Jewish Midrash:
"The" Donkey in Ex.4:20 is The "same" donkey that Abraham used in the binding of Isaac, Moses went back to Egypt upon and that Messiah will enter the kingdom of which Moses was unable...
Ex.4:20 "So Moses took his wife and his sons, mounted them upon the donkey, and he returned to the land of Egypt, and Moses took the staff of God in his hand."... Rashi- "mounted them upon the donkey: The designated donkey. That is the donkey that Abraham saddled for the binding of Isaac, and that is the one upon whom the King Messiah is destined to appear, as it is said: “humble, and riding a donkey” (Zech. 9:9). — [from Pirkei Rabbi Eliezer, ch. 31]" ....... Chapter 31"Abraham rose up ■ early in the morning, and he took with him Ishmael, and Eliezer, and Isaac his son, and he saddled the ass. Upon this ass did Abraham ride. This was the ass, the offspring of that ass which was created during the twilight,^ as it is said, " And Abraham rose early in the morning, and saddled his ass " {ibid. S).^^ The same ass was also ridden upon by Moses when he came to Egypt, as it is said, " And Moses took his wife and his sons, and set them upon the ass " (Ex. iv. 20). This || same ass will be ridden"
Zech.9:9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.... ("same" may not be literal of a donkey that lives 1000's of yrs....
In the story of Balaam we have a special donkey that points to the symbolizim of "The donkey". Balaam was asked to assist another people with their own enemies that He may curse their enemiy cause they enemy is to strong for them alone Num.22...
Num.22:16- And they came to Balaam, and said to him, Thus saith Balak the son of Zippor, Let nothing, I pray thee, hinder thee from coming unto me:
17 For I will promote thee unto very great honour, and I will do whatsoever thou sayest unto me: come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people.
18 And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the Lord my God, to do less or more.
19 Now therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here this night, that I may know what the Lord will say unto me more.
20 And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, If the men come to call thee, rise up, and go with them; but yet the word which I shall say unto thee, that shalt thou do.
21 And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab..... While on route the donkey began to turn away from the Balaam's directed path many times and very zealously. Balaam ended up cursing the donkey out of ignorance when this was the sign That G-d didnt want Balaam to continue forward thuss the donkey ended up speaking... This is the symbol of the donkey- humbleness unto HaShem (G-d) and his Guidance/Blessings to get you where you need to be according to his will. Abraham humbled himself when he and Isaac went to offer a burnt offering on the mount. Moses humbled himself to go forth and do what G-d asked of him. Messiah humbled himself in going into the city and being crucified according to G-d's will.
This naturally had me wanting to find mention of a donkey in relation to Israel/ Jacob. The story of Joseph's cup (of silver) placed in Benjamin's bag upon his ass (donkey) showed G-d was the one that brought the sons (tribes) of Israel back together and drew them unto humbling themselves according to His will! Gen.44.....
https://archive.org/stream/pirkderabbieli00frieuoft/pirkderabbieli00frieuoft_djvu.txt
..... But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. Ps.37:11 (Matt.5:5)
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personal note: In this week’s portion Abraham is referred to for the first time as “Abraham the Hebrew” (Genesis 14:13). The root of the Hebrew word for “Hebrew” (ivri) literally means “to cross over.” Why does the Torah give Abraham this name? One opinion is that he gained this name because in coming to Israel he left his birth place in Ur Kasdim and crossed over the Euphrates, a major geographical demarcation line in the ancient world. Thus he was known as one who had “crossed over.” In a more spiritual sense, the Midrash describes the entire world standing on one side while Abraham crossed the boundaries of accepted thought and action by choosing to believe in one God (Bereishit Rabbah 42:13).
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personal note: In this week’s portion Abraham is referred to for the first time as “Abraham the Hebrew” (Genesis 14:13). The root of the Hebrew word for “Hebrew” (ivri) literally means “to cross over.” Why does the Torah give Abraham this name? One opinion is that he gained this name because in coming to Israel he left his birth place in Ur Kasdim and crossed over the Euphrates, a major geographical demarcation line in the ancient world. Thus he was known as one who had “crossed over.” In a more spiritual sense, the Midrash describes the entire world standing on one side while Abraham crossed the boundaries of accepted thought and action by choosing to believe in one God (Bereishit Rabbah 42:13).
