And of Asher he said, Let Asher be blessed with children; let him be acceptable to his brethren, and let him dip his foot in oil.
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Ambrose of Milan
AD 397
With this oil the church anoints the necks of its children so that they might take up the yoke of Christ. With this oil it anointed the martyrs so that it might wash them clean of worldly filth. With this oil it anointed the confessors so that they might not cease to labor nor succumb to fatigue and so that they might not be overcome by the commotion of this world. For that reason it anointed them, so that spiritual oil might refresh them.
Blessed. He alludes to the name of Aser, which has this signification. (Haydock)
This tribe had been upon the increase in the desert, (Calmet) and now comprised 53,000 warriors. (Haydock)
The province of Galilee, where Aser dwelt, was one of the most fertile of all Chanaan, and noted for abundance of oil, Genesis xlix. 20. (Josephus, Jewish Wars iii. 2., and ii. 22.) (Calmet)
Oil. So Job (xxix. 6,) says, When I washed my feet with butter. (Menochius)
