1 Kings 10:26

26 And Solomon gathered together chariots and horsemen: and he had a thousand and four hundred chariots, and twelve* thousand horsemen, whom he bestowed in the cities for chariots, and with the king at 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.

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FOOTNOTES:

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

1 Kings 10:26 In-Context

24 And all the earth sought to Solomon, to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart.

25 And they brought every man his present, vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and garments, and armour, and spices, horses, and mules, a rate year by year.

26 And Solomon gathered together chariots and horsemen: and he had a thousand and four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, whom he bestowed in the cities for chariots, and with the king at Jerusalem.

27 And the king made silver to be in Jerusalem as stones, and cedars made he to be as the sycomore trees that are in the vale, for abundance.

28 And Solomon had horses brought out of Egypt, and linen yarn: the king's merchants received the linen yarn at a price.