- ZEBUDAH given, the wife of Josiah and mother of Jehoiakim (2 Kings
23:36). - ZEBUL habitation, the governor of Shechem under Abimelech (Judges
9:28, 30, 36). He informed his master of the intention of the people of
Shechem to transfer their allegiance to the Hivite tribe of Hamor. This led
to Abimelech’s destroying the city, when he put its entire population to
the sword, and sowed the ruins with salt (Judges 9:28-45). - ZEBULONITE the designation of Elon, the judge who belonged to the
tribe of Zebulun (Judges 12:11, 12). - ZEBULUN dwelling, the sixth and youngest son of Jacob and Leah
(Genesis 30:20). Little is known of his personal history. He had three sons
(46:14). - ZEBULUN, LOT OF in Galilee, to the north of Issachar and south of
Asher and Naphtali (Joshua 19:10-16), and between the Sea of Galilee and
the Mediterranean. According to ancient prophecy this part of Galilee
enjoyed a large share of our Lord’s public ministry (Isaiah 9:1, 2; Matthew
4:12-16). - ZEBULUN, TRIBE OF numbered at Sinai (Numbers 1:31) and before
entering Canaan (26:27). It was one of the tribes which did not drive out
the Canaanites, but only made them tributary (Judges 1:30). It took little
interest in public affairs. It responded, however, readily to the summons of
Gideon (6:35), and afterwards assisted in enthroning David at Hebron (1
Chronicles 12:33, 40). Along with the other northern tribes, Zebulun was
carried away into the land of Assyria by Tiglath-pileser (2 Kings 15:29).
In Deborah’s song the words, “Out of Zebulun they that handle the pen of
the writer” (Judges 5:14) has been rendered in the R.V., “They that handle
the marshal’s staff.” This is a questionable rendering. “The word sopher
(‘scribe’ or ‘writer’) defines the word shebhet (‘rod’ or ‘pen’) with which
it is conjoined. The ‘rod of the scribe’ on the Assyrian monuments was the
stylus of wood or metal, with the help of which the clay tablet was
engraved, or the papyrus inscribed with characters. The scribe who
wielded it was the associate and assistant of the ‘lawgivers.’” (Sayce).
- ZECHARIAH Jehovah is renowned or remembered. (1.) A prophet of
Judah, the eleventh of the twelve minor prophets. Like Ezekiel, he was of
priestly extraction. He describes himself (1:1) as “the son of Berechiah.” In