Chariot
“A vehicle for riding”
Summary
A two-wheeled vehicle used primarily for warfare but also for royal transport, pulled by horses and constituting a major arm of ancient military power.
☩Construction and Design
The chariot consisted of a semicircular wooden frame with straightened sides, resting on the axle-tree of a pair of wheels with six or eight spokes. The floor was made of rope netting to reduce weight. Jewish chariots were patterned after Egyptian models, featuring a high front and sides but open at the back. The Egyptian chariot was distinguished by its extreme lightness—a man could carry it on his shoulders without fatigue. On the right side hung the bowcase, quiver, and spearcase. Iron chariots mentioned in Scripture were likely wooden vehicles armed with iron scythes.
☩Military Significance
Chariots served as the heavy artillery of ancient warfare, enabling military power to be estimated by their numbers. Pharaoh pursued Israel with 600 chosen chariots. The Canaanites' iron chariots prevented complete Israelite conquest of the valleys. Jabin, king of Canaan, had 900 chariots enabling him to oppress Israel for twenty years. The Philistines fielded 30,000 chariots against Saul. David captured 1,000 chariots from Hadadezer of Zobah. Two or three men typically rode in each chariot: a driver, a warrior, and sometimes a shield-bearer.
☩Chariots in Israel
God prohibited Israel from multiplying horses and chariots, lest they depend on human help rather than on Him, and lest their hearts turn back to Egypt. David first introduced chariots to Israel after taking them from Hadadezer. Solomon, disregarding this prohibition for reasons of state policy, raised a force of 1,400 chariots imported from Egypt at 600 shekels each, while horses cost 150 shekels. He built special chariot cities for their accommodation and taxed certain cities for their upkeep. From Solomon's time forward, chariots remained among the most important arms of war in both kingdoms.
☩Symbolic and Spiritual Usage
The prophets frequently allude to chariots as typical of power. The psalmist declares, 'Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.' A chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared when Elijah was taken up to heaven. When the king of Syria sought to capture Elisha at Dothan, the prophet was protected by invisible chariots of fire surrounding the city. The 'chariots of God' are described as twenty thousand, even thousands of angels.
Related Verses154 mentions
See Also
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Chariot," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. II (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Chariot," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. I (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 3.George Morrish, "Chariot," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).
- 4.F. N. Peloubet & M. A. Peloubet (ed.), "Chariot," in Smith's Bible Dictionary (Porter & Coates, 1884).
- 5.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Chariot," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).