1 Kings 10:26

26 Solomon built up a huge force of chariots and horses. He had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horses. He stationed some of them in the chariot cities and some near him in Jerusalem.

1 Kings 10:26 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 10:26

And Solomon gathered together chariots and horsemen
Both for war; for though it was a time of peace, he provided against the worst, lest an enemy should come upon him suddenly, and when unprepared:

and he had one thousand and four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand
horsemen; of the latter (See Gill on 1 Kings 4:26)

whom he bestowed in the cities for chariots, and with the king at
Jerusalem;
some of the horsemen were quartered in the cities where the chariots were placed, and some of them in Jerusalem, to be near the king's person, and to be a guard to him on occasion. Josephus F6 says, half of them were in Jerusalem about the king, and the rest were dispersed through the king's villages.


FOOTNOTES:

F6 Antiqu l. 8. c. 2. sect. 4.

1 Kings 10:26 In-Context

24 People from every nation came to consult him and to hear the wisdom God had given him.
25 Year after year everyone who visited brought him gifts of silver and gold, clothing, weapons, spices, horses, and mules.
26 Solomon built up a huge force of chariots and horses. He had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horses. He stationed some of them in the chariot cities and some near him in Jerusalem.
27 The king made silver as plentiful in Jerusalem as stone. And valuable cedar timber was as common as the sycamore-fig trees that grow in the foothills of Judah.
28 Solomon’s horses were imported from Egypt and from Cilicia ; the king’s traders acquired them from Cilicia at the standard price.

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Or charioteers; also in 10:26b .
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