ass Summary and Overview

frequently mentioned throughout Scripture. Of the domesticated species we read of, (1.) The she ass (Heb. 'athon), so named from its slowness (Gen. 12:16; 45:23; Num. 22:23; 1 Sam. 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 (Gen. 49:14). It was forbidden to yoke together an ass and an ox in the plough (Deut. 22:10). (3.) The ass's colt (Heb. 'air), mentioned Judg. 10:4; 12:14. It is rendered "foal" in Gen. 32:15; 49:11. (Compare Job 11:12; Isa. 30:6.) The ass is an unclean animal, because it does not chew the cud (Lev. 11:26. Compare 2 Kings 6:25). Asses constituted a considerable portion of wealth in ancient times (Gen. 12:16; 30:43; 1 Chr. 27:30; Job 1:3; 42:12). They were noted for their spirit and their attachment to their master (Isa. 1:3). They are frequently spoken of as having been ridden upon, as by Abraham (Gen. 22:3), Balaam (Num. 22:21), the disobedient prophet (1 Kings 13:23), the family of Abdon the judge, seventy in number (Judg. 12:14), Zipporah (Ex. 4:20), the Shunammite (1 Sam. 25:30), etc. Zechariah (9:9) predicted our Lord's triumphal entrance into Jerusalem, "riding upon an ass, and upon a colt," etc. (Matt. 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; Isa. 32:14; Jer. 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 (Gen. 16:12. Here the word is simply rendered "wild" in the Authorized Version, but in the Revised Version, "wild-ass among men").

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 #Ge 32:15; 49:11| 4. Pere, a species of wild ass mentioned #Ge 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 . Gen 22:3. This animal is among the most common mentioned in Scripture, and constituted a considerable part of the wealth of ancient times. Gen 12:16 and Gen 30:43; Job 1:3; Job 42:12. Asses were sometimes so numerous as to require a special keeper. Gen 36:24; 1 Chr 27:30. The ass and the ox were the principal animals of burden and draught. Ex 23:12. The domestic ass is indeed a most serviceable animal, and in some respects preferable to the horse. He subsists on very coarse food and submits to the meanest drudgery. His skin is remarkably thick, and is used at this day for parchment, drumheads, memorandum-books, etc. The usual color of asses is red or dark brown, but sometimes they are of a silver white, and these last were usually appropriated to persons of dignity. Jud 5:10. So in Gen 49:11 the allusion to the ass and the vine imports dignity and fruitfulness, and the continuance and increase of both in the tribe of Judah. There was a breed of asses far superior to those that were used in labor, and which are supposed to be referred to in most of the passages above cited. The female, or she-ass, was particularly valuable for the saddle and for her milk, which was extensively used for food and for medicinal purposes. The ass was used in agricultural labor, especially in earing (ploughing) the ground and treading it to prepare it for the seed. Isa 30:24 and Isa 32:20. The prohibition, Deut 22:10, might have been founded in part on the inequality of strength between the ox and the ass, and the cruelty of putting upon them the same burden, but was intended chiefly to mark the separation of the Jews from surrounding nations, among whom such a union of different beasts was not uncommon. So serviceable, and indeed essential, to man was this animal in ancient times that to drive away the ass of the fatherless is reckoned among the most atrocious acts The Eastern Ass (After Wood. "Animal Kingdom.") of oppression and cruelty. Job 24:3, as depriving an orphan family of their only cow would be regarded at the present day. The attachment of this animal to its owner is among its remarkable characteristics. In this respect it closely resembles the dog. Hence the severity of the prophet's rebuke. Isa 1:3. The fact stated in 2 Kgs 6:25 shows that such was the extremity of the famine that the people were willing to give an exorbitant price for the head of an "unclean" animal. The ass, when dead, was thrown into an open field, and that part of his flesh which was not consumed by beasts and birds was suffered to putrefy and decay. Nothing could be more disgraceful than to expose a human body in the like manner. Jer 22:19; Jer 36:30. Our Saviour's entrance into Jerusalem riding upon an ass's colt fulfilled the prophecy in Zech 9:9. It is not considered in the East less honorable to ride this animal than a horse. But the latter is chiefly used for warlike purposes, as the ass is not. This peaceful animal was appropriated to the Prince of peace, who came not as other conquerors. The Arabian ass has a light, quick step. In Persia, Syria, and Egypt ladles are accustomed to ride on asses, and they are particularly valuable in mountainous countries, being more surefooted than horses. Their ordinary gait is four miles an hour. The ass in its wild or natural state is a beautiful animal. It is often alluded to in the sacred writings. Job 11:12; Deut 24:5 and Job 39:5-8. Asses usually roamed in herds through barren and desolate districts. Isa 32:14;Hos 8:9. One was recently taken in a pitfall in Astrachan, and added to the Surrey zoological collection in England. It is described as having a deer-like appearance, standing high on the legs, very active, of a silvery color, with a dark brown streak along the back.

