ASS (DONKEY) to ASTROLOGY
Contents
ASS (DONKEY)
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 (Deut. 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 Kings 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 Kings 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 9:9) predicted our Lord's triumphal entrance into Jerusalem, "riding upon an ass, and upon a colt," etc. (Matt. 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").
DOMESTICATED
Herds of Ge 12:16; 24:35; 32:5; 34:28; Nu 31:34, 45; 1Ch 5:21; Ezr 2:67; Ne 7:69
Used for riding Ge 22:3; Nu 22:21-33; Jos 15:18; Jud 1:14; 5:10; 1Sa 25:23; 2Ch 28:15; Zec 9:9
By Jesus Mt 21:2, 5; Lk 13:15; Jn 12:14, 15; Zec 9:9
Carrying burdens Ge 42:26; 2Sa 16:1; Isa 30:6
Drawing chariots Isa 21:7
For food 2Ki 6:25
Not to be yoked with an ox Deut 22:10
Rest on the Sabbath Ex 23:12
Bridles for Pr 26:3
Jawbone of, used by Samson with which to kill Philistines Jud 15:15-17
FIRSTLINGS OF redeemed Ex 13:13; 34:20
WILD Job 6:5; 24:5; 39:5; Ps 104:11; Isa 32:14; Jer 2:24; 14:6; Ho 8:9
ASSASSINATION
David's abhorrence of 2Sa 4:9-12 Laws prohibiting Deut 27:24
INSTANCES OF Of Eglon, by Ehud Jud 3:15-22 .Abner, by Joab 2Sa 3:27 .Ish-bosheth, by the sons of Rimmon 2Sa 4:5-7 .Amnon, by Absalom 2Sa 13:28, 29 .Amasa, by Joab 2Sa 20:9, 10 .Joash, by his servants 2Ki 12:20 .Sennacherib, by his sons 2Ki 19:37; Isa 37:38
ASSAULT AND BATTERY
LAWS CONCERNING Ex 21:15, 18, 22-27; Deut 17:8-12; Mt 5:38, 39
STRIKING JESUS .Prophecies of Isa 50:6; La 3:30 .The attacks upon Mt 26:67; 27:30; Mr 14:65; Lk 22:63; Jn 19:3 .
ASSHUR
second son of Shem (Gen. 10:22; 1 Chr. 1:17).
He went from the land of Shinar and built Nineveh, etc. (Gen. 10:11,12). He probably gave his name to Assyria, which is the usual translation of the word, although the form Asshur is sometimes retained (Num. 24:22, 24; Ezek. 27:23, etc.).
In Gen. 2:14 "Assyria" ought to be "Asshur," which was the original capital of Assyria, a city represented by the mounds of Kalah Sherghat, on the west bank of the Tigris. This city was founded by Bel-kap-kapu about B.C. 1700.
At a later date the capital was shifted to Ninua, or Nineveh, now Koyunjik, on the eastern bank of the river.
See CALAH NINEVEH
Son of Shem, and ancestor of the Assyrians Ge 10:11, 22; 1Ch 1:17; Eze 32:22
See ASSYRIA
ASSHURIM
Descendants of Dedan Ge 25:3
ASSIR
1. Son of Korah Ex 6:24; 1Ch 6:22
2. Son of Ebiasaph 1Ch 6:23, 37
3. Son of Jeconiah 1Ch 3:17
ASSOS
a sea-port town of Proconsular Asia, in the district of Mysia, on the north shore of the Gulf of Adramyttium. Paul came hither on foot along the Roman road from Troas (Acts 20:13, 14), a distance of 20 miles.
It was about 30 miles distant from Troas by sea. The island of Lesbos lay opposite it, about 7 miles distant.
A seaport in Mysia Ac 20:13-14
ASSURANCE
The resurrection of Jesus (Acts 17:31) is the "assurance" (Gr. pistis, generally rendered "faith") or pledge God has given that his revelation is true and worthy of acceptance.
The "full assurance (Gr. plerophoria, 'full bearing') of faith" (Heb. 10:22) is a fulness of faith in God which leaves no room for doubt. The "full assurance of understanding" (Col. 2:2) is an entire unwavering conviction of the truth of the declarations of Scripture, a joyful steadfastness on the part of any one of conviction that he has grasped the very truth.
The "full assurance of hope" (Heb. 6:11) is a sure and well-grounded expectation of eternal glory (2 Tim. 4:7, 8). This assurance of hope is the assurance of a man's own particular salvation.
This infallible assurance, which believers may attain unto as to their own personal salvation, is founded on the truth of the promises (Heb. 6:18), on the inward evidence of Christian graces, and on the testimony of the Spirit of adoption (Rom. 8:16).
