RIDING A HORSE SYMBOLIZES A WARRIOR AGAINST THE YETZER HARA
Haman led Mordechai on the horse through the streets of Shushan. We can suggest that there is also a deeper meaning and a Remez going on with this story. The Rasha (like Haman) thinks he’s a great person, and the Melech will reward him. But he’s mistaken. The Ohr HaChaim brings a Chazal where Eisav wanted to get Olam HaBah and he was in for a surprise. It is known that “Melech” in Megilas Esther can mean the “Melech HaOlam”, i.e., Hashem. (There were more than 40 assassination attempts on Hitler’s life, and they all failed. Hitler Y'mach Sh'mo said that he saw that “G-d is on my side!” (?!)
The Rasha doesn’t Chap that the Kavod that he desperately wants will go to the Tzadik, and in a more real way, in Olam HaBah (וּבְהֵיכָלוֹ כֻּלוֹ אֹמֵר כָּבוֹד Tehillim 29:9 In Hashem’s palace, there is total Kavod). Also, the Gr”a Zatzal says that the Gan Eden that a Rasha was supposed to get goes to a Tzadik.
Explanation from the Gr"a
The Gr"a in his commentary to Mishlei (12:14) explains that "Ish" refers to a leader, and that one should always rebuke his friend for wrongdoing. If the friend listens and improves, all the mitzvos he does are credited to the rebuker as well. If not, the rebuker takes the good from him, as the Arizal says: the righteous take the portion of the wicked in Gan Eden, and the wicked take their portion in Gehinnom.
Symbolism of the Horse and Donkey
R' Samson Raphael Hirsch explains that a horse symbolizes war, while a donkey symbolizes peace. When Moshiach comes, he will be a poor person riding a donkey (עָנִי וְרֹכֵב עַל חֲמוֹר Zechariah 9:9), symbolizing an era of peace.
The Gemara says that Dovid HaMelech would barely sleep, only dozing like a horse. Dovid was known to be the biggest warrior, both physically and spiritually, fighting his Yetzer Hara. Yosef also overcame a great Nisayon and was rewarded with a special chariot and horse.
Paroh told Yosef: וּבִלְעָדֶיךָ לֹא יָרִים אִיש אֶת יָדוֹ וְאֶת רַגְלוֹ בְּכָל אֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם (no one in the entire land of Mitzrayim will be allowed to lift his hand or foot without your permission). Rashi quotes the Targum who translates: no man may raise a “hand” to hold a weapon, or a “foot” to ride a horse. The Meforshim say this means that no Mitzri can wage war without Yosef’s permission. This can be a Remez that there was no Mitzri who went to war against his Yetzer like Yosef. Indeed, they were steeped in immorality.
Yosef was given royal clothes and a golden necklace, etc. and Chazal say all this was a reward for not sinning. Mordechai was also on a horse, and he was a יָחִיד (the only person) who overcame his Yetzer Hara not to enjoy the Seuda of Achashverosh. He was also given a horse and royal clothes, and both Yosef and Mordechai had בִּגְדֵי בּוּץ linen clothes, which is what the Cohen Gadol wore in Kodesh HaKodoshim, and is a symbol of purity.
Riding a horse symbolizes a warrior against his Yetzer Hara. Chazal say that Mordechai stepped on Haman in order to get up on the horse. This can also be a Remez of how Tzadikim step up to be warriors to fight their Yetzer, and Reshaim are belittled through this, since they also have free will, but they don’t fight. The Tzadik is a proof that a human can be a לוחֵם fighter, and this puts down the Rasha.
Shlomo HaMelech was Nichshal, and he was מַרְבֶּה סוּסִים (he acquired extra horses) and he had 1,000 wives. Surely, there are deeper meanings in this, but we can suggest that he was looking for more wars against his Yetzer Hara. Indeed, his father, Dovid did just that, and because he asked for Nisyonos he was Nichshal with Bas Sheva. (Gemara Sanhedrin 107a). Perhaps Shlomo was just like Dovid, and indeed he failed because his wives turned him away from Hashem. (וַיְהִי לְעֵת זִקְנַת שְלֹמֹה נָשָיו הִטּוּ אֶת לְבָבוֹ).
Perhaps a deeper meaning why when Moshiach comes he will be עָנִי וְרֹכֵב עַל חֲמוֹר (Zechariah 9:9) riding a donkey, because in Y’mos HaMoshiach there will be no Yetzer Hara and no need to fight, which a horse symbolizes.
The most important part of Purim is not to give up davening hard that you want to be selfless, like Mordechai and Esther who gave up their personal lives for Kavod Shamayim and to save Klal Yisroel. R’ Motel Weinberg Zatzal once told me that R’ Ahron Kotler Zatzal gave up his personal life for Klal Yisroel.
