מֵאָשֵׁ֖ר שְׁמֵנָ֣ה לַחְמ֑וֹ וְה֥וּא יִתֵּ֖ן מַֽעֲדַנֵּי־מֶֽלֶךְ׃ (ס)
Mula kay Aser, magiging mataba ang kanyang tinapay, at siya ang magbibigay ng mga pagkaing nababagay sa hari.
Bamidbar Rabbah
“With the insignias” – there were insignias for each and every prince: a banner with a color for each, and every banner like the color of the gems that were on Aaron’s heart,7The high priest wore the choshen, a breastplate which had on it twelve different precious stones, each with a name of one of the tribes (Exodus 28:15–21). from which the empire learned to make a banner, with colors for each and every banner. For each and every tribe, the prince’s banner was like the color of his stone. Reuben, its stone was a ruby and its banner was dyed red, and mandrakes were depicted on it. Simeon, [its stone was] a peridot, its banner was dyed green, and Shekhem was depicted on it. Levi, [its stone was] an emerald, its banner was dyed one-third white, one-third black, and one-third red, and the urim and tumim were depicted on it.
Judah, [its stone was] a turquoise, the color of its banner was in its image, like the heavens, and a lion was depicted on it. Issachar, [its stone was] a sapphire, its banner was dyed bluish-black, and the sun and the moon were depicted on it, based on: “From the children of Issachar, possessors of understanding of the times” (I Chronicles 12:33). Zebulun, [its stone was] a clear quartz, the color of its banner, white, and a ship was depicted on it, based on: “Zebulun will dwell at the seashore, [and he shall be a shore for ships]” (Genesis 49:13).
Dan, [its stone was] a jacinth, the color of its banner was like a sapphire, and a serpent was depicted on it, based on: “Dan will be a serpent” (Genesis 49:17). Gad, [its stone was] an agate, and the color of its banner was neither white nor black, but rather white and black intermingled, and an encampment was depicted on it, based on: “Gad will wage war by regiment” (Genesis 49:19). Naphtali, [its stone was] an amethyst, the color of its banner was similar to clear wine whose redness is not deep, and a hind was depicted on it, based on: “Naphtali is a hind let loose” (Genesis 49:21).
Asher, [its stone was] a beryl, and the color of its banner was like the gem8Of that name. with which women adorn themselves, and an olive tree was depicted on it, based on: “From Asher, his bread is rich [shemena]” (Genesis 49:20).9The allusion to the olive tree is based on the fact that it produced olive oil [shemen]. Joseph, [its stone was] onyx, the color of its banner was exceedingly black, and it was depicted for two princes, Ephraim and Manasseh: Egypt, because they were born in Egypt.10The banners of Ephraim and Manasseh shared the same background. On the banner of Ephraim an ox was depicted, based on: “The firstborn of his bull [is his majesty]” (Deuteronomy 33:17); this is Joshua bin Nun, who was from the tribe of Ephraim. On the banner of Manasseh, an aurochs, based on: “And his horns are the horns of an aurochs” (Deuteronomy 33:17); this is Gideon son of Yoash, who was from the tribe of Manasseh. Benjamin, [its stone was] a chalcedony, the color of his banner was like all the colors of the twelve colors, and a wolf was depicted on it, based on: “Benjamin is a mauling wolf” (Genesis 49:27). That is why it is stated: “With the insignias,” as each and every prince had his own sign.
Judah, [its stone was] a turquoise, the color of its banner was in its image, like the heavens, and a lion was depicted on it. Issachar, [its stone was] a sapphire, its banner was dyed bluish-black, and the sun and the moon were depicted on it, based on: “From the children of Issachar, possessors of understanding of the times” (I Chronicles 12:33). Zebulun, [its stone was] a clear quartz, the color of its banner, white, and a ship was depicted on it, based on: “Zebulun will dwell at the seashore, [and he shall be a shore for ships]” (Genesis 49:13).
Dan, [its stone was] a jacinth, the color of its banner was like a sapphire, and a serpent was depicted on it, based on: “Dan will be a serpent” (Genesis 49:17). Gad, [its stone was] an agate, and the color of its banner was neither white nor black, but rather white and black intermingled, and an encampment was depicted on it, based on: “Gad will wage war by regiment” (Genesis 49:19). Naphtali, [its stone was] an amethyst, the color of its banner was similar to clear wine whose redness is not deep, and a hind was depicted on it, based on: “Naphtali is a hind let loose” (Genesis 49:21).
Asher, [its stone was] a beryl, and the color of its banner was like the gem8Of that name. with which women adorn themselves, and an olive tree was depicted on it, based on: “From Asher, his bread is rich [shemena]” (Genesis 49:20).9The allusion to the olive tree is based on the fact that it produced olive oil [shemen]. Joseph, [its stone was] onyx, the color of its banner was exceedingly black, and it was depicted for two princes, Ephraim and Manasseh: Egypt, because they were born in Egypt.10The banners of Ephraim and Manasseh shared the same background. On the banner of Ephraim an ox was depicted, based on: “The firstborn of his bull [is his majesty]” (Deuteronomy 33:17); this is Joshua bin Nun, who was from the tribe of Ephraim. On the banner of Manasseh, an aurochs, based on: “And his horns are the horns of an aurochs” (Deuteronomy 33:17); this is Gideon son of Yoash, who was from the tribe of Manasseh. Benjamin, [its stone was] a chalcedony, the color of his banner was like all the colors of the twelve colors, and a wolf was depicted on it, based on: “Benjamin is a mauling wolf” (Genesis 49:27). That is why it is stated: “With the insignias,” as each and every prince had his own sign.
Midrash Tanchuma
"But with a lot, etc." (Numbers 26:55). This is [the meaning of] that which is stated (Proverbs 18:18), "The lot puts an end to strife." Since a sign was written for each and every tribe from Yaakov - "Zevulun will dwell on the shore of the seas" (Genesis 49:13); "Yissachar is a boney donkey, etc." (Genesis 49:14); "From Asher, his bread is fat" (Genesis 49:20) - you are only permitted to divide [the land] by the lot. And there were miraculous acts in the lottery: Elazar the Priest wears the Urim and Tumim. And the slips of the lottery were in front of Yehoshua, as stated (Joshua 18:6) "And I will cast the lot for you here in front of the Lord, our God." But before the lot went up, Elazar said with the holy spirit, "The lot of tribe x is coming up, to take place y." And Yehoshua would extend his hand and [it] would come up [into his hand. It was] as it is stated (Joshua 19:51), "These are the inheritances that Elazar the Priest and Yehoshua ben Nun apportioned." And this was [even] more; that the lot would yell out at the time that it went up, "I am the lot of tribe x; I have gone up to it in place y." And from where [do we know] that the lot speaks? As it is stated (Numbers 26:56), "By the mouth of (according to) the lot."
Midrash Tanchuma
As for Asher, his bread shall be fat (Gen. 49:20). That is, his daughters shall be beautiful, as it is said: For my daughters make me happy (Gen. 30:13). Blessed be Asher above sons, let him be favored of his brethren (Deut. 33:24) because of his daughters.