Asher
Asher was the eighth son of Jacob, born to Zilpah, Leah's maidservant, and became the founder of the tribe of Asher (Gen.30.13; 35:26; 46:17; 49:20; Exo.1.4; Num.1.13, 40-41; 2:27; 7:72; 10:26; 13:13; 26:44-47; 34:27; Deu.27.13; 33:24; Jos.17.7, 10-11; 19:24, 31, 34; 21:6, 30; Jdg.1.31; 5:17; 6:35; 7:23; 2Sa.2.9; 1Ki.4.16; 1Ch.2.2; 6:62, 74; 7:30, 40; 12:36; 2Ch.30.11; Ezk.48.2-3, 34; Luke 2:36; Rev.7.6).
Asher was the eighth son of Jacob, born to Zilpah, Leah's servant (Genesis 30:12–13). His name means 'happy' or 'blessed,' reflecting Leah's delight: 'Women will call me blessed!' (Genesis 30:13; cf. Deuteronomy 33:24). Jacob's blessing speaks of Asher's rich food and royal delicacies (Genesis 49:20), and Moses's blessing elaborates: 'Blessed above sons is Asher; let him be the favorite of his brothers, and let him dip his foot in oil' (Deuteronomy 33:24), reflecting the olive-rich territory his tribe inherited along the western slopes of Galilee and Carmel. The prophetess Anna, who greeted the infant Jesus in the temple (Luke 2:36–38), is identified as being of the tribe of Asher—a rare New Testament reference to one of the northern tribes.