

THE ASS. 61 



frequently remarked in certain cattle, which on this account are 

 termed true yoke-fellows. After all, says Dr. A. Clarke, following 

 Le Clerc, it is very probable that the general design was, to prevent 

 improper alliances in civil and religious life. And to this, Paul 

 seems evidently to refer, 2 Cor. vi. 14 ; 'Be ye not unequally yoked 

 with unbelievers ; ' which is to be understood as prohibiting all in- 

 tercourse between Christians and idolaters, in social, matrimonial, 

 and religious life. To teach the Jews the propriety of this, a varie- 

 ty of precepts relative to improper and heterogeneous mixtures were 

 interspersed through their law ; so that in civil and domestic life, 

 they might have them ever before their eyes. 



There are several other references to this laborious and patient 

 animal in the sacred scriptures ; but it is not necessary that we 

 should advert to them. We select the following from the excellent 

 work of Professor Paxton. 



The ass is not more remarkable for his power to sustain, than for 

 his patience and tranquillity when oppressed by an unequal load. 

 Like the camel, he quietly submits to the heaviest burden ; he bears 

 it peaceably till he can proceed no further; and when his strength 

 fails him, instead of resisting, or endeavoring to throw off the oppres- 

 sive weight, he contentedly lies down, and rests himself under it, 

 recruits his vigor with the provender that may be offered to him, 

 and then, at the call of his master, proceeds on* his journey. To this 

 trait in the character of that useful animal, the dying patriarch evi- 

 dently refers, when, under the afflatus of inspiration, he predicts the 

 future lot of Issachar and his descendants ; 



* Issachar is a strong as?, 

 Crouching between two burdens " r 

 And ho saw that the rest was good, 

 And the land, that it was pleasant j 

 And he bowed his shoulder to bear, 

 And became a servant to tribute.' 



Gen. xlix. 14. 



The meaning of the prophecy evidently is, that this tribe, natural- 

 ly dull and stupid, should, like the creature by which they are char- 

 acterized, readily submit to the vilest master and the meanest ser- 

 vice. Although, like the ass, possessed of ability, if properly direct- 

 ed, to shake off the inglorious yoke of servitude, they would basely 

 submit to the insults of the Phoenicians on the one hand, and of the 

 Samaritans on the other. Issar.har was a strong ass, ' able,' says a 

 sprightly writer, 'to refuse a load as well as to bear it ; but, like the 

 passive drudge which symbolized him, he preferred inglorious ease 

 to the gains of a just and well regulated freedom; and a yoke of 

 bondage to the doubtful issues of war.' 



The Oriental husbandman was not less indebted to this creature, 

 for his services, than the statesman and the merchant. The ox and 

 the ass labored together in the cultivation of the same field. To this 

 Isaiah evidently refers, in the following prediction ; 'The oxen like- 

 wise, and the young asses, that ear (or till) the ground, shall eat clean 

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