Genesis 49:20
“Asher’s food shall be rich, and he shall yield royal delicacies.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Genesis 49:20
“Asher’s food shall be rich, and he shall yield royal delicacies.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The blessing for Asher isn't just about good food; it points to a lasting prosperity, suggesting their land's abundance would be so exceptional it could provide "royal delicacies," implying a quality and richness suitable for kings, and perhaps even for export. This highlights that God's provision isn't just for survival but can extend to remarkable, even luxurious, provision when His people are blessed.
Jacob is nearing the end of his life and gathers his sons to pronounce blessings and prophecies over them, revealing what will happen to their descendants in the future. After speaking about Judah and Joseph, Jacob turns to Asher, foretelling a rich inheritance for his descendants.
Jacob’s final words to his sons weren’t just predictions; they were pronouncements of God's favor. For Asher, this meant a specific kind of abundance.
Jacob's blessing on Asher is striking because it points directly to the land's incredible fertility and the luxurious food it would produce.
A Land of Richness
The phrase 'his bread shall be fat' suggests more than just sustenance. It speaks of a land so rich and fertile that its produce would be exceptionally fine and abundant. This wasn't just about having enough to eat, but about having the finest quality food.
Royal Delicacies
The mention of 'royal dainties' elevates this even further. It implies that the produce from Asher's territory would be so exquisite that it would be sought after by kings and royalty. This speaks to a level of luxury and quality that stands out even among God's provision for His people.
God's provision isn't always just about survival; sometimes it includes the 'extras' that bring joy and delight.
Jacob’s prophecy for Asher goes beyond mere sustenance. It points to a deeper concept of provision that includes richness and luxury.
The Meaning of 'Fatness'
The 'fatness' of the bread signifies not just nourishment but also a superior quality. Think of the difference between basic rations and a gourmet meal – both sustain, but one offers a richness and pleasure that the other doesn't.
God's Generosity
The 'royal dainties' highlight God's generosity. He doesn't just provide what is necessary; He provides what is delightful, what is fit for a king. This can be seen in the abundance of nature – not just edible plants, but fruits, spices, and fine wines. This richness is a reflection of His own abundant nature.
Understand the original words
shamen · Hebrew Adjective
Often used in poetic or prophetic literature to describe items or food that are excellent, abundant, fat, or choice, signifying divine favor, prosperity, and the blessing of the land.
ma'adan · Hebrew Noun
Foods or offerings suitable for a king; they symbolize abundance, quality, and the fruitfulness of the land as a sign of God's blessing and covenantal provision.
Jacob's final words to his sons weren't just a father's farewell; they were prophetic pronouncements about the destiny of the tribes. For Asher, this meant a future of exceptional agricultural richness and the ability to produce food and delicacies fit for royalty, a blessing tied to the fertile land they would eventually inhabit.
~1800 BC— this verse
Jacob's Blessing
Jacob, on his deathbed, gathers his twelve sons to pronounce blessings and prophecies about their future. This event, recorded in Genesis 49, sets the stage for the blessings given to each tribe.
c. 1446 BC
Exodus from Egypt
The Israelites leave Egypt, marking the beginning of their journey toward the Promised Land, a land that the prophecies of Jacob would begin to unfold.
c. 1406 BC
Conquest of Canaan
Under Joshua's leadership, the Israelite tribes conquer Canaan. The division of the land among the twelve tribes begins, a process that will fulfill aspects of Jacob's prophecies.
c. 1350 BC
Period of the Judges
The tribes experience cycles of faithfulness and unfaithfulness, deliverance and oppression, reflecting the varied outcomes predicted by Jacob, including periods of prosperity and conflict.
This passage is a direct blessing on Asher, echoing the prophecy of wealth and abundance found in Genesis, specifically mentioning dipping his feet in oil, which aligns with the idea of rich produce.
Psalm 104:15This psalm speaks of God providing food and drink for humanity, including wine that makes the heart glad and oil that makes faces shine, reflecting the theme of God's provision for rich sustenance like that promised to Asher.
Proverbs 3:9-10This proverb links honoring God with material blessings, stating that one's storehouses will be filled with plenty and vats will overflow with wine, paralleling the abundance and richness promised to Asher.
Ezekiel 27:17This chapter describes the trade of Tyre and lists specific commodities like wheat of Minnith, falfa, and honey, which were likely supplied by fertile regions like Asher, highlighting the 'royal dainties' aspect.
calvinGenesis 49:1-33: "And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days."
Omnes istae tribus Israel duodecim. Et hoc est quod loquutus est eis pater eorum, et benedixit eis, unicuique secundum benedictionem suam, benedixit eis.
And he charged them, and said unto them, I am to be gathered unto my people: bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite.
Et praecepti eis, e…
bensonGenesis 49:20: "Out of Asher his bread shall be fat, and he shall yield royal dainties."
Genesis 49:20 . Out of Asher his bread shall be fat — This implies that it should be a rich tribe, replenished not only with bread for necessity, but with fatness, with dainties, royal dainties, and these exported out of Asher to other tribes, perhaps to other lands. The God of nature has provided for us not only necessaries but dainties, that we might call him a bountiful benefactor; yet, whereas all place…
The blessing for Asher isn't just about good food; it points to a lasting prosperity, suggesting their land's abundance would be so exceptional it could provide "royal delicacies," implying a quality and richness suitable for kings, and perhaps even for export. This highlights that God's provision isn't just for survival but can extend to remarkable, even luxurious, provision when His people are blessed.
Jacob is nearing the end of his life and gathers his sons to pronounce blessings and prophecies over them, revealing what will happen to their descendants in the future. After speaking about Judah and Joseph, Jacob turns to Asher, foretelling a rich inheritance for his descendants.
Jacob is nearing the end of his life and gathers his sons to pronounce blessings and prophecies over them, revealing what will happen to their descendants in the future. After speaking about Judah and Joseph, Jacob turns to Asher, foretelling a rich inheritance for his descendants.
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c. 1047 BC
Monarchy Established
Saul is anointed king, followed by David from the tribe of Judah. This fulfills prophecies about kingship originating from Judah, though the overall flourishing of the tribes continues to unfold.
"“Asher’s food shall be rich, and he shall yield royal delicacies." — The blessing for Asher isn't just about good food; it points to a lasting prosperity, suggesting their land's abundance would be so exceptional it could provide "royal delicacies," implying a quality…