Reference: Mule
American
A mixed animal, the offspring of a horse and an ass. A mule is smaller than a horse, and has long ears, though not so long as those of an ass. It is a remarkably hardy, patient, obstinate, sure-footed animal, lives twice as long as a horse, and is much more easily and cheaply fed. Mules are much used in Spain and South America, for transporting goods across the mountains. So also in the Alps, they are used by travelers among the mountains, where a horse would hardly be able to pass with safety. There is no probability that the Jews bred mules, because it was forbidden to couple creatures of different species, Le 19:19. But they were not forbidden to obtain them from abroad and use them, 1Ki 10:25; Eze 27:14. Thus we may observe, especially after David's time, that mules, male and female, were common among the Hebrews; formerly they used only male and female asses, 2Sa 13:29; 18:9; 1Ki 1:33; 10:25; 18:5; Es 8:10,14.
In Ge 36:24, Anah is said to have found "mules" in the desert; but the Hebrew word here probably means hot springs. See ANAH.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
Now these [are] the sons of Zibeon: Aiah and Anah--he [is] Anah who found the hot springs in the desert while he pastured the donkeys of Zibeon his father.
" 'You must keep my statutes: [as for] your domestic animals, you shall not cause two differing kinds to breed; [as for] your field, you shall not sow two differing kinds of seed; and, a garment of two differing kinds [of] woven material should not be worn on you.
So Absalom's servants did to Amnon just as Absalom commanded, and all the sons of the king got up, and each mounted his mule and fled.
Absalom was found in the presence of the servants of David [as he was] riding on the mule. The mule went under the thicket of the great oak tree, and his head [was] caught in the tree. He [was] left hanging between heaven and earth, and the mule which [was] under him went on.
They [were] each bringing his gift; objects of silver and objects of gold, clothing, weapons, spices, horses, and mules. {This used to happen year after year}.
And he wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus, and he sealed [the letters] with the king's signet ring and sent them by couriers on horses, riding on royal horses {bred by} racing mares.
The mounted couriers on the royal horses went out without delay, urged by the king's word. The law was given in the citadel of Susa.
From Beth Togarmah they exchanged horses and war horses and mules for your wares.
Easton
(Heb pered), so called from the quick step of the animal or its power of carrying loads. It is not probable that the Hebrews bred mules, as this was strictly forbidden in the law (Le 19:19), although their use was not forbidden. We find them in common use even by kings and nobles (2Sa 18:9; 1Ki 1:33; 2Ki 5:17; Ps 32:9). They are not mentioned, however, till the time of David, for the word rendered "mules" (R.V. correctly, "hot springs") in Ge 36:24 (yemim) properly denotes the warm springs of Callirhoe, on the eastern shore of the Dead Sea. In David's reign they became very common (2Sa 13:29; 1Ki 10:25).
Mules are not mentioned in the New Testament. Perhaps they had by that time ceased to be used in Palestine.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
Now these [are] the sons of Zibeon: Aiah and Anah--he [is] Anah who found the hot springs in the desert while he pastured the donkeys of Zibeon his father.
" 'You must keep my statutes: [as for] your domestic animals, you shall not cause two differing kinds to breed; [as for] your field, you shall not sow two differing kinds of seed; and, a garment of two differing kinds [of] woven material should not be worn on you.
So Absalom's servants did to Amnon just as Absalom commanded, and all the sons of the king got up, and each mounted his mule and fled.
Absalom was found in the presence of the servants of David [as he was] riding on the mule. The mule went under the thicket of the great oak tree, and his head [was] caught in the tree. He [was] left hanging between heaven and earth, and the mule which [was] under him went on.
Do not be like a horse [or] like a mule, without understanding; [that needs] his tackle--bridle and rein--for restraint [or he would not] come near you.
Fausets
1. Pered. Not mentioned until David's time, when Israel became more familiar with horses (1Ch 12:40; 2Sa 13:29; 18:9). Used for riding only by persons of rank (1Ki 1:33). As breeding from different species was forbidden (Le 19:19), mules must have been imported. An Egyptian monument from Thebes in British Museum represents them yoked to a chariot. The people of Togarmah (Armenia) brought them to Tyre for barter (Eze 27:14). They were part of the "presents" from "the kings of the earth" to Solomon, "a rate year by year" (2Ch 9:23-24). In these ways they came into Palestine (1Ki 18:5). In Ezr 2:66; Ne 7:68. the mules on the return from Babylon amounted to 245; but the horses about three times as many, 736; so that the mule was then, as we find in the Greek classics, rarer and more precious.
