Genesis 49:20 Commentary and Bible Study

The name Asher meant ‘fortunate’ and he was fortunate. He got the coastal area around Carmel and the land all round there was a breadbasket. He supplied royal dainties to the rest of the tribes of Israel out of his prosperity. Asher traded with the Phoenicians, particularly out of Tyre. But he failed to drive out the Canaanites. We have the record of this is in Judges; ‘Neither did Asher drive out the inhabitants of Accho, nor the inhabitants of Zidon, nor of Ahlab, nor of Achzib, nor of Helbah, nor of Aphik, nor of Rehob: ³² But the Asherites dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land: for they did not drive them out’ (Judges 1:31-32). The same passage speaks of the failure of other tribes to drive them out, but in most case the Canaanites were put to tribute. Not in Asher’s case apparently. It seems that the richness of Asher’s lands took away from the urgency of what should have been their primary goal. God had promised to drive them out (Joshua 3:10), but this was conditional and was to be done through the effort of God’s people (Deuteronomy 20:17-18; Joshua 23:10-13). Asher had two hundred miles of coastal territory. But Asher is not noted for having any judges. He had no officers in David’s administration. Yes, he rallied to Gideon and David but briefly. He was undermined by luxuries and fell to this. But grace comes in here: Anna was of the tribe of Asher.