The following is the results of your search for Naphtali, Tribe of.
Naphtali, Tribe of: On this tribe Jacob pronounced the patriarchal blessing, "Naphtali is
a hind let loose: he giveth goodly words"
(Genesis 49:21) It was
intended thus to set forth under poetic imagery the future character
and history of the tribe. At the time of the Exodus this tribe
numbered 53,400 adult males
(Numbers 1:43) but at the close of the
wanderings they numbered only 45,400
(Numbers 26:48-50) Along with Dan
and Asher they formed "the camp of Dan," under a common standard
(Numbers 2:25-31) occupying a place during the march on the north side
of the tabernacle. The possession assigned to this tribe is set forth
in
(Joshua 19:32-39) It lay in the north-eastern corner of the land,
bounded on the east by the Jordan and the lakes of Merom and Galilee,
and on the north it extended far into Coele-Syria, the valley between
the two Lebanon ranges. It comprehended a greater variety of rich and
beautiful scenery and of soil and climate than fell to the lot of any
other tribe. The territory of Naphtali extended to about 800 square
miles, being the double of that of Issachar. The region around Kedesh,
one of its towns, was originally called Galil, a name afterwards given
to the whole northern division of Canaan. A large number of foreigners
settled here among the mountains, and hence it was called "Galilee of
the Gentiles" (q.v.),
(Matthew 4:15,16) The southern portion of Naphtali
has been called the "Garden of Palestine." It was of unrivalled
fertility. It was the principal scene of our Lord's public ministry.
Here most of his parables were spoken and his miracles wrought. This
tribe was the first to suffer from the invasion of Benhadad, king of
Syria, in the reigns of Baasha, king of Israel, and Asa, king of Judah
(1 Kings 15:20; 2 Chronicles 16:4) In the reign of Pekah, king of Israel, the
Assyrians under Tiglath-pileser swept over the whole north of Israel,
and carried the people into captivity
(2 Kings 15:29) Thus the kingdom
of Israel came to an end (B.C. 722) Naphtali is now almost wholly a
desert, the towns of Tiberias, on the shore of the Lake of Galilee,
and Safed being the only places in it of any importance.
