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Your portion of the weekly portion - and this week we will discuss "VaYexi". our Biblical Hebrew newsletter is happy to present you the Jewish weekly portion of the week, which is read during prayer services on the Sabbath.
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Dear friends,
In our discussion of the sons of Jacob, we will continue chronologically, with the sons of Leah's concubine- Zilpah.
As we mentioned last time, Rachel, realizing she was barren, while Leah had born four sons (Reuben, Simeon, Levi and Judah), gave her maid, Bilhah, to Jacob so that she would have children through her. At this point Leah also ceased bearing and when she saw this she too gave her maid, Zilpah, to Jacob. Today we will discuss the sons of Zilpah: Gad and Asher.
Gad
Birth
Gad's birth is described in Genesis 30:10-14-6. He is the first of two sons that Zilpah gave birth to.
Naming
While Zilpah is Gad's biological mother, he is considered Leah's son. Therefore, it is Leah who names him Gad, literally meaning "fortune," saying "Good fortune has come!" (Genesis 30:11).
Personal History
We hear nothing of Gad, the forefather of the tribe of Gad, in the Book of Genesis. He is obviously one of the brothers and had some part in the selling of Joseph as well as in the brother's descent to Egypt, but we have no details as to what role he played in these events.
Future as described in the blessings of Jacob and Moses
In the blessing of Jacob (Genesis 49:19), Gad is blessed: "Gad shall be overcome by a troop, but he shall raid at their heels". In the blessing of Moses (Deuteronomy 33:20), we learn that "Gad lives like a lion, tearing the arm and the crown of the head". These two descriptions tell us of a tribe known for its military strength.
The Tribe in Biblical History
In Numbers 32, we learn that the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of the tribe of Manasseh, were shepherds. After the Israelites conquered the East Bank of the Jordan, these tribes requested that their lot be given to them in the plentiful pastures that had just been conquered. Their request was granted, as long as the men of the tribe joined the rest of the Israelites and participated in conquering Canaan.
After returning from the war with great loot, the tribes built an altar to God. The mainland Israelites were angered by this, seeing it as a sign of rebellion, and planned to go fight the Trans-Jordan tribes. However, the transgressors made it clear that no such rebellion was intended and they had only meant to glorify God. They declared that they do not intend to bring sacrifices on the altar, but only that it should be there as a witness of their covenant with God, and a reminder for their children of the worship of God, since they are far from the central Israelite worship (Joshua 22). This is the last we hear of the members of the tribe in biblical history.
Asher
Birth
Asher's birth is described in Genesis 30:12-13. He is the second of Zilpah's sons.
Naming
Asher too is considered Leah's son and named by her. Literally, the name is from the
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- happiness, and Leah names him thus because "the daughters will call me |
happy".
Personal History
Like Gad, we hear nothing of Asher in the Book of Genesis. He is obviously one of the brothers and had some part in the selling of Joseph as well as in the brothers' descent to Egypt, but we have no details as to what role he played in these events.
Future as described in the blessings of Jacob and Moses
In the Blessing of Jacob we learn of the fruitfulness of Asher, when we are told (Genesis 49:20) that "Asher's bread shall be fat and he shall give royal delicacies".
In the Blessing of Moses, Asher is blessed as being the most blessed of sons, acceptable to his brothers and dipping his foot in oil – a sign of abundance (Deuteronomy 33: 24).
The Tribe in Biblical History
At the beginning of the Book of Judges, we learn that like many of the other tribes, Asher did not succeed in conquering all of the land they were intended to conquer. We hear more about them in the Book of Judges when Deborah criticizes them for remaining by their coast, rather than coming to assist the rest of the Israelites in their war against the Canaanites (Judges 5:17). However, in the times of the judge Gideon, the Asherites were active fighters in the war he waged against the Midianites.
Gidoen and his Soldiers Defeating the Midianites, Gustave Doré
Towards the end of the eighth century BCE, King Hezekiah called upon all the tribes of Israel to come celebrate the Passover in Jerusalem, as part of religious reforms he conducted. Although Hezekiah's messengers were scorned, some members of the tribes of Asher, Manasseh and Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 30:11), an act of important significance for Hezekiah's attempt to unite all of Israel, religiously and politically. This is the last we hear of the tribe in biblical History.
Have a great week!
The Biblical Hebrew Online Team.
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