Asher

Eighth son of Jacob, second son through Zilpah, Leah’s servant. Ancestor of the tribe of Asher.

Name

Leah named him Asher, meaning “happy” or “blessed,” saying “Happy am I! For women have called me happy” (Genesis 30:13).

Jacob’s Blessing

In Genesis 49:20, Jacob blessed Asher with abundance: “Asher’s food shall be rich, and he shall yield royal delicacies.”

Tribe

The tribe of Asher settled along the Mediterranean coast in the northwest. The prophetess Anna, who recognized the infant Jesus at the Temple, was from the tribe of Asher (Luke 2:36).