Couriers
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In the biblical context, couriers were essential figures responsible for the swift and reliable transmission of messages across distances. Their role was crucial in a time when communication relied heavily on physical means, such as letters and verbal messages, rather than modern technology.

Old Testament References

The concept of couriers is notably present in the Old Testament, particularly in the context of the Persian Empire. The book of Esther provides a vivid depiction of the courier system. In Esther 3:13, it is recorded: "Letters were sent by couriers to all the king’s provinces with the order to destroy, kill, and annihilate all the Jews—young and old, women and children—and to plunder their possessions on a single day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar." This passage highlights the efficiency and reach of the Persian courier system, which was capable of disseminating decrees throughout the vast empire.

Later, in Esther 8:10, after Esther and Mordecai's intervention, the king's edict allowing the Jews to defend themselves was also dispatched by couriers: "Mordecai wrote in the name of King Xerxes, sealed it with the king’s signet ring, and sent the letters by mounted couriers, who rode fast horses, bred from the royal mares." This demonstrates the urgency and importance of the messages carried by couriers, as well as the trust placed in them to deliver critical communications.

Role and Function

Couriers in biblical times were often chosen for their speed and reliability. They were typically mounted on horses or camels, allowing them to cover long distances quickly. The Persian Empire, in particular, was renowned for its sophisticated courier system, which included a network of stations where couriers could rest and exchange horses, ensuring that messages were delivered as swiftly as possible.

The role of couriers was not limited to the Persian Empire. Throughout the ancient Near East, various kingdoms and empires employed similar systems to maintain control and communication across their territories. The efficiency of these systems was vital for governance, military coordination, and the implementation of royal decrees.

Symbolic and Spiritual Implications

In a broader spiritual sense, couriers can be seen as symbols of divine communication and the transmission of God's will. Just as earthly kings relied on couriers to convey their messages, God uses prophets, angels, and scripture to communicate with humanity. The reliability and speed of couriers in delivering messages can be likened to the faithfulness and urgency with which God's word is to be shared and received.

The role of couriers in the Bible underscores the importance of communication in maintaining order and executing justice. It also reflects the broader theme of God's sovereignty and the unfolding of His divine plan through human history.
Strong's Hebrew
7323. ruts -- to run
... root Definition to run NASB Word Usage carried them speedily (1), courier runs
(1), courier runs to another (1), couriers (6), dash to and fro (1), guard (6 ...
/hebrew/7323.htm - 6k
Library

The Council of Tyre and First Exile of Athanasius, 335-337.
... i.29). This was too much for John Arcaph, who precipitately fled (so Socr., he seems
to have gone to Egypt with the couriers mentioned below, cf. p.142). ...
/.../athanasius/select works and letters or athanasius/section 5 the council of.htm

History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 9
... The organisation of the country and its division into satrapies: the satrap, the
military commander, the royal secretary; couriers, main roads, the Eyes and ...
/.../history of egypt chaldaea syria babylonia and assyria v 9/title page.htm

The Coming of the Pharaoh
... from his capital. They were the last of a series of couriers that had kept
the city informed of the king's advance. For days before ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the yoke/chapter xiii the coming of.htm

Expatriation
... Shadows fell and lengthened; the afternoon passed, and still he slept. Mounted couriers
riding at a dead gallop, passed over the road, toward Tanis. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the yoke/chapter xlii expatriation.htm

The Pilgrims of Jesus.
... The Love that through all troubles. To Him alone will turn,". What are they, but
vaunt-couriers. To lead you to His Sight? What are they, save the effluence. ...
/.../neale/hymns of the eastern church/the pilgrims of jesus.htm

The Circumcision of Christ: a Hymn for New Year's Day. So Teach us ...
... And yet to thee Time hastes away,. Like as the warhorse to the fray,. Or swift
as couriers homeward go,. Or ship to port, or shaft from bow. ...
/.../winkworth/lyra germanica the christian year/the circumcision of christ a.htm

To the Rev. J. Jowett
... of the first four parts of the Testament, the Gospels; he having kindly promised
to cause them to be conveyed to London by one of the couriers belonging to the ...
/.../borrow/letters of george borrow/to the rev j jowett 14.htm

On Psalm xxiii. Or xxiv. From the Commentary by the Same, on Ps. ...
... Therefore to these powers it is said by the angels, who are the couriers of the
Saviour and Lord: "Lift up your gates, ye princes; and be lifted up, ye ...
/.../the extant works and fragments of hippolytus/on psalm xxiii or xxiv.htm

