Donkeys and Royalty in the Scriptures

The royal associations of the donkey are behind Zech 9:9, a prophecy of Jerusalem’s king riding on an ass. Matthew 21:5 and John 12:15 cite this prophecy as having been fulfilled in Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. That Jesus rides not a war horse but the donkey of Zech 9:9 makes Him (like Moses, who also rode and ass [Exodus 4:20]) “meek”. His chosen beast does not show him to be a poor or common man but a king, albeit one who does not conquer. Clearly He is innocent of the charge of rebelling against Caesar,
A man on a donkey is not looking for war.


Zech 9:9 is not the only OT text about donkey’s connected with Jesus’ triumphal entry. Not only does the prophecy that the disciples will find a colt (Mark 11:2 and parallels) remind one of 1 Samuel 10:1-9 (Samuel’s prophecy of the finding of the lost asses), but the seemingly superfluous mention that this colt will be “tied” probably alludes to Genesis 49:11 (“binding his foal to the vine and his ass’s colt to the choice vine” RSV). This line was given a messianic interpretation in Judaism (cf. Gen 49:10 LXX; rabbinic sources naturally associate Gen 49:11 and Zech 9:9).
 –Dictionary of Biblical Imagery