In biblical times, the act of saddling an animal, particularly a donkey or a horse, was a practical necessity for travel and transportation. The term "saddled" appears in various contexts throughout the Bible, often indicating preparation for a journey or an important task. The use of saddles in the ancient Near East reflects the cultural and economic practices of the time, where animals were essential for mobility and carrying loads.

Old Testament References

One of the earliest mentions of saddling in the Bible is found in the account of Abraham. In Genesis 22:3 , it is written: "So Abraham got up early the next morning, saddled his donkey, and took along two of his servants and his son Isaac." This passage highlights the urgency and determination of Abraham as he prepared to obey God's command to sacrifice his son Isaac. The act of saddling the donkey signifies readiness and commitment to the divine directive.

Another significant mention is in the narrative of Balaam. In Numbers 22:21 , it states: "So Balaam got up in the morning, saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab." Here, the act of saddling the donkey is part of Balaam's journey to meet Balak, the king of Moab, who sought Balaam's curse upon Israel. This account underscores the theme of divine intervention, as God ultimately uses Balaam's donkey to communicate His will.

In 1 Samuel 25:20 , Abigail, the wife of Nabal, is described as riding a donkey to meet David: "As she rode her donkey into a mountain ravine, there were David and his men, descending toward her, and she met them." Abigail's quick action and the saddling of her donkey demonstrate her wisdom and initiative in averting disaster for her household.

Symbolism and Cultural Context

Saddling an animal in biblical narratives often symbolizes preparation and the undertaking of a significant mission or journey. It reflects the readiness to act upon God's instructions or to engage in important endeavors. The use of donkeys, in particular, is notable, as they were common beasts of burden in the ancient world, valued for their endurance and ability to navigate difficult terrain.

In the cultural context of the Bible, saddling an animal was a task that required skill and care. It involved securing the saddle to ensure the safety and comfort of both the rider and the animal. This practical aspect of daily life is woven into the biblical text, providing insight into the lived experiences of the people of that era.

New Testament Considerations

While the New Testament does not frequently mention the act of saddling, the imagery of riding animals continues to hold significance. For instance, Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem is marked by His riding on a donkey, fulfilling the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9. This event, described in Matthew 21:7 , states: "They brought the donkey and the colt and laid their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them." Although the text does not explicitly mention saddling, the preparation of the donkey for Jesus' entry is implicit in the narrative.

Overall, the concept of "saddled" in the Bible serves as a metaphor for readiness and obedience to God's will, as well as a practical element of ancient life that underscores the historical and cultural backdrop of the biblical accounts.1. (imp. & p. p.) of Saddle.

2. (a.) Having a broad patch of color across the back, like a saddle; saddle-backed.

2280. chabash -- to bind, bind on, bind up
... 2279, 2280. chabash. 2281 . to bind, bind on, bind up. Transliteration: chabash
Phonetic Spelling: (khaw-bash') Short Definition: saddled. Word Origin a prim ...
/hebrew/2280.htm - 6k

A Supplementary Chapter to the Bible in Spain
... of a mule, which, to use his own expression, had the devil in her body, a regular
jade, which would neither allow herself to be shod or saddled without making ...
/.../a supplementary chapter to the.htm

Abraham's Offering up his Son Isaac
... but he answered not a single word: no, without replying against his Maker, we are
told, verse 3, that "Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass ...
/.../selected sermons of george whitefield/abrahams offering up his son.htm

The Poor Debtor.
... He begins the world again with nothing but his ability to work; and, if saddled
with an old debt"principal and interest"his case is hopeless. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/arthur/words for the wise/the poor debtor.htm

Rash Decisions.
... As David was escaping, there came to him Ziba, a servant of Mephibosheth, with a
couple of asses saddled, and upon them two hundred loaves of bread, and a ...
/.../the village pulpit volume ii trinity to advent/xli rash decisions.htm

Abraham and Isaac.
... So he rose early in the morning, saddled his ass, took two of his young men, and
wood for the fire; and then, accompanied by Isaac, started on his journey. ...
/.../anonymous/mother stories from the old testament/abraham and isaac.htm

The Witness of Balaam to Israel
... that shalt thou do. And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass,
and went with the princes of Moab. And God's anger was ...
/.../various/select masterpieces of biblical literature/ii the witness of balaam.htm

The Great Schism (Ad 1378-1410)
... was found that the two old claimants would not give way; and thus the council of
Pisa, in trying to cure the evil of having two popes, had saddled the Church ...
/.../chapter xxii the great schism.htm

And Nicodemus Rising Up, Stood in the Midst of the Counsel...
... there. And they rose in the morning; and Joseph saddled his ass, and travelled
with them, and they came into the holy city Jerusalem. ...
/.../unknown/the gospel of nicodemus /chapter 15 and nicodemus rising.htm

And Nicodemus Stood Up, and Stood Before the Sanhedrin...
... And they rose up early, and prayed. And Joseph saddled his ass, and set
out with the men; and they came to the holy city Jerusalem. ...
/.../unknown/the gospel of nicodemus /chapter 15 and nicodemus stood.htm

Faith Tested and Crowned
... And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his
young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/faith tested and crowned.htm

Saddled (11 Occurrences)
...Saddled (11 Occurrences). Genesis 22:3 Abraham rose early in the morning, and saddled
his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son. ...
/s/saddled.htm - 10k

Donkey (84 Occurrences)
... Genesis 22:3 Abraham rose early in the morning, and saddled his donkey,
and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son. ...
/d/donkey.htm - 31k

Saddle (7 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). 1 Kings 13:13 He said to his sons, "Saddle
the donkey for me." So they saddled the donkey for him; and he rode on it. ...
/s/saddle.htm - 10k

Couple (19 Occurrences)
... night, but he rose up and departed, and came over against Jebus (the same is Jerusalem):
and there were with him a couple of donkeys saddled; his concubine ...
/c/couple.htm - 14k

Ass (95 Occurrences)
... Genesis 22:3 And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and
took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for ...
/a/ass.htm - 48k

Mephibosheth (13 Occurrences)
... anxious request Mephibosheth told his story: his servant had deceived him; he wanted
to go with David, had even asked for his beast to be saddled; but Ziba had ...
/m/mephibosheth.htm - 17k

Donkeys (71 Occurrences)
... night, but he rose up and departed, and came over against Jebus (the same is Jerusalem):
and there were with him a couple of donkeys saddled; his concubine ...
/d/donkeys.htm - 28k

Asses (68 Occurrences)
... not tarry that night, but he rose up and departed, and came over against Jebus,
which is Jerusalem; and there were with him two asses saddled, his concubine ...
/a/asses.htm - 29k

Ziba (13 Occurrences)
... servant said to him, Saddle me (so read in 2 Samuel 19:26 (Hebrew text, verse 27)
with Septuagint and Syriac for Massoretic Text `I will have saddled me') the ...
/z/ziba.htm - 14k

Why do I face the consequences of Adam's sin when I did not eat the fruit? | GotQuestions.org

Did Balaam's donkey really talk to him? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Balaam in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Saddled: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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