Naphtali @ my wrestling, the fifth son of Jacob. His mother was Bilhah, Rachel's handmaid Genesis:30:8). When Jacob went down into Egypt, Naphtali had four sons Genesis:46:24). Little is known of him as an individual.
Naphtali, Mount @ the mountainous district of Naphtali Joshua:20:7).
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 (26:48-50). Along with Dan and Asher they formed "the camp of Dan," under a common standard (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 (kjvKings:15:20; 2Chronicals: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 ( 2Kings: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.
NAPHTALI @ - (wrestling), the fifth son of Jacob; the second child name to him by Bilhah, Rachel’s slave. His birth and the bestowal of his name are recorded in Genesis:30:8) When the census was taken at Mount Sinai the tribe of Naphtali numbered no less than 53-400 fighting men, Numbers:1:43Numbers:2:50) but when the borders of the promised land were reached, its numbers were reduced to, 45,400. Numbers:26:48-50) During the march through the wilderness Naphtali occupied a position on the north of the sacred tent with Dan and Asher. Numbers:2:25-31) In the apportionment of the land, the lot of Naphtali was enclosed on three sides by those of other tribes. On the west lay Asher, on the south Zebulun, and on the east the transjordanic Manasseh. (In the division of the kingdom Naphtali belonged to the kingdom of Israel, and later was a part of Galilee, bordering on the northwestern pert of the Sea of Galilee, and including Capernaum and Bethsaida. --Ed.)
NAPHTALI, MOUNT @ - the mountainous district which formed the main part of the inheritance of Naphtali, Joshua:20:7) answering to "Mount Ephraim" in the centre and "Mount Judah" in the south of Palestine.
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