Ass – Ass

Ass

Ass (hamSr; ‘she-ass,’ ‘athon [Gr. onos of both sexes];’ young ass’ or ‘colt,’ ‘ayir [Gr. pBlos];’ wild ass,’ pere’ and ‘amdh). — The ass (Arab, hamar) is the most universally useful domesticated animal in Palestine. On it the fellah rides to his day’s work, with it he ploughs his fields, threshes out his corn, and at last carries home the harvest (Nehemiah 13:15). Whole groups of donkeys traverse every road carrying corn (Genesis 42). fire-wood (Genesis 22:3). provisions (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 (1 g 9:3, 20). xhe 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 j ourneying rides an ass, often astride his bedding and clothes, as doubtless was done by many a Scripture character (Numbers 22. Joshua 5. 1 Samuel 25:20–23. 2 Samuel 17:23 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 (Judges 5:10). A well-bred white ass fetches a higher price than a fairly good horse. A she-ass (Arab, ‘atar) is preferred (Numbers 22. 1 Samuel 9:3, 2 Kings 4:22–24, 1 Chronicles 27:30). because quieter and more easily left tied up; a strong male 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 (Judges 15:16. where the play on the word ‘ass’ [hamBr] and ‘heap’ (hamBr] should be noticed). Although the ass was forbidden food to the Jews, we read (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 fellahm actually seem to prefer to yoke together an ox and an ass, or a camel and an ass (contrast Deuteronomy 22:10). The idea of the stupidity of the ass is the same in the East as in the West.

The young ass (Isaiah 30) or colt (Job 11:12. Zee 9:9. Luke 19:33 etc.), the Arab, jahsh, 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.

Wild asses are not to-day found in Palestine, though, it is said, plentiful in the deserts to the East (Job 24). where they roam in herds and run with extraordinary fieetness (Job 39:5). Ishmael is compared in his wildness and freedom to a wild ass (Genesis 16:12). while Issachar is a wild ass subdued (49:14, 15).

E. W. G. Mastbrman.

Assaihas

(AV Assanias). One of twelve priests entrusted with the holy vessels on the return to Jerusalem,1 Esdras 8:54.

Assaphioth

Assaphioth (AVAzaphion), 1 Esdras 5. His descendants returned with Zerubbabel among the sons of Solomon’s servants. Called Hassophereth, Ezra 2:55; Sophereth, Nehemiah 7:57.

Assassins, the

In the time of Felix a band of robbers so named disturbed Judaea. They are mentioned in Acts 21:38 (sicarii, AV ‘murderers’). Josephus says that at Felix’s suggestion they murdered Jonathan son of Ananus, the high priest (.4n«. xx. viii. 5) . They took a leading part in the Jewish War. See art. Egyptian [The]. A. J. Maclean.

Assembly

See Congregation.

Asshur

See Assyria.

Asshurim

The Asshurim, Letushim, Leummim (Genesis 25:3) were Arabian tribes, supposed to be descended from Abraham and Keturah through Dedan. By the Asshurim the Targum understood dwellers in encampments to be meant. A tribe A’shur appears on two Minaean inscriptions. J. Taylor.

Assideans

See Habid^ans.

Assir

1. A son of Korah (Exodus 6:24. 1 Chronicles 6:22). 2. A son of Ebiasaph (1 Chronicles 6:23, 37). 3. A son of Jeeoniah (AV and RVm of 1 Chronicles 3:17). It is probable, however, that RV correctly renders ‘Jeeoniah the captive.’

Assos

A town over half a mile from the Gulf of Adramyttium (in Mysia, province of Asia), in a splendid position on a hill about 770 feet high at its highest point. The fortifications are amongst the most excellent of their kind. It passed through various hands before it was from e.g. 334-241 under Alexander the Great and his successors, and from e.g. 241-133 under the Pergamenian dynasty. At the last date it became Roman (see Asia). It was the birth-place of the Stoic Cleanthes. St. Paul went from Troas to Assos by the land-route on his last visit to Asia (Acts 20:13 f.).

A. SOUTER.

Assumption of Moses

See Apoc. Lit., p. 40.

Ass

Ass tmANCE. — The word is used both in an objective and a subjective sense, according as it denotes the ground of confidence or the actual experience. When St. Paul declares at Athens (Acts 17:31) that God has appointed Christ to judge the world, and ‘has given assurance’ of this unto all men by raising Him from the dead, it is an objective assurance that he means, for he knew very well that all men were not personally assured of the fact of the Resurrection. In 2 Timothy 3:14, again, Timothy’s assurance of the things he has learned is identified with the outward authority of the person from whom he has received them. For the most part, however, ‘assurance’ in Scripture denotes not an objective authority or fact, but a reality of inward experience. The word occurs once in OT (Isaiah 32:17 AV), and quite characteristically assurance is there represented as the effect of righteousness. In NT assurance (pierophoria) is an accompaniment and result of the gospel (1 Thessalonians 1:5). And the assurance produced by the gospel is not intellectual merely, or emotional merely, or practical merely, it fills and satisfies the whole inner man. There is a full assurance of understanding (Colossians 2:2). and a full assurance of faith (Hebrews 10:22; cf. 2 Ti 1:12). and a full assurance of hope (Hebrews 6:11). [Cf. lli RV, where the last two forms of assurance run into each other — faith itself becoming the assurance (.hypostasis) or underlying ground of hope]. But there is also an assurance of love (1 John 3:19) love being, however, not a mere feeling but a practical social faculty, a love of deed and truth that ministers in all good things to its brethren (vv. "-"). Thus on a higher plane — the plane of that Christian love which is the fulfilling of the Law — we come back to the prophetfc ideal of an inward peace and assurance which are the effects of righteousness.

In any doctrine of assurance a distinction must again be recognized between an objective and a subjective assurance. The grounds of Christian assurance as presented in the gospel are absolute, and it faith were merely intellectual assent, every believing man would be fully assured of his salvation. But, as a positive experience, assurance must be distinguished from saving faith (cf. 1 Corinthians 9:27). Yet the Spirit witnesses with our spirit that we are the children of God (Romans 8) ; and those in whom the consciousness of that witness is dim and faint should seek with more diligence to grow in faith and hope and love and understanding also, that thereby they may make their calling and election sure (2 Peter 1:10). J. C. Lambert.