Jos 19:13 | KingComments | STEP | The inheritance of the tribe of Zebulun is bordered on the west side by the Mediterranean Sea and on the east side by the sea of Tiberias. This is in accordance with Jacob’s prophecy: “Zebulun will dwell at the seashore” ( ). They would have ports for merchant ships on the Mediterranean Sea and for fisher vessels on the sea of Tiberias. Zebulun is located, together with Naphtali, all the way to the north of Canaan, in Galilee. These are tribes that are so easily forgotten, but not by God. In the dark, northern part of Israel God brings light through the Messiah. The first performance of the Lord Jesus about which we read in the Gospels takes place there. It is the fulfillment of what Isaiah prophesied: “But there will be no [more] gloom for her who was in anguish; in earlier times He treated the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali with contempt, but later on He shall make [it] glorious, by the way of the sea, on the other side of Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles. The people who walk in darkness will see a great light; those who live in a dark land, the light will shine on them” ( ). Therefore Matthew also mentions these verses in his account of the life of the Lord Jesus ( ). He writes his Gospel especially for the Jews and therefore this quote is of great importance. The fulfillment, proved from their own Scriptures, must convince them that in the Lord Jesus the Messiah has come to them. We can apply this to believers who live spiritually far away. If we no longer have spiritual contact with such believers, we can easily forget them. We can also think of local churches that we forget, because it takes too much effort to reach them. But they are not forgotten by the Lord. He visits them. We must do the same. The Lord Jesus appeared there and brought blessing. Galilee is despised by the clergy, but not by the Lord.

‏ Joshua 19:13

The Inheritance of Zebulun

The inheritance of the tribe of Zebulun is bordered on the west side by the Mediterranean Sea and on the east side by the sea of Tiberias. This is in accordance with Jacob’s prophecy: “Zebulun will dwell at the seashore” (Gen 49:13). They would have ports for merchant ships on the Mediterranean Sea and for fisher vessels on the sea of Tiberias.

Zebulun is located, together with Naphtali, all the way to the north of Canaan, in Galilee. These are tribes that are so easily forgotten, but not by God. In the dark, northern part of Israel God brings light through the Messiah. The first performance of the Lord Jesus about which we read in the Gospels takes place there. It is the fulfillment of what Isaiah prophesied: “But there will be no [more] gloom for her who was in anguish; in earlier times He treated the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali with contempt, but later on He shall make [it] glorious, by the way of the sea, on the other side of Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles. The people who walk in darkness will see a great light; those who live in a dark land, the light will shine on them” (Isa 9:1-2).

Therefore Matthew also mentions these verses in his account of the life of the Lord Jesus (Mt 4:12-16). He writes his Gospel especially for the Jews and therefore this quote is of great importance. The fulfillment, proved from their own Scriptures, must convince them that in the Lord Jesus the Messiah has come to them.

We can apply this to believers who live spiritually far away. If we no longer have spiritual contact with such believers, we can easily forget them. We can also think of local churches that we forget, because it takes too much effort to reach them. But they are not forgotten by the Lord. He visits them. We must do the same. The Lord Jesus appeared there and brought blessing. Galilee is despised by the clergy, but not by the Lord.