(Hebrew: reward)
Ninth son of Jacob, fifth son of Lia. He was given the name Issachar, by his mother at his birth (Genesis 30). Isaachar had four sons: Thola, Phua, Jasub, and Semron, whose descendants formed the tribe of Issachar (Numbers 26). In the time of Moses the tribe counted 54,400 men capable of going forth to battle (Numbers 2). The character of the tribe is told in the words of Jacob (Genesis 49), satisfied with the richness of its territory, through which passed numerous caravans, the tribe of Issachar thought only of its own well-being; and so, rendering itself subordinate to strangers, found slavery (rest) preferable to liberty.