דברים, פרק ל״ג, פסוק כ״ד

The final blessing given to the tribes serves as a grand conclusion, painting a magnificent picture of economic abundance, social harmony, and physical vitality. Its placement at the very end of the list is deliberate; the tribe of Asher acts as a seal and a lock through which all the higher blessings flow down to the rest of the nation [צרור המור].

A central theme of this blessing surrounds the tribe's relationship with offspring, which is interpreted in several complementary ways. The primary approach among commentators is that Asher was blessed with a greater number of children than the other tribes, a fact reflected in the massive population growth recorded during the censuses in the desert [רמב״ן, חזקוני, דעת זקנים, אברבנאל]. Alternatively, the blessing indicates that Asher would be praised and blessed by the other tribes for the great abundance he provided them [רמב״ן, אבן עזרא, שד״ל, רשב״ם]. A third, unique perspective suggests the blessing specifically highlights his daughters. While blessings of offspring typically focus on male children, Asher's daughters were exceptionally beautiful and possessed rare virtues. They were highly sought after for marriage by High Priests and kings, bringing their father a distinct and elevated source of blessing [רש״י, כלי יקר, העמק דבר, שפתי כהן].

The blessing also ensures that Asher would remain deeply loved and accepted by his brethren. Typically, extraordinary wealth breeds jealousy and resentment, but in this case, it had the exact opposite effect [ספורנו, אברבנאל]. Asher's agricultural prosperity created a positive mutual dependence across the land. He supplied high-quality, inexpensive olive oil to everyone, while the other tribes provided him with grain, varied goods, and gold in return [רש״י, רמב״ן]. Furthermore, the exceptional qualities of his daughters made his family highly desirable for matchmaking, which only deepened the affection and desire of the other tribes to forge close ties with him [רש״י, אלשיך].

The immense agricultural wealth of Asher's territory in the Galilee is described through poetic exaggeration. The land was so rich with olive groves that it seemed to draw oil like a flowing spring. Because of this overwhelming abundance, the people of the tribe did not merely anoint their bodies with oil, but literally dipped their feet in it [רש״י, רמב״ן, אבן עזרא, רבינו בחיי]. This oil also carried profound health benefits. Anointing with such high-quality olive oil refined the flesh, strengthened the body, and preserved youthful vitality and robust health well into old age [כלי יקר, תורה תמימה, אברבנאל].

A fascinating additional layer of commentary connects these specific blessings to a historical event of excommunication. According to tradition, Asher had been ostracized by his brothers, either because he revealed a private sin of Reuben, or because his daughter Serah informed Jacob that Joseph was still alive, violating a ban of silence imposed by the brothers. A person under such a ban is subject to four strict prohibitions: marital relations, greeting others socially, washing or anointing the body, and wearing shoes. Through this final blessing, Moses systematically lifts the ban and cancels each prohibition. To counter the restriction on raising a family, he is blessed with abundant children. To repair the social distancing and the ban on greetings, he is declared pleasing and accepted by his brothers. To reverse the ban on anointing, he is described as bathing his feet in oil. Finally, to permit the wearing of shoes, the subsequent blessing grants him footwear of iron and copper [קיצור בעל הטורים, ריב״א, הדר זקנים, תולדות יצחק, פני דוד].