Relations with Nestorius and to Nestorianism.
... When the couriers conveying these communications reached Antioch they found John
surrounded by Theodoret and other bishops who were assembled possibly for the ...
/.../the ecclesiastical history of theodoret/iii relations with nestorius and to.htm

Of the Events which Happened on Account of Chrysostom.
... the town. After these another party was sent and yet again others after
them and the Bosphorus was crowded with the couriers. When ...
/.../the ecclesiastical history of theodoret/chapter xxxiv of the events which.htm

Thesaurus
Couriers (16 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Couriers (16 Occurrences). 1 Kings 14:27 And king
Rehoboam made in their stead brazen shields, and committed ...
/c/couriers.htm - 12k

Bodyguard (23 Occurrences)
... 2 Kings 11:4 And in the seventh year Jehoiada sent and fetched the captains of the
hundreds, of the bodyguard and the couriers, and brought them to him into ...
/b/bodyguard.htm - 14k

Guard (185 Occurrences)
... 2:14). (2.) Hebrews rats, properly a "courier," one whose office was to run before
the king's chariot (2 Samuel 15:1; 1 Kings 1:5). The couriers were also ...
/g/guard.htm - 55k

Impelled (7 Occurrences)
... (WEY). Esther 3:15 The couriers went forth in haste by the king's commandment,
and the decree was given out in the citadel of Susa. ...
/i/impelled.htm - 8k

Pelethites (7 Occurrences)
... The word probably means "runners" or "couriers," and may denote that while forming
part of David's bodyguard, they were also sometimes employed as couriers (2 ...
/p/pelethites.htm - 10k

Compel (10 Occurrences)
... The Aggaroi were public couriers stationed by appointment of the kings of Persia,
at fixed localities, with horses ready for use, to transmit speedily from one ...
/c/compel.htm - 12k

Citadel (20 Occurrences)
... (WEB NAS NIV). Esther 3:15 The couriers went forth in haste by the king's
commandment, and the decree was given out in the citadel of Susa. ...
/c/citadel.htm - 13k

Coursers (3 Occurrences)
... (DBY). Esther 8:10 And he wrote in the name of king Ahasuerus, and sealed it with
the king's ring, and sent letters by couriers on horseback riding on coursers ...
/c/coursers.htm - 7k

Susa (20 Occurrences)
... (WEB NAS RSV NIV). Esther 3:15 The couriers went forth in haste by the king's
commandment, and the decree was given out in the citadel of Susa. ...
/s/susa.htm - 13k

Edict (22 Occurrences)
... (See NAS NIV). Esther 3:15 The couriers went forth in haste by the king's
commandment, and the decree was given out in the citadel of Susa. ...
/e/edict.htm - 14k

Resources
Who was Haman the Agagite? | GotQuestions.org

What is an acolyte? | GotQuestions.org

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Couriers (16 Occurrences)

1 Kings 14:27
And king Rehoboam made in their stead brazen shields, and committed them to the hands of the chief of the couriers who kept the entrance of the king's house.
(DBY)

1 Kings 14:28
And it was so, that as often as the king entered into the house of Jehovah, the couriers bore them, and brought them again into the chamber of the couriers.
(DBY)

2 Kings 10:25
And it came to pass as soon as they had ended offering up the burnt-offering, that Jehu said to the couriers and to the captains, Go in, slay them; let none come forth. And they smote them with the edge of the sword; and the couriers and the captains cast them there. And they went to the city of the house of Baal,
(DBY)

2 Kings 11:4
And in the seventh year Jehoiada sent and fetched the captains of the hundreds, of the bodyguard and the couriers, and brought them to him into the house of Jehovah, and made a covenant with them, and took an oath of them in the house of Jehovah, and shewed them the king's son.
(DBY)

2 Kings 11:6
and a third part shall be at the gate of Sur; and a third part at the gate behind the couriers; and ye shall keep the watch of the house for a defence.
(DBY)

2 Kings 11:11
And the couriers stood by the king round about, every man with his weapons in his hand, from the right side of the house to the left side of the house, toward the altar and the house.
(DBY)

2 Kings 11:13
And Athaliah heard the noise of the couriers and of the people; and she came to the people into the house of Jehovah.
(DBY)

