HORSE, a very common beast, and very well known in these countries; but very rare among the Hebrews till Solomon’s time. Before him, we find no horsemen mentioned in the armies of Israel. God forbids the Kings of his people to keep many Horses, and to make use of this pretence that so they might carry the people back again into Egypt. He commands Joshua to ham-string the Horses of the Canaanites, which he should take in battle, and to burn their chariots of war. David having won a great battle against Hadadezer King of Shobah, took seventeen hundred Horses, and lamed all belonging to the chariots of war, reserving only an hundred chariots. The Judges and Princes of Israel used generally to ride on Mules or Asses. After David’s time, Horses were more common in the country of Judah, &c.
Solomon is the first King of Judah who had a great number of Horses, and he kept them rather for pomp than for war; for we do not read that he made any military expeditions. He had, says the Scripture, forty thousand stalls of Horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen distributed in his fortified places. He had his Horses from Egypt, and there was not a set which did not cost him more than six hundred shekels, which make of our money about ninety pounds. Moses had forbidden the King of the Hebrews to keep a great number of Horses, lest at any time he should be inclined to carry the people back into Egypt.