In 1980, Energy Exploration, Inc. of Houston TX, under the leadership of Andy Sorelle (1920-2001), began one of the largest oil projects in Israel at that time. A few years before, Sorelle conducted an above ground geological survey of the “Asher Region” from Caesarea to Haifa along the Mediterranean Sea. His specially-designed equipment mapped an unbelievable 100,000 acres of oil in the region … 50,000 acres onshore and 50,000 acres offshore! What followed that discovery was four strenuous years of drilling for the untold treasures “that coucheth beneath” (Deuteronomy 33:13).

In 1981, Larry Napier, senior pastor of House of Blessing Church in Nashville, TN,  in support of the Asher Oil Drilling Project, produced a “word study” of the sons of Asher as recorded in 1 Chron. 7:30-39. In this word study, remarkably, is found “The Rest of the Story” behind the prophecies of Jacob (Genesis) and Moses (Deuteronomy) concerning Israel’s oil industry in the last days.

(30) The sons of Asher were Imnah, Ishvah and Beriah, and Serah their sister.
(31) And the sons of Beriah were Heber and Malchiel, who was the father of Birzaith.
(32) And Heber became the father of Japhlet, Shomer and Hotham, and Shua their sister.
(33) And the sons of Japhlet were Pasach, Bimhal, and Ashvath. These were the sons of Japhlet.
(34) And the sons of Shemer were Ahi and Rohgah, Jehubbah and Aram.
(35) And the sons of his brother Helem were Zophah, Imna, Shelesh and Amal.
(36) And the sons of Zophah were Suah, Harnepher, Shual, Beri and Imrah,
(37) Bezer, Hod, Shamma, Shilshah, Ithran and Beera.
(38) And the sons of Jether were Jephunneh, Pispa and Ara.
(39)And the sons of Ulla were Arah, Hanniel and Rizia 

As Pastor Napier unveiled in this study, each verse in this segment denotes a narrative of interpretation that is telling to these times. Following Pastor Napier’s outline, we present here the amazing prophetic news story behind today’s search for oil in Israel.

Unveiling the Mystery 

Of special interest in this list are the meanings of the names and how these meanings relate to the pursuit and discovery of oil (petroleum) in Israel “in the latter days” (Gen. 49:1).

In approaching this genealogy of the sons of Asher, we make note of the fact that this is a chronological list of generations. What is fascinating is the story of exploration in each of the nine verses (“divisions”). Each division has its own unique prophetic summary concerning the miraculous process by which the latter day blessings would come upon the land of Israel through Asher and its partners. Following is the list of names per verse (division) and their meanings:

Division 1:

1 Chronicles 7:

(30) of ASHER

• IMNAH – good fortune, prosperity from the right hand
• ISHVAH – salvation from need to abundance; abiding success; to make equal by giving one’s own property
• ISHVI – same root as Ishvah
• SERAH (daughter) – excessive pouring out; to overflow; to be unrestrained in running over

STORY in this Division:

“This oil will cause Asher to experience good fortune; prosperity will be at his right hand. He will know economic salvation and such abiding success that he will be able to make his brothers equal to himself by sharing his abundance with them … even to an excessive pouring out or an unrestrained running over.”

Division 2:

(31) of BERIAH:

• BERIAH – a bar or shaft; (verb) to cause to go through hastily
• HEBER – to be united or ban together in fellowship; a company or association for joint business
• MALCHIEL – God is King; anointed by God for a kingdom rule or dominion
• BIZRAITH (great grandson) – to bore or pierce; connected to iron

STORY in this Division:

“The oil will be made to pass hastily through shafts (pipeline?). These shafts will be drilled in the company of different groups into a joint venture with singleness of mind and intent. God is King, and with this oil He will anoint Israel for his coming kingly rule. These wells will be pierced or cut through with a cutting tool through the earth (drilling bit?).”

