Ass

Five Hebrew names of the genus Asinus occur in the Old Testament.

1. Chamor denotes the male domestic ass.
2. Athon , the common domestic she-ass.
3. Air , the name of a wild ass, which occurs (Genesis 32:15; 49:11)
4. Pere , a species of wild ass mentioned (Genesis 12:16)
5. Arod occurs only in (Job 39:5) but in what respect it differs from the Pere is uncertain. The ass in eastern countries is a very different animal from what he is in western Europe. The most noble and honorable amongst the Jews were wont to be mounted on asses. (With us the ass is a symbol of stubbornness and stupidity, while in the East it is especially remarkable for its patience, gentleness, intelligence, meek submission and great power of endurance."--L. Abbott. The color is usually a reddish brown, but there are white asses, which are much prized. The ass was the animal of peace as the horse was the animal of war; hence the appropriateness of Christ in his triumphal entry riding on an ass. The wild ass is a beautiful animal.--ED.) Mr. Lavard remarks that in fleetness the wild ass (Asinus hemippus) equals the gazelle and to overtake it is a feat which only one or two of the most celebrated mares have been known to accomplish.

Ass

Perhaps you may have seen the ass, though it is not very common in this country. It has some resemblance to a horse, but is not as large, and generally seems rather sleepy and dull. In some countries, such as those where the Bible was written, it is a fine large animal, and the people use it for riding. Some persons mentioned in the Bible owned a great many asses. Abraham had sheep, and oxen, and asses and camels; and Job had at one time five hundred asses, and afterwards he had a thousand. A great many years ago, long before Christ came into the world, the rich men and the judges used to ride upon asses: so we read in the Jud 5:10, "Speak, ye that ride upon white asses, ye that sit in judgment." After this time many fine horses were brought into those countries, and the kings and great men liked them for riding: so the ass was used by the poorer people who could not buy a horse. You remember that when our blessed Savior was entering Jerusalem a few days before his death, he rode upon an ass; thus showing his meekness and humility, even while the multitude were shouting his praises, and spreading their garments in the way to do him honor. How shall we be like our Savior, if we let pride stay in our hearts?

The ass is very gentle and patient, and does not seem angry even when he has a very heavy load to carry. I should be very sorry to have him treated unkindly. Though he seems so dull, he loves his master, and will sometimes find him out and run to him even when he is in a crowd of men. God says, in the Bible, "The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib; but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider." Is it not a sad thing that the dull ass should be more grateful than we are?

Would it not seem to you very wonderful to hear a dog or a horse speak, so that you could understand what he said? It would be a strange thing indeed-a miracle; but you will find in the Numbers 22 that an ass once spoke to his master. The master's name was Balaam. He was a wicked man, and he was riding on an ass to a place where he knew God did not wish him to go. As they were journeying an angel with a drawn sword in his hand stood in the way, but Balaam did not see him. The ass saw him, and was so afraid that she turned aside out of the road, and went into a field; then Balaam was angry and tried to drive her back into the way. They had now come to a path of the vineyards, having a wall on each side, and there the ass saw the bright angel again. In trying to avoid the angel, the ass crushed Balaam's foot against the wall; and he was more angry and struck her again. Then the angel went forward a little distance, and stood where the path was so narrow that it was impossible to pass him. The ass was now so much frightened that she would go no farther, and fell down in the road; and Balaam beat her in a great passion. Then the ass spoke to Balaam and said, "What have I done to thee that thou hast smitten me these three times?" And when Balaam exclaimed, "I wish there were a sword in my hand, for now would I kill thee," she only replied, "Am I not thine ass upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? Was I ever wont to do so unto thee?" Can we not learn, even from the ass, a lesson of meekness and patience?

The wild ass is often mentioned in the Bible, as in Psalm 104:11. "They (the springs) give drink to every beast of the field; the wild asses quench their thirst." They live in desert places, and go about in great companies with one for their leader. You will find these words about them in the Job 39: "Who hath sent out the wild ass free? or who hath loosed the bands of the wild ass? Whose house I have made the wilderness, and the barren land his dwellings. He scorneth the multitude of the city, neither regardeth he the crying of the driver. The range of the mountains is his pasture, and he searcheth after every green thing." Travellers who have seen great herds of wild asses say that the beautiful animal agrees exactly with this fine description, written so many years ago.

