Ashes (Hastings' Dictionary)

1. 'Sackcloth and ashes' are, in OT, Apocr., and NT alike, the familiar tokens of humi- liation and penitence, generally accomiianied by fasting (Job 42«, Is 58», Dn 9», Jon 3', Est 4', Jtli 4", 1 Mac 3", Mt 11", Lk 10" etc.). Ashes were also, with earth and dust, the usual signs of mourn- ing, 2 S l\ Job 2»- ", Jer 6«, Is 61». In both ca.ses the penitent or mourner took the ashes and ca-st them with expressive gesture 'toward heaven,' so that they fell on his person, and especially on his head, a custom not confined to the Hebrews (cf. Iliad, xviii. 23 fl'.). In extreme cases the mourner .sat upon a heap of ashes (Job 2"). References to the custom are freq. in Scripture (see, in addition to passages already quoted, Job 2'^ 42', Jer 6^', Ezk 27', Est 4», Jth 4'' 9', 1 Mac 3" 4»). The priests in times of great affliction seem to have put ashes on their 'mitres,' Jth 4". Ashes upon the head were also a sign of physical humiliation and dis- grace (2 S 13'^ Ezk 28f», Mai 4»). Aslies are u.sed in or, alone or with ' dust,' as a natural synonym of worthlessness and insignificance, Gn 18", Is 44^, Job 13'" (proverbs of ashes = worthless, trashy pro- verbs) 30', Sir 10». 2. The same t«rm (ijn, o-iroJis) is employed in Nu 19»- '» (P) to denote the mixture composed of the ashes proper of the red heifer and those of 'cedar wood, liys.sop and scarlet,' and used for the preparation of the so-called ' water of separation. See Pukification, Red Heifku. 3. Tlie priestly term. tech. for the ashes of the animals burnt in sacrifice is ]zn (lit. fatne.ss, LXX 7ri4T,5), Lv I'M'-'-e'"-" (P); the corresponding verb denotes the clearing away of the accumulated fat ashes. Ex 27', Nu 4". See Tabernacle. 4. The word rendered ' ashes ' in Ex 9"- "• (n's of uncertain origin, and only found here) more probably signifies 'soot,' as in the m. of RV. See Commentaries. 5. In 1 K 20^' 'ashes' in AV is a mistranslation, from a confusion of -i:tt, a bandage, with tjn ashes ; RV correctly, 'with Ins head-band over his eyes.' Eor the use of ashes in the preparation of bread, see BltEAD. A. R. S. KENNEDY. ASHHUR {■y>n-:'H, AV Ashur).— The 'father' of Tekoa ( 1 Ch 2" 4»). See Genealogy.