Easton's Bible Dictionary: M. G. Easton, M.A., D.D.

Ass

Frequently mentioned throughout Scripture. Of the domesticated species we read of,

1. The she ass (Heb.'athon), so named from its slowness (Gen. 12:16, 45:23; Num. 22:23; 1 Sam. 9:3).
2. The male ass (Heb.hamor), the common working ass of Western Asia, so called from its red colour. Issachar is compared to a strong ass (Gen. 49:14). It was forbidden to yoke together an ass and an ox in the plough (Dt. 22:10).
3. The ass's colt (Heb.'air), mentioned Judg. 10:4, 12:14. It is rendered "foal" in Gen. 32:15, 49:11. (Comp. Job 11:12; Isa. 30:6.)

The ass is an unclean animal, because it does not chew the cud (Lev. 11:26. Comp. 2 Ki. 6:25). Asses constituted a considerable portion of wealth in ancient times (Gen. 12:16, 30:43; 1 Chr. 27:30; Job 1:3, 42:12). They were noted for their spirit and their attachment to their master (Isa. 1:3). They are frequently spoken of as having been ridden upon, as by Abraham (Gen. 22:3), Balaam (Num. 22:21), the disobedient prophet (1 Ki. 13:23), the family of Abdon the judge, seventy in number (Judg. 12:14), Zipporah (Ex. 4:20), the Shunammite (1 Sam. 25:30), etc. Zechariah (Zech. 9:9) predicted our Lord's triumphal entrance into Jerusalem, "riding upon an ass, and upon a colt," etc. (Mt. 21:5, R.V.).

Of wild asses two species are noticed,

1. that called in Hebrew 'arod, mentioned Job 39:5 and Dan. 5:21, noted for its swiftness; and
2. that called pe're, the wild ass of Asia (Job 39:6-8, 6:5, 11:12; Isa. 32:14; Jer. 2:24, 14:6, etc.).

The wild ass was distinguished for its fleetness and its extreme shyness. In allusion to his mode of life, Ishmael is likened to a wild ass (Gen. 16:12. Here the word is simply rendered "wild" in the Authorized Version, but in the Revised Version, "wild-ass among men").