Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

ASS

An animal of the genus Equus, which includes the wild ass (Equus africanus, asinus, hemionus) and its descendant the domesticated donkey. The most frequent Hebrew term for “ass” is ḥămôr, which refers to the male domesticated animal and relates to a Semitic root meaning reddish (though the ass is often gray or white, not red) and has possible Semitic connections to stubbornness. Another common term is ʾāṯôn, which designates the female domesticated ass or donkey. Occasionally ʿayir is used, meaning a colt or young ass, which contains the linguistic sense of burden-bearing. “Wild ass” comes most frequently from Heb. pereʾ, but the OT also mentions ʿārôḏ and ʿărāḏ, the onager (a wild Asian ass). The NT term is Gk. ónos, related to ónasthai (“to be useful”). Gk. hypozýgion (hypó + zygós) invokes the position of the animal “under” its “yoke.” Gk. onárion refers particularly to a young ass.

The ass was a beast of burden, bearing supplies (Gen. 44:13; Josh. 9:4) such as food (Gen. 42:26; 1 Sam. 16:20), riches (Isa. 30:6), a corpse (1 Kgs. 13:29), and even a chariot (Isa. 21:7). The ass was used as transportation (e.g., Exod. 4:20; 1 Sam. 25:20), often with a saddle (Gen. 22:3; 1 Kgs. 13:13). The ass was a valued posession (Exod. 20:17; 21:33; Deut. 22:3; cf. Gen. 43:18; Num. 31:28-35; Josh. 7:24). It was a worthy gift (Gen. 12:16; 32:15), counted as a blessing (24:35; Job 1:3; 42:12), and used to trade for food (Gen. 47:17). Since the ass is considered unclean (Lev. 11:3; Deut. 14:3-6; but cf. 2 Kgs. 6:25), its firstborn must be redeemed by substitution (Exod. 13:13; 34:20).

The ass plays prominently in some biblical narratives. In the tale of Balaam (Num. 22:21-33) a she-ass (ʾāṯôn) is anthropomorphized, speaking and heroic (through her purposeful stubbornness) in saving Balaam from the wrath of God, consequently leading him back to faithfulness. The jawbone of an ass is used to slay 1000 men in Samson’s self-protective rampage against the Philistines (Judg. 15:14-20). Saul’s search for his father’s lost asses leads to “the seer” Samuel, who anoints Saul the next king (1 Sam. 9:1-27). In 1 Kgs. 13:13-29 a lion and ass stand together over the body of a “man of God” who was punished with death for participating in an illegitimate cultic act.

The prophecy of the Messiah riding on an ass (Zech. 9:9) is repeated in Matthew’s account of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem (Matt. 21:2, 5-6), which conjures a bizarre image of Jesus side-saddled on an ass and ass’ colt. There is significance to a messianic king riding on an ass as it was not an animal used in war but for work. Nonetheless, the ass was also noted as a sign of prestige (Judg. 5:10; 2 Sam. 16:2) and riches (Gen. 30:43; 32:5).

Finally, when challenged about working on the sabbath, Jesus refers to caring for an ass or pulling it from danger (Luke 13:15; 14:5).

Bibliography. G. Savran, “Beastly Speech,” JSOT 64 (1994): 33-55.

Lisa Michelle Wolfe

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

ASS

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)