Deuteronomy 33:24,25 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Ver. 24, 25. And of Asher he said— Moses prophesies, that the Asherites would be numerous; and wishes that there might always be a perfect harmony between them and the rest of the Israelites. He tells them, that their country should be very fruitful, particularly in oil. He intimates, that they should have the advantage of rich mines; and prays, that there might not be wanting a great number of men of valour in their tribe, as long as it existed. The blessing may properly be rendered thus: "Let Asher be blessed with children;—let him be acceptable to his brethren;—and let him dip his feet in oil;—under thy shoes let there be iron and brass,—and as thy days, so let thy mighty men be." Which last clause Houbigant renders, thy mighty men shall not be wanting all thy days. These verses contain a wish and a prophesy: the wish is expressed in the second line, let him be acceptable, entreating for the public, as the former petition does for the private happiness of Asher, to whose name it alludes. See on Genesis 49:20. The predictions, though four in number, we shall treat of under the three following heads: 1st, That this tribe would have a numerous posterity, and a great many men of valour. 2nd, Abundance of oil. And, 3rdly, Mines of iron and copper. First, With respect to its numerousness, we find, that at its going out of a Egypt, it amounted to no more than 41,500; when numbered in the plains of Moab, it had increased to 53,400; a little before David's reign, they had no less than 26,000 princes, all choice and mighty men of valour. See Josephus Bell. Jud. lib. 3: cap. 3. Secondly, That Asher's portion was very fertile in corn, wine, oil, &c. has been shewn on Genesis 49:20. Thirdly, The mines, which seem promised to this tribe, agree with what Moses had before asserted, chap. Deuteronomy 8:9. Iron and brass are frequently represented as being common in this country. As the portion of this tribe extended to Libanus, and Antilibanus, it was the best situated for mines. We read, that David bought great quantities of brass, which, doubtless, were extracted from their bowels. Dan, which was contiguous to this tribe, traded with Tyre in iron; and Homer himself celebrates the Sydonians, on account of the plenty of brass to be met with in their country. Odyss. lib. 3: ver. 424. Durell. The reader who is curious in these subjects will find much entertainment by referring to Scheuchzer's Observations on the Mines of Judea; Physique Sacree, tom. 4: p. 47.