Of the house of Issachar, i.e. of the tribe, which is oft called a house, as Jud_10:9Psa_135:20Hos_1:7. Which belonged to the Philistines; who, taking advantage of the division between Israel and Judah, had retaken this town, which belonged to the tribe of Dan, Jos_19:44, and belonged to the Levites, Jos_21:23; upon whose departure to Judah, 2Ch_11:14, the kings of Israel seized their towns and lands to their own use, as was noted before; which made them so much concerned for this town, to besiege it both now and many years after this time, 1Ki_16:15.