Easton's Bible Dictionary Happy, Jacob's eigth son; his mother was Zilpah, Leah's handmaid (Genesis 30:13). Of the tribe founded by him nothing is recorded beyond its holding a place in the list of the tribes (35:26; 46:17; Exodus 1:4, etc.) It increased in numbers twenty-nine percent, during the thirty-eight years' wanderings. The place of this tribe during the march through the desert was between Dan and Naphtali (Numbers 2:27). The boundaries of the inheritance given to it, which contained some of the richest soil in Palestine, and the names of its towns, are recorded in Joshua 19:24-31; Judges 1:31, 32. Asher and Simeon were the only tribes west of the Jordan which furnished no hero or judge for the nation. Anna the prophetess was of this tribe (Luke 2:36). Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia ASHER (1) ash'-er ('asher; Aser). 1. Biblical Account: According to the Biblical account Asher was the eighth of Jacob's sons, the second borne to him by Zilpah the handmaid of Leah. His uterine brother was Gad (Genesis 35:26). With four sons and one daughter he went down into Egypt (Genesis 46:17). At his birth Leah exclaimed, "Happy am I! for the daughters will call me happy: and she called his name Asher," i.e. Happy (Genesis 30:13). This foreshadowing of good fortune for him is repeated in the blessing of Jacob: "His bread shall be fat, and he shall yield royal dainties" (Genesis 49:20); and again in that of Moses: "Blessed be Asher with children; let him be acceptable unto his brethren, and let him dip his foot in oil" (Deuteronomy 33:24). His family prospered in Egypt, and at the Exodus the tribe of Asher is numbered at 41,500 adult males (Numbers 1:41). At the second census the number is given 53,400 (Numbers 26:47). The place of Asher in the desert march was with the standard of the camp of Dan, on the north of the tabernacle, along with Dan and Naphtali; the prince of the tribe being Pagiel the son of Ochran (Numbers 2:27). Among the spies Asher was represented by Sethur (Numbers 13:13). The tribe seems to have taken no important part in the subsequent history. It raised no hero, and gave no deliverer to the nation. In the time of David it was of so little consequence that the name is not found in the list of chief rulers (1 Chronicles 27:16). The rich land assigned to Asher sloped to the Phoenician seaboard, and brought him into touch with the Phoenicians who were already world-famous in trade and commerce. He probably soon became a partner in their profitable enterprises, and lost any desire he may ever have had to eject them from their cities (Judges 1:31). He cared not who ruled over him if he were free to pursue the ends of commerce. Zebulun might jeopard their lives unto the death, and Naphtali upon the high places of the field, to break the power of the foreign oppressor, but Asher "sat still at the haven of the sea, and abode by his creeks" (Judges 5:17). He was probably soon largely absorbed by the people with whose interests his were so closely identified: nevertheless "divers of Asher," moved by the appeal of Hezekiah, "humbled themselves, and came to Jerus" (2 Chronicles 30:11 the King James Version). To this tribe belonged the prophetess Anna (Luke 2:36). 2. Modern Theory: According to a modern theory, the mention of the slave girl Zilpah as the mother of Asher is meant to indicate that the tribe was of mixed blood, and arose through the mingling of Israelites with the Canaanites. It is suggested that the name may have been taken from that of the Canaanite clan found in the Tell el-Amarna Letters, Mari abd-Ashirti, "sons of the servant of Asherah." A similar name occurs in the inscriptions of the Egyptian Seti I (14th century B.C.), `Aseru, a state in western Galilee (W. Max Muller, As. und Eur., 236-39). This people it is thought may have associated themselves with the invaders from the wilderness. But while the speculations are interesting, it is impossible to establish any relationship between these ancient tribes and Asher. 3. Territory of Asher: The boundaries of the territory are given in considerable detail in Joshua 19:25 (compare Judges 1:31; Joshua 17:10). Only a few of the places named can be identified with certainty. Dor, the modern Tan-Turah, although occupied by Manasseh belonged to Asher. Wady ez-Zerqa, possibly identical with Shihor-libnath, which enters the sea to the South of Dor, would form the southern boundary. The lot of Asher formed a strip of land from 8 to 10 miles wide running northward along the shore to the neighborhood of Sidon, touching Issachar, Zebulun and Naphtali on the East Asher seems to have taken possession of the territory by a process of peaceful penetration, not by conquest, and as we have seen, he never drove out the Phoenicians from their cities. The rich plain of Acre, and the fertile fiats between the mountain and the sea near Tyre and Sidon therefore remained in Phoenician hands. But the valleys breaking down westward and opening on the plains have always yielded fine crops of grain. Remains of an ancient oak forest still stand to the North of Carmel. The vine, the fig, the lemon and the orange flourish. Olive trees abound, and the supplies of olive oil which to this day are exported from the district recall the word of the old-time blessing, "Let him dip his foot in oil." W. Ewing ASHER (2) ash'-er ('asher): (1) See preceding article. (2) A town on the southern border of Manasseh (Joshua 17:7). The site is unknown. (3) A place of this name is mentioned in Apocrypha (Tobit 1:2), identified with Hazor, in Naphtali. See HAZOR.

