In the biblical context, the mule is considered an unclean animal, primarily due to its hybrid nature. The mule is the offspring of a male donkey (jack) and a female horse (mare). This crossbreeding results in a sterile animal, which is significant in the biblical understanding of purity and order in creation.

Biblical References:

While the Bible does not explicitly list the mule among unclean animals, its status can be inferred from the broader biblical principles regarding hybrids and the laws of clean and unclean animals. Leviticus 19:19 states, "You must keep My statutes. You shall not breed your livestock with different kinds. You shall not sow your field with two kinds of seed, nor wear a garment of two kinds of fabric." This verse underscores the importance of maintaining distinct categories within God's creation, which would extend to the breeding of animals.

The mule, as a hybrid, does not fit into the categories of clean animals suitable for sacrifice or consumption as outlined in Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14. These chapters provide detailed lists of clean and unclean animals, emphasizing the importance of adhering to God's design and order.

Symbolic and Practical Use:

Despite its unclean status, mules were used for practical purposes in ancient Israel. They were valued for their strength and endurance, making them suitable for transportation and labor. King David's son Absalom is noted for riding a mule in 2 Samuel 18:9, "Now Absalom happened to meet the servants of David. Absalom was riding his mule, and as the mule went under the thick branches of a large oak, Absalom’s head was caught in the tree. He was left hanging in midair, while the mule he was riding kept going."

Mules also appear in the context of royal and noble use, as seen in 1 Kings 1:33, where King David instructs, "Take with you the servants of your lord and have Solomon my son mount my own mule and take him down to Gihon." This indicates that while mules were not considered clean, they were nonetheless esteemed for their utility and association with royalty.

Cultural and Theological Implications:

The use of mules in biblical narratives often reflects the tension between practical needs and adherence to divine law. The presence of mules in royal and military contexts suggests a pragmatic approach to their use, despite their unclean status. This reflects a broader theme in Scripture where human necessity sometimes intersects with divine commandments, requiring discernment and wisdom.

In theological terms, the mule's hybrid nature can be seen as a metaphor for the blending of the sacred and the profane, a recurring theme in the Bible. The prohibition against mixing different kinds serves as a reminder of God's desire for purity and holiness among His people, as seen in Leviticus 20:26, "You are to be holy to Me because I, the LORD, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be My own."

Overall, the mule's role in the Bible, while not central, provides insight into the complexities of living in accordance with God's laws while navigating the practical realities of life in the ancient world.2 Samuel 13:29
And the servants of Absalom did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king's sons arose, and every man got him up on his mule, and fled.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

1 Kings 10:25
And they brought every man his present, vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and garments, and armor, and spices, horses, and mules, a rate year by year.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

On the Animals
... in the psalm: and I have become the beasts of burden ... not wish to become like the
horse and the mule who do ... The pigs are unclean sinners; in the epistle of Peter ...
/.../eucherius/the formulae of st eucherius of lyons/iv on the animals.htm

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... apart from its personnel acts) is, essentially, "unclean," whereas that ... The beasts
of the field are devoid of any ... and stubborn as the ass or mule, cunning and ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/why four gospels/the gospel of luke.htm

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... so man, as he comes into the world, abides a confused lump, an unclean thing; a ...
13:8; Isaiah 60:5). This sea bringeth forth small and great beasts, even as the ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/an exposition on the first.htm

Book Ten from Autobiography to Self-Analysis. ...
... this power of mine, for the horse and mule have this ... has differentiated me from the
four-footed beasts and the ... with a certain joy even by unclean things, which ...
/.../augustine/confessions and enchiridion/book ten from autobiography to.htm

"Am Ia Sea, or a Whale?"
... creeping things innumerable, both small and great beasts; for all ... swearer in his
presumption, and the unclean in his ... be as the horse and the mule, which have ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 37 1891/am i a sea or.htm

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