ASIPHA

to transcribe the Law (2 Es 14»). 3. (AV Asael) An ancestor of Tobit (To 1').

ASIPHA (1 Es 529).— His sons were among the Temple servants who returned with Zerubbabel; called Hasu-pha, Ezr 2«, Neh 7«.

ASMOD^TTS, the 'evil demon' of To 3. 6. 8, appears freely in the Talmud as Ashmedai, which popular etymology connected with shamad, 'to destroy.' It is fairly certain, however, that it is the Avestan Alsma daSva, 'fury demon,' conspicuous from the earliest to the latest parts of the Parsi scriptures. It would seem that the Book of Tobit is really a Median folk-story, adapted for edification by a Jew, with sundry uncom-prehended features of the original left unchanged. For these see ' Zoroastrianism ' in Hastings' DB, § 4. In the Talmud Ashmedai is king of the Shedin, demons supposed to be mortal, and of either sex.

James Hope Modlton.

ASNAH. — The head of a family of Nethinim which returned with Zerubbabel (Ezr 2'°, 1 Es S^'m).

ASNAPPER.— See Osnappah.

ASOU (1 Es 9"). His soils were among those who put away their 'strange' wives; called Hashum, Ezr 10«.

ASP. — See Sekpent.

ASFALATHUS (Sir 24'6). — The name of an aromatic associated with cinnamon in the passage cited, but impossible to identify. It is probable that there were two or more plants, and more than one vegetable product, known by this name.

ASPATHA (Est 9'). — The third son of Raman, put to death by the Jews.

ASPHALT.— See Bitumen.

ASPHAR (1 Mac 9").— A pool in the desert of Tekoa, or Jeshimon, where Jonathan and Simon the Maccabees encamped. The site is not known with certainty, although it may plausibly be identified with the mod. Blr SelhUb, a reservoir 6 miles W.S.W. of Engedi.

ASPHARASUS (1 Es 5').— One of the leaders of the return under Zerubbabel, called Mispar, Ezr 2', and Uispereth, Neh 7'.

ASRIEL (in AV of 1 Ch 7" Ashriel).— A Manassite (Jos 17', Nu 26"; In the latter the patronymic Asrielite occurs).

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 (Neh 13"). Whole groups of donkeys traverse every road carrying corn (Gn 42«- 2'), fire-wood (Gn 22=), provisions (1 S 162»), 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 93. 20). xhe little ass carrying the barley, which leads every train of camels, is a characteristic sight. When-ever the traveller Journeys through the land, the braying of the ass is as familiar a sound as the barking of the village dog. Themanof moderate means when j ourney-ing rides an ass, often astride his bedding and clothes, as doubtless was done by many a Scripture character (Nu 22»-», Jos I518, 1 S 252°-M, 2 S 17^' 19» 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 suit-ably mounted on donkey-back, especially if the animal is white (Jg 5'°). A well-bred white ass fetches a higher price than a fairly good horse. A she-ass (Arab, 'atar)

ASSUMPTION OF MOSES

is preferred (Nu 222i-«, 1 S 9', 2 K 4k-m, 1 Ch 27"), 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 (Jg 15'=, 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 K e'^) 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 Dt 22'°). The idea of the stupidity of the ass is the same in the East as in the West.

The young ass (Is 30«- ») or colt (Job IV', Zee 9', Lk ig'' 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'). Ishmael is compared in his wild-ness and freedom to a wild ass (Gn 16'^), while Issachar is a wild ass subdued (49"- i').

E. W. G. Mastbrman.

ASSAIHAS (AV Assanias).— One of twelve priests entrusted with the holy vessels on the return to Je-rusalem, 1 Es 8".

ASSAPHIOTH (AVAzaphion), 1 Es 5".— His descend-ants returned with Zerubbabel among the sons of Solomon's servants. Called Hassophereth, Ezr 2"; Sophereth, Neh 7".

ASSASSINS, THE.— In the time of FeUx a band of robbers so named disturbed Judaea. They are mentioned in Ac 21^* (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.

ASSHUKIM. — The Asshurim, Letushim, Leummim (Gn 25') were Arabian tribes, supposed to be descended from Abraham and Keturah through Dedan. By the Asshurim the Targum understood dwellers in encamp-ments to be meant. A tribe A'shur appears on two Minaean inscriptions. J. Taylor.

ASSIDEANS.— See Habid^ans.

ASSIR.— 1. A son of Korah (Ex 6^, 1 Ch 6»). 2. A son of Ebiasaph (1 Ch e^s s'). 3. A son of Jeeoniah (AV and RVm of 1 Ch 3"). 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 (Ac 20i").

A. SOUTER.

ASSUMPTION OP MOSES.— See Apoc. Lit., p. 40''.

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