That such a certainty may be attained appears from the testimony of Scripture (Rom. 8:16; 1 John 2:3; 3:14), from the command to seek after it (Heb. 6:11; 2 Pet. 1:10), and from the fact that it has been attained (2 Tim. 1:12; 4:7, 8; 1 John 2:3; 4:16).
This full assurance is not of the essence of saving faith. It is the result of faith, and posterior to it in the order of nature, and so frequently also in the order of time. True believers may be destitute of it.
Trust itself is something different from the evidence that we do trust. Believers, moreover, are exhorted to go on to something beyond what they at present have when they are exhorted to seek the grace of full assurance (Heb. 10:22; 2 Pet. 1:5-10). The attainment of this grace is a duty, and is to be diligently sought.
"Genuine assurance naturally leads to a legitimate and abiding peace and joy, and to love and thankfulness to God; and these from the very laws of our being to greater buoyancy, strength, and cheerfulness in the practice of obedience in every department of duty."
This assurance may in various ways be shaken, diminished, and intermitted, but the principle out of which it springs can never be lost.
See FAITH
Produced by faith Eph 3:12; 2Ti 1:12; Heb 10:22
Made full by hope Heb 6:11, 19
Confirmed by love 1Jo 3:14, 19; 4:18
Is the effect of righteousness Isa 32:17
Is abundant in the understanding of the gospel Col 2:2; 1Th 1:5
SAINTS PRIVILEGED TO HAVE
Of their election Ps 4:3; 1Th 1:4
Their redemption Job 19:25
Their adoption Ro 8:16; 1Jo 3:2
Their salvation Isa 12:2
Eternal life 1Jo 5:13
The unalienable love of God Ro 8:38, 39
Union with God and Christ 1Co 6:15; 2Co 13:5; Eph 5:30; 1Jo 2:5; 4:13
Peace with God by Christ Ro 5:1
Preservation Ps 3:6; 8; 27:3-5; 46:1-3
Answers to prayer 1Jo 3:22; 5:14, 15
Comfort in affliction Ps 73:26; Lk 4:18; 2Co 4:8-10, 16-18
Continuance in grace Php 1:6
A support in death Ps 23:4
A glorious resurrection Job 19:26; Ps 17:15; Php 3:21; 1Jo 3:2
A kingdom Heb 12:28; Re 5:10
A crown 2Ti 4:7, 8; Jas 1:12
Saints give diligence to attain 2Pe 1:10, 11
Strive to maintain Heb 3:14, 18
Confident hope in God restores Ps 42:11
Exemplified .By David Ps 23:4; 73:24-26
By Paul 2Ti 1:12; 4:18 .
See FAITH
ASSYRIA
the name derived from the city Asshur on the Tigris, the original capital of the country, was originally a colony from Babylonia, and was ruled by viceroys from that kingdom.
It was a mountainous region lying to the north of Babylonia, extending along the Tigris as far as to the high mountain range of Armenia, the Gordiaean or Carduchian mountains. It was founded in B.C. 1700 under Bel-kap-kapu, and became an independent and a conquering power, and shook off the yoke of its Babylonian masters. It subdued the whole of Northern Asia. The Assyrians were Semites (Gen. 10:22), but in process of time non-Semite tribes mingled with the inhabitants. They were a military people, the "Romans of the East."
Of the early history of the kingdom of Assyria little is positively known. In B.C. 1120 Tiglath-pileser I., the greatest of the Assyrian kings, "crossed the Euphrates, defeated the kings of the Hittites, captured the city of Carchemish, and advanced as far as the shores of the Mediterranean." He may be regarded as the founder of the first Assyrian empire.
After this the Assyrians gradually extended their power, subjugating the states of Northern Syria. In the reign of Ahab, king of Israel, Shalmaneser II. marched an army against the Syrian states, whose allied army he encountered and vanquished at Karkar. This led to Ahab's casting off the yoke of Damascus and allying himself with Judah. Some years after this the Assyrian king marched an army against Hazael, king of Damascus. He besieged and took that city. He also brought under tribute Jehu, and the cities of Tyre and Sidon.
About a hundred years after this (B.C. 745) the crown was seized by a military adventurer called Pul, who assumed the name of Tiglath-pileser III. He directed his armies into Syria, which had by this time regained its independence, and took (B.C. 740) Arpad, near Aleppo, after a siege of three years, and reduced Hamath. Azariah (Uzziah) was an ally of the king of Hamath, and thus was compelled by Tiglath-pileser to do him homage and pay a yearly tribute.
