Topical Bible: The Horse: Notice of Early Traffic In

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The horse, a noble and powerful creature, holds a significant place in biblical history and literature. Its introduction and use in the ancient Near East, particularly in Israel, mark a pivotal development in transportation, warfare, and commerce.

Early References and Symbolism

The earliest mention of horses in the Bible is found in the context of Egypt, a nation renowned for its chariots and cavalry. In Genesis 47:17 , during the severe famine in Egypt, Joseph traded bread for horses, indicating their value and presence in Egyptian society. This early reference highlights the horse's role as a commodity and a symbol of wealth and power.

Introduction to Israel

The Israelites' initial encounters with horses were likely during their sojourn in Egypt and subsequent exodus. However, it was not until the time of the monarchy that horses became more prevalent in Israel. Deuteronomy 17:16 provides a divine injunction against multiplying horses, particularly through trade with Egypt, to prevent reliance on military might over divine trust: "But the king must not acquire great numbers of horses for himself or make the people return to Egypt to acquire more of them, for the LORD has said, ‘You are never to go back that way again.’"

Solomon's Importation of Horses

King Solomon is notably associated with the importation and use of horses. 1 Kings 10:28-29 describes Solomon's extensive trade network, which included importing horses from Egypt and Kue: "Solomon’s horses were imported from Egypt and Kue; the royal merchants purchased them from Kue. A chariot could be imported from Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver, and a horse for a hundred and fifty. Likewise, they exported them to all the kings of the Hittites and to the kings of Aram."

Solomon's acquisition of horses and chariots signified a shift towards a more militarized and economically interconnected kingdom. This development, while enhancing Israel's military capabilities, also reflected a departure from earlier divine warnings against such practices.

Military and Prophetic Contexts

Throughout the Old Testament, horses are frequently associated with military strength and conquest. In the prophetic literature, horses often symbolize impending judgment or deliverance. For instance, in Zechariah 6:1-8 , the prophet describes four chariots with horses of different colors, representing the four spirits of heaven patrolling the earth.

The horse's speed and strength made it an apt metaphor for divine intervention and the swift execution of God's will. In Job 39:19-25 , the horse is depicted as a fearless and majestic creature, embodying the awe-inspiring power of God's creation: "Do you give strength to the horse or adorn his neck with a mane? Do you make him leap like a locust, striking terror with his proud snorting?"

Cultural and Religious Implications

The introduction and use of horses in Israel had profound cultural and religious implications. While they enhanced the nation's military prowess, they also posed a spiritual challenge, as reliance on horses could lead to a diminished dependence on God. The biblical narrative consistently emphasizes the need for trust in divine providence over human strength, as articulated in Psalm 20:7 : "Some trust in chariots and others in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God."

In summary, the horse's presence in biblical times reflects a complex interplay of economic, military, and spiritual dynamics. Its role in early traffic and trade underscores the broader themes of reliance, power, and faith that permeate the biblical text.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Genesis 47:17
And they brought their cattle to Joseph: and Joseph gave them bread in exchange for horses, and for the flocks, and for the cattle of the herds, and for the asses: and he fed them with bread for all their cattle for that year.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Introductory Notice Respecting Tauler's Life and Times
... Introductory Notice respecting Tauler's Life and Times. ... I would have lived on his
heritage and not upon alms." He devoted himself, however, in early years to a ...
/.../introductory notice respecting taulers life.htm

Sennacherib (705-681 BC )
... and five thousand: and when men arose early in the ... campaign at little more than a
day's notice; the kings ... distinguished by the carving of a horse's head, which ...
/.../chapter isennacherib 705-681 b c.htm

From the Close of the General Conference of 1824 to the ...
... year, and nothing worthy of special notice which happened ... Early after his conversion
he was convinced that a ... was sitting carelessly upon his horse, James's gun ...
/.../chapter 8 from the close.htm

The Flight into Egypt and St. John the Baptist in the Desert
... talk in the land about John ever since his early days ... They seemed to teach him and
to make him notice all kinds ... It was the size of a horse and had something pig ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/xvi the flight into egypt.htm

Church Fabrics and Services.
... to-do citizens could enjoy without attracting too much notice". ... with turning in their
cow and horse.[965] Practices ... fast progressing, and in the early part of ...
/.../the english church in the eighteenth century/chapter x church fabrics and.htm

Scriptural Poems; Being Several Portions of Scripture Digested ...
... his father's flock, Among his brethren he great notice took Of ... And Joseph coming
early the next day, Into the room ... toleration To you to come and traffic in the ...
/.../scriptural poems being several portions.htm

The Power of Assyria at Its Zenith; Esarhaddon and Assur-Bani-Pal
... as we come down to later times, betrays the influence of early Greek art ... existence
beside them, under dynasties which have received merely passing notice at the ...
/.../chapter iithe power of assyria 2.htm

The First Chaldaean Empire and the Hyksos in Egypt
... the Egyptians, and that they must have been heirlooms from very early peoples. ... Egyptian
sailors used to set out to traffic along the seaboard, taking to piracy ...
/.../chapter ithe first chaldaean empire.htm

The Rise of the Assyrian Empire
... like a pack of hounds asleep around their master, the mastabas of the early dynasties
were ... between Egypt and the rest of the world had in this traffic a steady ...
/.../chapter iithe rise of the.htm

The Last Days of the Old Eastern World
... A notice posted up beside it, threatened the king who ... to the attacks of the light
Asiatic horse, that after ... Egyptian army was placed in the field early in the ...
/.../chapter iithe last days of 2.htm