Ass

An animal well known for domestic uses; and frequently mentioned in Scripture. People of the first quality in Palestine rode on asses. Deborah, in her song, describes the nobles of the land as those who "ride on white asses," Jud 5:10. Compare Jud 10:4; 12:14. The oriental asses are not to be compared with those of northern countries; but are far more stately, active, and lively. Indeed, they were anciently, as still, highly prized; and were also preferred for riding, especially the she-asses, on account of their sure- footedness. Hence we so often find mention of she-asses alone.

The Wild Ass is a well-known oriental animal, often mentioned in Scripture, and is a much handsomer and more dignified animal than the common ass. These animals were anciently found in Palestine, Syria, Arabia Deserta, Mesopatamia, Phrygia, and Lycaonia; but they rarely occur in those regions at the present time, and seem to be almost entirely confined to Tartary, some parts of Persia, and India, and Africa. Their manners greatly resemble those of the wild horse. They assemble in troops under the conduct of a leader or sentinel, and are extremely shy and vigilant. They will, however, stop in the midst of their course, and even suffer the approach of man for an instant, and then dart off with the utmost rapidity. They have been at all times celebrated for their swiftness. Their voice resembles that of the common ass, but is shriller. Mr. Morier says, "We gave chase to two wild asses, which had so much more speed than our horses, that when they had got at some distance, they stood still and looked behind at us, snorting with their noses in the air, as if in contempt of our endeavors to catch them."

Frequently mentioned throughout Scripture. Of the domesticated species we read of,

(1.) The she ass (Hebrews `athon), so named from its slowness (Genesis 12:16; 45:23; Numbers 22:23; 1 Samuel 9:3).

(2.) The male ass (Hebrews hamor), the common working ass of Western Asia, so called from its red colour. Issachar is compared to a strong ass (Genesis 49:14). It was forbidden to yoke together an ass and an ox in the plough (Deuteronomy 22:10).

(3.) The ass's colt (Hebrews `air), mentioned Judges 10:4; 12:14. It is rendered "foal" in Genesis 32:15; 49:11. (Comp. Job 11:12; Isaiah 30:6.) The ass is an unclean animal, because it does not chew the cud (Leviticus 11:26. Comp. 2 Kings 6:25). Asses constituted a considerable portion of wealth in ancient times (Genesis 12:16; 30:43; 1 Chronicles 27:30; Job 1:3; 42:12). They were noted for their spirit and their attachment to their master (Isaiah 1:3). They are frequently spoken of as having been ridden upon, as by Abraham (Genesis 22:3), Balaam (Numbers 22:21), the disobedient prophet (1 Kings 13:23), the family of Abdon the judge, seventy in number (Judges 12:14), Zipporah (Exodus 4:20), the Shunammite (1 Samuel 25:30), etc. Zechariah (9:9) predicted our Lord's triumphal entrance into Jerusalem, "riding upon an ass, and upon a colt," etc. (Matthew 21:5, R.V.).

Of wild asses two species are noticed, (1) that called in Hebrew 'arod, mentioned Job 39:5 and Dan. 5:21, noted for its swiftness; and (2) that called pe're, the wild ass of Asia (Job 39:6-8; 6:5; 11:12; Isaiah 32:14; Jeremiah 2:24; 14:6, etc.). The wild ass was distinguished for its fleetness and its extreme shyness. In allusion to his mode of life, Ishmael is likened to a wild ass (Genesis 16:12. Here the word is simply rendered "wild" in the Authorized Version, but in the Revised Version, "wild-ass among men").

1. (n.) A quadruped of the genus Equus (E. asinus), smaller than the horse, and having a peculiarly harsh bray and long ears. The tame or domestic ass is patient, slow, and sure-footed, and has become the type of obstinacy and stupidity. There are several species of wild asses which are swift-footed.

2. (n.) A dull, heavy, stupid fellow; a dolt.

ASS

as (chamowr or chamor, compare Arabic chamar, apparently connected with Arabic root 'achmar, "red," but referred by some to root hamal, "to carry"; also, but less commonly, both in Hebrew and in Arabic, 'athon, Arabic 'atan, used in Arabic only of the females; pereh, or pere', and `aradh, or `arodh, Arabic 'ard, "wild ass," and also `ayir, Arabic `air, "a young" or "wild ass").

1. Names:

The name `arodh (Job 39:5) is rare; onos (Matthew 21:2).

2. Meaning:

(1) Chamor is derived from the root which means, in all probability, "to carry a burden" (see Furst, Handworterbuch, ch-m-r ii), or "heap up." While no analogies are contained in the Old Testament this root occurs in New Hebrew. The Aramaic chamer, means "to make a ruin-heap" (from which the noun chamor, "a heap," used in Judges 15:16 in a play of words: "With the jawbone of an ass, heaps upon heaps, with the jawbone of an ass have I smitten a thousand men"). The root may also mean "to be red." In this case the nominal form chamor may have been derived from the reddish-brown skin of a certain type of the ass.

