Gen 49:13-14 | Clarke | e4.org | 13. At the haven of the seas shall Zebulun dwell, And he shall be a haven for ships. And his border shall extend unto Sidon. Verse 13. Zebulun's lot or portion in the division of the Promised Land extended from the Mediterranean Sea on the west, to the lake of Gennesareth on the east; see his division, , &c. The Targum of Jonathan ben Uzziel paraphrases the passage thus: "Zebulun shall be on the coasts of the sea, and he shall rule over the havens ; he shall subdue the provinces of the sea with his, ships, and his border shall extend unto Sidon.

‏ Genesis 49:13-14

13. At the haven of the seas shall Zebulun dwell,

And he shall be a haven for ships.

And his border shall extend unto Sidon.

Verse 13. Zebulun's lot or portion in the division of the Promised Land extended from the Mediterranean Sea on the west, to the lake of Gennesareth on the east; see his division, Jos 19:10, &c. The Targum of Jonathan ben Uzziel paraphrases the passage thus: "Zebulun shall be on the coasts of the sea, and he shall rule over the havens; he shall subdue the provinces of the sea with his, ships, and his border shall extend unto Sidon.

14. Issachar is a strong ass

Couching between two burdens.

15. And he saw the resting place that it was good,

And the land that it was pleasant;

And he inclined his shoulder to the load,

And he became a servant unto tribute.

Verse 14. Issachar is a strong ass] chamor garem is properly a strong-limbed ass; couching between two burdens-bearing patiently, as most understand it, the fatigues of agriculture, and submitting to exorbitant taxes rather that exert themselves to drive out the old inhabitants.

The two burdens literally mean the two sacks or panniers, one on each side of the animal's body; and couching down between these refers to the well-known propensity of the ass, whenever wearied or overloaded, to lie down even with its burden on its back.