Parshat Naso4 min read

Asher's Offering and the Hundred and Thirty Nations

When Asher's prince brought his silver charger, the sages read the weight as the number of nations God passed over before choosing Israel.

Curated by Arthur · Told by Maggid ·
Table of Contents
  1. The Prince Whose Name Was a Policy
  2. One Hundred and Thirty Nations
  3. The Seventy-Shekel Bowl
  4. What the Gold Spoon Said About Oil

The Prince Whose Name Was a Policy

Pagiel son of Ochran stepped forward when Asher's turn came in the dedication of the Tabernacle. The tradition that accumulated around his offering began with his name. Pagiel meant the one who intercedes. Ochran meant the afflicted. The full name was a compressed description of a calling: the man who intercedes on behalf of those who suffer. This was not a coincidence the sages could leave unremarked. It was, for them, a complete statement of what Asher's tribe was for.

Before Pagiel brought a single shekel to the altar, his name had already delivered the offering's meaning. Everything that followed was an elaboration of those two words.

One Hundred and Thirty Nations

The silver charger he carried weighed one hundred and thirty shekels, the same weight every tribal prince had brought. But Midrash Rabbah, the fifth-century Palestinian compilation, read Asher's one hundred and thirty differently from the others. Here the number referred to the one hundred and thirty nations of the world that God had surveyed before making the covenant with Israel.

Not one hundred and thirty nations that Israel had defeated. Not one hundred and thirty peoples whose land Israel had claimed. One hundred and thirty peoples that God had examined, weighed, and chosen not to place at the center of the covenant. The charger did not celebrate this. It acknowledged it. There was no triumphalism in the weight. There was only the recognition that Israel's chosenness had not been the only option, and that the other options had existed and been passed over.

The Seventy-Shekel Bowl

The silver bowl weighed seventy shekels. Seventy for the seventy elders of Israel, the council that carried the weight of the nation's legal and spiritual life. But the tradition placed this alongside the one hundred and thirty of the charger. Together the numbers were two hundred: one hundred and thirty nations considered and not chosen, seventy elders who carried the burden of being chosen.

Chosenness in Asher's offering was not a gift without weight. It was a responsibility carried by seventy people whose job was to hold the covenant for millions. The silver bowl was not a celebration of election. It was an accounting of what election cost.

What the Gold Spoon Said About Oil

The ten-shekel gold spoon Pagiel brought held incense. Ten for the Ten Commandments. But the broader tradition connected Asher's offering to the territory the tribe would eventually hold: the northern coast, the olive groves, the oil that was so exceptional it supplied the sanctuary's anointing oil. Asher's gift to the altar was not only its silver and gold. The very land the tribe would inhabit was calibrated to produce what the sacred space required.

Asher's name meant good fortune, and it also meant confirmation. The tribe that confirmed judgment, that completed what the judge had begun, brought to the altar an offering whose numbers mapped Israel's position among the nations: seen, assessed, chosen, and responsible for what that choice required.

TribesTabernacleTorahCovenantWilderness
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From the tradition

Sources

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The texts this telling draws on, in full. Open a card to read inline, or expand it for a wider, quieter read.

Legends of the Jews 3:102Legends of the Jews

Take, for instance, the blessings and offerings associated with the tribes of Israel. They're not just historical details; they're packed with symbolism, reflecting the unique role and destiny of the Jewish people...

Think about the idea of justice. It needs to be carried out fairly. That's why, according to tradition, the tribe of Asher, whose name means "the executors of justice," always followed Dan, the judges. The judge has to make the call before anything else happens.

Asher's name also signifies "good fortune," pointing to the unique privilege bestowed upon Israel as God's chosen people. And this idea of chosen-ness is everywhere in the offerings associated with Asher, each detail a carefully chosen symbol.

Ginzberg, in Legends of the Jews, unpacks the symbolism of the offerings brought by the prince of the tribe of Asher, connecting each element to the special status of Israel. For example, the "charger, one hundred and thirty shekels of silver in weight," is said to represent the nations of the world whom God could have chosen, but ultimately He chose Israel instead.

Then there's the "bowl of seventy shekels," echoing the seventy pious souls that made up the Israelite family when they first journeyed to Egypt. As we find in Midrash Rabbah, this signifies the solid foundation upon which the nation was built.

Both vessels, the charger and the bowl, were filled with fine flour. Why is this important?

The flour, according to tradition, represents God sending His prophets to both Israel and the other nations. However, only Israel willingly accepted the Torah. Ah, the Torah (תּוֹרָה), meaning "teaching" or "law," is the foundation of Jewish life.

And what about "the spoon of ten shekels of gold filled with incense"? This, we're told, symbolizes Israel's eager acceptance of the Ten Commandments and the entire Torah, every single person willing to embrace it.

The three burnt offerings represent the three crowns bestowed upon Israel by God: the crown of the Torah, the crown of the priesthood (Kehunah), and the crown of the kingdom (Malchut). This is why we see golden crowns adorning the Ark containing the Torah, the altar for priestly sacrifices, and the table symbolizing the kingdom.

But here’s a thought: What is the most important crown?

It's the crown of a good name, earned through good deeds (Ma'asim Tovim). Tradition teaches us that the true test isn't just studying the Torah, but living in accordance with its teachings. The Torah study is incredibly important, but it must translate into real world action.

That's why the sin offering is included, representing this crown of good deeds. These actions, and these actions alone, can serve as atonement.

Finally, the two oxen symbolize the two Torot (plural of Torah) given to the Jewish people: the Written Torah (Torah Shebichtav) and the Oral Torah (Torah Shebe'al Peh). The fifteen peace offerings of small cattle are linked to the three Patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob) and the twelve tribal fathers, all fifteen chosen by God.

So, what does it all mean? These detailed offerings aren't just ancient rituals. They’re a powerful reminder of the unique covenant between God and Israel, emphasizing the importance of accepting the Torah, living a life of good deeds, and striving for justice. They point to the idea that being "chosen" isn't just a privilege, but a responsibility. A responsibility to live up to the values enshrined within the tradition, and to be a light unto the nations.

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Legends of the Jews 4:12Legends of the Jews

Prepare to meet the tribe of Asher.

The familiar version gives us beauty is in the eye of the beholder. But the legends surrounding the tribe of Asher in Legends of the Jews paint a picture of something truly extraordinary. So remarkable was this beauty, that even the older women of Asher surpassed the youthful girls of other tribes in both fairness and strength. Can you imagine the impression that made?

This wasn't just about looks. This exceptional beauty had real-world consequences, profound ones in fact.

In legends, kings actively sought out women from the tribe of Asher as wives. And these women, placed in positions of power, used their influence to intercede on behalf of those condemned to death. They became lifesavers, beacons of hope in the darkest of times.

This role of intercessor is even reflected in the name of the tribe's prince, Pagiel. That Pagiel means "the interceder." This isn't just a name; it's a evidence of the tribe's defining characteristic. His father's name, Ochran, meaning "the afflicted," further emphasizes this theme. The women of Asher, through their beauty and their position, consistently won grace for the afflicted. It suggests a deep connection between beauty, power, and compassion. It's not simply about being admired; it's about using that admiration to effect positive change in the world. It's about empathy in action.

The story of the tribe of Asher challenges us to consider the many facets of beauty and its potential for good. Perhaps true beauty isn't just skin deep, but a quality that inspires compassion, fosters justice, and ultimately, saves lives. What do you think?

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