Sending letters with fast means is of great antiquity. Job said, “My days have been lighter than a courier” (Jb. 9:25).
When Hezekiah proclaimed a Passover for all Israel, he sent letters of invitation by courier from city to city (2 Chron. 30:6, 10).
The couriers sent with the decree from the palace of Susa rushed out mounted on horses, mules, camels, and young dromedaries (Est. 3:13, 15; 8:10, 14, Heb.), “in haste for the order King”.
In the prophecy of God’s judgments on Babylon it is said that the news would be brought to the king by a courier heading quickly to find another courier (Jer. 51:31).
By dividing large districts into small departments with a post house in each, in which “runners” and animals were always ready to relieve each other, messages could be quickly dispersed in all directions.