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ASS (hamôr; ‘she-ass,’ ’âthon [Gr. onos of both sexes]; ‘young ass’ or ‘colt,’ ‘ayir [Gr. pôlos]; ‘wild ass,’ pere’ and ‘ârôdh).—The ass (Arab. [Note: Arabic.] 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 (Neh_13:15). Whole groups of donkeys traverse every road carrying corn (Gen_42:26-27), fire-wood (Gen_22:3), provisions (1Sa_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 (1Sa_9:3; 1Sa_9:20). The 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 journeying rides an ass, often astride his bedding and clothes, as doubtless was done by many a Scripture character (Num_22:21-38, Jos_15:18, 1Sa_25:20-28, 2Sa_17:23; 2Sa_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 (Jdg_5:10). A well-bred white ass fetches a higher price than a fairly good horse. A she-ass (Arab. [Note: Arabic.] ’atar) is preferred (Num_22:21-33, 1Sa_9:3, 2Ki_4:22-24, 1Ch_27:30), because quieter and more easily left tied up; a strong mals 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 (Jdg_15:16, where the play on the word ‘ass’ [hamôr] and ‘heap’ [hamôr] should be noticed). Although the ass was forbidden food to the Jews, we read (2Ki_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 fellahin actually seem to prefer to yoke together an ox and an ass, or a camel and an ass (contrast Deu_22:10). The idea of the stupidity of the ass is the same in the East as in the West.
The young ass (Isa_30:5; Isa_30:24) or colt (Job_11:12, Zec_9:9, Luk_19:33 etc.), the Arab. [Note: Arabic.] 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_24:5), where they roam in herds and run with extraordinary fleetness (Job_39:5). Ishmael is compared in his wildness and freedom to a wild ass (Gen_16:12), while Issachar is a wild ass subdued (Gen_49:14; Gen_49:16).
E. W. G. Masterman.