1 Kings 4:28

“Barley also, and straw for the horses and dromedaries, etc.] Or rather mules, by comparing the passage with (<140924>2 Chronicles 9:24); the particular kind of creatures meant is not agreed on; though all take them to be a swifter sort of creatures than horses; or the swifter of horses, as race horses or posts horses: barley was for their provender, that being the common food of horses in those times and countries, and in others, as Bochart f59 has shown from various writers; and in the Misnah f60 it is called the food of beasts; and Solomon is said to have every day his own horses two hundred thousand Neapolitan measures of called “tomboli” f61; so the Roman soldiers, the horse were allowed…”

“Barley . . . and straw--Straw is not used for litter, but barley mixed with chopped straw is the usual fodder of horses. dromedaries--one-humped camels, distinguished for their great fleetness.”

“Barley is to this day in the East the common food of horses. Dromedaries - Coursers. The animal intended is neither a camel nor a mule, but a swift horse. The place where the officers were - Rather, “places where the horses and coursers were,” i. e., to the different cities where they were lodged. return to 'Top of Page'”

“dromedaries: or, mules, or swift beasts, Est 8:10, Est 8:14; Mic 1:13 3 Kings (1 Kings) 4:29”