Reference: Ambassador, Ambassage
Hastings
As diplomatic agents of sovereigns or other persons in high authority, ambassadors are frequently mentioned in OT and Apocrypha from the days of Moses (see below) to those of the Maccabees (1Ma 9:70; 1Ma 11:9; 1Ma 14:21; 1Ma 15:17). Insult to their persons was a sufficient casus belli (2Sa 10:4 ff.). In several passages (e.g. Nu 20:14; 21:21; De 2:26; Jg 11:12,19; 2Sa 5:11; 2Ki 19:9) the 'messengers' of English Version are practically 'ambassadors,' as the Heb. word is elsewhere rendered (2Ch 35:21; Isa 30:4; Eze 17:15). Jos 9:4, however, should be read as in Revised Version margin. The ambassador of Jer 49:14 (= Ob 1:1) is probably an angel. In NT the word is used only metaphorically (2Co 5:20; Eph 6:20).
'Ambassage,' the mission of an ambassador (2Ma 4:11 RV), is used also as a collective for ambassadors themselves (Lu 14:32; 19:14 RV). In 1Ma 14:23 read with RV 'the copy of their words.'
A. R. S. Kennedy.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
And Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom, Thus saith thy brother Israel, Thou knowest all the travail that hath befallen us:
And Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, saying,
And I sent messengers from the wilderness of Kedemoth to Sihon king of Heshbon with words of peace, saying,
They did work craftily, and went and made as if they had been embassadors, and took old sacks upon their asses, and wine-bottles, old, and rent, and bound up;
And Jephthah sent messengers to the king of the children of Ammon, saying, What hast thou to do with me, that thou hast come against me to fight in my land?
And Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, the king of Heshbon; and Israel said to him, Let us pass, we pray thee, through thy land to my place.
Wherefore Hanun took David's servants, and shaved off the one half of their beards, and cut off their garments in the middle, even to their buttocks, and sent them away.
But he sent embassadors to him, saying, What have I to do with thee, thou king of Judah? I come not against thee this day, but against the house with which I have war: for God commanded me to make haste: forbear thee from meddling with God, who is with me, that he may not destroy thee.
I have heard a rumor from the LORD, and an embassador is sent to the heathen, saying, Assemble, and come against her, and rise up to the battle.
But he rebelled against him in sending his embassadors into Egypt, that they might give him horses and many people. Shall he prosper? shall he escape that doeth such things? or shall he break the covenant, and be delivered?
The vision of Obadiah. Thus saith the Lord GOD concerning Edom; We have heard a rumor from the LORD, and an embassador is sent among the heathen, Arise ye, and let us rise up against her in battle.
Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an embassy, and desireth conditions of peace.
But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.
Now then we are embassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
For which I am an embassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.