Naphtali

Naphtali (Hebrew: נַפְתָּלִי, Modern: Naftali, Tiberian: Naḇtālî) is one of the twelve sons of Jacob and Bilhah, making him one of the founders of the Twelve Tribes of Israel. In the Hebrew Bible, Naphtali is described as a skilled hunter and a swift runner, symbolizing agility and speed. The name Naphtali is often translated to mean "my struggle" or "my wrestling" in English, derived from the Hebrew roots naf (to struggle) and tali (to hang or suspend). In Arabic, the name is transliterated as نفتالي (Naftali), and in Greek, it appears as Νεφθαλί (Nephthali). The tribe of Naphtali settled in the northern part of the Promised Land, in an area that is today part of northern Israel and southern Lebanon. The tribe is also associated with the land of Gilead, east of the Jordan River. Naphtali's descendants played significant roles in the biblical narrative, and the tribe is mentioned in various contexts, including the division of the land of Canaan and the military campaigns of the Israelites.