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ASHER (LXX Septuagint and NT ἈóÞñ , Josephus Ἄóçñïò ) is the transliteration of the Heb. àָùִׁã = ‘fortunate.’ In Gen_30:13 the origin of the name Asher is connected by J [Note: Jahwist.] with this adjective, but perhaps its source should be found rather in the name of some Semitic divinity (cf. the goddess Ashera and perhaps also the Assyrian god Ashur). In Rev_7:6 Asher appears in the list of the twelve tribes of Israel (cf. Num_1:13; Num_1:40 f., Num_2:27 f., Num_7:72-77; Num_10:26; Num_13:13 [P [Note: Priestly Narrative.] ], Deu_27:13 [D [Note: Deuteronomist.] ]). The patronymic ancestor of the tribe is presented in Gen_30:13 (J [Note: Jahwist.] ) and Gen_35:26 (P [Note: Priestly Narrative.] ) as the eighth son of Jacob: born (like Gad) of Zilpah, Leah’s slave-girl. Asher is mentioned in the ‘Blessings’ of Jacob (Gen_49:20) and of Moses (Deu_33:24). It is put in possession of a territory in the land of Canaan (Jos_19:24-31 [P [Note: Priestly Narrative.] ], cf. Jos_21:6; Jos_21:30 f. [P [Note: Priestly Narrative.] ]), but does not succeed in making itself thoroughly master of it (Jdg_1:31 f.); the result of which is that its territory is sometimes confused with that of Manasseh (Jos_17:11 [J [Note: Jahwist.] ]), and that it holds a precarious situation in the midst of the Canaanites (contrast Jdg_1:32 f. with Jdg_1:29 f.). The district assigned to Asher corresponds to what was afterwards western Galilee, a very fertile country, but apparently never subdued completely by Israel; it is by a fiction that the possession of cities like Acco, Achzib, Tyre, and Sidon is attributed to it. Asher is named in the Song of Deborah (Jdg_5:17) as devoted to navigation; it figures also in the story of Gideon (Jdg_6:35; Jdg_7:23). But it quickly disappears from the page of history, where after all it had played a very small part. It is still mentioned incidentally in 1Ki_4:16 under Solomon, and in 2Ch_30:11 under Hezekiah, but there is no trace of it in the Books of Ezra and Nehemiah. The genealogical tables will be found in Gen_46:17 (P [Note: Priestly Narrative.] ), Num_26:44-47 (P [Note: Priestly Narrative.] ), and 1Ch_7:30-40.
According to Luk_2:36 the prophetess Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, was of the tribe of Asher. The source of this genealogical statement is unknown. Its correctness has been suspected in view of similar claims made for some Jews elsewhere to illustrious origin (descent from Aaron, David, etc.). It may, however, be remarked, that there is a cardinal difference between these and the present instance: there was nothing particularly glorious in descent from Asher.
Lucien Gautier.