Difference between revisions of "Ass"

<p> <strong> ASS </strong> ( <em> hamôr </em> ; ‘she-ass,’ <em> ’âthon </em> [Gr. <em> onos </em> of both sexes]; ‘young ass’ or ‘colt,’ <em> ‘ayir </em> [Gr. <em> pôlos </em> ]; ‘wild ass,’ <em> pere </em> ’ and <em> ‘ârôdh </em> ). The ass (Arab. [Note: Arabic.] <em> hamar </em> ) is the most universally useful domesticated animal in Palestine. On it the <em> fellah </em> rides to his day’s work, with it he ploughs his fields, threshes out his corn, and at last carries home the harvest (&nbsp; Nehemiah 13:15 ). Whole groups of donkeys traverse every road carrying corn (&nbsp; Genesis 42:26-27 ), fire-wood (&nbsp; Genesis 22:3 ), provisions (&nbsp; 1 Samuel 16:20 ), skins of water or baskets full of sand, stone or refuse. A group of such animals are so accustomed to keep together that they would do so even if running away (&nbsp; 1 Samuel 9:3; &nbsp; 1 Samuel 9:20 ). The little ass carrying the barley, which leads every train of camels, is a characteristic sight. Whenever the traveller journeys through the land, the braying of the ass is as familiar a sound as the barking of the village dog. The man of moderate means when journeying rides an ass, often astride his bedding and clothes, as doubtless was done by many a [[Scripture]] character (&nbsp; Numbers 22:21-38 , &nbsp; Joshua 15:18 , &nbsp; 1 Samuel 25:20-28 , &nbsp; 2 Samuel 17:23; &nbsp; 2 Samuel 19:26 etc.). A well-trained ass will get over the ground rapidly at a pace more comfortable than that of an ordinary horse; it is also very sure-footed. The man of position in the town, the sheikh of the mosque, lawyer or medical man indeed, any peaceful citizen is considered suitably mounted on donkey-back, especially if the animal is white (&nbsp; Judges 5:10 ). A well-bred white ass fetches a higher price than a fairly good horse. A she-ass (Arab. [Note: Arabic.] <em> ’atar </em> ) is preferred (&nbsp; Numbers 22:21-33 , &nbsp; 1 Samuel 9:3 , &nbsp; 2 Kings 4:22-24 , &nbsp; 1 Chronicles 27:30 ), because quieter and more easily left tied up; a strong mals is almost uncontrollable at times, and gives vent to the most dismal brays as he catches sight of female asses. The castrated animal is not often seen, because frequently wanting in ‘go’ and very timid. She-asses are also, when of valuable breed, prized for breeding purposes. The common ass is brown, sometimes almost black or grey. Skeletons of asses are not uncommon by the high-road sides, and the jawbone might be a not unhandy weapon in an emergency (&nbsp; Judges 15:16 , where the play on the word ‘ass’ [ <em> hamôr </em> ] and ‘heap’ [ <em> hamôr </em> ] should be noticed). Although the ass was forbidden food to the Jews, we read (&nbsp; 2 Kings 6:25 ) that ‘an ass’s head was sold for fourscore pieces of silver’ in the extremity of famine in besieged Samaria. In ploughing, the modern <em> fellahin </em> actually seem to prefer to yoke together an ox and an ass, or a camel and an ass (contrast &nbsp; Deuteronomy 22:10 ). The idea of the stupidity of the ass is the same in the East as in the West. </p> <p> The young ass (&nbsp;Isaiah 30:5; &nbsp; Isaiah 30:24 ) or colt (&nbsp; Job 11:12 , &nbsp; Zechariah 9:9 , &nbsp; Luke 19:33 etc.), the Arab. [Note: Arabic.] <em> jahsh </em> , is referred to several times. Little colts of very tender age trot beside their mothers, and soon have small burdens put on them. They should not be regularly ridden for three years. The young asses in the Bible are all apparently old enough for riding or burden-bearing. </p> <p> Wild asses are not to-day found in Palestine, though, it is said, plentiful in the deserts to the East (&nbsp;Job 24:5 ), where they roam in herds and run with extraordinary fleetness (&nbsp; Job 39:5 ). Ishmael is compared in his wildness and freedom to a wild ass (&nbsp; Genesis 16:12 ), while Issachar is a wild ass subdued (&nbsp; Genesis 49:14; &nbsp; Genesis 49:16 ). </p> <p> [[E. W. G]]  Masterman. </p>

