Horse
“Horse, possibly from Susa (Persia) as the land of origin”
Summary
In Scripture the horse is exclusively associated with warfare, never with agriculture or ordinary transportation, and represents military power, conquest, and in prophetic visions, divine judgment.
☩Military Character
The most striking feature in biblical notices of the horse is its exclusive application to warlike operations; in no instance is the horse employed for ordinary locomotion or agriculture. The animated description in Job 39:19-25 applies solely to the war-horse: the streaming mane, the lofty bounds like a grasshopper, the terrible snorting, and the eager pawing of the ground. The horse's distinguishing characteristic in Scripture is not speed or utility but strength.
☩Israel and the Horse
The Hebrews in the patriarchal age, as a pastoral people, did not need horses, and for long after settling in Canaan they dispensed with them due to the hilly terrain and the prohibition against multiplying horses. Joshua and David hamstrung captured horses. David first established cavalry after defeating Hadadezer, reserving horses and chariots. Solomon greatly expanded the horse trade with Egypt, having 4,000 chariot horses and 12,000 cavalry horses, establishing active commerce in horses that were resold at profit to the Hittites.
☩Equipment and Care
Horses were managed with bridles placed over the nose and bits or curbs in their mouths. Saddles were not used until a late period. Since horses were not shod, hard hooves 'as flint' were highly valued. Chariot horses were covered with embroidered trappings. Some horses were consecrated to the sun god and kept at the entrance of the temple until Josiah removed them.
☩Prophetic Symbolism
The horse is prominent in prophetic symbolism, always as the war-horse 'prepared unto battle.' In Zechariah's visions, horses of different colors represent the spirits of heaven acting in the great Gentile empires. In Revelation, a white horse represents victory, a red horse carnage, a black horse famine, and a pale horse death. Christ Himself comes forth from heaven on a white horse, followed by His armies on white horses, to judge and make war in righteousness.
Related Verses144 mentions
See Also
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Horse," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. IV (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.F. N. Peloubet & M. A. Peloubet (ed.), "Horse," in Smith's Bible Dictionary (Porter & Coates, 1884).
- 3.James Hastings (ed.), "Horse," in Dictionary of the Apostolic Church, vol. I (T. & T. Clark, 1915–1918).
- 4.George Morrish, "Horse," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).