Zebulun (tribe)
Zebulun is the tribe of Israel descended from Zebulun, son of Jacob. Jacob prophesied about them:
Zebulun will dwell at the seashore; And he shall be a haven for ships, And his flank shall be toward Sidon. Genesis 49:13
During the life of Moses, their tribal leader was Eliab son of Helon.[1] In the first census, they included 57,400 men over age 20;[2] in the second census (after forty years in the wilderness) they numbered 60,500 men over age 20.[3] Their leader (Eliab having died in the desert) was then Elizaphan son of Parnach.[4] Moses prophesied about them:
Rejoice, Zebulun, in thy going out; and, Issachar, in thy tents. 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. Deuteronomy 33:18-19
Their inheritance in the Promised Land was to the north, west of the Sea of Galilee, between Asher, Naphtali, Issachar, and West Manasseh.[5] It included twelve cities, including Bethlehem of Galilee.[6]
Elon the judge came from the tribe of Zebulun.[7] 50,000 soldiers from this tribe followed David when he was fleeing from Saul.[8]
The tribe of Zebulun was deported with the rest of the Northern Kingdom of Israel during the reign of Hoshea; its territory was later called "Galilee of the Gentiles". Jesus Christ preached there.[9]
