Asher: Difference between revisions

| image = Asher (Francisco de Zurbarán).jpg

| caption = Painting by [[Francisco de Zurbarán]] (from ''[[Jacob and his twelve sons]]'', c. 1640–45)

| father = = [[Jacob]]

| mother = = [[Zilpah]]

| childrenspouse = {{Plainlist|* Adon (first wife)

* ImnahHadurah (sonsecond wife)

* Beriah|Imnah (son)

| relatives = {{Plainlist|

The text of the [[Torah]] states that the name of ''Asher'' means "happy" or "blessing", implying a derivation from the [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] term ''osher'' in two variations—variations: ''beoshri'' (meaning ''in my good fortune''), and ''ishsheruni'',. which someSome [[textual criticism|textual scholars]] who embrace the JEDP hypothesis attribute them to different sources—onesources: one to the [[Yahwist]] and the other to the [[Elohist]].<ref>[[Richard Elliott Friedman]], ''Who wrote the Bible?''</ref> The [[Bible]] states that at his birth Leah exclaimed, "Happy am I! for the daughters will call me happy: so she called his name Asher", meaning "happy" (Genesis 30:13).<ref name=genesis-30>{{bibleverse||Genesis|30:13|HE}}</ref> Some scholars argue that the name of ''Asher'' may have to do with a deity originally worshipped by the tribe, either [[Asherah]],<ref>{{cite book

Asher is represented as the younger brother of [[Gad (son of Jacob)|Gad]]; these two being the sons of Zilpah, the handmaid of Leah (Genesis 35:26). The Biblical account shows Zilpah's status as a handmaid change to an actual wife of Jacob (Genesis 30:9).<ref name=Gen30-9>{{bibleverse||Genesis|30:9|HE}}</ref> Her handmaid status is regarded by someSome [[biblical criticism|biblical scholars]] regard this status as indicating that the authors saw the tribe of Asher as being not of entirely Israelite origin;<ref name=JEnc/> scholarsthey believe that Asher consisted of certain clans affiliated with portions of the Israelite tribal confederation, but which were never incorporated into the [[body politic]].<ref name=JEnc/>

The Torah states that Asher had four sons and one daughter, who were born in Canaan and migrated with him to [[Egypt]],<ref name=Gen46-17>{{bibleverse||Genesis|46:17|HE}}</ref> with their descendants remaining there until [[the Exodus]];<ref>''[[Book of Exodus]]''</ref> this seems to be partly contradicted by Egyptian records (assuming a late Exodus date), according to which a group named ''Aseru'', a name from which Asher is probably derived,<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=-DkyAQAAMAAJ&dq=Asher+aseru&pg=PA662 ''Jewish Encyclopedia,'' "Israel, People of."]</ref> were, in the 14th century BC, living in a similar region to Asher's traditional territory, in Canaan.<ref name=JEnc/> Asher's daughter, [[Serah]] (also transliterated as Serach), is the only granddaughter of Jacob mentioned in the [[Torah]] (Gen. 46:17).<ref name=Gen46-17/>