This past Sunday I had the blessing of teaching my ladies at Tierrasanta Baptist Churh about Anna (Luke 2:36-38). She was from the tribe of Asher. Now, why would God give us so much information about the background of Anna, when usually this type of desctiption is not given to us about the women of Scripture? Why mention her father or her tribe? I am in the middle of an extensive study of the 12 tribes - so this led me into further study of the tribe of Asher - and Anna.
See www.biblestudywomen.blogspot.com for the study about the Tribes.
Asher was one of the smaller tribes, located along the Mediterranian coast in the north. Those who believe that oil will be found in Israel base their intitial interest in the verses about Asher that mention "riches" and "oil." (Deut 33) Were the riches olive oil, or perhaps oil not yet found? Asher is said to be "blessed above the other brothers"...we have not seen that yet...perhaps oil will be found in Israel one day....an interesting thought.
Also after the tribes in the north had been been conquered by the Assyrians, there was a remnant of the tribes left behind. King Hezekiah sent messages to those left in the north to come to Judah to celebrate the Passover. Only three tribes went to Jerusalem in humbleness and to worship God. Asher was one of the three. This showed their loyalty to the God of the Hebrews (or that they were so very desperate they would try anything?).
Another intersting thing about the tribe of Asher is that in the New Testament, very few tribes are mentioned (do a word search/Strongs search) - Outside of Revelation 7 only Judah, Benjamin and Asher are mentioned in the New Testament. Perhaps because the tribal identity had been lost during the 70 years of captivity. (An interesting side study is Rev 7. Two tribes are left out of the listing - Dan and Simeon - why?)....thats a great study.
I am off to Israel next week. I will be re-energized and ready to hit the keyboard again.
