Mule

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

1. Ρered . Not mentioned until David's time, when Israel became more familiar with horses ( 1 Chronicles 12:40;  2 Samuel 13:29;  2 Samuel 18:9). Used for riding only by persons of rank ( 1 Kings 1:33). As breeding from different species was forbidden ( Leviticus 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 ( Ezekiel 27:14). They were part of the "presents" from "the kings of the earth" to Solomon, "a rate year by year" ( 2 Chronicles 9:23-24). In these ways they came into Palestine ( 1 Kings 18:5). In  Ezra 2:66;  Nehemiah 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,"  Esther 8:10;  Esther 8:14; but in  1 Kings 4:28 "DROMEDARIES"  Micah 1:13, "swift beasts." (See Camel .)

3. Υeemim .  Genesis 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.

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

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, surefooted 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,  Leviticus 19:19 . But they were not forbidden to obtain them from abroad and use them,  1 Kings 10:25   Ezekiel 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,  2 Samuel 13:29   18:9   1 Kings 1:33   10:25   18:5   Esther 8:10,14 .

In  Genesis 36:24 , Anah is said to have found "mules" in the desert; but the Hebrew word here probably means hot springs. See Anah .

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

MULE .

(1) pered (m.) and pirdâh (f.) in all passages except three.

(2) rekesh , RV [Note: Revised Version.] ‘swift steeds’ (  Esther 8:10;   Esther 8:14 ). The tr. [Note: translate or translation.] ‘swift’ is purely conjectural.

(3) yçmîm ,   Genesis 36:24 , where ‘mules’ is certainly a mistranslation; RV [Note: Revised Version.] ‘hot springs.’

The breeding of mules was forbidden to the Israelites ( Leviticus 19:19 ), but from David’s time (  2 Samuel 13:29;   2 Samuel 18:9 ) onwards (  1 Kings 1:33;   1 Kings 10:25;   1 Kings 18:5 ) they appear to have been increasingly used. The returning Israelites brought 245 mules with them (  Ezra 2:66 ). Mules are preferred in Palestine to-day as pack animals (cf.   1 Chronicles 12:40 ,   2 Kings 5:17 ). they are hardier, subsist on less food, and travel better on rough roads. A well-trained mule is a favourite riding animal with the highest officials in the land.

E. W. G. Masterman.

Morrish Bible Dictionary

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  Leviticus 19:19 that the Israelites were forbidden to breed them.   2 Samuel 13:29;  2 Samuel 18:9;  1 Kings 1:33,38,44;  1 Kings 10:25;  Psalm 32:9;  Isaiah 66:20;  Ezekiel 27:14;  Zechariah 14:15 .

2. rekesh. This was probably a swift horse on which despatches were sent.  Esther 8:10,14 . The word is once translated 'dromedary,'  1 Kings 4:28; and once 'swift beast.'  Micah 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.  Genesis 36:24 .

Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary

פרד ,  2 Samuel 13:29;  1 Kings 1:33;  1 Kings 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,  Leviticus 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,  2 Samuel 13:29;  2 Samuel 18:9;  1 Kings 1:33;  1 Kings 1:38;  1 Kings 1:44;  1 Kings 10:25;  2 Chronicles 9:24 .

Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types

 Genesis 36:24 (c) If this word is correctly understood, then there is a wonderful lesson to be found in this passage. Mules were found in the wilderness because the asses had been mingling with the horses and producing these fine work animals while it was all unknown to the owners. It is the story of "unearned increment." It is the story of GOD granting rich blessing and increase without our definite planning or knowledge. GOD does this for His children frequently.

 2 Samuel 18:9 (c) In this story we see a picture of the disappointment which comes to those who trust in human devices and rest their hopes on earthly provisions. Absalom had hoped to use the mule either to carry him to victory, or else to carry him to safety. He was disappointed in both cases, and the mule became the means of his death. It is a warning to us not to place our confidence in any means or methods provided by earth's resources. The animal represents any doctrine, or theory, or religion which is man-made, and on which one often depends for salvation and deliverance. It will fail us in the hour of need.

Webster's Dictionary

(1): ( n.) A plant or vegetable produced by impregnating the pistil of one species with the pollen or fecundating dust of another; - called also hybrid.

(2): ( n.) A very stubborn person.

(3): ( n.) A machine, used in factories, for spinning cotton, wool, etc., into yarn or thread and winding it into cops; - called also jenny and mule-jenny.

(4): ( n.) A hybrid animal; specifically, one generated between an ass and a mare, sometimes a horse and a she-ass. See Hinny.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

 Leviticus 19:19 2 Samuel 18:9 1 Kings 1:33 2 Kings 5:17 Psalm 32:9 Genesis 36:24  2 Samuel 13:29 1 Kings 10:25

Mules are not mentioned in the New Testament. Perhaps they had by that time ceased to be used in Palestine.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

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.

King James Dictionary

MULE, n. L. mulus.

1. A quadruped of a mongrel breed,usually generated between an ass and a mare, sometimes between a horse and a she-ass. But the name is applied to any animal produced by a mixture of different species. 2. A plant or vegetable produced by impregnating the pistil of one species of plant with the farin or fecundating dust of another. This is called also a hybrid.

Holman Bible Dictionary

 1 Kings 1:33 Zechariah 9:9  Matthew 21:5Animals

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

mūl ( פּרד , peredh   1 Kings 10:25;  1 Kings 18:5;  Ezra 2:66;  Isaiah 66:20;  Zechariah 14:15 , the feminine פּרדּה , pirdāh  1 Kings 1:33 ,  1 Kings 1:38 ,  1 Kings 1:44 , רכשׁ , rekhesh , "swift steeds," the King James Version "mules"  Esther 8:10 ,  Esther 8:14 , אחשׁתּרנים , 'ăḥashterānim , "used in the king's service," the King James Version "camels," the Revised Version margin "mules"  Esther 8:10 ,  Esther 8:14 , ימם , yēmim , "hot springs," the King James Version "mules"  Genesis 36:24; ἡμίονος , hēmı́onos , "half-ass," "mule" (1 Esd 5:43; Judith 15:11)): Mules are mentioned as riding animals for princes  2 Samuel 13:29;  2 Samuel 18:9;  1 Kings 1:33 ,  1 Kings 1:38 ,  1 Kings 1:44; in the tribute brought to Solomon  2 Chronicles 9:24; as beasts of burden  2 Kings 5:17;  1 Chronicles 12:40; horses and mules are obtained from the "house of Togarmah" in the distant north  Ezekiel 27:14 . The injunction of  Psalm 32:9 , "Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding," need not be understood as singling out the horse and mule as more in need of guidance than the rest of the brute creation, but rather as offering familiar examples to contrast with man who should use his intelligence.

At the present day mules are used as pack animals and for drawing freight wagons, rarely for riding. One does not often see in Palestine mules as large and fine as are common in Europe and America. This may be because most of the mares and many of the donkeys are small.

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

Bibliography Information McClintock, John. Strong, James. Entry for 'Mule'. Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/tce/m/mule.html. Harper & Brothers. New York. 1870.