2 Kings 11:19
And he took the captains of the hundreds, and the bodyguard, and the couriers, and all the people of the land; and they brought down the king from the house of Jehovah, and came by the way through the gate of the couriers into the king's house. And he sat upon the throne of the kings.
(DBY)

2 Chronicles 12:10
And king Rehoboam made in their stead shields of bronze, and committed them to the hands of the chief of the couriers who kept the entrance of the king's house.
(DBY)

2 Chronicles 12:11
And it was so, that as often as the king entered into the house of Jehovah, the couriers came and fetched them, and brought them again into the chamber of the couriers.
(DBY)

2 Chronicles 30:6
And the couriers went with the letters from the king and his princes throughout Israel and Judah, and according to the commandment of the king, saying, Ye children of Israel, return to Jehovah the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, and he will return to the remnant of you that are escaped out of the hand of the kings of Assyria.
(DBY NAS RSV NIV)

2 Chronicles 30:10
And the couriers passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh, even to Zebulun; but they laughed them to scorn and mocked them.
(DBY NAS RSV NIV)

Esther 3:13
Letters were sent by couriers into all the king's provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, even on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to plunder their possessions.
(WEB DBY NAS RSV NIV)

Esther 3:15
The couriers went forth in haste by the king's commandment, and the decree was given out in the citadel of Susa. The king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city of Shushan was perplexed.
(WEB DBY NAS RSV NIV)

Esther 8:10
And he wrote in the name of king Ahasuerus, and sealed it with the king's ring, and sent letters by couriers on horseback riding on coursers, horses of blood reared in the breeding studs:
(DBY NAS RSV NIV)

Esther 8:14
So the couriers who rode on royal horses went out, hastened and pressed on by the king's commandment. The decree was given out in the citadel of Susa.
(WEB DBY NAS RSV NIV)

Subtopics

Couriers

Related Terms

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Mid-course (1 Occurrence)

Way (7551 Occurrences)

Direct (58 Occurrences)

Tools (3 Occurrences)

Round (664 Occurrences)

Passage (20 Occurrences)

Career (3 Occurrences)

Turn (963 Occurrences)

Courses (28 Occurrences)

Wheel (20 Occurrences)

Zacharias (11 Occurrences)

Righteousness (442 Occurrences)

Tenor (5 Occurrences)

Drift (1 Occurrence)

Path (91 Occurrences)

President (5 Occurrences)

Bond (32 Occurrences)

Conversation (30 Occurrences)

Aho'hite (4 Occurrences)

Sheer (2 Occurrences)

Stream (96 Occurrences)

Senior (3 Occurrences)

Courts (59 Occurrences)

Miracle (15 Occurrences)

Conversion (1 Occurrence)

Repentance (28 Occurrences)

Race (36 Occurrences)

Conscience (36 Occurrences)

Ruth (19 Occurrences)

Foreknow (1 Occurrence)

Foreknowledge (2 Occurrences)

Benai'ah (43 Occurrences)

Ran (100 Occurrences)

Shephelah (2 Occurrences)

Bed (142 Occurrences)

Philosophy (1 Occurrence)

Valley (187 Occurrences)

Year (4027 Occurrences)

Epicureans (1 Occurrence)

Queen (59 Occurrences)

Revelation (52 Occurrences)

Aqueduct (4 Occurrences)

Scribes (85 Occurrences)

Sojourner (81 Occurrences)

Cistern (21 Occurrences)

Redeemer (42 Occurrences)

Pool (25 Occurrences)

Voyage (5 Occurrences)

Zarhite (4 Occurrences)

Zab'di-el (1 Occurrence)

Zarhites (4 Occurrences)

Wander (43 Occurrences)

Wind (180 Occurrences)

Incline (38 Occurrences)

Foundation (82 Occurrences)

Follow (267 Occurrences)

Fable

Twist (5 Occurrences)

Tigris (2 Occurrences)

Trimmed (7 Occurrences)

Track (4 Occurrences)

Tikvath (1 Occurrence)

Tamar (28 Occurrences)

Turning (381 Occurrences)

Tends (8 Occurrences)

Tikvah (2 Occurrences)

Traverse (5 Occurrences)

Result (73 Occurrences)

Rule (291 Occurrences)

Route (7 Occurrences)

Exception (6 Occurrences)

Euphrates (36 Occurrences)

Ethiopic

Ephraimite (6 Occurrences)

Ephesians (4 Occurrences)

Error (90 Occurrences)

Determine (13 Occurrences)

Courier
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