2 Samuel 8 4

2 Samuel 8:4 kjv

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

2 Samuel 8:4 nkjv

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

2 Samuel 8:4 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.

2 Samuel 8:4 esv

And David took from him 1,700 horsemen, and 20,000 foot soldiers. And David hamstrung all the chariot horses but left enough for 100 chariots.

2 Samuel 8:4 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.

2 Samuel 8 verses

2 Samuel 8 4 Meaning

2 Samuel 8:4 describes a significant aspect of King David's military victory over Hadadezer, king of Zobah. David's forces captured a vast number of enemy combatants: 1,700 cavalry (horsemen) and 20,000 infantry (footmen). A key strategic and symbolic action was David's hampering of most of the captured chariot horses, rendering them unusable for war. However, he deliberately kept 100 chariot horses, likely for his own army's limited use or for ceremonial purposes, thereby striking a balance between neutralizing a major threat and retaining some necessary military components, all while implicitly trusting in God over vast military might.

2 Samuel 8 4 Context

2 Samuel 8:4 is situated within a summary of King David's military campaigns following his establishment in Jerusalem as king over all Israel. Chapters 5-7 detail the capture of Jerusalem, bringing the Ark to the city, and the Davidic Covenant, promising an everlasting dynasty. Chapter 8 then details David's successes against various surrounding nations – Philistia (8:1), Moab (8:2), Zobah (8:3-8), Edom (8:13-14), and others, which secured Israel's borders and fulfilled God's promise of land expansion. Specifically, 2 Samuel 8:3-8 focuses on the defeat of Hadadezer, a powerful Aramean king of Zobah, whose defeat established David's dominance over the region north-east of Israel and granted access to significant resources. This verse highlights David's strategic choices regarding captured war materiel and personnel, particularly concerning chariot horses, which were symbols of significant military power in the ancient Near East. His actions here reflect both military pragmatism and possibly theological considerations in light of Israel's unique relationship with God regarding trust and dependence.

Word Analysis

• And David captured: וַיִּלְכֹּד דָּוִד (wayyilkod Dawid). לָכַד (lakad) means "to capture," "to seize," often in a military context, signifying complete victory and control over the enemy. David's direct action here indicates his leadership in the military campaigns.
• from them: Referring to the forces of Hadadezer, king of Zobah (as per 2 Sam 8:3). This specifies the origin of the captured assets.
• 1,700 horsemen: אֶלֶף שְׁבַע מֵאוֹת פָּרָשׁ (elef sheva me'ot parash). פָּרָשׁ (parash) refers specifically to horsemen or cavalry. The parallel passage in 1 Chr 18:4 states 7,000 horsemen. This numerical discrepancy is common in ancient texts and often attributed to different counting methods (e.g., number of chariots vs. individual riders, overall cavalry divisions vs. precise horsemen, or scribal variations). The significant number nonetheless emphasizes the scale of David's victory.
• and 20,000 footmen: וְעֶשְׂרִים אֶלֶף רַגְלִי (wᵉ'esriym elef ragliy). רַגְלִי (ragliy) denotes foot soldiers or infantry. This immense number highlights the thoroughness of the rout and capture, decimating Hadadezer's ground forces.
• And David hamstrung: וַיְעַקֵּר דָּוִד (waye'aqqer Dawid). עָקַר (ʿāqar) literally means "to uproot," "to maim," or "to hamstring." Hamstringing involved cutting the tendon in the hind legs of an animal, rendering it incapable of walking or running effectively. This was a common, severe practice in ancient warfare to permanently disable captured war animals, preventing their future use by the enemy or preventing them from becoming a logistical burden for the victor while still useful.
• all the chariot horses: אֶת־כָּל־רֶכֶב הַפָּרָשִׁים (ʾet-kāl-rekhev haparāshîm). Here, רֶכֶב (rekhev) can mean chariots or the horses used for chariots. The phrasing רֶכֶב הַפָּרָשִׁים literally "chariot of the horses/horsemen," is specifically pointing to the animals used for chariots, distinguishing them from the פָּרָשׁ (parash) which referred to the cavalry riders. The decision to hamstring all of them (with the stated exception) underscores a comprehensive disarming strategy.
• but reserved enough of them for 100 chariots: וַיּוֹתֵר מֵהֶם מֵאָה רֶכֶב (wayyôṯer mēhem mêʾâ rekhev). David intentionally kept 100 chariots (or horses sufficient for 100 chariots). This reservation is significant. In ancient warfare, chariots were formidable weapons of rapid assault and pursuit. While Deuteronomy 17:16 warned Israel's king against multiplying horses, implying a dependence on God rather than military strength, David's partial retention could indicate a pragmatic need for a limited contingent (e.g., for defense, ceremonial display, or communication) while avoiding the temptation of amassing vast numbers. This contrasts with the massive chariot armies of contemporary empires. Joshua, upon divine instruction (Josh 11:6-9), had also hamstrung captured horses. David's action here aligns with the spirit of relying on God over conventional military power, yet still utilizing resources for a legitimate defense.

