Donkey theology
Ken Way of Biola University gave a very interesting paper on the various Hebrew terms for donkeys and mules. He focused on Zechariah 9, which, he argued, has long been mistranslated. It has the largest cluster of donkey terms in the Hebrew Bible, refers to the prophecy concerning Judah in Genesis 49, and should be translated that the ruler comes “on a donkey, even a purebred son of a jenny.” The phrase “son of a jenny” doesn’t refer to the youth of the animal at all, but only to the fact that the donkey is pure, that is, not a mule.
On his interpretation, Zechariah 9 seems to contrast the coming of the new king of Judah with the coming of Solomon, who arrived at Zion for his coronation on a mule.
Peter Leithart
Peter J. Leithart is President of Theopolis Institute. He is the author of numerous books on theology, literature, and culture, including Theopolitan, Defending Constantine, and Baptized Body.
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