Ass: Frequently mentioned throughout Scripture. Of the domesticated species
we read of,1. The she ass (Heb. 'athon), so named from its slowness
(Genesis 12:16; 45:23; Numbers 22:23; 1 Samuel 9:3)
2. The male ass (Heb. 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 (Heb. '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)
(Genesis 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
(2 Kings 4:24-25) etc. Zechariah
(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,
a. that called in Hebrew mentioned
(Job 39:5; Daniel 5:21) noted for
its swiftness; and
b. that called pe're, the wild ass of Asia
(Job 39:6-8)
(Job 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".)
