Asher was Silpah's second son and Jacob's eighth son, and became the ancestor of one of Israel's twelve tribes. His name is derived from the Hebrew word for 'happy' or 'blessed', and at his birth Leah exclaimed: "Happy am I! For women will call me happy." When Jacob on his deathbed blessed his sons, he prophesied that Asher's food would be rich and provide royal delicacies – a prophecy fulfilled when the tribe received one of Canaan's most fertile regions along the Mediterranean coast, from Carmel to Sidon, with abundant olive production. Moses confirmed this by saying that Asher should "dip his foot in oil". Despite the natural wealth of their territory, the tribe never fully drove out the Canaanites from their allotted cities, which shaped their religious and cultural development. The tribe's war history is mixed – Deborah's song criticizes them for passivity during the battle against Sisera. Nevertheless, Asher's descendants preserved their tribal identity through the centuries, well into New Testament times, where the prophetess Anna from the tribe of Asher recognized the child Jesus in the temple and testified that God's promises to Israel's tribes still stood firm.
Asher traveled with his father Jacob and the rest of the family to Egypt during the famine, to reunite with Joseph. His children are also mentioned here: the sons Jimna, Jishvah, Jishvi, and Beriah, as well as the daughter Serah.
Moses blessed the tribe of Asher before his death and predicted that Asher would be blessed among the sons, find favor with his brothers, and dip his foot in oil. The strength of the tribe would last as long as they lived.
The tribe of Asher was assigned a fertile territory along the Mediterranean coast in northern Canaan, from Mount Carmel toward Sidon, known for its olive trees and rich agricultural soil.
27It then turned east toward Beth Dagon, touched Zebulun and the Valley of Iphtah El, and went north to Beth Emek and Neiel, passing Cabul on the left.
29The border then turned back toward Ramah and went to the fortified city of Tyre, turned toward Hosah, and came out at the sea in the region of Aczib,
The tribe of Asher failed to drive out the Canaanites from several of their allotted cities, including Acco, Sidon, and Achlab, and had to live among the original inhabitants.