Zebulun

Zebulun is one of the twelve tribes of Israel. It is named after Zebulun, the sixth son of Jacob and Leah, and is traditionally regarded as the eponymous ancestor of the Tribe of Zebulun.

The name Zebulun is usually understood to mean "dwelling" or "habitation" in Hebrew. In Genesis 49:13, Jacob blesses Zebulun, describing him as "dwelling by the haven of the sea," a blessing that has been associated with maritime activity and trade.

In the land allotments described in the book of Joshua, the tribe occupied a northern portion of Canaan with access to coastal and inland regions, including areas near the Jezreel Valley. The biblical text links Zebulun with maritime activity and trade, reflecting the blessing about the sea.

Elon the Zebulonite is named as one of the minor judges who led Israel for ten years (Judges 12:11–12). Zebulun is also listed in genealogical and tribal records within the biblical narrative, typically within the northern portion of Israel.

In later tradition, Zebulun is sometimes associated with mercantile skills and seafaring, though the tribe is less prominent in narrative sources than some others. The tribe is listed among the tribes of Israel in various biblical catalogs and is understood to have been part of the northern kingdom before its conquest and exile by Assyria.