Cavalry, a military unit composed of soldiers mounted on horseback, played a significant role in ancient warfare, including during the biblical times. While the Bible does not frequently mention cavalry explicitly, the concept and use of horses in battle are evident throughout the Scriptures. The presence of cavalry in biblical narratives often symbolizes strength, speed, and military prowess.

Old Testament References

In the Old Testament, horses and chariots are often associated with the military might of various nations. The Egyptians, for instance, are depicted as having a formidable cavalry. In Exodus 14:9 , it is recorded, "The Egyptians—all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots, horsemen and troops—pursued the Israelites and overtook them as they camped by the sea near Pi Hahiroth, opposite Baal Zephon." This passage highlights the reliance of Egypt on its cavalry to exert power and control.

The Israelites, on the other hand, were initially discouraged from amassing large numbers of horses and chariots. Deuteronomy 17:16 instructs, "But the king must not acquire many horses for himself or send the people back to Egypt to acquire more horses, for the LORD has said, ‘You are never to go back that way again.’" This command was intended to ensure that Israel's trust remained in God rather than in military strength.

Despite this, King Solomon later accumulated a significant number of horses and chariots, as noted in 1 Kings 10:26 : "Solomon accumulated chariots and horses; he had fourteen hundred chariots and twelve thousand horses, which he stationed in the chariot cities and also with him in Jerusalem." This accumulation marked a shift in Israel's military strategy, aligning more closely with the practices of surrounding nations.

Prophetic Imagery

The prophets often used imagery of horses and cavalry to convey messages of impending judgment or deliverance. In Habakkuk 1:8 , the Chaldeans are described: "Their horses are swifter than leopards, fiercer than wolves at dusk. Their horsemen charge ahead; their cavalry comes from afar. They fly like a vulture swooping to devour." This vivid imagery underscores the speed and ferocity of the invading forces.

Conversely, in Zechariah 9:9-10 , a prophecy concerning the coming of the Messiah contrasts the traditional image of a conquering king on horseback: "Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your King comes to you, righteous and victorious, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the horse from Jerusalem, and the bow of war will be broken. Then He will proclaim peace to the nations." This passage highlights the Messiah's role as a bringer of peace rather than a warrior king.

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, the imagery of horses is prominently featured in the Book of Revelation. Revelation 19:11-14 describes a vision of Christ's return: "Then I saw heaven standing open, and there before me was a white horse, and its rider is called Faithful and True. With righteousness He judges and wages war. He has eyes like blazing fire, and many royal crowns on His head. He has a name written on Him that only He Himself knows. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and His name is The Word of God. The armies of heaven, dressed in fine linen, white and pure, follow Him on white horses." This apocalyptic vision portrays Christ as a divine warrior leading the heavenly cavalry, symbolizing ultimate victory over evil.

Cultural and Historical Context

In the ancient Near East, cavalry units were a crucial component of military strategy. Horses provided mobility and speed, allowing armies to execute swift attacks and pursue fleeing enemies. The use of cavalry was a sign of a nation's wealth and power, as maintaining horses required significant resources.

Throughout biblical history, the presence and use of cavalry reflect the broader cultural and military practices of the time. While the Israelites were initially distinct in their reliance on divine intervention rather than military might, the eventual incorporation of cavalry into their forces illustrates the tension between faith and the practical realities of warfare.(n.) That part of military force which serves on horseback.2461. hippikos -- cavalry
... 2460, 2461. hippikos. 2462 . cavalry. Transliteration: hippikos Phonetic Spelling:
(hip-pee-kon') Short Definition: horsemen. ... horsemen, cavalry. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2461.htm - 6k

3003. legion -- a legion
... Definition: a legion, very large number Definition: properly: a division of the
Roman army, numbering about 6,000 infantry with additional cavalry; hence: a ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3003.htm - 6k

2460. hippeus -- a horseman
... horseman. From hippos; an equestrian, ie Member of a cavalry corps -- horseman.
see GREEK hippos. (ippeis) -- 2 Occurrences. 2459, 2460. hippeus. 2461 . ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2460.htm - 6k

2701. Chatsar Susah -- "village of cavalry," a place in Simeon
... "village of cavalry," a place in Simeon. Transliteration: Chatsar Susah Phonetic
Spelling: (khats-ar'soo-saw') Short Definition: Hazar-susah. ...
/hebrew/2701.htm - 6k

6571. parash -- a horse, steed
... as stretched out to a vehicle, not single nor for mounting (compare cuwc)); also
(by implication) a driver (in a chariot), ie (collectively) cavalry -- horseman ...
/hebrew/6571.htm - 5k

7393. rekeb -- chariotry, chariot, millstone
... From rakab; a vehicle; by implication, a team; by extension, cavalry; by analogy
a rider, ie The upper millstone -- chariot, (upper) millstone, multitude (from ...
/hebrew/7393.htm - 6k

