Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897)
My wrestling, the fifth son of Jacob. His mother was Bilhah, Rachel’s handmaid (Gen. 30:8). When Jacob went down into Egypt, Naphtali had four sons (Gen. 46:24). Little is known of him as an individual.
Smith's Bible Dictionary (1863)
(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 1:43; 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.
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible (1898)
NAPH'TALI (my wrestling), Gen 30:8, or NEPH'THALIM, Matt 4:15, a son of Jacob by Bilhah, Rachel's handmaid. Tribe of. At Mount Sinai the tribe numbered 53,400 fighting-men. Num 1:43; on the entrance into Canaan, 45,400. Num 26:50. " Gen 49:21. Barak, Jud 4:10, was the chief hero which the tribe produced. At the division of the kingdom Naphtali became a part of the northern monarchy. Later, its territory was overrun and its people taken captive by Tiglath-pileser of Assyria. 2 Kgs 15:29. Isaiah prophesied of the Messianic light to break over her, 2 Kgs 9:1-2, which was fulfilled. Matt 4:15-16.
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible (1898) & Schaff's Bible Dictionary
NAPH'TALI (my wrestling), the territory given to the tribe descended from the fifth son of Jacob. Gen 30:8; Gen 35:25; Ex 1:4; 1 Chr 2:2. On leaving Egypt the tribe numbered 53,400 fighting-men. Num 1:42-43; on reaching the plains of Moab it had decreased to 45,400. Num 26:48-50. Jacob blessed this tribe and compared it to a hind or gazelle. Gen 49:21. Moses describes its territory. Deut 33:23.
The land of Naphtali was the most northerly of the portion allotted to Israel, and its boundaries are found in Josh 19:32-39; The territory reached to the Leontes, and east to the Jordan, the waters of Merom, and the Sea of Galilee, by which it was separated from Manasseh east of the Jordan. It afforded a great variety of soil and climate. Josephus describes the fertility and productiveness of this region along the Jordan and Sea of Galilee in glowing language.
The table-lands west of the Jordan valley were 2000 feet above the sea, and in the mountains of Naphtali were found ridges and peaks, not barren and bleak, but covered with oak, terebinth, aromatic shrubs, and flowers of variegated hues. It still teems with animal life, beasts and birds being abundant. See Palestine. History. - Stanley says Naphtali was one of the four northern tribes which kept aloof from the great historical movements of Israel.
It gained renown in the war against Jabin and Sisera, Judg 4, Judg 6, but later the people appear to have become allied with their Gentile neighbors, and some of their cities were transferred to Hiram of Tyre. 1 Kgs 9:11-13. Their land lay in the track of the invaders from the north, and their cities were captured, as Ijon, Abel, Kadesh, and Hazor. 1 Kgs 15:20; 2 Chr 16:4. c. 720, overran Northern Palestine, and Naphtali was the first territory depopulated and its people carried into captivity. It was afterward repeopled by a mixed population. , where it occurs as Nephthalim. Matt 4:15.
See also Capernaum, Galilee, and Tiberias.
Hitchcock's Bible Names (1869)
that struggles or fights