Question 1

Who were the families of Issachar listed in this passage?

Accepted Answer

The passage names four family lines within the tribe of Issachar. From Issachar’s son Tola came the Tolaites, from Pua came the Punites, from Jashub came the Jashubites, and from Shimron came the Shimronites. These names show how the tribe was organized by clans, each traced back to a founding ancestor. This helped Israel know its identity, keep family inheritance clear, and remember that every group within the nation was part of God’s covenant people.

Question 2

What is the significance of the number 64,300 for Issachar?

Accepted Answer

The total of 64,300 refers to the number of men in Issachar’s tribe who were old enough to fight. This shows that Issachar was a large and growing tribe. In the wider census, Issachar’s numbers had gone up compared to the earlier count in the wilderness. This increase points to God’s care and blessing on this tribe, even though the nation had faced judgment, wandering, and death in the desert years.

Question 3

Why is the tribe of Issachar mentioned right after Judah in the census?

Accepted Answer

Issachar is listed close to Judah because, when the people camped and traveled in the wilderness, Issachar was grouped under the same standard with Judah. The order in the census reflects that camp arrangement. This reminds readers that God arranged His people in an orderly way, with tribes placed together by His direction, not by human choice alone. Issachar’s mention beside Judah shows its place within that larger structure of Israel’s life.

Question 4

What does this passage teach about God’s care across generations?

Accepted Answer

By listing Issachar’s clans and their large number, the passage shows that God keeps track of families over time. Even after years of wandering and discipline, Issachar had not been wiped out but had grown. This points to God’s steady faithfulness to His promises to Abraham’s family. He does not forget people groups or family lines, and He is able to preserve and increase them, even when conditions are hard and many others fall in the wilderness.

Question 5

Why does the Bible spend time listing numbers and family names like this?

Accepted Answer

These lists can feel dry at first, but they serve real purposes. They show that God’s people are not an idea but real families with names and histories. The numbers prove that God did what He said, growing Abraham’s descendants into a great nation. The family names helped Israel organize land, leadership, and worship. They also remind us that God notices groups and individuals, and that no part of His people is forgotten or random.

Question 6

How does Issachar’s census compare with other tribes in the same chapter?

Accepted Answer

In the wider census, some tribes increased in number, while others shrank. Issachar is among those that grew, and it grew by a large margin. Other tribes, like Simeon, lost many people, likely tied to earlier sin and judgment in Israel’s history. This contrast shows that God is in charge of increase and decrease. He can bless one tribe while another suffers loss, and these changes often reflect how they have walked in faith or rebellion.

Question 7

What does this short passage show about God’s character?

Accepted Answer

This brief census note still tells us a lot about God. It shows that He is faithful to His promises, since Issachar’s descendants are many. It shows that He is orderly, organizing His people by tribes and families. It also hints at His patience, because even after many failures in the wilderness, God still preserves and multiplies His people. Behind the simple list of names and numbers stands a God who sees, remembers, and keeps His word.

Question 8

How can a genealogy-style passage like this help my faith today?

Accepted Answer

A passage like this can help you see that God works slowly and steadily through families and generations, not only through big miracles or famous stories. It shows that He values ordinary people whose names are rarely mentioned again. That can comfort you when your own life feels small or hidden. It can also encourage you to think about your own family line, and how trusting and obeying God today may bless people who come after you.

Numbers 26:23

¶ Of the sons of Issachar after their families: of Tola, the family of the Tolaites: of Pua, the family of the Punites:

The Tribe of Issachar

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Numbers 26:23

¶ Of the sons of Issachar after their families: of Tola, the family of the Tolaites: of Pua, the family of the Punites:

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The Tribe of Issachar

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