Horses

Notable Sources

All Sources

Solomon's Horses and Chariots

TANAKH

The extensive procurement and economic details of Solomon's horses and chariots reveal the grandeur and complexity of his reign. The biblical book of Kings I provides a detailed account of King Solomon's wealth, military power, and trade relationships, particularly focusing on his acquisition of horses and chariots.

Solomon assembled chariots and horses. He had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horses, which he stationed in the chariot towns and with the king in Jerusalem. The king made silver as plentiful in Jerusalem as stones, and cedars as plentiful as sycamores in the Shephelah. Solomon’s horses were procured from Mizraim and Kue. The king’s dealers would buy them from Kue at a fixed price. A chariot imported from Mizraim cost 600 shekels of silver, and a horse 150; these in turn were exported by them to all the kings of the Hittites and the kings of the Arameans.

I Kings 10:26-29

Horses and Chariots of Fire

TANAKH

The vision of horses and chariots of fire surrounding Elisha underscores the theme of divine protection and intervention. In the biblical narrative of Kings II, Elisha prays for his servant's eyes to be opened, revealing a miraculous vision of divine protection.

Then Elisha prayed: “ETERNAL One, open his eyes and let him see.” And GOD opened the servant’s eyes and he saw the hills all around Elisha covered with horses and chariots of fire.

II Kings 6:17

Horse Races at King Solomon's Court

MIDRASH

The elaborate and organized nature of horse races at King Solomon's court reveals the intricate cultural and symbolic practices of ancient Israel. Louis Ginzberg’s early 20th-century compilation, Legends of the Jews, offers a rich tapestry of narratives that expand on biblical texts, providing deeper insights into Jewish tradition and culture.

The throne was not the only remarkable sight at the court of the magnificent king. Solomon attracted visitors to his capital by means of games and shows. In every month of the year the official who was in charge for the month, was expected to arrange for a horse race, and once a year a race took place in which the competitors were ten thousand youths, mainly of the tribes of Gad and Naphtali, who lived at the court of the king year in, year out, and were maintained by him. For the scholars, their disciples, the priests, and the Levites, the races were held on the last of the month…

Legends of the Jews 4:5:112

The Vision of the Horses

TANAKH

The visionary depiction of horses in Zechariah's prophecy offers a rich, symbolic narrative that reveals divine plans and the roles of angels. The Book of Zechariah presents a mystical scene involving a figure on a bay horse among myrtles, accompanied by other horses of different colors, each symbolizing different aspects of divine judgment and mercy.

In the night, I had a vision. I saw a figure, mounted on a bay horse, standing among the myrtles in the Deep, and behind him were bay, sorrel, and white horses.

Zechariah 1:8

Solomon's Horse Stalls

TALMUD

The rabbis reconcile a contradiction in the number of Solomon's horse stalls by suggesting different interpretations of the numbers of stables and stalls. The Talmudic tractate Sanhedrin addresses this apparent contradiction in the biblical text.

§ Rav Yehuda raises a contradiction: It is written in one verse: “And Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots” (I Kings 5:6), and it is written in another verse: “And Solomon had four thousand stalls for horses and chariots” (II Chronicles 9:25). How can these texts be reconciled? If there were forty thousand large stables [itztablaot], each and every one of them had in it four thousand stalls, or rows, for horses…

Sanhedrin 21b:13

Regulations on Horses and Mules

MISHNAH

The Mishnah provides detailed regulations on the tying and breeding of horses and mules, emphasizing the importance of maintaining natural order. The Mishnah, a codification of Jewish law from the early third-century land of Israel, discusses the laws of Kilayim, which prohibit mixing different species of animals for work.

They may not tie a horse neither to the sides of a wagon [drawn by oxen] nor behind the wagon, nor [may they tie] a Libyan donkey to [a wagon drawn by] camels. Rabbi Judah says: all [mules] born from horses, even though their father is a donkey, are permitted one with another. Likewise [mules] born from donkey, even though their father is a horse, are permitted one with another. But [mules] born from a horse with [mules] born from donkeys are prohibited one with another.

