Freethought & Rationalism Archive

AirPo · 12-02-2003, 12:46 PM

So my fiance and I are watching Shrek last night. One of the first scenes shows all the "Fairy Tale" creatures being rounded up. There's a talking donkey. When she asked which fairy tale had a talking donkey, I said The Bible cause it's my understanding that's where it came from. She didn't believe me, and since I didn't really know, I figured I come here and ask.

So is the talking donkey from The Bible? If so, where?

Thanks!

Apikorus · 12-02-2003, 12:59 PM

Check out the Balaam pericope in Numbers 22-24.

mike_decock · 12-02-2003, 01:04 PM

Yup, it's in Numbers 22:28-30:

And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?

And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee.

And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee? And he said, Nay.

-Mike...

Apikorus · 12-02-2003, 01:32 PM

Incidentally, if you would have typed the words "bible talking donkey" into Google, you'd have found the answer in 0.20 seconds. Let's try to avoid proliferation of insignificant threads.

Doctor X · 12-02-2003, 01:47 PM

Signals Seed to spill the water on Apikorus. . . .

Now then . . . then now . . . now then . . . no abusing the Newbies!

I am sure The Powers that Be [PBUT--Ed.] will quickly deal with an insignificant topic andnot everyone is internet savy. Also, it may be that AirPo trusts the opinion here over some random web-page.

More to his question, is whether or not the writers/producers intended Eddie Murphy's donkey to be the OT talking donkey. I would find that highly unlikely, but I would love to be shown otherwise.

--J.D.

Toto · 12-02-2003, 02:10 PM

I can't tell if the Donkey is supposed to be a fairy tale character or not.

I think that the folks in Media and Pop Culture might like this thread, so I'm sending it there.

Amaleq13 · 12-02-2003, 04:14 PM

Not to wax pedantic but the Balaam story with the talking donkey is more accurately described as a "fable" rather than a "fairy tale".

Adora · 12-02-2003, 04:41 PM

I think it's one of Aesop's.

I liked Monsters Inc. Better

"BOOO!"

Vinnie · 12-02-2003, 11:04 PM

The terminology proper is 'talking ass'

Vinnie

Arken · 12-03-2003, 06:04 AM

I don't think the donkey in Shrek was supposed to have any greater literary significance. I think it was just supposed to be a typical silly fairy tale character.

12-02-2003, 12:46 PM	#1
AirPo Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Connecticut Posts: 26	Talking Donkey? So my fiance and I are watching Shrek last night. One of the first scenes shows all the "Fairy Tale" creatures being rounded up. There's a talking donkey. When she asked which fairy tale had a talking donkey, I said The Bible cause it's my understanding that's where it came from. She didn't believe me, and since I didn't really know, I figured I come here and ask. So is the talking donkey from The Bible? If so, where? Thanks!

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12-02-2003, 12:59 PM	#2
Apikorus Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Chicago Posts: 1,396	Check out the Balaam pericope in Numbers 22-24.

12-02-2003, 01:04 PM	#3
mike_decock Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Scottsdale, AZ Posts: 1,505	Yup, it's in Numbers 22:28-30: And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times? And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee. And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee? And he said, Nay. -Mike...

12-02-2003, 01:32 PM	#4
Apikorus Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Chicago Posts: 1,396	Incidentally, if you would have typed the words "bible talking donkey" into Google, you'd have found the answer in 0.20 seconds. Let's try to avoid proliferation of insignificant threads.

12-02-2003, 01:47 PM	#5
Doctor X Banned Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: USA Posts: 3,794	Signals Seed to spill the water on Apikorus. . . . Now then . . . then now . . . now then . . . no abusing the Newbies! I am sure The Powers that Be [PBUT--Ed.] will quickly deal with an insignificant topic andnot everyone is internet savy. Also, it may be that AirPo trusts the opinion here over some random web-page. More to his question, is whether or not the writers/producers intended Eddie Murphy's donkey to be the OT talking donkey. I would find that highly unlikely, but I would love to be shown otherwise. --J.D.

12-02-2003, 02:10 PM	#6
Toto Contributor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Los Angeles area Posts: 40,549	I can't tell if the Donkey is supposed to be a fairy tale character or not. I think that the folks in Media and Pop Culture might like this thread, so I'm sending it there.

12-02-2003, 04:14 PM	#7
Amaleq13 Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Eagle River, Alaska Posts: 7,816	Not to wax pedantic but the Balaam story with the talking donkey is more accurately described as a "fable" rather than a "fairy tale".

12-02-2003, 04:41 PM	#8
Adora Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Australia Posts: 1,743	I think it's one of Aesop's. I liked Monsters Inc. Better "BOOO!"

12-02-2003, 11:04 PM	#9
Vinnie Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Waterbury, Ct, Usa Posts: 6,523	The terminology proper is 'talking ass' Vinnie

12-03-2003, 06:04 AM	#10
Arken Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: North Hollywood, CA Posts: 6,303	I don't think the donkey in Shrek was supposed to have any greater literary significance. I think it was just supposed to be a typical silly fairy tale character.

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