Keraia
2 Samuel 8

2 Samuel 8:4

David’s Triumphs · 2 Samuel 8:1–14
Read 2 Samuel 8

Translations

Modern
David captured from him a thousand chariots, seven thousand charioteers, and twenty thousand foot soldiers, and he hamstrung all the horses except a hundred he kept for the chariots.
Traditional
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.
Literal
And David took from him a thousand chariots and seven thousand horsemen, and twenty thousand men on foot. And David hamstrung every chariot horse, and he spared of them a hundred chariots.
Latin
Et captis David ex parte ejus mille septingentis equitibus, et viginti millibus peditum, subnervavit omnes jugales curruum: dereliquit autem ex eis centum currus.

Original

Hebrew
English
David captured from him a thousand chariots, seven thousand charioteers, and twenty thousand foot soldiers, and he hamstrung all the horses except a hundred he kept for the chariots.

Notes

2 Samuel 8:4

David would have disabled horses to stop the enemy from using them again. He also did this because kings in Israel were not allowed to gather large numbers of horses (Deuteronomy 17:16).

2 Samuel 8:1–18

David’s military victories expanded his kingdom (2 Samuel 8:1–14). He also set up an organized group of officials who helped govern the nation (2 Samuel 8:15–18). Together, these developments fulfilled God’s promise to make David’s name well known and honored (2 Samuel 7:9; see also 8:13).

Theme notes and profiles

Arameans David

Events

Parallels

1 Chronicles 18:1–13 Psalm 60:1–12

People

David: Anointed king of Israel, ancestor of Jesus Christ

Glossary

David Hadadezer Land Numbers, Book of Palestine Rehob (Person) Samuel, Books of First and Second Syria, Syrians Zobah

Topics

Animals: Cruelty to Houghing Horses Cavalry: Mounted: On Horses Chariot: Introduced Among Israelites by David Chariots: Introduced Into Israel by David Hadadezer: King of Zobah, Vanquished by David Horse: Hamstrung by David Houghing of Horses Syria: Conquest of by David Zobah: Conquest of, by David