Hebrew athon; from athan, 'short in step". 1. The domestic she ass, named so from its slowness. 2. The chamor, the he ass, whether domesticated or not, distinguished from the athon; Genesis 45:23. From chamar, "red," as the Spaniards call the donkey "burro," from its red color. Used in riding and plowing. Not held in contempt for stupidity, as with us. Issachar is compared to an "ass, strong boned, crouching down between the hurdles (Genesis 49:14): he saw that rest was a good and the land pleasant; so he bowed his shoulder to bear, and became servant unto tribute;" ease at the cost of liberty would be his characteristic. Robust, and with a prime agricultural inheritance, his people would strive after material good, rather than political rule. The prohibition of horses rendered the donkey the more esteemed in Israel. In the E. it is a far superior animal to ours. The bearing of the Arab donkey is erect, the limbs well formed and muscular, and the gait graceful. It is spirited, and withal docile. The upper classes, judges, (as Jair's 30 sons, and Abdon's 40 sons and 30 nephews,) and kings, (as David and Solomon,) rode upon donkeys or mules (Judges 5:10; Judges 10:4; Judges 12:14; 1 Kings 1:33). The white ass, combining symmetry with color, is especially esteemed. The ass, by its long hollow sharp-edged hoofs, is more sure footed than the flat hoofed horse; it suffers little from thirst, and is satisfied with prickly herbs, scarcely sweats at all, and so is best suited for the arid hilly regions of western Asia. It is lowly as compared with the horse; it symbolizes peace, as the horse does war, and as such bore the meek and lowly yet divinely royal Savior, the Prince of peace, in His triumphal entrance into His own capital (Zechariah 9:9); the young untamed colt bearing Him quietly marks His universal dominion over nature as well as spirit. It was not to be yoked with the ox (Deuteronomy 22:10); for the distinctions which God has fixed in nature are to be observed; humanity would forbid animals of such different size and strength being yoked together. Spiritually see 2 Corinthians 6:14; Leviticus 19:19. As it did not chew the end (Leviticus 11:26), it was unclean; hence is marked the extremity of the famine in Samaria (2 Kings 6:25), when "an ass' head (an unclean beast from which they would ordinarily shrink) was sold for fourscore pieces of silver." "Balsam was rebuked for his iniquity, the voiceless beast of burden (ass) speaking with man's voice forbade the madness of the prophet" (2 Peter 2:16). It turned aside at the sight of the angel; but he, after God's express prohibition, wished to go for gain, a dumb beast forbidding an inspired prophet! The brute's instinctive obedience rebukes the gifted seer's self willed disobedience. Hosea (Hosea 8:9) compares Israel to a wild ass: "they are gone up to Assyria, (whereas he ought to dwell) a wild donkey alone by himself" (Numbers 23:9). The stubborn wild donkey is wiser than Ephraim, for it avoids intercourse with others through love of freedom, whereas Ephraim courts alliances fatal to his freedom. (Maurer.) In Jeremiah 2:24 headstrong, undisciplinable obstinacy, and untamable perversity, and lust after the male, answering to Israel's spiritual lust after idols and alliances with pagan, are the point (Hosea 2:6-7): "all they (the males) that seek her will not (have no need to) weary themselves in searching for her, in her month (the season when sexual impulse is strongest), they shall find her" putting herself in their way, and not needing to be sought cut by the males. 3. The arod, the khur of Persia; light red, gray beneath, without stripe or cross; or the wild mule of Mongolia, superior to the wild donkey in beauty, strength and swiftness, called so either from the sound of the word resembling neighing, or from the Arabic arad, "flee." 4. 'Air, from 'ir, to be fervent, lustful; so the chamor, perhaps from chamar, "fervent in lust" (Ezekiel 23:20). "Young asses; ... donkey colts" (Isaiah 30:6; Isaiah 30:24). 5. Pere, the wild donkey of Asia; the ghoorkhur, mouse brown, with a broad dorsal stripe, but no cross on the shoulders, the Latin onager (Genesis 16:12): Ishmael "shall be a wild donkey man;" from paro, "to run swiftly "; compare Job 39:5; "who hath sent out the wild donkey (pereh) free? or who hath loosed the bands of the wild donkey (arod)?" Doubtless some of the most useful animals to man were created to be, from man's first being, his domestic attendants. Possibly some of the wild species have sprung from those originally tame. The wild asses' characteristics noticed in holy writ are their love of unrestrained freedom, self will in pursuit of lust (Jeremiah 2:24), fondness for solitary places (Hosea 8:9), standing on high places when athirst (Jeremiah 14:6; when even the pere, usually so inured to want of water, suffers, the drought must be terrible indeed).