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.
David captured from him a thousand chariots, seven hundred cavalry soldiers, and twenty thousand foot soldiers. David cut the tendons of all the chariot horses to disable them, but kept enough horses for a hundred chariots.
David won a major military victory, capturing thousands of enemy soldiers and war equipment, but deliberately disabled most of the horses to prevent relying on military might instead of God.
📚 Historical Context
In the context of King David's reign, this verse describes his military campaigns to secure and expand the kingdom of Israel against neighboring threats, particularly the Arameans under Hadadezer. Ancient warfare relied heavily on chariots and horses for mobility and power, making David's capture of these resources a significant strategic victory. By houghing the horses, meaning cutting their hamstrings to disable them, David ensured that the enemy could not quickly regroup, while reserving a portion for his own military needs.
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