(2) 'Athon, Assyrian 'atanu and Aramaic 'atana', is derived from 'atha' "to come," "go," etc. (Furst suggests that it may be derived from 'athan, Aramaic `adhan, "to be slender," "docile," etc.); 'athonoth tsechoroth, "red-white asses" (Judges 5:10) designates a better breed.

(3) `Ayir, Arabic `airu ("male ass") used of the young and vigorous animal, is derived from the root `-y-r, "to go away," "escape through swiftness" (Hommel, Namen der Saugethiere, 121-23). This name is used as a parallel to beni 'athono (Genesis 49:11) and as a compound of `ayir pere' (Job 11:12), "a wild ass's colt."

(4) Pere', "wild ass," is derived from the root which means "to run," suggestive of the animal's swiftness. (5) `Arodh, is, in all probability, an Aramaic loan-word for the Hebrew pere'. The Targum uses `arodha' and `aradha'.

3. Uses:

From the references to these various names in the Old Testament it is clear that

(1) chamor was used for riding purposes:

(a) by men (2 Samuel 16:2, 23; 2 Samuel 19:26 1 Kings 2:40; 1 Kings 13:13, 23, 24, 27);

(b) by women (Exodus 4:20 Joshua 15:18 Judges 1:14 1 Samuel 25:20, 23, 42; compare 2 Chronicles 28:15). tsemedh chamorim, "a pair of asses" was used for riding as well as for burdens (Judges 19:3, 10, 19, 21, etc.).

(2) It was also used in tillage (Isaiah 32:20). In this connection the law prohibits the use of an ass in plowing with an ox (Deuteronomy 22:10). The she-ass ('athon) was used as a beast of burden (Genesis 45:23) and for riding (Judges 5:10 Numbers 22:21, 22 2 Kings 4:24). The 'ayir is also referred to as used in riding (Judges 10:4), carrying (Isaiah 30:6) and tilling (Isaiah 30:24).

4. As a Domestic Animal:

Besides the use of the ass in agriculture and riding it was employed in the caravans of commerce, and sent even upon long expeditions through the desert. The ass is and always has been one of the most common domestic animals. It is a much more important animal in Bible lands than in England and America. The humblest peasant owned his own ass. It is associated throughout the Bible with peaceful pursuits (Genesis 42:26; Genesis 22:3 1 Samuel 16:20 2 Samuel 19:26 Nehemiah 13:15), whereas the horse is referred to in connection with war and armies. Reference is also made to the use of the flesh of the ass in time of famine (2 Kings 6:25). The origin of the ass like that of most domestic animals is lost in antiquity and it cannot be confidently stated from what species of wild ass it was derived. There are three races of wild asses in Asia, one of which is found in Syria, but they may all be referred to one species, Equus hemionus. The African species is East asinus, and good authorities consider our domestic asses to have descended from this, and to have been introduced at an early period into the entire Orient. The Sulaib Arabs of the Syrian desert, who have no horses, have a famous breed of swift and hardy gray asses which they assert they cross at intervals with the wild asses of the desert. It is not unlikely that domestic asses like dogs are the result of crosses with more than one wild species.

As a domestic animal it preceded the horse, which was first introduced into Egypt by the Hyksos about 1800 B.C. See HORSE.

5. Figurative Uses in the Old Testament:

(1) chamorr garem, "an ass of strong bones," is used metaphorically of Issachar (Genesis 49:14); besar chamor, "the genital organ of an ass," is used in contempt (Ezekiel 23:20); qebhurath chamor, "the burial of an ass," is applied to ignominious treatment of a corpse (Jeremiah 22:19); chamor is used as a symbol of peace and humility (2 Samuel 19:26). Zechariah speaks of the future Messiah as "lowly, and riding upon an ass, even upon a colt the foal of an ass" (Zechariah 9:9; compare Matthew 21:5, 7).

(2) Pere' is used as a symbol of wildness (Hosea 8:9), and pere' 'adham, `a wild ass of man' (Genesis 16:12), referring to Ishmael, designates a free nomad. In Job the name pere' is applied to the desert dwellers (Job 24:5). Jeremiah employs this name as a symbol of lust. He compares Israel's love of idolatry to the lust of the wild ass (Jeremiah 2:24).