<div> '''1: '''''Ὄνος''''' ''' (Strong'S #3688 — Noun — onos — on'-os ) </div> <p> is the usual word. Onarion, the diminutive of onos, "a young ass, or ass's colt," is used in &nbsp;John 12:14 , together with onos. </p> <div> '''2: '''''Ὑποζύγιον''''' ''' (Strong'S #5268 — Adjective — hupozugion — hoop-od-zoog'-ee-on ) </div> <p> lit., "under a yoke" (hupo, "under," zugos, "a yoke"), is used as an alternative description of the same animal, in &nbsp;Matthew 21:5 , where both words are found together, "Behold, thy king cometh unto thee, meek and riding upon an ass (onos), and upon a colt the foal of an ass (hupozugion)." It was upon the colt that the Lord sat, &nbsp;John 12:14 . In &nbsp;2 Peter 2:16 , it is used of Balaam's "ass." </p>

<p> ''''' as ''''' ( חמור , <i> ''''' ḥămōwr ''''' </i> or חמר , <i> ''''' ḥămōr ''''' </i> , compare Arabic <i> ''''' ḥamār ''''' </i> , apparently connected with Arabic root <i> ''''' 'aḥmar ''''' </i> , "red," but referred by some to root <i> ''''' hamal ''''' </i> , "to carry"; also, but less commonly, both in Hebrew and in Arabic, א תון , <i> ''''' 'āthōn ''''' </i> , Arabic <i> ''''' 'atan ''''' </i> , used in Arabic only of the females; פרה , <i> ''''' pereh ''''' </i> , or פרא , <i> ''''' pere' ''''' </i> , and ערד , <i> ''''' ‛ărādh ''''' </i> , or ערוד , <i> ''''' ‛ārōdh ''''' </i> , Arabic <i> ''''' ‛ard ''''' </i> , "wild ass," and also עיר , <i> ''''' ‛ayir ''''' </i> , Arabic <i> ''''' ‛aı̄r ''''' </i> , "a young" or "wild ass"). </p> 1. [[Names]] <p> The name ה , <i> ''''' 'arodh ''''' </i> (&nbsp;Job 39:5 ) is rare; ονος , <i> ''''' onos ''''' </i> (&nbsp;Matthew 21:2 ). </p> 2. Meaning <p> (1) <i> ''''' Ḥămōr ''''' </i> is derived from the root which means, in all probability, "to carry a burden" (see Fürst, <i> Handwörterbuch </i> , חמר ii), or "heap up." While no analogies are contained in the Old [[Testament]] this root occurs in New Hebrew. The [[Aramaic]] חמר , <i> ''''' ḥamēr ''''' </i> , means "to make a ruin-heap" (from which the noun <i> ''''' ḥămōr ''''' </i> , "a heap," used in &nbsp;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 <i> ''''' ḥămōr ''''' </i> may have been derived from the reddish-brown skin of a certain type of the ass. </p> <p> (2) <i> ''''' 'Āthōn ''''' </i> , [[Assyrian]] <i> ''''' 'atânu ''''' </i> and Aramaic אתּנא , <i> ''''' 'atānā' ''''' </i> , is derived from אתא , <i> ''''' 'āthā' ''''' </i> "to come," "go," etc. (Fürst suggests that it may be derived from אתן , <i> ''''' 'āthan ''''' </i> , Aramaic עדן , <i> ''''' ‛ādhan ''''' </i> , "to be slender," "docile," etc.); אתונות צחורות , <i> ''''' 'ăthōnōth ceḥōrōth ''''' </i> , "red-white asses" (&nbsp;Judges 5:10 ) designates a better breed. </p> <p> (3) <i> ''''' ‛Ayir ''''' </i> , Arabic <i> ''''' ‛airu ''''' </i> ("male ass") used of the young and vigorous animal, is derived from the root עיר , "to go away," "escape through swiftness" (Hommel, <i> Namen der Saugethiere </i> , 121-23). This name is used as a parallel to בּני אתונו , <i> ''''' benı̄ 'ăthōnō ''''' </i> (&nbsp;Genesis 49:11 ) and as a compound of עיר פרא , <i> ''''' ‛ayir pere' ''''' </i> (&nbsp;Job 11:12 ), "a wild ass's colt." </p> <p> (4) <i> ''''' Pere' ''''' </i> , "wild ass," is derived from the root which means "to run," suggestive of the animal's