In biblical times, the concept of a saddle as we understand it today was not fully developed. However, the term "saddle" is used in the Bible to describe a form of riding equipment or a means of preparing an animal for riding or carrying loads. The Hebrew word often translated as "saddle" is "merkav," which can refer to a seat or riding apparatus.

Old Testament References

The earliest mention of a saddle-like apparatus is found in Genesis 22:3, where Abraham "saddled his donkey" as he prepared to take Isaac to the land of Moriah: "So Abraham got up early the next morning, saddled his donkey, and took along two of his servants and his son Isaac." This indicates that some form of preparation or equipment was used to make the donkey ready for travel.

In Numbers 22:21, Balaam also "saddled his donkey" as he set out to meet Balak: "So in the morning Balaam got up, saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab." This further suggests that the act of saddling was a common practice for preparing animals for a journey.

Cultural and Practical Aspects

The saddle in biblical times was likely a simple arrangement, possibly consisting of a blanket or cloth secured to the animal's back, providing a more comfortable ride for the traveler. The primary animals used for riding and carrying loads were donkeys, camels, and horses, each of which would have required different methods of saddling.

Camels, for instance, were often used for long journeys across the desert, and their saddles would have been designed to accommodate the unique shape and movement of the camel. In Genesis 31:34, Rachel is described as sitting on a camel's saddle: "Now Rachel had taken the household idols and put them in the saddlebag of her camel and was sitting on them."

Symbolic and Spiritual Significance

The act of saddling an animal in the Bible often precedes significant events or journeys, symbolizing readiness and obedience to God's call. For example, Abraham's saddling of his donkey in Genesis 22 is a prelude to his test of faith and obedience to God's command to sacrifice Isaac.

In 2 Kings 4:24, the Shunammite woman saddles a donkey to quickly reach the prophet Elisha: "Then she saddled the donkey and said to her servant, 'Lead on; do not slow down for me unless I tell you.'" This urgency and determination reflect her faith and reliance on God's prophet for help.

Conclusion

While the Bible does not provide detailed descriptions of saddles, the references to saddling animals highlight the practical and symbolic roles these preparations played in biblical narratives. Saddling was an essential part of travel and communication in the ancient world, facilitating the movement of people and goods across the varied landscapes of the biblical regions.1. (n.) A seat for a rider, -- usually made of leather, padded to span comfortably a horse's back, furnished with stirrups for the rider's feet to rest in, and fastened in place with a girth; also, a seat for the rider on a bicycle or tricycle.

2. (n.) A padded part of a harness which is worn on a horse's back, being fastened in place with a girth. It serves various purposes, as to keep the breeching in place, carry guides for the reins, etc.

3. (n.) A piece of meat containing a part of the backbone of an animal with the ribs on each side; as, a saddle of mutton, of venison, etc.

4. (n.) A block of wood, usually fastened to some spar, and shaped to receive the end of another spar.

5. (n.) A part, as a flange, which is hollowed out to fit upon a convex surface and serve as a means of attachment or support.

6. (n.) The clitellus of an earthworm.

7. (n.) The threshold of a door, when a separate piece from the floor or landing; -- so called because it spans and covers the joint between two floors.

8. (v. t.) To put a saddle upon; to equip (a beast) for riding.

9. (v. t.) Hence: To fix as a charge or burden upon; to load; to encumber; as, to saddle a town with the expense of bridges and highways.

SADDLE

sad'-'-l: As noun (merkabh, "a riding seat") the word occurs in Leviticus 15:9 (margin "carriage"); ordinarily it is used as a verb (chabhash, literally, to "bind up" or "gird about"), to saddle an ass (Genesis 22:3 Numbers 22:21 Judges 19:10, etc.).

4522. sagene -- a dragnet
... From a derivative of satto (to equip) meaning furniture, especially a pack-saddle
(which in the East is merely a bag of netted rope); a "seine" for fishing ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4522.htm - 6k3733a. kar -- basket-saddle
... kar. 3733b . basket-saddle. Transliteration: kar Short Definition: saddle. Word
Origin from the same as kur Definition basket-saddle NASB Word Usage saddle (1 ...
/hebrew/3733a.htm - 5k

3733. kar -- basket-saddle
... 3732, 3733. kar. 3733a . basket-saddle. Transliteration: kar Phonetic Spelling:
(kar) Short Definition: captain. captain, furniture, lamb, large pasture, ram ...
/hebrew/3733.htm - 6k

2280. chabash -- to bind, bind on, bind up
... on, bind up NASB Word Usage bandage (1), bandaged (1), bind (5), binds (2), bound
(3), dams (1), gives relief (1), healer (1), rule (1), saddle (3), saddled (10 ...
/hebrew/2280.htm - 6k