Division 3:

(32) of HEBER:

• JAPHLET —  Jah (LORD) causes to cast forth; especially of entrapped or enclosed substances with great force or thrust
• SHOMER – a diligent watcher or guard; keeper
• HOTHAM – to seal; to be closely bound by a seal; an earthen mold or clay seal
• SHUA (daughter) – prosperity; to be rich and wealthy

STORY in this Division:

“Through the uniting of these groups, God will cause Asher to cast forth the entrapped oil like a cow who calves or a man who vomits, such will be the great pressure of this release. The watchmen, or intercessors, must give diligence to guard, cover and keep these projects with prayer. The oil will be closely bound by a seal, like an earthen mold. This seal will be an outward identification of the wealth, riches and prosperity contained within.”

Division 4:

(33) of JAPHLET:

• PASACH – to divide up or cut a cleft; to dislocate
• BIMHAL – on (top of) of a mountain ridge or high place or ridge
• ASHVATH – to fully accomplish or to finish under great pressure or squeezing

STORY in this Division:

“God will cause the casting forth of Asher’s oil to involve a cleft or section cut out of the top of a mountain ridge or high geological ridge (Atlith, Israel – highest geological plain in the Asher region). This high place or mountain is also called “oil” or “liquid pitch” in Hebrew. God will fulfill the promises of Asher’s inheritance by the use of pressure or squeezing.”

Division 5

(34) of SHAMER  (SHOMER): to watch over or guard

• AHI – my pain; my grief
• ROH-GAH – crowded in; outcry or alarm
• JEHUBBAH – deeply hidden
• ARAM – high and exalted

STORY in this Division:

“Those who watch and pray must give close attention to times of pain or grief in the land. They must cry aloud and sound the alarm when the enemy crowds in, from the hidden place. God will hear and lift high and exalt.” 

Division 6

(35) of HELEM (Shamer’s brother): dreams; to strengthen or make healthy

• ZOPHAH – to cause to overflow; to flood; come from the deep to the top
• IMNA – good fortune
• SHELESH – mighty; three; in thirds
• AMAL – labor, toil or suffer

STORY in this Division:

“Through the use of dreams, God will grant strength and health. The result will be a flood of oil, an overflow from the deep which floats on the top of the ground. This overflow will be like honey exuding from the honeycomb. Thus Asher will withdraw good fortune, and triple strength will replace labor, toil and suffering.” 

Division 7

(36) of ZOPHAH: cause to overflow; to flood from the deep to the top

• SUAH – riches; distinction
• HARNEPHER – breathe deep in peace and rest
• SHUAL – prosperity
• BERI – to dig deep a well or pit
• IMRAH – heights of Jah (the Lord); our God contends
• (37) BEZER – to enclose or trap by cutting; made inaccessible or difficult to get to; deeply hidden
• HOD – glory, vigor; great outward display
• SHAMMA – desolation; desert; in a withdrawn place
• SHILSHAH – three-storied chambers or towers
• ITHRAN – never failing to flow; ever-flowing; perpetual
• BEERA – to dig wells or pits

STORY in this Division:

“This great flood of oil will bring riches and distinction. Israel restfully breathes in prosperity because wells or pits have been dug. From the heights of heaven God has contended for Israel by entrapping or enclosing Asher’s promised oil by breaking the sides or edges of subterranean structures, thereby making the oil inaccessible or difficult to get to. The discovery of Asher’s hidden oil will be the solving of a prophetic riddle which will be revealed by a glorious outward display of the splendor of Israel under divine blessings. The desolation of Israel will be ended by mighty three-tiered towers (drilling rigs?) producing perpetual enduring motion of rivers of oil which flow from the wells that have been dug.”

Division 8

(38) of JETHER: pre-eminent; abundant; affluent; great excess

• JEPHUNNEH – to shine forth; to cause to appear
• PISPA – expansion; to enlarge or enhance
• ARA – strong like a lion; to dominate

STORY in this Division:

“Great excesses of wealth, abundance and affluence will cause Asher and Israel to be pre-eminent. This promised oil will prepare them to shine forth with great expansion and the strength of a lion.”

Division 9

(39) of ULLA: burden

• ARAH – wayfarer
• HANNIEL – favor of God
• RIZIA – to pay for one’s sin; to be paid off, made acceptable or favorable

STORY in this Division:

“The burden of the wayfarer will be lifted by the favor of God. For God has paid for their sins and will treat them good.”

—————————

The ancient prophecies of old are today’s news stories. The Grand Conclusion to this segment of this current series will be in our next and final installment of Israel’s Oil.