Asher

9Leah saw that she had stopped having children. So she took her servant Zilpah. She gave her to Jacob to be his wife.

When Leah saw that she had left bearing, she took Zilpah her maid, and gave her Jacob to wife.

10Zilpah, Leah's servant, had a son for Jacob.

And Zilpah Leah’s maid bare Jacob a son.

11Leah said, "Good fortune has come!" She named him Gad.

And Leah said, A troop cometh: and she called his name Gad.

Note"Gad" sounds like the Hebrew word for good luck. Leah is saying that something good has come to her.

12Zilpah, Leah's servant, had a second son for Jacob.

And Zilpah Leah’s maid bare Jacob a second son.

13Leah said, "How happy I am! The women will call me happy." She named him Asher.

And Leah said, Happy am I, for the daughters will call me blessed: and she called his name Asher.

Note"Asher" sounds like the Hebrew word for "happy."

20"Asher's food will be rich. He will give fine food that a king would eat."

Out of Asher his bread shall be fat, and he shall yield royal dainties.

NoteAsher's land was good for growing food, like olives and grain. His family would always have plenty to eat.

24About Asher he said: "May Asher be the most blessed of the sons. May his brothers be glad about him. May he dip his foot in olive oil."

And of Asher he said, Let Asher be blessed with children; let him be acceptable to his brethren, and let him dip his foot in oil.

NoteAsher was another son of Jacob. Olive trees grew well in his land. Dipping your foot in oil means having olive oil to spare.

25"May the bars on your gates be iron and bronze. May your strength last as long as your days."

Thy shoes shall be iron and brass; and as thy days, so shall thy strength be.

NoteTowns had heavy bars across their gates at night. Strong bars kept enemies outside the town.