And David took from him a thousand chariots, and seven thousand horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen: David also houghed all the chariot horses, but reserved of them an hundred chariots.

1 CHRONICLES 18:4KJV
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1 Chronicles 18:4 (KJV)

What does 1 Chronicles 18:4 mean?

1 Chronicles 18:4 describes how King David captured a large number of chariots, horsemen, and foot soldiers from an enemy king, then disabled most of the chariot horses but kept enough for a hundred chariots. This verse shows David’s military victory and how he limited the enemy’s future ability to wage war.

In this chapter, the writer is recounting David’s battles as king of Israel, specifically his victory over Hadadezer, king of Zobah. The verse details the spoils David took: a thousand chariots, seven thousand horsemen, and twenty thousand foot soldiers. The act of “houghing” (hamstringing) the horses meant making them unfit for war, a common practice to prevent enemies from rebuilding their military strength.

The Hebrew behind 1 Chronicles 18:4

  • "Houghed" (עָקַר, ‘āqar): This word means to hamstring, or disable, the horses. It shows that David did not simply kill the animals but made them unusable for war, which was both a strategic and humane choice for the time.
  • "Reserved" (יָתַר, yātar): The word means to leave or keep back. David deliberately kept enough horses for only a hundred chariots, suggesting he did not want Israel to rely heavily on chariots, which were associated with foreign military power.

Why 1 Chronicles 18:4 matters

  • This verse clarifies that David’s victory was not just about defeating an enemy but also about weakening their ability to fight again, showing strategic thinking.
  • The detail about keeping only a hundred chariots connects to Israel’s unique identity; the law in Deuteronomy 17:16 warned Israel’s kings not to multiply horses, so David’s action may reflect obedience to this principle.
  • The verse sets up the broader context of David’s reign, showing how he expanded Israel’s influence while also exercising restraint, which is a theme in the surrounding chapters.

Where else these words appear

“houghed” Hebrew H6131 · used in 7 verses

  • Genesis 49:6 O my soul, come not thou into their secret; unto their assembly, mine honour, be not thou united: for in their anger they slew a man, and in their selfwill they digged down a wall.
  • Joshua 11:9 And Joshua did unto them as the LORD bade him: he houghed their horses, and burnt their chariots with fire.
  • Ecclesiastes 3:2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

“footmen” Hebrew H7273 · used in 12 verses

  • Exodus 12:37 And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand on foot that were men, beside children.
  • 1 Samuel 4:10 And the Philistines fought, and Israel was smitten, and they fled every man into his tent: and there was a very great slaughter; for there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen.
  • 1 Kings 20:29 And they pitched one over against the other seven days. And so it was, that in the seventh day the battle was joined: and the children of Israel slew of the Syrians an hundred thousand footmen in one day.

“horsemen” Hebrew H6571 · used in 54 verses

  • Genesis 50:9 And there went up with him both chariots and horsemen: and it was a very great company.
  • 1 Kings 9:22 But of the children of Israel did Solomon make no bondmen: but they were men of war, and his servants, and his princes, and his captains, and rulers of his chariots, and his horsemen.
  • Isaiah 22:6 And Elam bare the quiver with chariots of men and horsemen, and Kir uncovered the shield.

“reserved” Hebrew H3498 · used in 101 verses

  • Genesis 30:36 And he set three days' journey betwixt himself and Jacob: and Jacob fed the rest of Laban's flocks.
  • Joshua 18:2 And there remained among the children of Israel seven tribes, which had not yet received their inheritance.
  • 1 Chronicles 6:70 And out of the half tribe of Manasseh; Aner with her suburbs, and Bileam with her suburbs, for the family of the remnant of the sons of Kohath.