Numbers 7:72
On the eleventh day Pagiel the son of Ocran, prince of the children of Asher, offered:
Original Language Analysis
י֔וֹם
day
H3117
י֔וֹם
day
Strong's:
H3117
Word #:
1 of 10
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
עָשָׂ֣ר
H6240
עָשָׂ֣ר
Strong's:
H6240
Word #:
3 of 10
ten (only in combination), i.e., -teen; also (ordinal) -teenth
י֔וֹם
day
H3117
י֔וֹם
day
Strong's:
H3117
Word #:
4 of 10
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
נָשִׂ֖יא
prince
H5387
נָשִׂ֖יא
prince
Strong's:
H5387
Word #:
5 of 10
properly, an exalted one, i.e., a king or sheik; also a rising mist
בֶּן
of the children
H1121
בֶּן
of the children
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
6 of 10
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
אָשֵׁ֑ר
of Asher
H836
אָשֵׁ֑ר
of Asher
Strong's:
H836
Word #:
7 of 10
asher, a son of jacob, and the tribe descended from him, with its territory; also a place in palestine
Historical Context
Asher's territory in northwestern Israel included the fertile Mediterranean coastal plain and extended to Phoenicia. The tribe's wealth derived from olive groves (fulfilling the oil blessing), grain production, and maritime trade. Despite prosperity, Asher failed to drive out Canaanite inhabitants (Judges 1:31-32), demonstrating that material blessing without spiritual vigilance leads to compromise. The prophetess Anna descended from Asher (Luke 2:36-38), showing God preserved a faithful remnant.
Questions for Reflection
- How does Asher's material prosperity, when offered back to God in worship, challenge both ascetic rejection of wealth and materialistic hoarding of resources?
- What is the relationship between Pagiel's name ('God encounters') and authentic worship—where does God promise to meet His people (Exodus 25:22, Matthew 18:20)?
- How can believers today 'dip their foot in oil' (Deuteronomy 33:24)—living in spiritual abundance and anointing—while avoiding Asher's compromises with surrounding culture?
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Analysis & Commentary
On the eleventh day Pagiel the son of Ocran, prince of the children of Asher, offered—Asher (אָשֵׁר, 'happy/blessed') was Leah's son through her maidservant Zilpah (Genesis 30:12-13). Leah's exclamation 'Happy am I!' (בְּאָשְׁרִי, be-oshri) reflects the blessing of fullness and satisfaction. Pagiel ('God meets/encounters,' פַּגְעִיאֵל, Pag'i'el) suggests divine visitation or intervention. Ocran ('troubler/disturber,' עָכְרָן, Okran) contrasts sharply with Asher's blessing—perhaps indicating struggles overcome or troubles turned to joy.
Asher's tribal blessing promised richness: 'his bread shall be fat, and he shall yield royal dainties' (Genesis 49:20). Moses blessed Asher with abundant oil: 'let him dip his foot in oil' (Deuteronomy 33:24). This material prosperity, sanctified through tabernacle worship, demonstrates that wealth rightly used honors God. The eleventh-day position (penultimate) suggests Asher's offering stood between Dan's (tenth) and Naphtali's concluding offering (twelfth), completing the northern tribes' participation.