Nothing is known of the man Issachar apart from the fact that he was the fifth son that Leah bore to Jacob (Genesis 30:17-18). The tribe descended from him inherited land that covered the important Plain of Esdraelon and Valley of Jezreel in northern Israel (see PALESTINE; JEZREEL). This territory lay between Mt Tabor to the north and Mt Gilboa to the south (Joshua 19:17-23).
Important trade routes ran through Issachar’s territory, connecting inland and coastal towns. The commercial activity that resulted, along with the good farming country of the area, brought much prosperity to Issachar. But its desire for prosperity meant that, except for one notable victory, it had to submit to the Canaanite people. Being equipped with an army of chariots, the Canaanites were well able to control the relatively flat country (Genesis 49:14-15; Deuteronomy 33:18-19; Judges 4:12-15; Judges 5:15). At least two national leaders of Israel came from Issachar (Judges 10:1; 1 Kings 15:27).