Horse

Always referred to in the Bible in connection with warlike "operations, except Isa. 28:28. The war-horse is described Job" 39:19-25. For a long period after their settlement in Canaan the "Israelites made no use of horses, according to the prohibition," Deut. 17:16. David was the first to form a force of cavalry (2 "Sam. 8:4). But Solomon, from his connection with Egypt, greatly" "multiplied their number (1 Kings 4:26; 10:26, 29). After this," horses were freely used in Israel (1 Kings 22:4; 2 Kings 3:7; "9:21, 33; 11:16). The furniture of the horse consisted simply of" a bridle (Isa. 30:28) and a curb (Ps. 32:9).

"A gate in the wall of Jerusalem, at the west end of the bridge," leading from Zion to the temple (Neh. 3:28; Jer. 31:40).

Occurs only in Prov. 30:15 (Heb. `alukah); the generic name for any blood-sucking annelid. There are various species in the "marshes and pools of Palestine. That here referred to, the" "Hoemopis, is remarkable for the coarseness of its bite, and is" therefore not used for medical purposes. They are spoken of in "the East with feelings of aversion and horror, because of their" propensity to fasten on the tongue and nostrils of horses when they come to drink out of the pools. The medicinal leech (Hirudo "medicinalis), besides other species of leeches, are common in" the waters of Syria.

"Heb. ba'al parash, "master of a horse." The "horsemen" mentioned" "Ex. 14:9 were "mounted men", i.e., men who rode in chariots. The" army of Pharaoh consisted of a chariot and infantry force. We "find that at a later period, however, the Egyptians had cavalry" (2 Chr. 12:3). (See [286]HORSE.)