2. Rechesh is translated "mules," Es 8:10,14; but in 1Ki 4:28 "DROMEDARIES" Mic 1:13, "swift beasts." (See CAMEL.)
3. Yeemim. Ge 36:24 translated rather "Anah that found the hot springs," so the Vulgate version; the Samaritan text has "the Emim." Callirrhoe in the wady Zerka Maein is thought to be Anah's hot springs.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
Now these [are] the sons of Zibeon: Aiah and Anah--he [is] Anah who found the hot springs in the desert while he pastured the donkeys of Zibeon his father.
" 'You must keep my statutes: [as for] your domestic animals, you shall not cause two differing kinds to breed; [as for] your field, you shall not sow two differing kinds of seed; and, a garment of two differing kinds [of] woven material should not be worn on you.
The king said to them, "Take with you all the servants of your lord, and let them make Solomon my son ride on my mule, and bring him down to Gihon.
The barley and the straw for the horses and for packhorses they brought to the place where they were, each according to his share.
Ahab said to Obadiah, "Go through the land to all the springs of water and to all the wadis. Perhaps we may find green grass that we may keep horses and mules alive and that we might not lose any of the animals."
And also their relatives, as far as Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, brought food on donkeys, on camels, on mules, and on oxen--provisions of flour, cakes of figs, raisin cakes, wine and oil, cattle and sheep in abundance, for [there was] great joy in Israel.
And all the kings of the earth sought the face of Solomon to hear his wisdom that God put in his heart. And each of them brought his gifts, objects of silver, objects of gold, cloaks, myrrh, spices, horses, and mules, [as] an amount year by year.
Their horses [numbered] seven hundred and thirty-six, their mules [numbered] two hundred and forty-five,
And he wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus, and he sealed [the letters] with the king's signet ring and sent them by couriers on horses, riding on royal horses {bred by} racing mares.
The mounted couriers on the royal horses went out without delay, urged by the king's word. The law was given in the citadel of Susa.
From Beth Togarmah they exchanged horses and war horses and mules for your wares.
Harness the chariot to the team of horses, O inhabitants of Lachish; it [is] the beginning of sin for the daughter of Zion, for the transgressions of Israel were found in you.
Hastings
(1) pered (m.) and pird
See Verses Found in Dictionary
Now these [are] the sons of Zibeon: Aiah and Anah--he [is] Anah who found the hot springs in the desert while he pastured the donkeys of Zibeon his father.
" 'You must keep my statutes: [as for] your domestic animals, you shall not cause two differing kinds to breed; [as for] your field, you shall not sow two differing kinds of seed; and, a garment of two differing kinds [of] woven material should not be worn on you.
So Absalom's servants did to Amnon just as Absalom commanded, and all the sons of the king got up, and each mounted his mule and fled.
Absalom was found in the presence of the servants of David [as he was] riding on the mule. The mule went under the thicket of the great oak tree, and his head [was] caught in the tree. He [was] left hanging between heaven and earth, and the mule which [was] under him went on.
The king said to them, "Take with you all the servants of your lord, and let them make Solomon my son ride on my mule, and bring him down to Gihon.
They [were] each bringing his gift; objects of silver and objects of gold, clothing, weapons, spices, horses, and mules. {This used to happen year after year}.
Ahab said to Obadiah, "Go through the land to all the springs of water and to all the wadis. Perhaps we may find green grass that we may keep horses and mules alive and that we might not lose any of the animals."
And also their relatives, as far as Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, brought food on donkeys, on camels, on mules, and on oxen--provisions of flour, cakes of figs, raisin cakes, wine and oil, cattle and sheep in abundance, for [there was] great joy in Israel.
Their horses [numbered] seven hundred and thirty-six, their mules [numbered] two hundred and forty-five,
And he wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus, and he sealed [the letters] with the king's signet ring and sent them by couriers on horses, riding on royal horses {bred by} racing mares.
The mounted couriers on the royal horses went out without delay, urged by the king's word. The law was given in the citadel of Susa.
