Poster Map of the Tribe of Zebulun and Its Surroundings circa 1200 B.C.
When recounting which Israelite tribes played an important role the history of the nation, it is unlikely that Zebulun and its neighboring tribes would be among the first named by most Bible readers. Yet a careful study of Scripture reveals that this region played a key role in the life of Israel from its earliest years until the time of Jesus. During the time of Israel’s conquest of Canaan, this region was the site of a momentous victory over the forces of the Canaanite King Jabin of Hazor (Joshua 11; see “The Conquest of Canaan: The Northern Campaign” map). Likewise the prophet Deborah called upon Barak to lead an army of Israelites from the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun to fight against another King Jabin near Mount Tabor (Judges 4-5; see “Deborah and Barak Defeat Sisera” map). Later in the time of the judges, Gideon and his men from Manasseh, Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali ambushed a vast army of Midianites, Amalekites, and peoples of the East in the Jezreel Valley (Judges 6-8; see “Gideon Defeats the Midianites” map). Mount Tabor also appears to have been a common cultic center for the surrounding tribes throughout the Old Testament (see Deuteronomy 33:18-19). As such, Tabor does not appear to have been included within any of the tribes’ allotted territory (see Joshua 19), although three of the tribes bordered it (see “Mount Tabor and Its Surrounding Tribal Boundaries” map), and Tabor is reckoned as belonging to Zebulun in the assignment of towns for the Levites (1 Chronicles 6:77). Saul also led the Israelites into battle against a coalition of of Philistine forces in the Jezreel Valley, and he and his sons were killed on Mount Gilboa (1 Samuel 28-31; 1 Chronicles 10; see “The Battle at Mount Gilboa” map).
Over the next few centuries, the northern tribes of Israel experienced multiple attacks and occupations by foreign powers, including by Aram and Babylonia (2 Kings 16-17; 2 Chronicles 28; Isaiah 7-8; see “Border Conflict between Israel and Judah” and “The Final Days of the Northern Kingdom of Israel” maps). In the time of Elijah, King Ahab had a palace in Jezreel, and Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal to a contest on Mount Carmel to see whether Baal or the Lord was truly God. After the people saw that the Lord indeed was God, they killed the prophets of Baal at the Kishon River (1 Kings 18-19; see “Elijah Challenges Ahab” map). Elijah’s student Elisha sometimes stayed at the home of a woman in Shunem, and after her son died, Elisha raised him back to life (2 Kings 4:1-37). Later, King Josiah of Judah was killed at Megiddo as he tried to stop Pharaoh Neco from coming to the aid of the collapsing Assyrian Empire (2 Kings 22-23; 2 Chronicles 34-35; see “Josiah Battles Neco” map). Centuries later the tiny village of Nazareth, located in the tribe of Zebulun, became home to Jesus the Messiah (Matthew 2:19-23; see “Nazareth and Its Surroundings” map), fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah that “the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles–the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned” (Matthew 4:15-16).
The exact borders of these northern tribes, specifically of Zebulun, Asher, and Manasseh, has been the subject of some debate over the centuries. The borders are carefully delineated in Joshua 19. There the boundaries given for Asher do not include the region of Mount Carmel and Dor, yet two chapters earlier (see Joshua 17:11) the author indicates that Dor (and probably Mount Carmel) did fall within the boundaries of Asher, though it was occupied by Manasseh. Adding to the confusion is Joshua 19:26, which notes that Asher’s territory bordered (“touches”) Carmel and Shihor-libnath, which may have referred to a specific town, but it may also have encompassed the greater alluvial plain of the lower Kishon River. The mouth of the Kishon River as well as the mouth of the Belus River further north were known in ancient times for their glassmaking industries (it is mentioned by both Tacitus, The Histories, 5.7, and Pliny the Elder, Natural History, 5.19), and the name Shihor-libnath means “river of glass/whiteness.” This description of Asher’s border seems to suggest that Zebulun was landlocked, and it is shown this way in virtually every map of the region available today. Yet in the blessings of both Jacob and Moses, Zebulun is associated with the abundance of the sea (Genesis 49:13; Deuteronomy 33:18-19), suggesting that it bordered the sea. A possible resolution for both of these questions (whether Dor was within Asher’s territory and whether Zebulun bordered the sea) may be found in this author’s new understanding of Zebulun’s western border, as shown on this map. (I have since found two maps from 1823 by that display similar borders; see footnote below.) Given that Asher’s border is described as starting at the edge of Carmel and Shihor-libnath and then heading east (not southeast; Joshua 19:26), it stands to reason that a different tribe occupied the area to the southeast of Shihor-libnath. The most fitting candidate for this other tribe is Zebulun, since this would also explain its association with the sea. This may also explain why the region of Dor and Carmel, which would have been separated from northern Asher by Zebulun and was occupied by Manasseh even by the time of the completion of the book of Joshua, does not appear to have been regarded as part of the principle territory of Asher.
Two older works containing similar boundaries for Zebulun are:
Geographia Sacra, or Scripture Atlas, Comprising A Complete Set of Maps adapted to elucidate the Events of Sacred History which point out the Situation of every place mentioned in the Old & New Testaments. By J. Wyld, 1823.
The Bible Atlas; or, Sacred Geography Delineated, In A Complete Series of Scriptural Maps, Drawn From The Latest and Best Authorities, and Engraved By Richard Palmer, 1823.
Tribal Allotments of the Promised Land
After the Israelites had conquered portions of the Promised Land and Joshua had grown old, the Lord directed him to divide the rest of the land among the tribes of Israel as their inheritance (Joshua 13-20). The eastern tribes had already been allotted their land under Moses’ leadership (Numbers 32), but they continued to help the other tribes drive out the Canaanites from land west of the Jordan River. The Lord also instructed the Israelites to designate several cities of refuge, where someone could flee for protection from an avenger if they accidentally killed someone (Numbers 35; Joshua 20).