6571b. parash -- horseman
... Word Origin from the same as parash Definition horseman NASB Word Usage cavalry
(2), horseman (1), horsemen (50). 6571a, 6571b. parash. 6572 . ...
/hebrew/6571b.htm - 5k

The Burning of Athens.
... The Thessalians."Their hostility to the Phocaeans."Defeat of the Thessalians."Phocaean
stratagem."A spectral army."Thessalian cavalry."Pitfall for ...
//christianbookshelf.org/abbott/xerxes/chapter x the burning of.htm

The Outbreak at Benares.
... regiment, which was believed to be tainted; a Sikh regiment, the temper of which
was little known; and, a few miles off, an Irregular Cavalry regiment, composed ...
/.../life and work in benares and kumaon 1839-1877/chapter xvii the outbreak at.htm

The Conquest of Lydia.
... battle at Pteria."Undecisive result."Croesus returns to Sardis."Cyrus follows
him."Confusion and alarm at Sardis."The Lydian cavalry."Nature of ...
//christianbookshelf.org/abbott/cyrus the great/chapter vii the conquest of.htm

Visit to Cities in the North-West and to Kumaon --Visit to England ...
... For a time two such services were held, one in the Mission chapel, and
another in the schoolroom of the cavalry barracks. On the ...
/.../life and work in benares and kumaon 1839-1877/chapter xix visit to cities.htm

Calms and Crises
... Then how will you run with cavalry?' The other is more clear in the Revised Version
rendering: 'Though in a land of peace you are secure, what will you do in ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/calms and crises.htm

How Caius Julius Caesar was the First Roman that came into Britain ...
... roughly handled in a battle, and then caught in a storm, he lost a considerable
part of his fleet, no small number of foot-soldiers, and almost all his cavalry ...
/.../bede/bedes ecclesiastical history of england/chap ii how caius julius.htm

Rebellion of Attalus and his General Heraclean; and How He ...
... [1631] When the Romans had been nominated for the other offices, Alaric was appointed
general of the cavalry and infantry, and Ataulphus, the brother of his ...
/.../chapter viii rebellion of attalus and.htm

Second Five Years.
... Paneg. [321] c.17 and 21; Paneg. [313] c.5); then the cavalry of Maxentius
was defeated at Turin (Naz. Paneg. [321] c.22; Paneg. ...
/.../pamphilius/the life of constantine/section 4 second five years.htm

Tries to Become a Politician. Fails. Last Act as a Politician. ...
... But I have long regarded it as a special providence of God. I was an officer in
a large cavalry company under the training of Col. JW Griffith. ...
/.../chapter vii tries to become.htm

The Review of the Troops at Doriscus.
... The Hebrus."Plain of Doriscus."Preparations for the great review."Mode of taking
a census."Immense numbers of the troops."The cavalry."Corps of ...
//christianbookshelf.org/abbott/xerxes/chapter vi the review of.htm

Cavalry (11 Occurrences)
...Cavalry (11 Occurrences). ... Acts 23:32 The next day the infantry returned to the
barracks, leaving the cavalry to proceed with him; (WEY NIV). ...
/c/cavalry.htm - 9k

Infantry (3 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) A body of children. 2. (n.) A body of soldiers serving on foot; foot soldiers,
in distinction from cavalry. Multi-Version Concordance ...
/i/infantry.htm - 7k

Roman (26 Occurrences)
... 3. The "Auxilia": The auxilia were organized as infantry in cohortes, as
cavalry in alae, or as mixed bodies, cohortes equitatae. ...
/r/roman.htm - 101k

Legion (3 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) A body of foot soldiers and cavalry consisting of different numbers at
different periods, -- from about four thousand to about six thousand men, -- the ...
/l/legion.htm - 8k

Troop (28 Occurrences)
... 3. (n.) Specifically, a small body of cavalry, light horse, or dragoons, consisting
usually of about sixty men, commanded by a captain; the unit of formation ...
/t/troop.htm - 16k

Cornet (8 Occurrences)
... wares. 5. (n.) A troop of cavalry; -- so called from its being accompanied
by a cornet player. 6. (n.) The standard of such a troop. ...
/c/cornet.htm - 11k

Horse (62 Occurrences)
... David was the first to form a force of cavalry (2 Samuel 8:4). But Solomon, from
his connection with Egypt, greatly multiplied their number (1 Kings 4:26; 10:26 ...
/h/horse.htm - 37k

Army (401 Occurrences)
... had reserved from the spoils of war in his victorious campaign against Hadadezer,
king of Zobah, horses for 100 chariots (2 Samuel 8:4), cavalry and chariots ...
/a/army.htm - 76k

Great (10383 Occurrences)
... Two years later, at the decisive battle of Chaeroneia, which fixed the doom of the
Greek autonomous city, Alexander commanded the feudal cavalry of Macedon ...
/g/great.htm - 35k

Assyria (124 Occurrences)
... The army consisted of cavalry, infantry, bowmen and slingers, as well as
of a corps of charioteers. After the rise of the Second ...
/a/assyria.htm - 101k

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