Topical Bible: Horse: Harness For

◄ Horse: Harness For ►

Jump to: Nave's • Hebrew • Library • Subtopics • Terms

Topical Encyclopedia

In biblical times, the horse was a symbol of strength, power, and swiftness, often associated with warfare and royal processions. The harness, an essential component for utilizing the horse's strength, played a crucial role in the effective use of horses, particularly in chariots and cavalry.

Biblical References:

1. Chariots and Warfare: Horses were primarily used in battle, pulling chariots that were a significant part of ancient military strategy. The harness was crucial for controlling the horse and ensuring the chariot's stability and speed. In Exodus 14:9, the Egyptians pursued the Israelites with "all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots, horsemen, and troops," illustrating the importance of horses and their harnesses in military pursuits.

2. Royal and Ceremonial Use: Horses were also used in royal processions and ceremonies, signifying majesty and authority. In 1 Kings 10:26, Solomon amassed "chariots and horses," indicating the wealth and power of his reign. The harness would have been an integral part of these displays, ensuring the horses were both functional and presentable.

3. Symbol of Preparedness and Trust: The harnessed horse is sometimes used metaphorically in Scripture to convey readiness and reliance on human strength rather than divine power. Proverbs 21:31 states, "The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but victory is of the LORD." This verse highlights the importance of preparation, symbolized by the harness, while ultimately acknowledging God's sovereignty.

4. Prophetic Imagery: In prophetic literature, horses often appear in visions and symbolic imagery. Zechariah 6:2-3 describes horses of different colors pulling chariots, representing various divine missions. The harness, though not explicitly mentioned, is implied as necessary for the horses to fulfill their roles.

Cultural and Historical Context:

In the ancient Near East, the development of the horse harness was a significant technological advancement. It allowed for greater control and efficiency in using horses for transportation and warfare. The harness typically included a bridle, bit, reins, and other components to secure the horse to a chariot or rider. This equipment was crafted with care, often adorned with decorations to reflect the status of the owner.

The use of horses and their harnesses in biblical times underscores the importance of preparation and the reliance on both human ingenuity and divine providence. While the harness enabled the effective use of horses, biblical narratives often remind readers that ultimate success and victory come from the Lord.

Nave's Topical Index

Jeremiah 46:4
Harness the horses; and get up, you horsemen, and stand forth with your helmets; furbish the spears, and put on the brigandines.
Nave's Topical Index

Strong's Hebrew

7392. rakab -- to mount and ride, ride
... carried him in a chariot (1), chariot (1), drove (1), harness (1), horseman ... place
upon (for riding or generally), to despatch -- bring (on (horse-)back), carry ...
/hebrew/7392.htm - 6k

Library

The Knight's Leap: a Legend of Altenahr
... 'And reach me my harness, and saddle my horse, And lead him me round to the door:
He must take such a leap to-night perforce, As horse never took before. ...
/.../kingsley/andromeda and other poems/the knights leap a legend.htm

The Next Morning Diamond was up Almost as Early as Before. ...
... But when he proceeded to harness the old horse, they pushed him aside with rough
kindness, called him a baby, and began to do it all for him. ...
/.../macdonald/at the back of the north wind/chapter 26 the next morning.htm

Leaves College. Goes to Alexandria, Ky. An Adventure in Ohio. A ...
... But the owner of the team succeeded in cutting the harness, thus freeing the horse
and allowing the boat to right itself so that it did not sink. ...
/.../chapter ix leaves college goes.htm

He Got up in the Morning as Soon as He Heard the Men Moving In...
... With great difficulty, but with the help of a broken chair he brought down from
his bedroom, he managed to put the harness on Diamond. If the old horse had had ...
/.../macdonald/at the back of the north wind/chapter 24 he got up.htm

The Young Titus
... There a solitary horseman rode. Not a scale of armor was upon his horse;
not a weapon, not even a shield depended from his harness. ...
/.../miller/the city of delight/chapter ix the young titus.htm

The Next Morning, Diamond's Mother Said to his Father...
... "You don't want to part with the old horse.". ... They went, and Joseph, having first
taken off his harness, walked Ruby into the middle of the yard. ...
/.../macdonald/at the back of the north wind/chapter 33 the next morning.htm

A Peal of Bells
... so little of horses from being interdicted from their use that they had not a very
large vocabulary to describe the harness and other equipments of the horse. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 7 1861/a peal of bells.htm

Expatriation
... war-chariots thundered by with a castanet accompaniment of jingling harness and
jarring armor ... Silently he untied the horse, led him forth, attached him with the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the yoke/chapter xlii expatriation.htm

Imperial Caesar
... Titus, with a bowed head, touched his horse, and in response to a silent flash ... in
the subdued thunder of hoof and the music of jingling harness toward Jerusalem ...
/.../miller/the city of delight/chapter vii imperial caesar.htm

Whether Humility is the Greatest of the virtues?
... v]: "Bring me a pair of two-horse chariots: in the one harness pride with justice,
in the other sin with humility: and you will see that sin outrunning justice ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether humility is the greatest.htm