"My days are swifter than a runner (post-KJV); they fly away without a glimpse of joy." Job 9:25

In ancient times, swift runners were used to carry important messages from one place to another. Kings kept a number of these men as a part of the royal household.

2 Chronicles 30:6 states that when Hezekiah sent invitations to a solemn Passover at Jerusalem, "couriers (posts, KJV) went throughout Israel and Judah with letters from the king and from his officials."

At the time of Jeremiah there seems to have been a regular postal service established. In prophesying the destruction of Babylon he writes, "One courier follows another and messenger follows messenger to announce to the king of Babylon that his entire city is captured" (Jer.51:31)

The Persians also made use of swift couriers. The order given in Esther's time commanding the murder of all the Jews in the empire was sent by this means (Esther 3:13-15). The order that counteracted this decree was also sent by couriers, riding the royal horses (mules and camels- KJV). Obviously the horses were faster and had more endurance than the runners, although it was said that some of the ancient couriers could outrun and outlast a horse.