'Afar' in the Bible

When they looked from a distance and did not recognize him [because of his disfigurement], they raised their voices and wept; and each one tore his robe [in grief] and they threw dust over their heads toward the sky [in sorrow].

“He breaks open (mine) shafts far away from where people live,[In places] forgotten by the [human] foot;They dangle [in the mines] and hang away from men.

“I will bring my knowledge from afar,And will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.

“All men have seen God’s work;Man looks at it from a distance.

“As often as the trumpet sounds he says, ‘Aha!’And he smells the battle from far away,And senses the thunder of the captains and the war cry.

“From there he spies out the prey;His eyes see it from far away.