Zebulun and Issachar, the last two sons of Leah, were given their inheritance in the Galilee.
Zebulun was originally given inland territory, the area surrounding Nazareth, but eventually found his way to the sea. “Zebulun shall dwell by the haven of the sea; he shall become a haven for ships” (Gen 49:13). Issachar, on the other hand, occupied the land at the east end of the Jezreel Valley, between the Samaritan Hills and the Galilean Highlands, looking to Jacob like “a strong donkey, lying down between two burdens” (v 14). Thus Moses’ brief statement, “Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going out, and Issachar in your tents! They shall call the peoples to the mountain; there they shall offer sacrifices of righteousness; for they shall partake of the abundance of the seas and of treasures hidden in the sand” (Deut 33:18-19). While much of this may have to wait until the Millennium for fulfillment, surely the ultimate going out was caught by Matthew: “And leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the regions of Zebulun…that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: ‘The land of Zebulun…by the way of the sea…the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned” (Mt 4:13-16). Thank God the going out of the gospel came all the way to us! Now what about Gad? His name is a military term, meaning “troop,” and he certainly was warlike. Moses was right in saying “he dwells as a lion” (Deut 33:20). The men of Gad who fought with David during his rejection were described as “mighty men of valor, men trained for battle, who could handle shield and spear, whose faces were like the faces of lions” (1 Chron 12:8). And today we also need to “be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might” (Eph 6:10).