Zebulun

Sixth and youngest son of Jacob and Leah, ancestor of the tribe of Zebulun. Leah named him Zebulun (“honor”), saying: “God has endowed me with a good endowment; now my husband will honor me, because I have borne him six sons” (Genesis 30:20).

Jacob blessed Zebulun with a coastal territory: “Zebulun shall dwell at the shore of the sea; he shall become a haven for ships” (Genesis 49:13). The tribe settled in the Galilee region and was praised for valor: “Zebulun is a people who risked their lives to the death” (Judges 5:18). The territory later became significant in the ministry of Jesus, fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy about “Galilee of the nations” where those “dwelling in darkness have seen a great light” (Matthew 4:15-16).