4817. merkab -- a chariot, riding seat
... Word Origin from rakab Definition a chariot, riding seat NASB Word Usage chariots
(1), saddle (1), seat (1). chariot, covering, saddle. ...
/hebrew/4817.htm - 6k

Off to vienna
... He was glad to feel the good horse under him, to grip the Tartar saddle with his
knees, to feel the air rush by his cheek. ... "My legs are stiff from the saddle. ...
/.../chapter iv off to vienna.htm

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

To the Rev. A. Brandram
... I was mounted, and which was by no means suited for such climbing, in his violent
struggles to accomplish the ascent burst the girth of the saddle, so that I ...
/.../borrow/letters of george borrow/to the rev a brandram 3.htm

Wesley's Horses Give Trouble
... August 22, 1743 (London)."After a few of us had joined in prayer, about four I set
out, and rode softly to Snow Hill; where, the saddle slipping quite upon ...
/.../wesley/the journal of john wesley/wesleys horses give trouble.htm

The Adventures of Saint David of Wales.
... the two Knights charged, when Saint David, mustering all his powers, struck the
Tartar a blow so terrible that he sent him reeling from his saddle, and with a ...
/.../kingston/the seven champions of christendom/chapter ten the adventures of.htm

The Angel of Death
... While he was binding the saddle of sheep's wool about the Arab's narrow girth he
was surprised to find that the friendly son of Judah had followed him to the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the yoke/chapter xli the angel of.htm

God's Care Over Me
... just to have fun at my expense. I felt very awkward and scarcely knew
how to keep my seat in the saddle. On the way to town the ...
/.../cole/trials and triumphs of faith/chapter xvi gods care over.htm

To the Rev. A. Brandram
... He therefore hurried back to the posada, and having paid for the barley which his
pony had consumed, went into the stable, and placing the pack-saddle on the ...
/.../borrow/letters of george borrow/to the rev a brandram 57.htm

A Little Jewish Maid.
... letter in his tunic, and filling a few small bags with silver and gold, and rolling
up some bundles of new clothing, he put them into the wide saddle-bags of ...
/.../anonymous/children of the old testament/a little jewish maid.htm

The Story of Joseph
... The Midianite merchants were waiting, the bargain was struck, and very soon a rope
was bound round his hands, and he was tied to the saddle of the man who had ...
//christianbookshelf.org/steedman/joseph the dreamer/the story of joseph.htm

Saddle (7 Occurrences)
... 3. (n.) A piece of meat containing a part of the backbone of an animal with the
ribs on each side; as, a saddle of mutton, of venison, etc. ...SADDLE. ...
/s/saddle.htm - 10k

Saddled (11 Occurrences)
... 1. (imp. & pp) of Saddle. 2. (a.) Having a broad patch of color across the
back, like a saddle; saddle-backed. Multi-Version Concordance ...
/s/saddled.htm - 10k

Furniture (24 Occurrences)
... fur'ni-tur (kar, kelim; skeue): In Genesis 31:34 kar is translated "furniture" in
the King James Version, but "saddle" in the American Standard Revised Version ...
/f/furniture.htm - 16k

Ride (31 Occurrences)
... 6. (vi) To support a rider, as a horse; to move under the saddle; as, a horse
rides easy or hard, slow or fast. ... 12. (n.) A saddle horse. 13. ...
/r/ride.htm - 17k

Rideth (15 Occurrences)
... Rideth (15 Occurrences). Leviticus 15:9 And what saddle soever he rideth upon
that hath the issue shall be unclean. (KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT). ...
/r/rideth.htm - 10k

Millstone (9 Occurrences)
... Bliss and Macalister in their excavations at Gezer and other places have found
specimens of what is called the saddle-quern or mill, which consists of two ...
/m/millstone.htm - 15k

Mill (9 Occurrences)
... Bliss and Macalister in their excavations at Gezer and other places have found
specimens of what is called the saddle-quern or mill, which consists of two ...
/m/mill.htm - 18k

Seat (256 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) The place or thing upon which one sits; hence; anything made to be sat
in or upon, as a chair, bench, stool, saddle, or the like. ...
/s/seat.htm - 41k

Horn (108 Occurrences)
... 10. (n.) The pointed beak of an anvil. 11. (n.) The high pommel of a saddle; also,
either of the projections on a lady's saddle for supporting the leg. 12. ...
/h/horn.htm - 49k

Ziba (13 Occurrences)
... he is asked why he had not joined the king at the time of the latter's flight, he
answers that Ziba deceived him, "for thy servant said to him, Saddle me (so ...
/z/ziba.htm - 14k

Who was Rachel in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Saddle: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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