Ambassador
a person of high rank employed by a government to represent it and transact its business at the seat of government of some other power. The earliest examples of ambassadors employed occur in (Numbers 20:14; 21:21; Judges 11:7-19) afterwards in that of the fraudulent Gibeonites, (Joshua 9:4) etc.
, and in the instances of civic strife mentioned (Judges 11:12) and Judg 20:12 Ambassadors are found to have been employed not only on occasions of hostile challenge or insolent menace, (1 Kings 20:2,6; 2 Kings 14:8) but of friendly compliment, of request for alliance or other aid, of submissive deprecation and of curious inquiry. (2 Kings 14:8; 16:7; 18:14; 2 Chronicles 32:31) Ministers are called ambassadors of Christ.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia on Ambassador
Ambassador am-bas'-a-dor (mal'akh, "messenger"; 'luts, "interpreter"; tsir, "to go"; hence a messenger; presbeuo, "to act as an ambassador," literally, to be older): An ambassador is an official representative of a king or government, as of Pharaoh (Isa 30:4); of the princes of Babylon (2Ch 32:31); of Neco, king of Egypt (2Ch 35:21); of the messengers of peace sent by Hezekiah, king of Judah, to Sennacherib, king of Assyria (Isa 33:7). The same Hebrew term is used of the messengers sent by Jacob to Esau (Ge 32:3); by Moses to the king of Edom (Nu 20:14). For abundant illustration consult "Messenger" (mal'akh) in any concordance. See CONCORDANCE. The inhabitants of Gibeon made themselves pretended ambassadors to Joshua in order to secure by deceit the protection of a treaty ("covenant") (Jos 9:4). ⇒See a list of verses on AMBASSADORS in the Bible. In the New Testament the term is used in a figurative sense. As the imprisoned representative of Christ at Rome Paul calls himself "an ambassador in chains" (Eph 6:20); and in 2Co 5:20 includes, with himself, all ministers of the gospel, as…
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible on Ambassador
Three Heb. words are some- times tr. 'ambassador' in RV of OT : 1. TiN^?, a general term for messenger, used for (a) messengers of private men (2 K 5'") ; (6) messengers of God = angels (see Angel) ; (c) messengers of kings or rulers = ambassadors (2 K 19», 2 Ch 35^'), though sometimes tr. ' messengers ' in RV (Dt 2^, Nu 20"). 2. T!j, apparently a synonym of 1 (Pr 13" ; cf. 25"), hence=herald or messenger from court (Is IS'' 57'), and metaphorically an 'ambassador' of J" (Jer 49"; cf. Ob v.'). In Jos 9* the reading of RVm is to be preferred. 3. ("^o, properly an interpreter, and so used in Gn 42^ ; cf. Job 33-^ (?) ; hence tr^ in Is 43" (in theocratic sense) 'inter- preters' RV text, 'ambassadors' marg. ; in 2 Ch 323' < ambassadors ' text, ' interpreters ' marg. Ambassadors were not permanent officials, but were chosen from attendants at court for special occasions (see 2 K 19"). Their evil treatment was regarded then as now as a grave insult to king and people (2 S 10'"*). In the Apocr. the general term 477«Xot, 'messenger,' is often used even in dealings with courts (Jth 1" 3', 1 M…
Fausset's Bible Dictionary on Ambassador
Stands for two Hebrew words: malahch, "messenger," and tzeer, "ambassador." Israel's commanded isolation rendered embassies an infrequent occurrence; they were mere nuncios rather than plenipotentiaries. The earliest instances occur in the case of Edom, Moab, and the Amorites (Num 20:14; Num 21:21). Gibeon feigned an ambassage (Jos 9:4). The ambassador's person was regarded as inviolable (2Sa 10:2-5; 2Sa 12:26-31). Men of high rank usually; as Sennacherib sent his chief captain, Chief cupbearer, and chief eunuch, Tartan, Rabsaris, Rabshakeh, whom Hezekiah's chief men of the kingdom, Eliakim over the household, Shebna the secretary, and Joab the recorder, met (2Ki 18:17-18; Isa 30:4; Isa 33:7; compare Isa 18:2). Once in New Testament, "we are ambassadors for Christ" (2Co 5:20); treating with men "in Christ's stead": God "beseeching," and His ambassadors "praying" men to be reconciled to God. Majesty, faithfulness, yet withal tenderness, are implied. Our part is to send prayers, as our ambassage, to meet God's ambassadors, desiring His conditions of peace (Luk 14:32; Isa 27:5).
References
- Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
- Easton, M.G. (1893) Easton's Bible Dictionary. 3rd edn. Thomas Nelson. [Public Domain]
- Nave, O.J. (1897) Nave's Topical Bible. Topical Bible Publishing Co.. [Public Domain]
- Hastings, J. (ed.) (1909) A Dictionary of the Bible. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Smith, W. (ed.) (1884) Smith's Bible Dictionary. London: John Murray. [Public Domain]
- Fausset, A.R. (1878) Fausset's Bible Dictionary. [Public Domain]A Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopaedia