Bible Dictionaries

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Ambassador

In the Old Testament the Hebrew word Tsir , Meaning "one who goes on an errand," is rendered thus ( Joshua 9:4; Proverbs 13:17; Isaiah 18:2; Jeremiah 49:14; Obadiah 1:1 ). This is also the rendering of Melits , Meaning "an interpreter," in 2 Chronicles 32:31; and of Malak , A "messenger," in 2 Chronicles 35:21; Isaiah 30:4; 33:7; Ezekiel 17:15 . This is the name used by the apostle as designating those who are appointed by God to declare his will (2 Corinthians 5:20; Ephesians 6:20 ).

The Hebrews on various occasions and for various purposes had recourse to the services of ambassadors, e.g., to contract alliances (Joshua 9:4 ), to solicit favours (Numbers 20:14 ), to remonstrate when wrong was done (Judges 11:12 ), to condole with a young king on the death of his father (2 Samuel 10:2 ), and to congratulate a king on his accession to the throne (1 Kings 5:1 ).

To do injury to an ambassador was to insult the king who sent him (2 Samuel 10:5 ).