1 Chronicles 18 4

1 Chronicles 18:4 kjv

And David took from him a thousand chariots, and seven thousand horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen: David also houghed all the chariot horses, but reserved of them an hundred chariots.

1 Chronicles 18:4 nkjv

David took from him one thousand chariots, seven thousand horsemen, and twenty thousand foot soldiers. Also David hamstrung all the chariot horses, except that he spared enough of them for one hundred chariots.

1 Chronicles 18:4 niv

David captured a thousand of his chariots, seven thousand charioteers and twenty thousand foot soldiers. He hamstrung all but a hundred of the chariot horses.

1 Chronicles 18:4 esv

And David took from him 1,000 chariots, 7,000 horsemen, and 20,000 foot soldiers. And David hamstrung all the chariot horses, but left enough for 100 chariots.

1 Chronicles 18:4 nlt

David captured 1,000 chariots, 7,000 charioteers, and 20,000 foot soldiers. He crippled all the chariot horses except enough for 100 chariots.

1 Chronicles 18 verses

1 Chronicles 18 4 Meaning

This verse details David's victory over Hadadezer, King of Zobah. David captured a substantial number of military assets: a thousand chariots, seven thousand horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen. Following this capture, David strategically disabled most of the captured chariot horses by houghing them, a method of crippling them. However, he retained a specific number of one hundred chariots for his own use. This action highlights David's decisive military conquest and his unique approach to warfare in light of God's law.

1 Chronicles 18 4 Context

Chapter 18 of 1 Chronicles narrates David's major military conquests against surrounding nations, beginning with Philistia, Moab, Zobah (Hadadezer), Damascus (Syrians), Hamath, and Edom. These victories fulfill God's promise to establish David's kingdom and extend Israel's borders. This specific verse (1 Chr 18:4) is part of David's successful campaign against Hadadezer, king of Zobah, mentioned in the preceding verses (1 Chr 18:3). The chronicler emphasizes David's obedience and the Lord's consistent preservation and victory "whithersoever he went" (1 Chr 18:6). These conquests also played a significant role in accumulating the vast wealth and materials that David prepared for the eventual building of the Temple by his son Solomon (1 Chr 18:7-8).

1 Chronicles 18 4 Word analysis

• And David took: Signifies David's proactive role and success in battle. This is a consequence of his military victory over Hadadezer.
• from him: Refers to Hadadezer, King of Zobah, indicating the direct result of David's engagement with him as mentioned in the preceding verse.
• a thousand chariots: In Hebrew, rekhev (רֶכֶב) often denotes a collection of chariots and horses or the chariot force itself. Chariots were the pinnacle of ancient warfare technology, representing significant military power.
• and seven thousand horsemen: Hebrew parashim (פָּרָשִׁים), referring to cavalry soldiers. The number signifies a massive capture.
• and twenty thousand footmen: Hebrew ragli (רַגְלִי), infantry, ground troops. These numbers reflect a substantial defeat of Hadadezer's forces.
• David also houghed: Hebrew vay'aqqer (וַיְעַקֵּר), meaning "and he cut off the hamstring" or "he hamstrung." This action physically disabled the horses by cutting the tendons in their hind legs, rendering them unable to walk or run effectively, and thus useless for warfare.
• all the chariot horses: This emphasizes the comprehensiveness of David's disabling act, targeting all available warhorses.
• but reserved: Hebrew vayyoter (וַיּוֹתֵר), meaning "and he left over" or "spared." This indicates a deliberate choice to keep a select few.
• of them an hundred chariots: This specific number demonstrates David's discretion. He did not completely discard chariot warfare, likely for reasons of prestige, tactical utility in specific terrains (e.g., pursuit, patrolling certain flat areas), or simply a permissible minimum for a king.

Words-group analysis:

• And David took from him a thousand chariots, and seven thousand horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen: This phrase vividly portrays the spoils of war and the scale of David's victory over Hadadezer's army. It highlights the successful consolidation of David's kingdom through military conquest and God's empowering presence.
• David also houghed all the chariot horses, but reserved of them an hundred chariots: This second part describes a strategic and theologically significant action. Houghing nearly all the captured warhorses, while keeping a small number, signifies David's adherence to the Mosaic law prohibiting the king from multiplying horses (Deut 17:16). It demonstrates trust in God over military might (Psa 20:7, 33:17) and mirrors God's command to Joshua to hough horses (Josh 11:6, 9), emphasizing God's control over military victories.

1 Chronicles 18 4 Bonus section

• Numerical Discrepancy: The parallel account in 2 Samuel 8:4 states "one thousand seven hundred horsemen" and 1,000 chariots and "twenty thousand footmen." The variation in the number of horsemen (7,000 in Chronicles vs. 1,700 in Samuel) is often attributed by scholars to potential scribal errors during transmission or different enumeration methods. It could refer to 1,000 chariot units and 700 cavalry in 2 Samuel, or Chronicles reporting total personnel associated with the 7,000 horse-riders (actual fighters plus auxiliary personnel, or total number of cavalry units as distinct from the individual riders of 2 Samuel). Both accounts agree on the overwhelming defeat of Hadadezer and the houghing of the horses, with 100 retained. The Chronicler's primary theological intent was to demonstrate David's success and obedience to God, rather than focusing on precise numerical tallies.
• Theological Significance of Houghing: In the ancient world, warhorses were exceptionally valuable assets, not only for their tactical utility but also as symbols of prestige and power. Houghing them was an act of complete military demilitarization, preventing future threats and signifying a deliberate reliance on divine strength. This choice underlines a profound theological principle in Israel: the true strength of the king and nation resided in their relationship with God, not in a massive standing army or advanced weaponry (Isa 31:1; Zech 4:6). It connected David's reign directly to the Exodus narrative (Exod 14, where God defeated Egypt's chariots) and Joshua's conquests (Josh 11, where God explicitly commanded houghing horses). This solidified David's image as an ideal king who prioritized divine command over worldly military prowess.

1 Chronicles 18 4 Commentary

This verse encapsulates David's strategic prowess and his adherence to principles rooted in God's law. His overwhelming victory reflects the Lord's hand enabling him, demonstrating that David's military successes were not merely human achievement but divine enablement. The decision to hough most of the captured chariot horses, rather than integrating them into his own army, is particularly noteworthy. In a world where chariot forces symbolized ultimate military power, David's action demonstrated his conscious rejection of worldly military accumulation, aligning instead with the Mosaic prohibition against multiplying horses for the king (Deut 17:16). This was an act of faith, indicating David's trust in God as his true deliverer and strength, rather than relying on overwhelming military might (Psa 20:7). Retaining a hundred chariots shows a practical wisdom for governance or certain tactical uses, but the clear majority were rendered unusable, preventing future enemy re-engagement and serving as a testament to Israel's distinct approach to warfare, driven by faith, not ambition.