swiftness. </p> <p> (5) <i> ''''' ‛Ārōdh ''''' </i> , is, in all probability, an Aramaic loan-word for the Hebrew <i> ''''' pere' ''''' </i> ̌ . The [[Targum]] uses ארודא , <i> ''''' ‛ărōdhā' ''''' </i> and ערדא , <i> ''''' ‛ărādhā' ''''' </i> ̌ . </p> 3. Uses <p> From the references to these various names in the Old Testament it is clear that (1) <i> ''''' ḥămōr ''''' </i> was used for riding purposes: ( <i> a </i> ) by men (&nbsp;2 Samuel 16:2 , &nbsp;2 Samuel 16:23; &nbsp;2 Samuel 19:26; &nbsp;1 Kings 2:40; &nbsp;1 Kings 13:13 , &nbsp;1 Kings 13:23 , &nbsp;1 Kings 13:24 , &nbsp;1 Kings 13:27 ); ( <i> b </i> ) by women (&nbsp;Exodus 4:20; &nbsp;Joshua 15:18; &nbsp;Judges 1:14; &nbsp;1 Samuel 25:20 , &nbsp;1 Samuel 25:23 , &nbsp;1 Samuel 25:42; compare &nbsp;2 Chronicles 28:15 ). צמד המורים , <i> ''''' cemedh ḥămōrı̄m ''''' </i> , "a pair of asses" was used for riding as well as for burdens (&nbsp;Judges 19:3 , &nbsp;Judges 19:10 , &nbsp;Judges 19:19 , &nbsp;Judges 19:21 , etc.). (2) It was also used in tillage (&nbsp;Isaiah 32:20 ). In this connection the law prohibits the use of an ass in plowing with an ox (&nbsp;Deuteronomy 22:10 ). The she-ass ( <i> ''''' 'āthōn ''''' </i> ) was used as a beast of burden (&nbsp;Genesis 45:23 ) and for riding (&nbsp;Judges 5:10; &nbsp;Numbers 22:21 , &nbsp;Numbers 22:22; &nbsp;2 Kings 4:24 ). The <i> ''''' ‛ayir ''''' </i> is also referred to as used in riding (&nbsp;Judges 10:4 ), carrying (&nbsp;Isaiah 30:6 ) and tilling (&nbsp;Isaiah 30:24 ). </p> 4. As a [[Domestic]] [[Animal]] <p> 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 (&nbsp;Genesis 42:26 f; &nbsp; Genesis 22:3; &nbsp;1 Samuel 16:20; &nbsp;2 Samuel 19:26; &nbsp;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 (&nbsp;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, <i> Equus hemionus </i> . The African species is <i> E. asinus </i> , 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 <i> ''''' Ṣulaib ''''' </i> 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. </p> <p> As a domestic animal it preceded the horse, which was first introduced into Egypt by the [[Hyksos]] about 1800 bc. See [[Horse]] . </p> 5. Figurative Uses in the Old Testament <p> (1) חמור גרם , <i> ''''' ḥămōrr gārem ''''' </i> , "an ass of strong bones," is used metaphorically of Issachar (&nbsp;Genesis 49:14 ); בּשׂר חמור , <i> ''''' besar ḥămōr ''''' </i> , "the genital organ of an ass," is used in contempt (&nbsp;Ezekiel 23:20 ); קביּרת חמור , <i> ''''' ḳebhūrath ḥămōr ''''' </i> , "the burial of an ass," is applied to ignominious treatment of a corpse (&nbsp;Jeremiah 22:19 ); ר , <i> ''''' chamor ''''' </i> is used as a symbol of peace and humility (&nbsp;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" (&nbsp;Zechariah 9:9; compare &nbsp;Matthew 21:5 , &nbsp;Matthew 21:7 ). </p> <p> (2) <i> ''''' Pere' ''''' </i> is used as a symbol of wildness (&nbsp;Hosea 8:9 ), and פרא אדם , <i> ''''' pere' 'ādhām ''''' </i> , 'a wild ass of man' (&nbsp;Genesis 16:12 ), referring to Ishmael, designates a free nomad. In Job the name <i> ''''' pere' ''''' </i> is applied to the desert dwellers (&nbsp;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 (&nbsp;Jeremiah 2:24 ). </p> 6. Wider Use in Literature <p> The ass ( <i> ''''' 'āthōn ''''' </i> ) figures prominently in the Balaam story (Nu 22; &nbsp;2 Peter 2:16 . See Gray, <i> ICC </i> , "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" ( <i> Apion </i> , II, 7). </p> Literature <p> [[G. A]]  Smith, <i> Jerusalem </i> , I, 307ff; Gesenius' and Fürst's Lexicons to the Old Testament; articles in <i> Encyclopedia Biblica </i> and <i> HDB </i> . </p>