Yissachar
יוֹדְעֵי בִינָה לַעִתִּים
Understanding of the times
The tribe of Torah scholars. The Sages read Jacob’s image of the strong donkey as one who bears the yoke of Torah, and Chronicles calls the children of Yissachar ‘men that had understanding of the times’ — sages who set the calendar and showed Israel what to do.
- Meaning of the name
- From the word for reward: Leah said, ‘God hath given me my hire.’
- Mother
- Leah
- Stone on the Choshen (Bamidbar Rabbah 2:7)
- Sapir, sapphire / lapis lazuli
- Flag colour
- black, like kohl (blue-black)
- Emblem on the flag
- sun and moon
- Place in the camp
- East — under the banner (degel) of the camp of Yehuda, alongside Zevulun.
Verses
יִשָּׂשכָר חֲמֹר גָּרֶם רֹבֵץ בֵּין הַמִּשְׁפְּתָיִם
Issachar is a large-boned ass, Couching down between the sheep-folds.
Genesis 49:14
וְלִזְבוּלֻן אָמַר שְׂמַח זְבוּלֻן בְּצֵאתֶךָ וְיִשָּׂשכָר בְּאֹהָלֶיךָ
And of Zebulun he said: Rejoice, Zebulun, in thy going out, And, Issachar, in thy tents.
Deuteronomy 33:18
וּמִבְּנֵי יִשָּׂשכָר יוֹדְעֵי בִינָה לַעִתִּים לָדַעַת מַה־יַּעֲשֶׂה יִשְׂרָאֵל רָאשֵׁיהֶם מָאתַיִם וְכָל־אֲחֵיהֶם עַל־פִּיהֶם
And of the children of Issachar, men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their commandment.
I Chronicles 12:33