Genesis 49:14-15 - Exposition

Issachar is a strong ass couching down between two burdens— literally, an ass of bone—hence a strong, powerful animal, asinus fortis (Vulgate), asinus walidi corporis (Gesenius), asinus robustus ( Rosenmuller ) —lying down between the folds, or cattle-pens, which received and protected the flocks by night, the dual being used probably because such pens were divided into two parts for different kinds of cattle (Gesenius, Keil, Kalisch, Murphy, 'Speaker's Commentary,' &c.;), though the word mishpetaim has been also rendered ἀνὰ μέσον τῶν κλήρων ( LXX .), inter terminos (Vulgate, Rosenmüller), "within their own boundaries" (Onkelos, Targums of Jerusalem and Jonathan), "between two burdens" ( A . V ; Lange, Murphy, &c.;). And he saw that rest was good, and the land that it was pleasant. Issachar was to manifest a keen appreciation of the land or portion of territory that should be assigned to him, and to renounce the warlike spirit and military enterprises of his brethren for the indolent and luxurious repose of his fat pastures, crouching between his sheep-folds, or rejoicing within his tents, like a lazy ass, capable indeed of mighty efforts, but too self-satisfied to put forth much exertion, devoting himself to agriculture and pastoral pursuits, and preferring rather to pay tribute to his brethren, in order to secure their protection, than to leave his ploughshare and cast aside his shepherd's crook to follow them into the tented field of war, as the patriarch next describes. And bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a servant unto tribute —or a tributary servant. The phrase מַס־עֹבֵד , though sometimes used of servitude under a foreign sovereignty ( Deuteronomy 20:11 ; Joshua 16:10 ), commonly refers to tribute rendered by labor ( 1 Kings 9:21 ; 2 Chronicles 8:8 ), and is correctly rendered ἄνθρωπος εἴς φόρον δουλεύων (Aquila), factusque est tributo serviens (Vulgate). The translation καὶ ἐγενήθη ἀνὴο γεωργος ( LXX .) discovers in the clause an allusion to Issachar's agricultural pursuits.