2 Samuel 8 4 Commentary

2 Samuel 8:4 presents a crucial detail in David's ascendancy, illustrating both his strategic military prowess and his adherence to principles rooted in Israel's faith. David's overwhelming victory over Hadadezer, one of the most powerful Aramean kings, demonstrated God's covenantal faithfulness in expanding Israel's territory. The scale of the captured forces—thousands of cavalry and tens of thousands of infantry—underscores the might of the enemy overcome and the definitive nature of David's conquest.

The act of hamstringing most of the chariot horses is particularly noteworthy. Chariots were the pinnacle of ancient military technology, symbols of immense power, speed, and status for rulers. For Israel, however, there was a unique theological emphasis on trusting God's power over human or technological strength, reinforced by the Deuteronomic injunction against the king multiplying horses (Deut 17:16). Joshua had similarly hamstrung horses upon God's command (Josh 11:6-9). David's action therefore was not merely a pragmatic military move to disable captured assets or avoid logistical burdens, but also a profound statement of dependence on Yahweh. By crippling the instruments of conventional military might, David outwardly proclaimed his trust in God as the true source of Israel's victories, rather than in the "strength of the horse" or "power of man" (Ps 147:10).

The deliberate preservation of horses for "100 chariots" adds a layer of nuance. While large numbers of chariots might have tempted a king to rely on his own might, a smaller contingent could serve practical purposes such as ceremonial display, internal defense, border patrol, or rapid communication. This balance showcased David's wisdom: strategic incapacitation of enemy war potential, avoiding hubris by rejecting massive chariot forces, and yet retaining a minimal operational capability, all within the framework of God's overarching purpose for Israel's security and prominence.

Bonus Section

• The Deuteronomic Law Connection: David's actions, particularly hamstringing chariot horses, stand in strong contrast to future kings like Solomon (1 Ki 10:28-29) who would multiply horses and chariots from Egypt, a practice explicitly forbidden in Deut 17:16. David, often described as a man after God's own heart, seems to be modeling an early king who resisted the temptations of foreign military conventions and adhered to divine instruction, placing trust in God over a formidable war machine.
• The Chronicler's Perspective: The parallel account in 1 Chron 18:4 presents different numbers (1,000 chariots, 7,000 horsemen vs. 1,700 horsemen and 20,000 footmen in 2 Samuel). This highlights that ancient historical accounts, while generally accurate in their main events and outcomes, sometimes recorded figures with variations due to different methods of counting, aggregation, or simply as round numbers to convey magnitude rather than exact statistics. The core message of David's comprehensive victory and strategic disarmament remains consistent.
• Ancient Polemics: David's act could be interpreted as a polemic against the powerful, chariot-dependent empires surrounding Israel (e.g., Egypt, Hittites, Aram). It communicated that Israel's strength did not lie in the same conventional military might as the nations, but in the divine protection and guidance of the Lord of Hosts. This distinct approach separated Israel from its neighbors in how they conceived of national power and security.