Multi-Version Concordance Asher (43 Occurrences) Luke 2:36 There was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher (she was of a great age, having lived with a husband seven years from her virginity, (WEB WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Revelation 7:6 of the tribe of Asher twelve thousand, of the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand, of the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand, (WEB WEY ASV BBE WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Genesis 30:13 Leah said, "Happy am I, for the daughters will call me happy." She named him Asher. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Genesis 35:26 The sons of Zilpah (Leah's handmaid): Gad and Asher. These are the sons of Jacob, who were born to him in Paddan Aram. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Genesis 46:17 The sons of Asher: Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, Beriah, and Serah their sister. The sons of Beriah: Heber and Malchiel. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Genesis 49:20 "Asher's food will be rich. He will yield royal dainties. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Exodus 1:4 Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Numbers 1:13 Of Asher: Pagiel the son of Ochran. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Numbers 1:40 Of the children of Asher, their generations, by their families, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go forth to war; (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Numbers 1:41 those who were numbered of them, of the tribe of Asher, were forty-one thousand five hundred. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Numbers 2:27 "Those who encamp next to him shall be the tribe of Asher: and the prince of the children of Asher shall be Pagiel the son of Ochran. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Numbers 7:72 On the eleventh day Pagiel the son of Ochran, prince of the children of Asher (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Numbers 10:26 Pagiel the son of Ochran was over the army of the tribe of the children of Asher. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Numbers 13:13 Of the tribe of Asher, Sethur the son of Michael. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Numbers 24:22 Nevertheless, the Kenite shall be wasted, until Asher shall carry thee away captive. (WBS) Numbers 26:44 The sons of Asher after their families: of Imnah, the family of the Imnites; of Ishvi, the family of the Ishvites; of Beriah, the family of the Berites. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Numbers 26:46 The name of the daughter of Asher was Serah. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Numbers 26:47 These are the families of the sons of Asher according to those who were numbered of them, fifty-three thousand and four hundred. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Numbers 34:27 Of the tribe of the children of Asher a prince, Ahihud the son of Shelomi. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Deuteronomy 27:13 These shall stand on Mount Ebal for the curse: Reuben, Gad, and Asher, and Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Deuteronomy 33:24 Of Asher he said, "Asher is blessed with children. Let him be acceptable to his brothers. Let him dip his foot in oil. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Joshua 17:7 The border of Manasseh was from Asher to Michmethath, which is before Shechem. The border went along to the right hand, to the inhabitants of En Tappuah. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Joshua 17:10 Southward it was Ephraim's, and northward it was Manasseh's, and the sea was his border. They reached to Asher on the north, and to Issachar on the east. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Joshua 17:11 Manasseh had three heights in Issachar, in Asher Beth Shean and its towns, and Ibleam and its towns, and the inhabitants of Dor and its towns, and the inhabitants of Endor and its towns, and the inhabitants of Taanach and its towns, and the inhabitants of Megiddo and its towns. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Joshua 19:24 The fifth lot came out for the tribe of the children of Asher according to their families. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Joshua 19:31 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Asher according to their families, these cities with their villages. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Joshua 19:34 The border turned westward to Aznoth Tabor, and went out from there to Hukkok. It reached to Zebulun on the south, and reached to Asher on the west, and to Judah at the Jordan toward the sunrise. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Joshua 21:6 The children of Gershon had thirteen cities by lot out of the families of the tribe of Issachar, out of the tribe of Asher, out of the tribe of Naphtali, and out of the half-tribe of Manasseh in Bashan. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Joshua 21:30 Out of the tribe of Asher, Mishal with its suburbs, Abdon with its suburbs, (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Judges 1:31 Asher didn't drive out the inhabitants of Acco, nor the inhabitants of Sidon, nor of Ahlab, nor of Achzib, nor of Helbah, nor of Aphik, nor of Rehob; (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Judges 5:17 Gilead lived beyond the Jordan. Why did Dan remain in ships? Asher sat still at the haven of the sea, and lived by his creeks. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Judges 6:35 He sent messengers throughout all Manasseh; and they also were gathered together after him: and he sent messengers to Asher, and to Zebulun, and to Naphtali; and they came up to meet them. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Judges 7:23 The men of Israel were gathered together out of Naphtali, and out of Asher, and out of all Manasseh, and pursued after Midian. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) 1 Kings 4:16 Baana the son of Hushai, in Asher and Bealoth; (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) 1 Chronicles 2:2 Dan, Joseph, and Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) 1 Chronicles 6:62 To the sons of Gershom, according to their families, out of the tribe of Issachar, and out of the tribe of Asher, and out of the tribe of Naphtali, and out of the tribe of Manasseh in Bashan, thirteen cities. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) 1 Chronicles 6:74 and out of the tribe of Asher, Mashal with its suburbs, and Abdon with its suburbs, (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) 1 Chronicles 7:30 The sons of Asher: Imnah, and Ishvah, and Ishvi, and Beriah, and Serah their sister. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) 1 Chronicles 7:40 All these were the children of Asher, heads of the fathers' houses, choice and mighty men of valor, chief of the princes. The number of them reckoned by genealogy for service in war was twenty-six thousand men. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) 1 Chronicles 12:36 Of Asher, such as were able to go out in the army, who could set the battle in array, forty thousand. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) 2 Chronicles 30:11 Nevertheless certain men of Asher and Manasseh and of Zebulun humbled themselves, and came to Jerusalem. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Ezekiel 48:2 By the border of Dan, from the east side to the west side, Asher, one portion. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Ezekiel 48:3 By the border of Asher, from the east side even to the west side, Naphtali, one portion. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)