In B.C. 738, in the reign of Menahem, king of Israel, Pul invaded Israel, and imposed on it a heavy tribute (2 Kings 15:19). Ahaz, the king of Judah, when engaged in a war against Israel and Syria, appealed for help to this Assyrian king by means of a present of gold and silver (2 Kings 16:8); who accordingly "marched against Damascus, defeated and put Rezin to death, and besieged the city itself." Leaving a portion of his army to continue the siege, "he advanced through the province east of Jordan, spreading fire and sword," and became master of Philistia, and took Samaria and Damascus.
He died B.C. 727, and was succeeded by Shalmanezer IV., who ruled till B.C. 722. He also invaded Syria (2 Kings 17:5), but was deposed in favour of Sargon (q.v.) the Tartan, or commander-in-chief of the army, who took Samaria (q.v.) after a siege of three years, and so put an end to the kingdom of Israel, carrying the people away into captivity, B.C. 722 (2 Kings 17:1-6, 24; 18:7, 9).
He also overran the land of Judah, and took the city of Jerusalem (Isa. 10:6, 12, 22, 24, 34). Mention is next made of Sennacherib (B.C. 705), the son and successor of Sargon (2 Kings 18:13; 19:37; Isa. 7:17, 18); and then of Esar-haddon, his son and successor, who took Manasseh, king of Judah, captive, and kept him for some time a prisoner at Babylon, which he alone of all the Assyrian kings made the seat of his government (2 Kings 19:37; Isa. 37:38).
Assur-bani-pal, the son of Esarhaddon, became king, and in Ezra 4:10 is referred to as Asnapper. From an early period Assyria had entered on a conquering career, and having absorbed Babylon, the kingdoms of Hamath, Damascus, and Samaria, it conquered Phoenicia, and made Judea feudatory, and subjected Philistia and Idumea. At length, however, its power declined. In B.C. 727 the Babylonians threw off the rule of the Assyrians, under the leadership of the powerful Chaldean prince Merodach-baladan (2 Kings 20:12), who, after twelve years, was subdued by Sargon, who now reunited the kingdom, and ruled over a vast empire.
But on his death the smouldering flames of rebellion again burst forth, and the Babylonians and Medes successfully asserted their independence (B.C. 625), and Assyria fell according to the prophecies of Isaiah (Isa 10:5-19), Nahum (Na 3:19), and Zephaniah (Zep 3:13), and the many separate kingdoms of which it was composed ceased to recognize the "great king" (2 Kings 18:19; Isa. 36:4). Ezekiel (Eze 31:1 all) attests (about B.C. 586) how completely Assyria was overthrown. It ceases to be a nation.
(See NINEVEH BABYLON
An empire founded by Nimrod Ge 10:8-12; Mic 5:6
It extended from east of the Tigris Ge 2:14; 10:11
Possibly to Egypt Ge 25:18
Its armies invade the land of Israel under Pul 2Ki 15:19; 1Ch 5:26
Tiglath 2Ki 15:29; 1Ch 5:6, 26
Shalmaneser 2Ki 17:3-6, 24-27; 18:9-12; Jer 50:17
Sennacherib 2Ki 18:13-37; 19:1 all; 2Ch 32:1 all; Isa 36; 37
Army of, destroyed by the angel of the Lord Isa 37:36
Alliances with, sought by Judah and Israel Ho 5:13
Israelites subject to La 5:6
Israelites carried captive into 2Ki 17:3-23
Jews carried captive to 2Ki 24:1; 25:1; 2Ch 36:5-21
Invaded by Pharaoh-necho 2Ki 23:29
Commerce of Eze 27:23
Productiveness of Isa 36:17
Prophecies concerning Isa 7:17-25; 8:4-10; 10:5-34; 14:24-28; 19:23-25; 20; 30:27-33; 31:8, 9; 37:21-35; Jer 1:15; Eze 31:1 all; Jon 3:1-4; Na 1:1; 2:1; 3:1 all of; Zep 2:13-15; Zec 10:11
Prophecies of captivity of Israelites in Ho 9:3; 11:5, 11
Idols of
See ADRAMMELECH
See ANAMMELECH
See NISROCH
See TARTAK
ASTROLOGY
(Dan. 1:20; 2:2, 10, 27, etc.) Heb. 'ashshaph', an enchanter, one who professes to divine future events by the appearance of the stars.
This science flourished among the Chaldeans. It was positively forbidden to the Jews (Deut. 4:19; 18:10; Isa. 47:13).
General scriptures concerning Isa 47:13; Jer 10:1, 2; Da 1:20; 2:27; 4:7; 5:7