1 Chronicles 18:4 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →David captures Hadarezer's forces and disables most of the chariot horses, keeping only a hundred chariots.
What Does 1 Chronicles 18:4 Mean?
Chariots and cavalry were the dread weapons of the ancient world, the mark of a great military power. David takes an enormous force, then hamstrings the chariot horses, deliberately refusing to build Israel's strength on that machinery.
Israel's kings were warned not to multiply horses, lest they trust in armies rather than in God. By crippling the captured horses, David enacts that trust. His confidence rests not in chariots but in the Lord who preserves him, a confidence the psalms make their song.
1 Chronicles 18:4 in the Original Language
hough (from Hebrew ‘aqar, עָקַר), 'to hamstring' -- to cut the leg tendons of a horse, rendering it useless for war.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Chronicles 18:4
What does 1 Chronicles 18:4 mean?
David captures Hadarezer's forces and disables most of the chariot horses, keeping only a hundred chariots.