Question VII. What limits [borders] and cities the Issacharite tribe had?

The fourth lot gave [its] portion to the Issacharite tribe. Its limits: the first, the Southern, is shown by six cities, which run from the West to the East (v. 18 & 19). The second, the Western, from the South to the North, by five cities (v. 20). The third, the Northern, by five other cities (v. 21 & 22), where, to those cities, the Jordan is appended as, as it were, the extreme limit in the East. But Masius doubts whether the western limit of those Issacharites reached the Mediterranean sea, since not even the name of this [sea] is here set down. But since Mount “Carmel” belongs to this tribe (on Josephus’s authority), and [it] nearly overhangs the sea (below, v. 26), why should we not think [that] this tribe reached as far as that [sea]? In the same tribe [there] were 16 cities (v. 22), among which [is] easily the chief of all, “Jezrael” [Jezreel] — concerning whose valley [I spoke] above (ch. 17:16), and from which [comes] that great and most-fertile “plain of Esdrelon,” concerning which (Judith 1) I spoke [on] p. 233. And indeed, from the fertility and notable fruitfulness which [the land] brings forth when seed [is] cast [in], the name “Jezrael” seems [to be] built up. For “Zera” is “seed,” and “el” [is] “God.” But [the things] which are great and excellent, those are said in the Scriptures to be “of God” — as “the mountains of God.” But “Sion” (v. 19) in the Hebrew is written “Sion” — yet with different letters than the Jerusalem Mount “Sion.”