6. Wider Use in Literature:

The ass ('athon) figures prominently in the Balaam story (Numbers 22 2 Peter 2:16. See Gray, ICC, "Numbers," at the place). It is interesting to note that Apion charged the Jews that they "placed an ass's head in their holy place," affirming that "this was discovered when Antiochus Epiphanes spoiled our temple, and found that ass's head there made of gold, and worth a great deal of money." Josephus, refuting this absurdity, states that the Roman conquerors of Judea found nothing in the temple "but what was agreeable to the strictest piety." He goes on to say: "Apion ought to have had a regard to these facts.. As for us Jews, we ascribe no honor or power to asses, as do the Egyptians to crocodiles and asps.. Asses are the same with us which they are with other wise men; namely, creatures that bear the burdens that we lay upon them" (Apion, II, 7).

LITERATURE.

G. A. Smith, Jerusalem, I, 307; Gesenius' and Furst's Lexicons to the Old Testament; articles in Encyclopedia Biblica and HDB.

Samuel Cohon

3684. onikos -- of or for a donkey
... or for a donkey. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: onikos Phonetic Spelling:
(on-ik-os') Short Definition: pertaining to an ass Definition: pertaining ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3684.htm - 6k

3678. onarion -- a little donkey
... a little donkey. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: onarion Phonetic
Spelling: (on-ar'-ee-on) Short Definition: a young ass Definition: a young ass. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3678.htm - 6k

4454. polos -- a foal
... a foal. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: polos Phonetic Spelling:
(po'-los) Short Definition: a colt, young ass Definition: a colt, young ass ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4454.htm - 6k

3688. onos -- a donkey
... a donkey. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine; Noun, Masculine Transliteration: onos
Phonetic Spelling: (on'-os) Short Definition: a donkey, an ass Definition: a ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3688.htm - 6k

5268. hupozugion -- a beast of burden or draught
... draught. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: hupozugion Phonetic Spelling:
(hoop-od-zoog'-ee-on) Short Definition: a beast of burden, an ass or mule ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5268.htm - 6k

1649. elegxis -- reproof
... See 2 Pet 2:16 (the only occurrence of 1649 ) where the rebuke fits, being upbraided
by a (where the ass had more sense than Balaam)! See 1651 (). rebuke. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1649.htm - 6k

2543. chamor -- a male ass
... 2542, 2543. chamor. 2544 . a male ass. Transliteration: chamor Phonetic
Spelling: (kham-ore') Short Definition: donkey. Word ... he-ass. Or ...
/hebrew/2543.htm - 6k

5895. ayir -- a male donkey
... From uwr in the sense of raising (ie Bearing a burden); properly, a young ass (as
just broken to a load); hence an ass-colt -- (ass) colt, foal, young ass. ...
/hebrew/5895.htm - 6k

6167. arad -- a wild donkey
... wild ass. (Aramaic) corresponding to arowd; an onager -- wild ass. see HEBREW
arowd. 6166b, 6167. arad. 6168 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/6167.htm - 6k

6501. pere -- a wild donkey
... wild ass. Or pereh (Jeremiah 2:24) {peh'-reh}; from para' in the secondary sense
of running wild; the onager -- wild (ass). see HEBREW para'. 6500, 6501. ...
/hebrew/6501.htm - 6k

860. athon -- a female donkey
... she ass. Probably from the same as 'eythan (in the sense of patience); a female
donkey (from its docility) -- (she) ass. see HEBREW 'eythan. 859, 860. ...
/hebrew/860.htm - 6k

6171. arod -- a wild donkey
... wild ass. From the same as Arad; an onager (from his lonesome habits) -- wild ass.
see HEBREW Arad. 6170, 6171. arod. 6172 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/6171.htm - 6k

5101. nahaq -- to bray, cry
... root Definition to bray, cry NASB Word Usage bray (1), cry (1). bray. A primitive
root; to bray (as an ass), scream (from hunger -- bray. 5100, 5101. ...
/hebrew/5101.htm - 5k

The Ass and the Colt are the Old and the New Testament. Spiritual ...
... Tenth Book. 18. The Ass and the Colt are the Old and the New Testament. ... But
the foal is not a beast of burden in the same way as the ass. ...
/.../origen/origens commentary on the gospel of john/18 the ass and the.htm

The Absurd Cavil of the Ass's Head Disposed Of.
... Book I. Chapter XI. "The Absurd Cavil of the Ass's Head Disposed of. In this
matter we are (said to be) guilty not merely of forsaking ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/tertullian/ad nationes/chapter xi name absurd cavil.htm

