YOU DON’T WANT TO DISAPPOINT A KID.
But I did.
I gave a book to a boy who had a name from the Bible. I should have known better.
Here’s the problem. The book was about the most important people and places in the Bible: Who’s Who & Where’s Where in the Bible for Kids. And this boy’s name didn’t make the cut.
It’s the Bible question of the week. It comes from Asher Kenney.
Why isn’t my name in the book you gave me?
Asher gets another free book for asking the question. This book has his name and it: Illustrated Bible Dictionary.
I knew Asher’s mom and dad before he had a name. I remember seeing his mom in church one day when she was pregnant with what she knew was a little boy. I asked her what she was going to name him.
“Asher,” she said.
“Oh, one of the 12 tribes of Israel,” I said.
She smiled at me and said, “You’re the only person so far who has made that connection.”
I wasn’t sure if that should make me feel good or odd.
I chose good.
Asher, the reason your name did not make the list for Who’s Who & Where’s Where in the Bible for Kids is because his story in the Bible is so short. And there are lots of people whose stories are long. So I had to pick those people we knew most about because they had a lot of fun and interesting things going on in their lives.
Not that Asher didn’t. But nobody wrote it down. Perhaps they were too busy having a good time.
Let me tell you what we do know. This is taken from the Illustrated Bible Dictionary.
Asher
1800s BCThe sons of Zilpah, Lean’s servant, were Gad and Asher. Genesis 35:26
- One of Jacob’s 12 sons
- Father of the Jewish tribes of Asher
SON OF A SURROGATE mother, Asher was the product of what sounds like a baby-making contest in Jacob’s family.
Jacob’s two wives were sisters Leah and Rachel, each competing for his affection by giving him sons. Each offered him not only their bodies, but the bodies of their personal servants as well. Asher’s birth mother was Leah’s servant, Zilpah. But according to the custom of the day, Asher belonged to Jacob and Leah.
When Moses led the Jews back home from slavery in Egypt, Asher’s descendants got a small but fertile swath of land along what is now Israel’s northern coast. The land is perfect for growing olives and grapes, two of Israel’s most important crops.
Asher is a very intelligent young man! I picture him wildly perusing your book searching for his name in vain! Asher, you now have a blog post dedicated entirely to your name. How exciting!
Kathy, he is a smart young man. He swims in a gene pool of smarts.
Love this book. Learned something new from this blog. Didn’t know it was one of the tribes.
Thanks Sarah.
Thanks Steve. Asher read your post and stated, “I do love olives and grapes.” It’s true, he does.
Jill, you’re one lucky momma. Enjoy the time with the kids. They’ll be in college next week. It is so going to feel like that.
It’s my honor to call Asher my nephew and his mom my sister. What an Awesome kid he is!!!
Pretty cool to have an aunt who thinks you’re awesome. Might help explain why he is awesome.
In reference to “Jacob leading the slaves out of Egypt”, I thought Moses did this (according to the Torah).
You’re right. Embarrassing mistake. I corrected it in the blog article. Thank you.