Asher was one of the twelve sons of Jacob in the Old Testament. His mother was Zilpah, Leah’s handmaid. Asher’s name means “happy” or “blessed.” He was born in Paddan Aram when Jacob was serving Laban (Genesis 30:12-13).
Not much is said about Asher in the Bible. He went down to Egypt with Jacob during the famine (Genesis 46:17). When Jacob blessed his sons, he predicted that Asher’s food would be rich and he would provide delicacies fit for a king (Genesis 49:20).
The tribe of Asher was allotted land west of the Sea of Galilee when the Israelites entered Canaan. Their territory stretched from Mount Carmel to the Mediterranean Sea. It was known for its agricultural fertility and production of olive oil (Deuteronomy 33:24-25).
During the time of the judges, the Asherites did not drive out the Canaanites from their land as God had commanded. As a result, they lived among the native peoples (Judges 1:31-32). The Asherites responded to Gideon’s call and joined him in battle against the Midianites (Judges 6:35). At least one military leader from Asher, named Pagiel son of Okran, was chosen to assist Moses with administrative duties (Numbers 1:13).
When David was made king over a united Israel, members of Asher joined the celebrations and festivities in Hebron (1 Chronicles 12:36). They brought provisions to help feed the crowds. Later, some men from Asher were among David’s mighty warriors (1 Chronicles 27:19).
During the divided kingdom period, Asher sided with Israel in the north. The prophetess Anna, who met the infant Jesus and his parents at the temple, was a descendant of Asher (Luke 2:36). When Jesus began his ministry, crowds from Asher came to hear him speak and be healed (Matthew 4:24-25).
Here are some key details about Asher in the Bible:
- Son of Jacob and Zilpah (Genesis 30:12-13)
- Went to Egypt with Jacob during famine (Genesis 46:17)
- Blessed by Jacob to have rich food (Genesis 49:20)
- Allotted fertile land west of Sea of Galilee (Joshua 19:24-31)
- Did not drive out Canaanites from their territory (Judges 1:31-32)
- Joined Gideon in battle against Midianites (Judges 6:35)
- Military leader Pagiel assisted Moses (Numbers 1:13)
- Brought food provisions to David’s celebrations (1 Chronicles 12:36)
- Mighty warriors from Asher served David (1 Chronicles 27:19)
- Aligned with northern kingdom of Israel
- Ancestral tribe of prophetess Anna (Luke 2:36)
- Crowds from Asher came to Jesus (Matthew 4:24-25)
Asher in the Book of Genesis
The first time Asher is mentioned in Scripture is at his birth. After Leah had stopped having children, she gave her servant Zilpah to Jacob as a wife (Genesis 30:9). Zilpah bore Jacob two sons – Gad and Asher (Genesis 30:10-13). The meaning of Asher’s name reflects Leah’s happiness at his birth. She declared, “What good fortune!” (Genesis 30:13).
Asher and his brothers are listed among those who traveled with Jacob to Egypt during the famine: “The sons of Leah: Reuben the firstborn of Jacob, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun. The sons of Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin. The sons of Bilhah, Rachel’s servant: Dan and Naphtali. The sons of Zilpah, Leah’s servant: Gad and Asher.” (Genesis 46:8-10,15)
When Jacob blessed his sons before his death, he predicted that Asher’s food would be rich and fit for royalty: “Asher’s food shall be rich, and he shall yield royal delicacies.” (Genesis 49:20). This indicates the agricultural bounty of the tribe’s future territory.
Asher During the Exodus and Conquest
During the Israelites’ journey in the wilderness after the Exodus from Egypt, Asher was represented by a leader named Pagiel son of Okran. He assisted Moses and Aaron by managing administrative duties: “So Moses and Aaron took these men who had been named, and on the first day of the second month, they assembled the whole congregation together, who registered themselves by clans, by fathers’ houses, according to the number of names from twenty years old and upward, head by head, as the Lord commanded Moses. So he listed them in the wilderness of Sinai…From Asher, Pagiel the son of Ochran.” (Numbers 1:17-18, 13).
Before entering the Promised Land, Moses offered blessings over the tribes of Israel. To Asher he pronounced: “Most blessed of sons be Asher; let him be the favorite of his brothers, and let him dip his foot in oil.” (Deuteronomy 33:24). This foretold the fertile lands that Asher would inhabit.
After the Israelite conquest of Canaan, Joshua allotted territories to the tribes by lot. Asher was given land stretching along the Mediterranean coast from Mount Carmel up to the area near Tyre and Sidon: “The fifth lot came out for the tribe of Asher according to its clans…their boundary ran…to Carmel, and to Shihor-libnath…It turned toward the sunrise to Beth-dagon and touched Zebulun and the Valley of Iphtah-el northward to Beth-emek and Neiel. Then it proceeded on north to Cabul, Ebron, Rehob, Hammon, Kanah, as far as Sidon the Great. The boundary turned to Ramah and to the fortified city of Tyre. Then the boundary turned to Hosah, and it ended at the sea; Mahalab, Achzib, Ummah, Aphek and Rehob – twenty-two cities with their villages.” (Joshua 19:24, 26-28, 30-31).
Though Asher received this fertile territory, the tribe failed to drive out all the native Canaanites as God had commanded: “Asher did not drive out the inhabitants of Acco, or the inhabitants of Sidon or of Ahlab or of Achzib or of Helbah or of Aphik or of Rehob, so the Asherites lived among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land.” (Judges 1:31-32a). Their failure to remove pagan influences from the land would later cause problems.
