The Biblical Donkey

The biblical facts regarding donkey: the donkey is forbidden food; the donkey and the ox have to rest on Saturday; the first donkey is not subject to destruction in the Egyptian punishments. In addition to these general data, the donkey is charged with a rich, important biblical symbolism. Usually, the kings choose a strong and combatant animal for ceremonies - a thoroughbred horse, an imposing elephant or even a camel. Christ enters Jerusalem on "the foal of a she-ass", as the king of the Jews. This is to fulfill the tradition - David has a "royal she-ass" and Solomon is anointed as king on a "wild donkey". It is either wisdom or stupidity for a king to ride an animal symbolizing love of peace and sexuality. How do we account for the fact that in Hebrew the ass's foal is not a diminutive of the word 'donkey', as well as the fact that the she-ass signifies 'slow pace' and has nothing in common with the jackass? And what does Solomon's wild donkey signify?

Autorentext

MONY ALMALECH is a full professor at the New Bulgarian University and a guest professor at the Higher Evangelical Theological Institute (2004-2009). His knowledge of Hebrew has allowed him to analyze the original text of the Bible in comparison with various translations, applying the tools of linguistics, semiotics, Bible studies.

Klappentext

The biblical facts regarding donkey: the donkey is forbidden food; the donkey and the ox have to rest on Saturday; the first donkey is not subject to destruction in the Egyptian punishments. In addition to these general data, the donkey is charged with a rich, important biblical symbolism. Usually, the kings choose a strong and combatant animal for ceremonies - a thoroughbred horse, an imposing elephant or even a camel. Christ enters Jerusalem on "the foal of a she-ass", as the king of the Jews. This is to fulfill the tradition - David has a "royal she-ass" and Solomon is anointed as king on a "wild donkey". It is either wisdom or stupidity for a king to ride an animal symbolizing love of peace and sexuality. How do we account for the fact that in Hebrew the ass's foal is not a diminutive of the word 'donkey', as well as the fact that the she-ass signifies 'slow pace' and has nothing in common with the jackass? And what does Solomon's wild donkey signify?