Tola תּוֹלָע
Son of Issachar, ancestor of the Tolaites
Who is Tola in the Bible?
Tola was a son of Issachar and the founder of the Tolaite clan within the tribe of Issachar (Genesis 46:13, Numbers 26:23, 1 Chronicles 7:1-2). He traveled to Egypt with Jacob's household during the family's migration and later became an ancestor to one of Israel's prominent tribal divisions. When Moses and Eleazar conducted a census in the wilderness of Sinai, the Tolaites numbered 22,600 fighting men (Numbers 26:23), and by the time of King David, his descendants included 22,600 mighty warriors (1 Chronicles 7:2). Tola's inclusion in the genealogical records demonstrates the growth and strength of the tribe of Issachar from the patriarchal period through the conquest and settlement of Canaan.
Biography
Tola was one of the sons of Issachar, mentioned in Gen.46.13, Num.26.23, and 1Ch.7.1-2. He was born to Issachar during the family's time in Canaan and went down to Egypt with Jacob's household. Tola became the ancestor of the Tolaite clan within the tribe of Issachar. In the census taken in the wilderness of Sinai, the Tolaite clan numbered 22,600 men (Num.26.23). Tola's descendants were among the Israelites who received an inheritance in the Promised Land. The mention of Tola in the genealogies highlights the growth and development of the tribe of Issachar from the time of the patriarchs to the settlement in Canaan.
Family
Siblings
Offspring
- Uzzi Tribe of LeviHigh PriestHigh priest in the line of EleazarView full profile →
- Rephaiah Tribe of JudahSon of HananiahA descendant of King DavidView full profile →
- Jeriel Tribe of IssacharIssachar leaderA son of Tola, from the tribe of Issachar.View full profile →
- Jahmai Tribe of IssacharIssachar leaderSon of Tola, an IssachariteView full profile →
- Ibsam Tribe of IssacharSon of TolaA descendant of Issachar.View full profile →
- Shemuel Tribe of IssacharIssachar leaderSon of Tola, a leader of IssacharView full profile →
In Scripture
3 biblical books ; 1 with study contentGenesis 1 verse
- Genesis 46:13
"The sons of Issachar: Tola, Puvah, Job, and Shimron."
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Numbers 1 verse
- Numbers 26:23
"These were the descendants of Issachar by their clans: The Tolaite clan from Tola, the Punite clan from Puvah,"
1 Chronicles 2 verses
- 1 Chronicles 7:1
"The sons of Issachar: Tola, Puah, Jashub, and Shimron—four in all."
- 1 Chronicles 7:2
"The sons of Tola: Uzzi, Rephaiah, Jeriel, Jahmai, Ibsam, and Shemuel, the heads of their families. In the days of David, 22,600 descendants of Tola were numbered in their genealogies as mighty men of valor."
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | תּוֹלָע |
| Group | Hebrew | תּוֹלָעִי |
Tola
gypt with Jacob (Ge 46:8 f), and in the census taken by Moses and Eleazar, as father of the Tolaites (Nu 26:23) whose descendants in the reign of David included 22,600 "mighty men of valor" (1Ch 7:2).
(2) One of the Judges, the son of Puah, a man of Isaachar. He dwelt in the hill country of Ephraim in the village of Shamir, where after judging Israel 23 years he was buried (Jud 10:1,2). In the order of succession he is placed between Abimelech and Jair. It is interesting to note that both Tola and Puah are names of colors, and that they occur together both in the case of the judge and in that of the sons of Isaachar. They may therefore be looked upon as popular typical or ancestral names of the Issachar tribe, although current critical theories seek an explanation in a confusion of texts.
Ella Davis Isaacs
to-'lad.
See ELTOLAD.
to-'la-its.
See TOLA.
tol'-ba-ne