Asher During the Time of the Judges
Little is said about Asher during the 300 years when Israel was ruled by judges. No judge is specifically named from their tribe. When the Midianites were oppressing Israel, the “men of Asher” did respond to Gideon’s summons and joined him in battling their enemies (Judges 6:35).
The only other reference to Asher during this period hints they may have been involved in idol worship alongside other northern tribes: “The people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord…they abandoned the Lord and served the Baals and the Ashtaroth.” (Judges 10:6). But there are no specific details given about Asher’s idolatry.
Asher During the Reign of David
When David was made king over a united Israelite kingdom, the tribes came to support him. Representing Asher were “40,000 seasoned troops ready for war” (1 Chronicles 12:36). The Asherites brought abundant provisions of “food, for there was joy in Israel” (1 Chronicles 12:40). Their support helped establish David’s kingship.
Later in David’s reign, when the kingdom was more settled, certain men were put in charge of monthly divisions. For the seventh month, Ishmaiah from Asher was appointed leader (1 Chronicles 27:19).
Some brave warriors from Asher also joined David’s elite team – “the Thirty.” One of them was Eliam son of Ahithophel the Gilonite (2 Samuel 23:34). These men helped make David’s army mighty.
Asher During the Divided Kingdom Era
After Solomon died, Israel split into the northern kingdom of Israel and southern kingdom of Judah. Asher was part of the northern ten tribes. They aligned with Israel’s first king Jeroboam, who led the nation into idolatry and false worship centered at Dan and Bethel (1 Kings 12:25-33).
The Bible does not record the response of Asher to the later reforms of kings like Asa, Jehoshaphat, Joash, Hezekiah, and Josiah who sought to restore true worship. Since Asher was part of the northern kingdom, they may not have embraced the changes made by these righteous southern kings.
During the time of the prophet Elijah, God preserved 7,000 in Israel who had not bowed the knee to Baal (1 Kings 19:18). Perhaps some faithful believers from Asher were among them, though none are named. In Elijah’s famous showdown with the prophets of Baal, the people of Israel were said to be “halting between two opinions” (1 Kings 18:21). This likely included the tribe of Asher.
The wicked northern king Ahab also forced the Asherites to contribute supplies and men to his army (1 Kings 20:14-15). Ben-hadad king of Syria came against Ahab and besieged Samaria. In response, Ahab “mustered the servants of the governors of the districts” (1 Kings 20:14a). The officials of Asher were included in this levy for war.
Eventually, God allowed the northern kingdom to be conquered by Assyria because of their idolatry and rejection of Him. The ten tribes, including Asher, were exiled from the land (2 Kings 17:5-23). They became known in history as the lost tribes of Israel.
Asher During the Time of Jesus
After the Babylonian captivity, some descendants of Asher returned to live in Judea. One faithful woman named Anna, identified as being “of the tribe of Asher,” lived during the time of Jesus. She was an old widow who served constantly in the temple, worshiping, fasting and praying. Anna was present when Jesus was brought to the temple as a baby. She recognized Him as the long-awaited Messiah and “began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.” (Luke 2:36-38).
During Jesus’ ministry, crowds from various regions came to hear Him speak and be healed, including people from Asher: “So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, those having seizures, and paralytics, and he healed them. And great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and from Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.” (Matthew 4:24-25). Asher’s territory was just north of Galilee near Tyre and Sidon.
Lessons from Asher
Though not many details are given about Asher, some lessons can be gleaned:
- God is sovereign and knows the future, as seen in Jacob’s blessings over Asher
- Disobedience brings trouble, as when Asher failed to remove pagans from the land
- God is merciful to those who repent and turn to Him, as some of Asher supported David
- Remaining faithful in difficult times pleases God, as with Anna of Asher in Jesus’ day
- Jesus came to save people from all tribes and nations
The tribe of Asher shows how God continued to work through the Israelites, despite periods of disobedience and idolatry. Asher’s support of David points to a return to following the Lord. Though Asher struggled with sin at times, God preserved a remnant like Anna to welcome the Messiah. Jesus reached out to minister to people from Asher, showing the scope of His redemption.
Major Events Involving Asher
- Asher born to Zilpah, maid of Leah (Genesis 30:12-13)
- Goes down to Egypt with Jacob (Genesis 46:17)
- Blessed by Jacob for future prosperity (Genesis 49:20)
- Allotted land by Sea of Galilee after the Exodus (Joshua 19:24-31)
- Failed to fully drive out Canaanites (Judges 1:31-32)
- Joined Gideon in battle against Midianites (Judges 6:35)
- Supported David’s reign as king (1 Chronicles 12:36)
- Mighty warriors served under David (1 Chronicles 27:19)
- Part of northern idolatrous kingdom of Israel
- Some returned from exile and looked for the Messiah
- Prophetess Anna saw the infant Jesus at the temple (Luke 2:36-38)
- Crowds from Asher came to Jesus (Matthew 4:24-25)
Asher’s Legacy
Though not mentioned often in Scripture, Asher left a legacy as one of the twelve tribes of Israel. Asher received bountiful lands and blessings from God. At times they fell into idolatry but later some returned to following the Lord. Though small in number, faithful ones like Anna continued to hope in the promises of a future Messiah. When Jesus came, people from Asher rejoiced at His message and miracles. Asher is a picture of God’s faithfulness and the redemptive power of Christ over all nations.
