John Calvin Commentary Genesis 49:13

"Zebulun shall dwell at the haven of the sea; And he shall be for a haven of ships; And his border shall be upon Sidon." — Genesis 49:13 (ASV)

Zebulun shall dwell at the havens of the sea. Although this blessing contains nothing rare or precious (just as some of those that follow also do not), yet we should consider this fact significant enough: it was as if God was stretching out His hand from heaven for the deliverance of the Israelites, and for the purpose of distributing to each their own dwelling place.

Before the lot itself is mentioned, a maritime region is assigned to the tribe of Zebulun, which they obtained by lot two hundred years later. And we know the great importance of that hereditary gift, which, like a pledge, made the adoption of the ancient people secure.

Therefore, by this prophecy, not only one tribe but the whole people should have been encouraged to eagerly lay hold of the offered blessing that was certainly in store for them. But it is said that Zebulun's portion should not only be on the seashore but should also have havens, for Jacob joins its boundary with the country of Sidon; in which area, we know, there were spacious and excellent havens.

For God, by this prophecy, would not only more strongly motivate the descendants of Zebulun to prepare themselves to enter the land, but would also assure them, when they obtained possession of the desired portion, that it was the home that had been clearly intended and ordained for them by God's will.