Of the Colt of the Ass which is Mentioned by Matthew, and of the ...
... Chapter LXVI."Of the Colt of the Ass Which is Mentioned by Matthew, and of the
Consistency of His Account with that of the Other Evangelists, Who Speak Only ...
/.../augustine/the harmony of the gospels/chapter lxvi of the colt of.htm

Jacob Predicted that Christ Would Ride on an Ass, and Zechariah ...
... Chapter LIII."Jacob predicted that Christ would ride on an ass, and Zechariah
confirms it. "And that expression, binding his foal ...
/.../chapter liii jacob predicted that christ.htm

For, Like Some Others, You are under the Delusion that Our God is ...
... For, like some others, you are under the delusion that our god is an ass's? For,
like some others, you are under the delusion that our god is an ass's head. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/tertullian/apology/chapter xvi for like some.htm

Fragment Xl. "And He Found the Jaw-Bone of an Ass. ...
... Fragment XL. "And he found the jaw-bone of an ass.? "And [4880] he found
the jaw-bone of an ass." [4881] It is to be observed ...
/.../fragments from the lost writings of irenaeus/fragment xl and he found.htm

"The Lord Hath Need of Him. " Mark xi, 3
... "THE LORD HATH NEED OF HIM." MARK xi, 3. What! of an Ass? ... It was in Christ's hands,
though, he improved so greatly. DOES THE LORD REALLY NEED AN ASS? Yes. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/champness/broken bread/viii the lord hath need.htm

Matthew's Story of the Entry into Jerusalem. Difficulties Involved ...
... On the Lord's entering Jerusalem, he says, [5063] "All the city was stirred, saying,
Who is this?" But before this he has the story of the ass and the foal ...
/.../origen/origens commentary on the gospel of john/17 matthews story of the.htm

The Witness of Balaam to Israel
... And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes
of Moab. ... Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him. ...
/.../various/select masterpieces of biblical literature/ii the witness of balaam.htm

Jesus' Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem.
... probably Bethphage, for Jesus started from Bethany] ^a that is over against you,
^b and straightway as ye enter into it, ^a ye shall find an ass tied, and a ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/cv jesus triumphal entry into.htm

Ass (95 Occurrences)
... Of the domesticated species we read of,. (1.) The she ass (Hebrews `athon), so named
from its slowness (Genesis 12:16; 45:23; Numbers 22:23; 1 Samuel 9:3). ...
/a/ass.htm - 48k

Ass's (7 Occurrences)
...Ass's (7 Occurrences). ... On entering it you will find an ass's foal tied up which
no one has ever yet ridden: untie it, and bring it here. (WEY). ...
/a/ass's.htm - 8k

Ass-colts (2 Occurrences)
Ass-colts. Assaying, Ass-colts. Assemblage . Multi-Version
Concordance Ass-colts (2 Occurrences). Judges 10:4 and he ...
/a/ass-colts.htm - 7k

Wild-ass (1 Occurrence)
Wild-ass. Wild, Wild-ass. Wild-cats . Multi-Version Concordance
Wild-ass (1 Occurrence). Genesis 16:12 And he will be ...
/w/wild-ass.htm - 6k

She-ass (2 Occurrences)
She-ass. Shears, She-ass. She-asses . Multi-Version Concordance
She-ass (2 Occurrences). Matthew 21:2 saying to them ...
/s/she-ass.htm - 6k

Foal (10 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) The young of any animal of the Horse family (Equidae); a colt; a filly.
2. (vt) To bring forth (a colt); -- said of a mare or a she ass. ...
/f/foal.htm - 11k

Colt (15 Occurrences)
... with some word such as hupozugiou, understood; huios alone = "son"): The English
words "colt" and "foal" are used in the Bible of the ass everywhere except in ...
/c/colt.htm - 12k

Riding (30 Occurrences)
... WEB ASV NIV). John 12:15 "Fear not, Daughter of Zion! See, thy King is coming
riding on an ass's colt." (WEY). Revelation 19:14 The ...
/r/riding.htm - 16k

Saddleth (5 Occurrences)
... Genesis 22:3 And Abraham riseth early in the morning, and saddleth his ass, and
taketh two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and he cleaveth the ...
/s/saddleth.htm - 7k

Samson (37 Occurrences)
... upon him, so that he broke loose from the two new ropes with which the 3,000 men
of Judah had bound him, and seizing a fresh jawbone of an ass he smote with it ...
/s/samson.htm - 37k

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