chariot Summary and Overview

a vehicle generally used for warlike purposes. Sometimes, though but rarely, it is spoken of as used for peaceful purposes. The first mention of the chariot is when Joseph, as a mark of distinction, was placed in Pharaoh's second state chariot (Gen. 41:43); and the next, when he went out in his own chariot to meet his father Jacob (46:29). Chariots formed part of the funeral procession of Jacob (50:9). When Pharaoh pursued the Israelites he took 600 war-chariots with him (Ex. 14:7). The Canaanites in the valleys of Israel had chariots of iron (Josh. 17:18; Judg. 1:19). Jabin, the king of Canaan, had 900 chariots (Judg. 4:3); and in Saul's time the Philistines had 30,000. In his wars with the king of Zobah and with the Syrians, David took many chariots among the spoils (2 Sam. 8:4; 10:18). Solomon maintained as part of his army 1,400 chariots (1 Kings 10:26), which were chiefly imported from Egypt (29). From this time forward they formed part of the armies of Israel (1 Kings 22:34; 2 Kings 9:16, 21; 13:7, 14; 18:24; 23:30). In the New Testament we have only one historical reference to the use of chariots, in the case of the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts. 8:28, 29, 38). This word is sometimes used figuratively for hosts (Ps. 68:17; 2 Kings 6:17). Elijah, by his prayers and his counsel, was "the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof." The rapid agency of God in the phenomena of nature is also spoken of under the similitude of a chariot (Ps. 104:3; Isa. 66:15; Hab. 3:8). Chariot of the cherubim (1 Chr. 28:18), the chariot formed by the two cherubs on the mercy-seat on which the Lord rides. Chariot cities were set apart for storing the war-chariots in time of peace (2 Chr. 1:14). Chariot horses were such as were peculiarly fitted for service in chariots (2 Kings 7:14). Chariots of war are described in Ex. 14:7; 1 Sam. 13:5; 2 Sam. 8:4; 1 Chr. 18:4; Josh. 11:4; Judg. 4:3, 13. They were not used by the Israelites till the time of David. Elijah was translated in a "chariot of fire" (2 Kings 2:11). Compare 2 Kings 6:17. This vision would be to Elisha a source of strength and encouragement, for now he could say, "They that be with us are more than they that be with them."

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|

CHAR'IOT . Chariots were not exclusively used for warlike purposes. In the Bible, instances of a peaceful use occur, as in the account of Joseph's exaltation, Gen 41:43, and meeting with his father, Gen 46:29; Ahab's fleeing before the coming storm at the command of Elijah, 1 Kgs 18:44; Naaman's coming to Elisha, 2 Kgs 5:9; and the Ethiopian eunuch's journey homeward. Acts 8:28. But the commoner use was for war. They are first mentioned in the Bible in connection with Joseph in Egypt. Later on they formed part of Pharaoh's pursuing army at the Exodus. And they were part of the offensive weapons among all nations which figure in Bible history. The use of war-chariots was introduced by David. 2 Sam 8:4. This change was obedient to the altered condition of the people, from a democracy, which relies upon volunteers for its defence, to a monarchy, which employs a regular army. Solomon had 1400 chariots, and cities fortified for their safe-keeping. 1 Kgs 10:26; 1 Chr 9:19. After his day they formed a regular branch of the military service, and are frequently mentioned. 1 Kgs 22:34; 2 Kgs 9:16,2 Chr 11:21; 2 Kgs 13:7, 2 Kgs 22:14; 2 Kgs 18:24; 2 Kgs 23:30; Isa 31:1. The texts just Egyptian Chariot. (After Wilkinson.) quoted also prove that Egypt was the source whence both the chariot-horses and the chariots themselves were principally drawn. A description of an Egyptian chariot will therefore be a description of a Jewish one. The Egyptian chariot was an "almost semicircular wooden frame with straightened sides, resting posteriorly on the axle of a pair of wheels, a rail of wood or ivory being attached to the frame by leathern thongs, and a wooden upright in front. The back of the car was open, and the sides were strengthened and embellished with leather and metal binding; the floor was of rope net-work, to give a springy footing to the occupants. On the off-side were the bowcase, sometimes the quiver, and spearcase, crossing diagonally; the last named inclined backward. If two warriors were in the chariot, there was a second bow-case. The wheels had usually six spokes, fastened to the axle by a linchpin, secured by a thong. The horses had a breast-band and girths attached to the saddle, but were without traces. They wore head-furniture, often ornamented, with a bearing-rein. The driving-reins passed through rings on each side of both horses. Two persons generally were in a chariot, but there was sometimes a third, holding the umbrella of state." - Wilkinson: Anc. Egypt., 1879, vol. i. pp.222-241: vol.ii. pp. 201-203. The Assyrian warchariots were nearly similar. Sometimes a third horse was attached, but in later times this was laid aside; the chariot was made higher, and the quiver placed in front instead of on the side. - Layard: Nineveh, vol. ii. pp. 348-354; Ayre: Treas. of Bib. Knowledge. Chariots armed with scythes were used in later times. Warriors sometimes fought standing up in them, or else used them to carry them into the battle, and leaping from them fought on foot. The word "chariot" is sometimes used figuratively; e.g. in Ps 68:17 it means the angelic host. Elisha called Elijah "the chariot of Israel and the horsemen thereof." 2 Kgs 2:12. The imagery was borrowed from the phenomena of the miraculous ascent. The phrase means that Elijah, by his prayers and his counsels, was the true defence of Israel, and better than either chariots or horsemen. Captains of Chariots. The phrase occurs in Ex 14:7; Ex 15:4; 1 Kgs 22:33. In the first two passages it means "commanders of the highest rank, chosen specially to attend on the person of Pharaoh; probably commanders of the 2000 Calasirians, who, alternately with the Hermotybians, formed his body-guard. They may have been, for the most part, known to Moses." -Bible (Speaker's) Commentary, in loco. Chariots of the Sun. It was a Persian practice to dedicate a chariot and horses to the sun. These chariots were white, and drawn probably by white horses in sacred processions. This idolatrous practice found favor in Judah, for it is recorded, to the honor of Josiah and as a proof of his zeal, that he took away the horses which previous kings had given to the sun, and burned the chariots of the sun with fire. 2 Kgs 23:11.

