Chariots in Smiths Bible Dictionary
a vehicle used either for warlike or peaceful purposes, but
most commonly the former. The Jewish chariots were patterned
after the Egyptian, and consisted of a single pair of wheels
on an axle, upon which was a car with high front and sides,
but open at the back. The earliest mention of chariots in
Scripture is in Egypt, where Joseph, as a mark of
distinction, was placed in Pharaoh's second chariot. Ge
41:43 Later on we find mention of Egyptian chariots for a
warlike purpose. Ex 14:7 In this point of view chariots
among some nations of antiquity, as elephants among others,
may be regarded as filling the place of heavy artillery in
modern times, so that the military power of a nation might
be estimated by the number of its chariots. Thus Pharaoh in
pursuing Israel took with him 600 chariots. The Philistines
in Saul's time had 30,000. 1Sa 13:5 David took from
Hadadezer, king of Zobah, 1000 chariots, 2Sa 8:4 and from
the Syrians a little later 700, 2Sa 10:18 who in order to
recover their ground, collected 32,000 chariots. 1Ch 19:7 Up
to this time the Israelites possessed few or no chariots.
They were first introduced by David, 2Sa 8:4 who raised and
maintained a force of 1400 chariots, 1Ki 10:25 by taxation
on certain cities agreeably to eastern custom in such
matters. 1Ki 9:19; 10:25 From this time chariots were
regarded as among the most important arms of war. 1Ki 22:34;
2Ki 9:16,21; 13:7,14; 18:24; 23:30; Isa 31:1 Most commonly
two persons, and sometimes three, rode in the chariot, of
whom the third was employed to carry the state umbrella. 1Ki
22:34; 2Ki 9:20,24; Ac 8:38 The prophets allude frequently
to chariots as typical of power. Ps 20:7; 104:3; Jer 51:21;
Zec 6:1
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