.

Casting lots in this circumstance probably meant that they had stones representing different areas of land and the people reaching in and drew them out. kind of like drawing names from a hat. Casting lots can mean drawling stones or dice or the likes. it was a way of divination or seeing the divine will of God or the gods was. Divination seems to be frowned upon in many places on the Bible a great deal of divination methods are out right forbidden in the book of Deuteronomy, but often used as well in things like casting lots, the determination of guilt and innocence . Maybe this is innocent maybe this is an example of the OT presenting us with mirrors of identity not models for morality. I am still doing research on this.

Joshua 19:10-16

Joshua 19:10–16 LEB

10 The third allotment came up for the descendants of Zebulun according to their families. The border of their inheritance went up to Sarid. 11 Their border goes up to the west, to Maralah; it touches Dabbesheth, then the wadi that is opposite Jokneam. 12 It turns from Sarid to the east to the sunrise, to the border of Kislot-Tabor; it continues to Daberath and goes up to Japhia. 13 From there it passes along to the east toward the sunrise, to Gath Hepher and to Eth Kazin, and continuing to Rimmon, it turns to Neah; 14 it changes direction from the north of Hannathon, and it ends at the valley of Yiptah-El; 15 Kattath, Nahalal, Shimron, Idalah, and Bethlehem; twelve cities and their villages. 16 This is the inheritance of the descendants of Zebulun according to their families, these cities and their villages.

Map of Israel

Zebulun descended from Jacob. Born born to Leah. Called Zebulun because Leah said, “God has presented me with a precious gift. This time my husband will treat me with honor, because I have borne him six sons”(genesis 30:20) Zebulun means “dwelling” or “honor”

The tribe was the fourth largest tribes. This tribe was one of the many tribes that had trouble getting rid of the native population in the land of Canaan. Though Judges 1:30 does record that they eventually succeeded in conscripting the native inhabitants to force labor, which is not the same thing.

The exact boundaries are unclear because as where this passage in Joshua does a good job of laying it all out. We are not sure where all these places are. We have educated guesses but the sands of time and in many cases the literal sand has devoured the land markers. The sites of Kattath, Nahalal, Idalah, an d Eth kazin not only are hard to pronounce but they are unknown at this time.

In the old testament the area does not play a large role in wider biblical history. Judges 4:4-10 records that troops from Zebulun fought under Deborah and Barak agains Sisera the commander. Jonah was a a Zebulunite from Gath Hepher (2 Kings 14:25) So there is that. Jonah is a famous prophet especially today. Most people know the story fo Jonah and the great fish.

God’s Love Draws Us Back

The so what of this tribe I found to be quite difficult. there isn’t a lot to run with. but as I prayed to God. I knew he would speak to me and He did. Isn’t YHWH just amazing, how the holy spirit uses the Word to speak to us. Even when we don’t really see anything there.

I have said it before and I will continue saying the Israelites were sinners. And what little we know about this tribe we see that they fail to rid the land of the Canaanites like they were supposed to. We can see this in several of the tribes. this is not unique to Zebulun. They chose to follow their own path for various reasons, that didn’t align with God’s wishes. which we can all relate to.

But as we look at the tribe of Zebulun we can see There love of God as they fight for him as they raise up judges. It goes to speak to the idea that while at times we turn away from God, His love for us, and ours for him draws us back into communion with Him and into compliance with His will.

Got Questions? Bible Questions Answered What Should We Learn from the Tribe of Zebulun?

Zebulun’s territory was located in what later became known as Galilee, in Northern Israel. Moses’ blessing on the tribe was that they would prosper in their overseas dealings with Gentile nations (Deuteronomy 33:18–19). Isaiah prophesied, “In the past [God] humbled the land of Zebulun … but in the future he will honor Galilee” (Isaiah 9:1). Isaiah’s prediction is Messianic: Galilee (including Zebulun) would be honored as the first to hear Christ’s preaching, and this would more than compensate for their humiliation at the hands of the Assyrians centuries before.

Zebulun’s history reminds us that God is always present when we return to HIm. No matter how battered or bruised we may be or how ashamed we may feel about past transgressions, God can still use us.

And use us he does

Next Steps

Have you moved away from God?

DO you need to return?

God calls us back with his love and our love for him seeks to connect.

Never felt God’s Love - ABC