ASHER (Tribe)
“happy” (Heb.).
The descendants of Asher constituted one of the Twelve Tribes. His inheritance in the land extended from Mount Carmel northward, and was bounded on the east by Naphtali, and on the southeast by Zebulun.
There is no doubt that the territory they should have possessed would have touched the sea, but they did not expel the inhabitants of Aco, Sidon, Ahlab, Achzib, Helba, Aphek and Rehob (Judg. 1:31, 32).
Thus Asher did not enter into possession of the coastal strip, and they came among the Canaanites.
Deborah and Barak had to regret that Asher did not come to their support in their fight against the Canaanites (Judges 5:17), but when the Midianites and Amalekites invaded the country, Asher responded to Gideon’s call (Judgs 6:35 ; 7:23).
When the national schism took place, Asher became part of Israel, the northern kingdom, and little has been said about this tribe since.
In the NT, Anna, a prophetess, from the tribe of Asher, gave thanks in the temple when she saw the Savior. Asher will still have a share in the land, and blessing (Ez. 48:2, 3).