Palin: The Ass Again (Mk 11,3d) 127 v It may be urged that Zech 9,9 is not only cited by rabbis in «late» texts 32 but avoided by Mark and Luke. But Zech 9,9 does not stand alone. There are numerous asses in the Hebrew bible, even if we exclude Ex 23,4 and Balaam’s mount. Of particular interest is the ass of Is 32,20. Is 32 is about the messianic age: a king shall reign in righteousness, etc., the eyes of the blind shall be opened, etc., the poor shall be protected against those who plot against them; the rich will lament, citadels and towers will be deserted; even- tually a spirit from on high will be poured out, fertility will return as justice and righteousness prevail; and confidence will be established. In sum: «Happy shall you be who sow by all waters, Who send out cattle and asses to pasture». This (the JPS translation) 33 makes sense of an obscure line, but in a footnote they write, «Lit. ‘let lose the feet of cattle and asses’, cf. 7,25 end». In fact the Hebrew reads mes#aleh≥ey regel has#o$r weha-hamo$r, «sending ≥ forth the foot of the ox and the ass.» In context this may mean that ploughing will take place and harvests will be transported; for the definite article in Hebrew often stands for a class 34, whereas an anarthrous noun can denominate a class or individual concurrently (Gen 32,5). The ox and the ass, a cliché in biblical terms 35, came to be associat- ed in an anonymous midrash 36, which, referring to clemency to living beings (Dt 22,6-7), says that he who observes this hastens the coming of the Messiah, because whether or not the ox represents the son of Joseph or the priest anointed for war (Dt 20,2-4;33,17), the ass recalls the Son of David 37. In the messianic age, the age of righteousness, the sending of the foot of the ass is, virtually, hastening the coming of the king Messiah, our kurio" as well as the animal’s (Ps 8, 7-8; Dan 7,14). Mark’s use of the title v kurio" is not disturbed by this, and the phrase Cristov~ Kuvrio~ at Lk v 2,11; mss. LXX Lam 4,20; mss. Ps Sol 17,32 is not relevant 38. 32 Harvey, Constraints, 122. 33 The targum says, «O ye righteous; ye have wrought good works; for ye are like them that sow on a well-watered (field), that send forth oxen to tread out the corn and asses to gather it.» J.F. Stenning, The Targum of Isaiah (Oxford, 1953) 106. 34 As at Gen 2,11; 11,3; 13,2; 1 Kgs 10,27; 2 Chr 2,13.14; Is 28,7; Am 2,6. 35 Ex 20,17; 21,33; 22,4.10; 23, 4.12; Dt 22,4.10; 28,31; 1 Sam 12,3; Is 1,3; Lk 14,5. 36 Midr. R. Dt VI.7 (Sonc. 125). J. Rabbinowitz, editor of the Soncino translation, says (125n.) ,»Tanhuma, wayis#lah≥ on Gen 32,6 refers this verse to the Messiah». See the edn. of Tanhuma from Frankfurt on the Oder 1701, fol. 12b. Further parallels given by A. Edersheim, Life and Times of Jesus The Messiah (London, 1906), II, 725. 37 Because of Zech 9,9. See last note, also Tanhuma, bare’ s#ît 2a as cited by Strack- Billerbeck, Kommentar, I, 843, referring to Is 32,20; 55,1; Dt 33,17. 38 D. R. Catchpole at E. Bammel and C. F. D. Moule (edd.) Jesus and the Politics of His Day (Cambridge, 1984), 323-324. R. R. Hann, «Christos Kyrios in Ps Sol 17.32...», NTS 31/4, 1985, 620-627.