What are the connotations of "Baruch mi'Banim Asher!"?
Rashi #1 (citing the Sifri): 'None of the sons of Ya'akov (the tribes) is blessed with sons like Asher' 1 - though it is not clear how.
Rashi #2 (from Midrash Rabah): It means that he is blessed with beautiful daughters (who marry kings who have been anointed with the anointing oil - Rashi in Yevamos, 102a).
Ramban #2 (citing the Sifri) 4 : None of the tribes was blessed like Asher regarding the attributes mentioned in Divrei ha'Yamim 1, 7:40.
Ramban #3: Asher is blessed by the other tribes and accepted by them, because their land is rich in produce and it provides the other tribes with all the delicacies that are fit for the king's table. 5
Ramban #4 (citing the Midrash Rabah): The tribe of Asher was unique inasmuch as they never had to lodge in inns, because they inherited palaces. 6
Targum Onkelos: Asher will share in the blessings of the other tribes. 7
Da'as Zekenim, Rosh: Asher is blessed by the other tribes and accepted by them, because their land is rich in oil, and they supply oil to the other tribes.
Seforno: Asher is blessed by the other tribes and accepted by them. 8
In what way was Asher favored by his brothers?
Rashi: Because he provided them with Shemen Anpikinun (olive-oil that is manufactured from olives that are not yet one-third grown) 1 and delicacies, 2 in return for which they provided Asher with produce.
Ramban: Refer to 33:24:1:3, 33:24:1:5, 33:24:1:6*.
Targum Yonasan: By providing them with food during the Sh'mitah-year. 3
Sifri and Yalkut Shimoni: After Asher revealed that Reuven had switched Yakov's bed, his brothers excommunicated him 4 for falsely slandering their oldest brother. After Reuven admitted, his brothers permitted the Niduy and were reconciled with him.
Pane'ach Raza: Moshe prayed that his Niduy (that his brothers imposed for revealing Reuven's sin) should be permitted.
What does the Pasuk mean when it states that Asher will dip his feet in oil?
Rashi #1: This refers to the fact that Asher's land produced (olive) oil like a fountain (providing them with sufficient oil to wash their feet in 1 (and to annoint themselves with it
Refer to Bereishis, 49:20:1:1. Menachos 85b relates how, when the people of Ludkiyah needed oil, they sent an agent to Gush Chalav - in Asher, to purchase oil for the entire city. A resident of Gush Chalav sold him sufficient oil for their entire city, worth one hundred and eighteen million Dinarim.
See Rashi there
Rashi (citing the Sifri) writes that none of the sons of Ya'akov was blessed with sons like Asher. They were not the biggest Shevet!
Chizkuni, Riva, Rosh citing R. Eliav: They had the greatest increase (11,900) from the first census to the census in Pinchas. 1
R. Chaim Paltiel #1: Perhaps Asher diminished proportionally less through the plague 2 than the other Shevatim.
R. Chaim Paltiel #2: Asher never stayed in the same lodging (house of his children). Even though a person should not change his lodging, he had more children than others [and wanted to visit each once]. Even though he had only four sons, he had many daughters, and lodged with their sons.
Chizkuni: Even though Menasheh increased more, Asher had the greatest increase of Yakov's sons. Riva
