The Tribe of Asher

Asher, the eighth born son of Jacob (Genesis 30:12), was given a “latter time” prophecy and judgment regarding his tribal family.

“Out of Asher his bread shall be fat, and he shall yield royal dainties.” Genesis 49:20

Asher was given a blessing of prosperity and illustrious blessings. Considering the fact that his name means “Happy” we can see why! Asher was blessed with one of the more fertile lands in Israel. Future lands of captivity were not considered in this blessing. We must again remember this land we dwell in is not our rest or given to us as a blessing (Micah 2:10). The land that was given to the Tribe of Asher was located in the Northwest portion of Israel, which also encompassed the land of Tyre. Tyre was a land known for its vast resources such as dyes, glassware, oils and works of metal.

“And the fifth lot came out for the tribe of the children of Asher according to their families. [25] And their border was Helkath, and Hali, and Beten, and Achshaph,[26] And Alammelech, and Amad, and Misheal; and reacheth to Carmel westward, and to Shihor-libnath; [27] And turneth toward the sunrising to Beth-dagon, and reacheth to Zebulun, and to the valley of Jiphthah-el toward the north side of Beth-emek, and Neiel, and goeth out to Cabul on the left hand, [28] And Hebron, and Rehob, and Hammon, and Kanah, even unto great Zidon; [29] And then the coast turneth to Ramah, and to the strong city Tyre; and the coast turneth to Hosah; and the outgoings thereof are at the sea from the coast to Achzib: [30] Ummah also, and Aphek, and Rehob: twenty and two cities with their villages. [31] This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Asher according to their families, these cities with their villages.” Joshua 19:24-27

“Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to fear him. [7] For the LORD thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills; [8] A land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of oil olive, and honey; [9] A land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness, thou shalt not lack any thing in it; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills thou mayest dig brass.” Deuteronomy 8:6-9

The Most High prophesied of the vast wealth and resources that the land of Israel possessed. Asher received an abundance of its “royal dainties.” The Land of Israel was always prophesied to be our possession and blessing as a nation. No other land was promised to Israel to be a blessing and place for us to dwell forever.

“The LORD our God spake unto us in Horeb, saying, Ye have dwelt long enough in this mount: [7] Turn you, and take your journey, and go to the mount of the Amorites, and unto all the places nigh thereunto, in the plain, in the hills, and in the vale, and in the south, and by the sea side, to the land of the Canaanites, and unto Lebanon, unto the great river, the river Euphrates. [8] Behold, I have set the land before you: go in and possess the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give unto them and to their seed after them.” Deuteronomy 1:6-8

“Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses. [4] From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast.” Joshua 1:3-4

“In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:” Genesis 15:18

“And this is the blessing, wherewith Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel before his death.” Deuteronomy 33:1

Moses is establishing the blessings of Asher and the rest of his brethren.

“And of Asher he said, Let Asher be blessed with children; let him be acceptable to his brethren, and let him dip his foot in oil.” Deuteronomy 33:24

The Tribe of Israel was blessed with abundance of children. As the rest of his brethren the Most High always wanted his chosen to be fruitful and multiply (Genesis 35:11). As a future prophecy there would be a time in history when Asher would seek the acceptance of his brethren as his tribe’s loyalty would be tested “....let him be acceptable to his brethren.” Let’s examine:

“And Deborah said unto Barak, Up; for this is the day in which the LORD hath delivered Sisera into thine hand: is not the LORD gone out before thee? So Barak went down from mount Tabor, and ten thousand men after him. [15] And the LORD discomfited Sisera, and all his chariots, and all his host, with the edge of the sword before Barak; so that Sisera lighted down off his chariot, and fled away on his feet. [16] But Barak pursued after the chariots, and after the host, unto Harosheth of the Gentiles: and all the host of Sisera fell upon the edge of the sword; and there was not a man left. [17] Howbeit Sisera fled away on his feet to the tent of Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite: for there was peace between Jabin the king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite. [18] And Jael went out to meet Sisera, and said unto him, Turn in, my lord, turn in to me; fear not. And when he had turned in unto her into the tent, she covered him with a mantle.” Judges 4:14-18

Israel had committed much wickedness in the eyes of the Most High and was put in captivity under the hands of the Canaanites (Africans). For 20 years Israel was oppressed under the hands of King Jabin and his wicked kingdom. After 20 years Israel cried and repented to The Most High and he granted our deliverance under the hand of Deborah and Barak. Deliverance didn’t come easy as Israel had to go to war and fight back against our oppressors.

“Gilead abode beyond Jordan: and why did Dan remain in ships? Asher continued on the sea shore, and abode in his breaches. [18] Zebulun and Naphtali were a people that jeoparded their lives unto the death in the high places of the field.” Judges 5:17-18

Deborah is singing a song of deliverance and recollecting the activity of the tribes as it came to fighting and delivering our people. Notice Asher continued on the sea shore and didn’t fight! This is one of the reasons why his blessing was to still be accepted although his tribe didn’t take part in the deliverance from the King Jabin and the Canaanites. Another instance in history is after the split of the Kingdom (see 10 Tribes of Israel), the Northern Kingdom of Israel did great wickedness and idolatry. The Southern Kingdom of Judah remained diligent in their fear of The Most High and the keeping of the commandments. During the reign of King Hezekiah, Hezekiah sent letters of invite to the Northern Tribes to come and keep the Passover according to the law (Deuteronomy 16:16; Leviticus 23:5-7).

“And Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, to keep the passover unto the LORD God of Israel. [11] Nevertheless divers of Asher and Manasseh and of Zebulun humbled themselves, and came to Jerusalem.” II Chronicles 30:1, 11

As we see Asher was “acceptable” to his brethren once again although a vast majority of the Northern Kingdom was doing wickedness. Their act of repentance was found acceptable and portions of the Tribe of Asher continued to dwell in Jerusalem throughout history.

“And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity;” Luke 2:36

Nearly 700 years after the Assyrian captivity, a sister of the Tribe of Asher was there in Jerusalem during the birth of Christ.

“And the three hundred blew the trumpets, and the LORD set every man's sword against his fellow, even throughout all the host: and the host fled to Beth-shittah in Zererath, and to the border of Abel-meholah, unto Tabbath. [23] And the men of Israel gathered themselves together out of Naphtali, and out of Asher, and out of all Manasseh, and pursued after the Midianites.” Judges 7:22-23

The Tribe of Asher later redeemed themselves and helped their brethren in driving out and destroying the Midianites who had Israel in captivity. This act was also found acceptable after initial accounts found them disloyal.

“...and let him dip his foot in oil.” Deuteronomy 33:24

As previously mentioned, the land Asher inherited was known as being a strong hold where crude oil, and olive oils were produced. This became a highly profitable area amongst merchants.

“Thy shoes shall be iron and brass; and as thy days, so shall thy strength be.” Deuteronomy 33:25

Asher’s inherited land was also a strong hold for exports of works of iron and brass. All works of iron (weapons and building materials) and brass (weapons, pottery and art) was coming from the land of Asher!

This blessing would continue to be a strength of Asher as long as they remained in obedience with the commandments. Asher failed to maintain themselves in the fear of the Lord and keep the commandments. They joined their brethren in captivity in America (Deuteronomy 28:15- 68).