Mishnah Kilayim 8:4

The Inseparable Bond of Horse and Rider

MIDRASH

The bond between a horse and its rider is so strong that they rise and fall together, unlike other objects that would separate when thrown into the sea. The Mekhilta DeRabbi Yishmael, an ancient midrash from the land of Israel on the book of Exodus, explores this bond in the context of the Song of the Sea.

"a horse and its rider": When a horse is tied to its rider, and the rider to the horse, they rise and descend to the depths without separating. When a man throws two vessels into the sea they immediately separate, but here: "a horse and its rider" together He cast into the sea.

Mekhilta DeRabbi Yishmael, Tractate Shirah 2:20

Obedience in the Face of Conquest

TANAKH

Joshua's obedience to divine command, even in the context of dealing with horses, demonstrates the importance of following God's will. The Book of Joshua recounts the Israelites' conquest of Canaan under Joshua's leadership, including the divine command to hamstring enemy horses and burn their chariots.

And Joshua dealt with them as GOD had ordered him; he hamstrung their horses and burned their chariots.

Joshua 11:9

A King’s True Wealth

COMMENTARY

The Torah imposes specific restrictions on a Jewish king to ensure his focus remains on spiritual and moral leadership rather than material wealth. Rabbeinu Bachya’s commentary on Deuteronomy 17:16 contrasts the Torah’s limitations on a Jewish king with the practices of Gentile kings.

רק לא ירבה לו סוסים, “only he shall not amass for himself horses, etc.” The Torah now proceeds to list differences between Gentile kings’ prerogatives and those of a Jewish king. Jewish kings must not make the acquisition of many horses and chariots their policy. Neither must a Jewish king amass gold and silver or even wives. Gentile kings see in the acquisition of these possessions an end in itself and treat these possessions as the measure of their success instead of as something secondary as Jewish kings are asked to do…

Rabbeinu Bahya, Devarim 17:16:1

Horses and Shabbat Regulations

TALMUD

The Jerusalem Talmud provides detailed regulations on what animals, including horses, may wear on Shabbat, highlighting the complexities of maintaining ritual purity. This ancient rabbinic text delves into the laws of Shabbat, particularly focusing on the permissibility of using a chain for a horse and the associated rules for ritual purity.

MISHNAH: With what may an animal go out and with what may it not go out? A camel may go out with a bridle, and a female camel with a nose ring, and a Lybian donkey with a bridle, and a horse with a chain, and all that have a chain may go out with the chain and may be drawn with the chain which may be sprinkled upon and immersed in place.

Jerusalem Talmud Shabbat 5:1:1

Guidelines for Leading a Horse on Shabbat

HALAKHAH

The Kitzur Shulchan Arukh provides specific guidelines for leading a horse with a bridle on Shabbat, ensuring proper observance of Jewish law. This 19th-century condensed code of Jewish law by Rabbi Shlomo Ganzfried offers practical guidance on daily Jewish living, including the handling of animals on Shabbat.

You may lead a horse with the straps of the bridle, provided you hold the end of the straps so that a tefach does not protrude from your hand; also, so that the strap which is between your hand and the animal [does not reach] to within a tefach of the ground. If the strap is very long then, wrap it around the horse's neck.

Kitzur Shulchan Arukh 87:5

Solomon's Military Organization

TANAKH

King Solomon's extensive resources and military organization are exemplified by his 4,000 stalls and 12,000 horsemen. The book of II Chronicles provides a detailed account of Solomon's reign, including his strategic placement of these resources in chariot towns and Jerusalem.

Solomon had 4,000 stalls for horses and chariots, and 12,000 horsemen, which he stationed in the chariot towns and with the king in Jerusalem.

II Chronicles 9:25

The King's Horses

MUSAR

The Torah commands that a king should not amass too many horses, emphasizing reliance on divine trust over military power. In his 17th-century work, Rabbi Isaiah HaLevi Horowitz discusses this commandment within the broader context of the 613 commandments in the Torah.

