Horse

The animal most commonly associated with war and battle, the horse also appears figuratively in poetic and prophetic literature. Its domesticated usage was mainly for personal travel and the haulage of heavy loads.

The military use of horses

Exodus 15:1; Joshua 11:4; 2 Kings 6:14–15 Exodus 14:9, Exodus 14:28; Deuteronomy 11:4; Isaiah 43:16–17; 1 Kings 20:1, 1 Kings 20:20–21; Job 39:19–25; Psalm 76:6; Isaiah 5:28; Jeremiah 4:13, Jeremiah 46:9, Jeremiah 51:21; Ezekiel 38:4; Habakkuk 1:8

Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the LORD: “I will sing to the LORD, for He is highly exalted. The horse and rider He has thrown into the sea.

So these kings came out with all their armies, a multitude as numerous as the sand on the seashore, along with a great number of horses and chariots.

the king of Aram sent horses, chariots, and a great army. They went there by night and surrounded the city. When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early in the morning, behold, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. So he asked Elisha, “Oh, my master, what are we to do?”

Disabling horses in wartime

Joshua 11:6 See also Joshua 11:9; 2 Samuel 8:4 parallel 1 Chronicles 18:4; Micah 5:10

Then the LORD said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them, for by this time tomorrow I will deliver all of them slain before Israel. You are to hamstring their horses and burn up their chariots.”

Warnings against reliance on horses

Isaiah 31:1 See also Deuteronomy 17:16; Psalm 20:7, Psalm 33:17, Psalm 147:10

Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in their abundance of chariots and in their multitude of horsemen. They do not look to the Holy One of Israel; they do not seek the LORD.

The ritual use of horses

Esther 6:7–9 See also 1 Samuel 8:11; 2 Samuel 15:1; Jeremiah 22:4

And Haman told the king, “For the man whom the king is delighted to honor, have them bring a royal robe that the king himself has worn and a horse on which the king himself has ridden— one with a royal crest placed on its head. Let the robe and the horse be entrusted to one of the king’s most noble princes. Let them array the man the king wants to honor and parade him on the horse through the city square, proclaiming before him, ‘This is what is done for the man whom the king is delighted to honor!’”

Horses as a means of exchange and a measure of wealth

Genesis 47:17; 1 Kings 4:26 See also 1 Kings 9:19, 1 Kings 10:25–26 parallel 2 Chronicles 1:14; 2 Chronicles 9:28; Isaiah 2:7

So they brought their livestock to Joseph, and he gave them food in exchange for their horses, their flocks and herds, and their donkeys. Throughout that year he provided them with food in exchange for all their livestock.

Solomon had 4,000 stalls for his chariot horses and 12,000 horses.

Horses as a means of transport and for the haulage of loads

2 Kings 5:9 See also 2 Kings 14:20 parallel 2 Chronicles 25:28; Esther 8:10, Esther 8:14; Isaiah 21:7, Isaiah 21:9, Isaiah 66:20

So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stood at the door of Elisha’s house.

Harness and tackle for horses

Psalm 32:9 See also 2 Kings 19:28; Job 41:13; Isaiah 30:28, Isaiah 37:29; Revelation 14:20

Do not be like the horse or mule, which have no understanding; they must be controlled with bit and bridle to make them come to you.

The figurative and prophetic use of horse imagery

James 3:2–3; Revelation 19:11 See also 2 Kings 13:14; Isaiah 28:28; Joel 2:4; Zechariah 1:6–8; Revelation 6:1–8, Revelation 9:17, Revelation 19:14

We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to control his whole body. When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can guide the whole animal.

Then I saw heaven standing open, and there before me was a white horse. And its rider is called Faithful and True. With righteousness He judges and wages war.

Heavenly horses

2 Kings 2:11 See also 2 Kings 6:17, 2 Kings 7:6

As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire with horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up into heaven in a whirlwind.