Asher(aser)
“Happy or blessed”
Summary
The eighth son of Jacob, by Zilpah, Leah's handmaid, and the tribe descended from him, which occupied fertile territory along the Mediterranean coast.
☩The Man
Asher was born to Jacob by Zilpah, Leah's handmaid. At his birth, Leah exclaimed, 'Happy am I! for the daughters will call me happy,' and named him Asher, meaning 'happy.' He had four sons and one daughter who went with Jacob to Egypt.
☩The Tribe
The tribe of Asher was allotted territory along the Mediterranean coast from Carmel northward, with Manasseh to the south, Zebulun and Issachar to the southeast, and Naphtali to the northeast. At the Exodus, Asher numbered 41,500 adult males, increasing to 53,400 by the second census.
☩Blessings and Character
Jacob prophesied that Asher's 'bread shall be fat, and he shall yield royal dainties.' Moses blessed them: 'Blessed be Asher with children; let him be acceptable unto his brethren, and let him dip his foot in oil.' The territory was extremely fertile, producing abundant olive oil and fine crops. However, the tribe became known for contentment with material prosperity while neglecting national duties, as seen in their absence from the battle against Sisera.
☩Later History
Asher produced no hero or judge for Israel. By David's time, the tribe had become so insignificant that its name was omitted from the list of chief rulers. However, some of Asher responded to Hezekiah's call to celebrate Passover in Jerusalem. Anna the prophetess, who witnessed the infant Jesus in the temple, was of the tribe of Asher.
Related Verses43 mentions
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Asher," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. I (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Asher (1)," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. I (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 3.James Hastings (ed.), "Asher," in Dictionary of Christ and the Gospels, vol. I (T. & T. Clark, 1906–1908).
- 4.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Asher," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).