1st Kings Chapter 4 verse 26 Holy Bible

ASV 1stKings 4:26

And Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen.
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BBE 1stKings 4:26

And Solomon had four thousand boxed-off spaces for horses for his carriages, and twelve thousand horsemen.
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DARBY 1stKings 4:26

And Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen.
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KJV 1stKings 4:26

And Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen.
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WBT 1stKings 4:26

And Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen.
read chapter 4 in WBT

WEB 1stKings 4:26

Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen.
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YLT 1stKings 4:26

And Solomon hath forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen.
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Pulpit Commentary

Pulpit CommentaryVerse 26. - And Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses [40,000 is certainly a clerical error, probably for 4000 (i.e., אַרְבָּיעים for אַרְבָּעָה). For (1) in the parallel passage in Chronicles the number is stated as 4000. (2) 4000 agrees, and 40,000 does not, with the other numbers here given. The chariots, e.g., numbered 1400; the horsemen 12,000. Now for 1400 chariots the proper allowance of horses would be about 4000. We see from the monuments that it was customary to yoke two horses (seldom three) to a chariot; but a third or supernumerary horse was provided to meet emergencies or accidents. 4000 horses would hence be a liberal provision for Solomon's chariots, and it would also agree well with the number of his cavalry. 12,000 cavalry and 40,000 chariot horses are out of all proportion. As to stalls, it seems clear that in ancient, as in modern times, each horse had a separate crib (Vegetins in Bochart, quoted by Keil). Gesenius, however, understands by אֻרְות, not stalls, but teams, or pairs] for his chariots [or chariotry: the word is singular and collective] and twelve hundred horsemen [rather, horses, i.e., riding or cavalry, as distinguished from chariot horses above. See note on 1 Kings 1:5. It has been supposed that this warlike provision is mentioned to account for the peace ("si vis pacem, para bellum") of Solomon's reign, and was designed to overawe the tributary kings. But it is more probable that the idea of the historian was, partly to exhibit the pomp and circumstance of Israel's greatest king, and partly to record a contravention of the law (Deuteronomy 17:16), which was one of the precursors of his fall].

Ellicott's Commentary

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(26) Forty thousand.--By comparison with the parallel passage in 2Chronicles 9:25, and with the notice in 1Kings 10:26 (one thousand four hundred), it seems clear that for "forty thousand" "four thousand" should be read. They were kept in various "chariot cities," as well as at Jerusalem. This multiplication of horses and horsemen--forbidden to the future king in Deuteronomy 17:16, but foretold by Samuel at the inauguration of the kingdom (1Samuel 8:11-12)--is significant of military conquest and an extended empire. The Israelite armies, in frequent contradistinction from their enemies, had been hitherto mainly of infantry; and in Joshua 11:9 the chariots and horses captured were not used, but destroyed, "as the Lord bade Joshua." Such armies were powerful for defence, not for invasion. Now, as it would seem for the first time, this provision of the ancient law, like many others, was set aside, and Solomon's empire assumed the character of other great Oriental monarchies.