Commandment 499 enjoins the king not to amass too many horses.

Shenei Luchot HaBerit, Torah Shebikhtav, Shoftim, Ner Mitzvah 10

The Symbolism of Mercabah

JEWISH THOUGHT

The term 'mercabah' in Jewish thought symbolizes a collection of animals and is connected to the Throne of Glory. In his 12th-century philosophical work, The Guide for the Perplexed, Rambam (Maimonides) delves into the symbolic meanings of terms like 'mercabah' to reconcile Jewish theology with Aristotelian philosophy.

You must know that in Hebrew the collective noun denoting animals used for riding is “mercabah.” Instances of this noun are not rare. “And Joseph made ready his chariot” (merkabto) (Gen. 46:29); “in the second chariot” (be-mirkebet) (ib. 41:43); “Pharaoh’s chariots” (markebot) (Exod. 15:4). The following passage especially proves that the Hebrew merkabah denotes a collection of animals: “And a merkabah came up and went out of Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver, and a horse for an hundred and fifty” (1 Kings 10:21). Hence we may learn that mercabah denotes here four horses…

Guide for the Perplexed, Part 1 70:7

The Colors of Prophecy

COMMENTARY

The detailed description of the horses' colors and patterns in Zechariah's vision offers a unique and vivid insight into the prophetic messages during the Second Temple period. Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz's modern translation and commentary on the Hebrew Bible, the Steinsaltz Tanakh, provides an accessible and engaging interpretation of these visions.

the third chariot had white horses, and the fourth chariot had mottled [beruddim], striped, or perhaps spotted like hail [barad], bay, gray and somewhat reddish, horses. Alternatively, the final term is a reference to prominent horses.

Steinsaltz on Zechariah 6:3

A Symbol of Strength and Beauty

LITURGY

The verse poetically compares the beloved to a symbol of strength and beauty, highlighting deep affection and admiration. This verse from Song of Songs symbolizes the loving relationship between God and the Jewish people.

To steeds in the chariots of Pharaoh I have likened you, my beloved.

Shabbat Siddur Sefard Linear, Song of Songs 1:9

The Horse's Contribution to a Smooth Journey

SECOND TEMPLE

Philo of Alexandria highlights the horse's ability to provide a smooth and controlled journey, emphasizing its manageability and contribution to the rider's comfort. Philo, a Hellenistic Jewish philosopher, aimed to harmonize Jewish theology with Greek philosophy, offering unique insights into the role of horses in travel.

[86] Nay, even the horse, most spirited of all animals, is easily controlled by the bit to prevent his growing restive and running away. He hollows his back, making it a convenient seat, takes his rider on it and bearing him aloft gallops at a great pace intent on bringing himself and his rider to the destination which the latter is eager to reach. As for his rider, firmly seated on him, without trouble and in much composure, he gets through his journey using the body and feet of another.

On the Account of the World's Creation 28:4

Balancing Joy and Study on Yom Tov

HALAKHAH

Even on Yom Tov, the balance between joy and religious obligations is essential. Rabbi Eliezer Melamed, in his contemporary presentation of Jewish law, Peninei Halakhah, discusses the permissibility of preparing a horse for short outings on Yom Tov, provided it enhances festival joy and does not interfere with Torah study.

Outings do have a place on the festival. As we saw, the Sages permit carrying on Yom Tov as part of an outing in the public domain (6:2 above). Similarly, if one wishes to take a trip on horseback, he may prepare with unskilled labor: trimming the horse’s hooves, and fixing the saddle and bridle (SA 536:1; 11:15 below). However, the permissibility is limited to short outings, which contribute to festival joy and are not exhausting or burdensome. They certainly should not come at the expense of the half of every day that must be dedicated to Torah study.

Peninei Halakhah, Festivals 10:6:8

Horses Grazing, Nikolai Sverchkov (1817-1898)

Relatedראו גם

Mules

Death

Sheetsדפי מקורות

Related Sheets