the Week of Proper 28 / Ordinary 33
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Bible Dictionaries
Ass
People's Dictionary of the Bible
or Ass. Five Hebrew names of the animals of this family occur in the Old Testament. 1. Chamôr denotes the male domestic ass. 2. Athôn, the common domestic she-ass. 3. Aîr, the name of a wild ass, which occurs Genesis 32:15; Genesis 49:11. 4. Pere, a species of wild ass mentioned Genesis 12:16. 5. Arôd occurs only in Job 39:5; but in what respect it diners from the former 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. The ass to us is a symbol of stubbornness and stupidity, while in the East it is remarkable for its patience, gentleness, intelligence, and great power of endurance. The color is usually a reddish brown, but there are white asses, much prized. The ass was used in peace as the horse was in war; hence the appropriateness of Christ in his triumphal entry riding on an ass. Mr. Layard remarks that in fleetness the wild ass equals the gazelle.
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Rice, Edwin Wilbur, DD. Entry for 'Ass'. People's Dictionary of the Bible. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/rpd/a/ass.html. 1893.