Morish
1. pered. The first reference to this animal is in the time of David: his sons rode upon mules. David had his own mule, upon which Solomon was made to ride when he was proclaimed king. Mules were among the animals that were brought as presents by the nations to Solomon. They were also imported to Tyre. It would appear from Le 19:19 that the Israelites were forbidden to breed them. 2Sa 13:29; 18:9; 1Ki 1:33,38,44; 10:25; Ps 32:9; Isa 66:20; Eze 27:14; Zec 14:15.
2. rekesh. This was probably a swift horse on which despatches were sent. Es 8:10,14. The word is once translated 'dromedary,' 1Ki 4:28; and once 'swift beast.' Mic 1:13.
3. yemim. This is acknowledged to be wrongly rendered in the A.V.: it is translated 'hot springs,' by the Revisers and others. Ge 36:24.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
Now these [are] the sons of Zibeon: Aiah and Anah--he [is] Anah who found the hot springs in the desert while he pastured the donkeys of Zibeon his father.
" 'You must keep my statutes: [as for] your domestic animals, you shall not cause two differing kinds to breed; [as for] your field, you shall not sow two differing kinds of seed; and, a garment of two differing kinds [of] woven material should not be worn on you.
So Absalom's servants did to Amnon just as Absalom commanded, and all the sons of the king got up, and each mounted his mule and fled.
Absalom was found in the presence of the servants of David [as he was] riding on the mule. The mule went under the thicket of the great oak tree, and his head [was] caught in the tree. He [was] left hanging between heaven and earth, and the mule which [was] under him went on.
The barley and the straw for the horses and for packhorses they brought to the place where they were, each according to his share.
And he wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus, and he sealed [the letters] with the king's signet ring and sent them by couriers on horses, riding on royal horses {bred by} racing mares.
The mounted couriers on the royal horses went out without delay, urged by the king's word. The law was given in the citadel of Susa.
Do not be like a horse [or] like a mule, without understanding; [that needs] his tackle--bridle and rein--for restraint [or he would not] come near you.
and bring all your countrymen from all the nations [as] an offering to Yahweh on horses and chariots and in litters and on mules and camels, to {my holy mountain}, Jerusalem," says Yahweh, "just as the sons of Israel bring [an] offering in a clean vessel [to] the house of Yahweh.
From Beth Togarmah they exchanged horses and war horses and mules for your wares.
Harness the chariot to the team of horses, O inhabitants of Lachish; it [is] the beginning of sin for the daughter of Zion, for the transgressions of Israel were found in you.
{Like this plague} will be the plague on the horse, the mule, the camel, and the donkey, and every kind of animal in those camps.
Smith
Mule,
a hybrid animal, the offspring of a horse and an ass. "The mule is smaller than the horse, and is a remarkably hardy, patient, obstinate, sure-footed animal, living, ordinarily, twice as long as a horse." --McClintock and Strong's Cyclopedia. It was forbidden to the Israelites to breed mules, but sometimes they imported them. It would appear that only kings and great men rode on mules. We do not read of mules at all in the New Testament; perhaps therefore they had ceased to be imported.
Watsons
MULE, ???, 2Sa 13:29; 1Ki 1:33; 10:25, &c. A mongrel kind of quadruped, between the horse and the ass. Its form bears a considerable resemblance to the last mentioned animal; but in its disposition it is rather vicious and intractable; so that its obstinacy has become a proverb. With this creature the early ages were probably unacquainted. It is very certain the Jews did not breed mules, because it was forbidden them to couple together two creatures of different species, Le 19:19. But they were not prohibited the making use of them: thus we find in David's time that they had become very common, and made up a considerable part of the equipage of princes, 2Sa 13:29; 18:9; 1Ki 1:33,38,44; 10:25; 2Ch 9:24.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
" 'You must keep my statutes: [as for] your domestic animals, you shall not cause two differing kinds to breed; [as for] your field, you shall not sow two differing kinds of seed; and, a garment of two differing kinds [of] woven material should not be worn on you.
So Absalom's servants did to Amnon just as Absalom commanded, and all the sons of the king got up, and each mounted his mule and fled.
So Absalom's servants did to Amnon just as Absalom commanded, and all the sons of the king got up, and each mounted his mule and fled.
Absalom was found in the presence of the servants of David [as he was] riding on the mule. The mule went under the thicket of the great oak tree, and his head [was] caught in the tree. He [was] left hanging between heaven and earth, and the mule which [was] under him went on.