Chariot, sometimes including the horses (2 Samuel 8:4; 2 Samuel 10:18). Mentioned first in Genesis 41:43, where Joseph rides in Pharaoh's second chariot; also Genesis 46:29. In the Egyptian monuments they occur to the number of 27,000 in records of the reign of Rameses II, 1300 B.C., and even earlier in the 18th dynasty 1530 B.C., when Amosis I used them against the shepherd kings. A leading purpose of chariots was war. Pharaoh followed Israel with 600 chosen chariots (Exodus 14:7). The Canaanites of the valleys armed theirs apparently with iron scythes (Joshua 17:18; Judges 1:19). Jabin had 900, which enabled him to "oppress the children of Israel mightily," because of their sins (Judges 4:3). The Philistines in Saul's time had 30,000 (1 Samuel 13:5). David took from Hadarezer of Zobah 1,000, and from the Syrians 700; these to retrieve their loss gathered 32,000 (1 Chronicles 19:7). God forbad their use to His people, lest they should depend on human help rather than on Him (Deuteronomy 17:16; Deuteronomy 20:1; Psalm 20:7), also lest there should be a turning of the elect nation's heart back to Egypt and its corrupt ways. Solomon from carnal state policy allied himself to Egypt, and disregarded God's prohibition, as Samuel foretold would be the case if Israel, not content with God, should set up a human king (1 Samuel 8:11-12). Solomon had 1,400 chariots, and bought each out of Egypt at 600 shekels of silver, and a horse for 150; and taxed certain cities for the cost, according to eastern usage (1 Kings 9:19; 1 Kings 10:26; 1 Kings 10:29). In Exodus 14:7 translate "captains (literally, men of the king's council of 30) over the whole of them." Not as some thought, "third men in every one of them." For the Egyptian chariots only carried two, the driver and the warrior. The Assyrian chariots (Nahum 2:3-4) depicted on the monuments often contain a third, namely, the warrior's shieldbearer. In Exodus 14:9 "horsemen" are mentioned. Hengstenberg thinks rekeb does not mean cavalry, as they are not depicted in the Egyptian monuments, but merely "riders in chariots." But Diodorus Siculus states that Rameses II had 24,000 cavalry. Egyptian art seems even in later times, when certainly cavalry were employed, to have avoided depicting horsemen. The language of Exodus 15:1; Isaiah 31:1, can be reconciled with either view. Ancient papyri allude to mounting on horseback (Cook, in Speaker's Commentary). The men in the chariot always stood. The Egyptian chariot consisted of a semicircular frame of wood with straight sides, resting on the axle-tree of a pair of wheels; and on the frame a rail attached by leather thongs; one wooden upright in front; open at the back for mounting. On the right side the bowcase and the quiver and spearcase crossed diagonally. The horses wore only breastband and girths attached to the saddle, and a bearing rein fastened to a ring in front of it. In New Testament the only chariots mentioned are that of the Ethiopian eunuch of Candace (Acts 8:28-29; Acts 8:38), and Revelation 9:9. The Persians sacrificed horses to the sun; so the Jews under the idolatrous Manasseh dedicated chariots and horses to the sun (2 Kings 23:11). Josiah burned these chariots with fire, thus making the object of their superstition, fire, to consume their instruments of worship.