128 The Arabian Horse. 



that Arabian blood was used by Cyrus for that pur- 

 pose, and that the Arabian then first became the means 

 of estabh'shing the reputation of the Persian horse, as 

 very many centuries later he made that of the Eng- 

 lish. In the reign of Neriglissar, King of Babylon, who 

 succeeded Evil-Merodach, and preceded Nabonadius 

 or Belshazzar, there was war between the Babylonians 

 and Persians ; Neriglissar was at the head of 20,000 

 cavalry, with infantry in proportion, and had numerous 

 contingents from other powers. Among these it is men- 

 tioned in history that Marogdas the Arabian conducted 

 10,000 horse. Neriglissar and his allies were totally 

 defeated by Cyrus. It is probable the conqueror was 

 struck with the horses of the Arab contingent, and 

 some, besides, may have fallen into his hands. Arabia 

 may have supplied Babylon also with horses, although 

 doubtless degeneracy had taken place, owing to the 

 use of chariots ; and about eighteen years later, when 

 Cyrus besieged and took Babylon, 'he would have the 

 opportunity of passing them over into Persia, besides, 

 perhaps, of opening some communication with the 

 Arabs. 



What was the occupation or calling of Jonadab, the 

 son of Rcchab (the son of the rider), who was not of the 

 children of Israel, and how came he to be the friend of 

 Jehu .'' It is possible and quite consistent to presume he 

 was the medium in those days of horses being passed 

 from Arabia into Palestine, as they are at the present day 

 into India. In other words, it is very likely Jonadab 

 was the merchant of the day who provided Arab horses 



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