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 sendeth messengers from Kadesh unto the king of Edom, 'Thus said thy brother Israel, Thou -- thou hast known all the travail which hath found us;
And I send messengers from the wilderness of Kedemoth, unto Sihon king of Heshbon, -- words of peace -- saying,
and they work, even they, with subtilty, and go, and feign to be ambassadors, and take old sacks for their asses, and wine-bottles, old, and rent, and bound up,
And Jephthah sendeth messengers unto the king of the Bene-Ammon, saying, 'What -- to me and to thee, that thou hast come in unto me, to fight in my land.'
'And Israel sendeth messengers unto Sihon, king of the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and Israel saith to him, Let us pass over, we pray thee, through thy land, unto my place,
And Hanun taketh the servants of David, and shaveth off the half of their beard, and cutteth off their long robes in the midst -- unto their buttocks, and sendeth them away;
and he sendeth unto him messengers, saying, 'What -- to me and to thee, O king of Judah? not against thee do I come to-day, but unto the house with which I have war, and God said to haste me; cease for thee from God who is with me, and He doth not destroy thee.'
A report I have heard from Jehovah, And an ambassador among nations is sent, Gather yourselves and come in against her, And rise ye for battle.
And he rebelleth against him, To send his messengers to Egypt, To give to him horses, and much people, Doth he prosper? doth he escape who is doing these things? And hath he broken covenant and escaped?
Thus said the Lord Jehovah to Edom, A report we have heard from Jehovah, And an ambassador among nations was sent, 'Rise, yea, let us rise against her for battle.'
and if not so -- he being yet a long way off -- having sent an embassy, he doth ask the things for peace.
and his citizens were hating him, and did send an embassy after him, saying, We do not wish this one to reign over us.
in behalf of Christ, then, we are ambassadors, as if God were calling through us, we beseech, in behalf of Christ, 'Be ye reconciled to God;'
for which I am an ambassador in a chain, that in it I may speak freely -- as it behoveth me to speak.