The tribe of Naphtali was one of the twelve tribes of Israel descended from the sons of Jacob. Naphtali was the sixth son of Jacob and was born to Jacob’s wife Bilhah (Genesis 30:8). The tribe of Naphtali played an important role throughout Israel’s history.
Here are some key things we can learn from the tribe of Naphtali:
Their inheritance in the Promised Land
After the Israelites left Egypt and wandered in the wilderness for 40 years, they finally entered the Promised Land under Joshua’s leadership. The land was divided among the twelve tribes. Naphtali received its inheritance in the northernmost part of the Promised Land, to the west of the Sea of Galilee (Joshua 19:32-39). This included some key cities such as Hazor, Kedesh, Edrei and more.
Naphtali’s territorial inheritance reminds us that God faithfully fulfills His promises. Despite Israel’s unfaithfulness and grumbling in the wilderness, God brought them into the Promised Land just as He had promised their forefathers. We too can trust God to be faithful to His promises in our lives even when we are faithless (2 Timothy 2:13).
They were brave warriors who fought alongside Barak and Deborah
In Judges 4, we read the story of how the Israelites were being oppressed by the Canaanite king Jabin and his army commander Sisera who had 900 iron chariots. The prophetess and judge Deborah summoned Barak to lead 10,000 men from Naphtali and Zebulun to fight against Sisera’s armies. Barak agreed to go only if Deborah accompanied him (Judges 4:8). Deborah did accompany Barak but prophesied that the glory of defeating Sisera would actually go to a woman rather than Barak (Judges 4:9).
As Deborah predicted, the Lord threw Sisera’s army into confusion when the Israelite army attacked, and Sisera fled the battlefield. He sought refuge in the tent of a woman named Jael, who gave him milk to drink but then secretly drove a tent peg through his skull while he slept, fulfilling Deborah’s prophecy (Judges 4:17-22).
The warriors of Naphtali teach us the importance of courageously standing up for God’s people when they are being oppressed. They remind us that God can give His people victory against great odds. However, we must wholly trust and rely on God rather than our own strength (Zechariah 4:6).
Naphtali received blessings from Jacob and Moses
In Genesis 49, Jacob blessed each of his twelve sons before he died. For Naphtali, he declared “Naphtali is a doe let loose that bears beautiful fawns” (Genesis 49:21). This seems to depict Naphtali as a tribe freely roaming their land and multiplying greatly.
When Moses blessed the tribes before his death, he said of Naphtali “O Naphtali, sated with favor, and full of the blessing of the LORD, possess the lake and the south” (Deuteronomy 33:23). This represents the great blessings that Naphtali would receive in their fertile northern inheritance.
These patriarchal blessings remind us that children are a heritage from the Lord (Psalm 127:3) and parental blessings over children carry great weight. As parents, we should seek God’s guidance in pronouncing appropriate scriptural blessings over our children.
The Messiah’s ministry was centered in Naphtali’s region
A key prophecy about Naphtali came from Isaiah: “In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.” (Isaiah 9:1-2)
This prophecy was fulfilled in Jesus Christ’s ministry. Jesus grew up in Nazareth of Galilee, within the old tribal boundaries of Naphtali (Matthew 2:23). He began His ministry in this same region, fulfillng Isaiah’s prophecy that a great light would shine on Naphtali’s lands (Matthew 4:13-16).
Naphtali’s connection with Jesus’ earthly ministry reminds us that God uses ordinary people and places to accomplish His great plans. Despite being viewed as unimportant or backward, Galilee became the center of the most important event in history – the coming of the Messiah.
The judge Gideon was from the tribe of Naphtali
One of Israel’s judges, Gideon, came from the town of Ophrah which was located in the land allotted to Naphtali (Judges 6:11,35). Gideon was used by God to defeat the armies of Midian with only 300 men, demonstrating God’s power to save His people by many or by few (Judges 7:2-22).
Gideon’s story reminds us that God can use the weak to shame the strong (1 Corinthians 1:27). Despite coming from an insignificant clan and being the least in his family, Gideon was empowered by God’s Spirit to do great things. We should never underestimate what God can do through us when we trust in His strength.
The false prophet Balaam came from Naphtali’s region
The false prophet Balaam, who was hired by King Balak to curse Israel, came from Pethor which was likely located within Naphtali’s tribal lands (Numbers 22:5). Though Balaam was unable to curse Israel, he later enticed Israel to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and engaging in sexual immorality (Numbers 25:1-3, 31:16; Revelation 2:14).
Balaam reminds us that not everyone from Naphtali was faithful to God. There were false prophets and ungodly influences even within this tribe. We must carefully guard our doctrine and conduct, lest we lead others into sin through our own compromises and bad examples.
Hiram the craftsman who helped build the temple was from Naphtali
When Solomon built the temple in Jerusalem, he was assisted by a man named Hiram from Naphtali whose mother was from the tribe of Dan (1 Kings 7:13-14). Hiram was filled with wisdom, understanding and skill to do all kinds of bronze work for the temple. He worked alongside the craftsmen of King Solomon.
Hiram is a positive example of someone from Naphtali who used his artistic talents to contribute to the building of God’s house. He challenges us to steward our skills and creativity for God’s glory and the benefit of His people.
Naphtali remained faithful after the division of Israel
Following the death of Solomon, Israel was divided into two kingdoms – the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah. Naphtali was part of the northern kingdom. Most of the northern kings led the people into idolatrous practices.
Yet there were some good northern kings like Jehoahaz and Jeroboam II who followed God like their forefather David (2 Kings 13:4-5, 14:23-24). During their reigns, Naphtali seems to have been largely faithful to God. They heeded the warnings of prophets like Elijah, Elisha and Jonah sent to the northern kingdom.
Naphtali’s example challenges us to remain faithful to God even when leaders over us may be ungodly or when society around us falls into unbelief and apostasy. We need to look to godly examples from our spiritual heritage to stay grounded in the truth.
In summary, here are some key lessons we learn from the tribe of Naphtali:
- God fulfills His promises even when His people are unfaithful
- Courage to fight against oppression comes from trusting in God’s power
- Blessings over children carry weight and should convey spiritual truths
- God uses ordinary people and places to accomplish His great plans
- God can use the weak to shame the strong when they rely on His strength
- Staying grounded in God’s truth is vital, especially when leaders and society become ungodly
- Our gifts and talents should be used for God’s glory and to benefit His people
While we cannot be certain about every detail concerning Naphtali’s history, the Bible provides us with glimpses into the character and experiences of this tribe. As we reflect on these accounts, we can find many valuable lessons that are still very applicable to our lives today. The history of God’s people in Scripture serves both to warn us and to encourage us in our walk with God.
