Asher facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Asher
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| אָשֵׁר | |
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Painting by Francisco de Zurbarán (from Jacob and his twelve sons, c. 1640–45)
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| Pronunciation | Asher |
| Born | 15 Shevat |
| Died | 20 Shevat (aged 123) |
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Asher (pronounced Ah-sher) was an important person in the Bible, mentioned in the Book of Genesis. He was one of the twelve sons of Jacob and Zilpah. Asher was also the founder of one of the Israelite tribes, called the Tribe of Asher.
His name, Asher, means "happy" or "blessing." Asher, along with his four sons and one daughter, lived in the land of Canaan. Both his father Jacob and later Moses gave him special blessings. Asher's sons were Jimnah, Ishuah, Isui, and Beriah. His granddaughter, Serah, is the only one of Jacob's granddaughters mentioned in the Torah (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible).
Asher had two wives, named Adon and Hadurah. Hadurah was a widow who already had a daughter, Serah. Asher loved Serah and treated her like his own child. According to ancient Jewish writings, Asher was known for trying to keep peace among his brothers. He would often share family news with them.
Some historians believe the tribe of Asher might have connections to an ancient group called the Weshesh. Asher's family was known for having many sons. Their women were said to be very beautiful. The tribe was also known for being wealthy and wise. They lived on very fertile land. People in the late 1800s believed Asher was buried near a place called Neby Toba, close to Tubas.
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What Does Asher's Name Mean?
The Torah says that the name Asher means "happy" or "blessing." It comes from the Hebrew word osher. When Asher was born, his mother Leah said, "How happy I am! The daughters will call me happy." So, she named him Asher, meaning "happy" (Genesis 30:13).
Some experts think the name Asher might be linked to an ancient god. This god could be Asherah or Ashur, who was a main god of Assyria.
Asher's Story in the Bible
Asher, his four sons, and his daughter lived in Canaan. When his father Jacob was about to die, he gave Asher a special blessing. Jacob said that Asher's land would be rich with food, and he would produce "royal dainties" (Genesis 49:20). This means his land would be very fertile and provide delicious food.
Later, Moses also blessed Asher. Moses said, "May Asher be blessed more than other sons. May his brothers respect him. May he wash his feet in olive oil" (Deuteronomy 33:24). This blessing suggests Asher would have plenty of olive oil, which was a sign of wealth.
Asher was the eighth son of Jacob. He is seen as the ancestor of the Tribe of Asher. The Bible says Asher was the younger brother of Gad. Both were sons of Zilpah, who was Leah's servant (Genesis 35:26). The Bible shows that Zilpah's role changed. She became more like a true wife to Jacob (Genesis 30:9).
Some Bible experts believe that because Zilpah was a servant, it might mean the tribe of Asher was not fully Israelite at first. They think the Asher tribe was made up of groups that joined the Israelite tribes later.
The Torah says Asher had four sons and one daughter. They were born in Canaan and then moved with him to Egypt. Their families stayed in Egypt until the Exodus. However, ancient Egyptian records from the 14th century BC mention a group called Aseru. This name is likely where Asher comes from. This group lived in a similar area to Asher's traditional land in Canaan. This might suggest they were already there before the Exodus.
Asher's daughter, Serah (also spelled Serach), is the only granddaughter of Jacob mentioned in the Torah (Genesis 46:17). The Bible does not name her mother.
Asher's Family in Other Writings
According to old Jewish writings, Serah's mother was named Hadurah. She was a descendant of Eber. Hadurah was Asher's wife, but it was her second marriage. Serah's real father was Hadurah's first husband, who had passed away. These writings also say that Hadurah was Asher's second wife. His first wife was named Adon, who was a descendant of Ishmael. Another ancient book, the Book of Jubilees, says Asher's wife was named Ijon, which probably means "dove."
Asher's sons were Jimnah, Ishuah, Isui, and Beriah.
Asher in Ancient Jewish Stories
In ancient Jewish stories, Asher was always the one who tried to bring his brothers together. He especially tried to help when they argued about who would be the ancestor of the priests. In one story, Asher is shown as a good person who always worked for what was best for everyone.
Asher was born on the 20th day of the Hebrew month Shevat in the year 2199 (which is 1562 BCE). Some stories say he died on the 2nd day of Shevat.
Asher married twice. His first wife was Adon, who was a great-granddaughter of Ishmael. His second wife was Hadurah. She was a granddaughter of Eber and a widow. Hadurah had a daughter named Serah from her first marriage. Asher loved Serah very much and treated her like his own child. That is why the Bible calls Serah Asher's daughter. The Book of Jubilees (34:20) says Asher's wife was named "Iyon" (meaning "dove").
Asher's descendants, the tribe of Asher, were very happy, just like his name suggests. The tribe of Asher had the most male children. Their women were so beautiful that priests and princes wanted to marry them. The land owned by Asher's tribe had so much olive oil that no one in the tribe needed to rent a home. The soil was so rich that during times of food shortage, especially during the Sabbatical year (a year when the land was rested), Asher's tribe provided olive oil for all of Israel. The Asherites were also known for their wisdom.
Where Asher is Buried
A tradition among the Samaritans from the late 1800s says that Asher is buried at Neby Toba, near Tubas.
See also
In Spanish: Aser para niños
