1 Kings 4:26

“And Solomon had forty thousand stalls for horses, etc.] In (<140925>2 Chronicles 9:25); it is only four thousand; and therefore some think that here is a mistake of the copier, of “arbaim”, forty, for “arbah”, four; which it is thought might be through divine permission, in such lesser matters, without any prejudice to the authority of the Scriptures in matters of faith and practice; but without supposing this, a reconciliation may be made, by observing, that here the writer, as Ben Gersom notes, gives the number of the horses that were in the stables, which were forty thousand, there the stables themselves, which were four thousand, ten horses in a stable; or here he numbers the stalls,…”

“forty thousand stalls--for the royal mews (see on Ch2 9:25).”

“In 2 Chronicles 9:25, the number of stalls for Solomon’s chariot horses is stated at 4,000, instead of 40,000. The number in the present passage is probably a corruption. Solomon’s chariots were but 1,400 1Ki 10:26; 2 Chronicles 1:14, for which 40,000 horses could not possibly be required. The Assyrian chariots had at most three horses apiece, while some had only two. 4,000 horses would supply the full team of three to 1,200, and the smaller team of two to 200 chariots. The number 4,000 is in due proportion to the 12,000 horses for cavalry, and is in accordance with all that we know of the military establishments of the time and country. Compare 2 Chronicles 12:3; 2 Samuel 8:4. return to…”

“Forty thousand - In Ch2 9:25, it is but four thousand. But it is not exactly the same Hebrew word which is here and there, though we translate both stalls; and therefore there may well be allowed some difference in the signification, the one signifying properly stables, of which there were four thousand, the other stalls or partitions for each horse, which were forty thousand. Chariots - Both for his military chariots, which seem to be those fourteen hundred, Kg1 10:26, and for divers other uses, as about his great and various buildings, and merchandises, and other occasions, which might require some thousands of other chariots. Horsemen - Appointed partly for the defence of his people in…”

“4:26 4,000 stalls: The number 4,000 reflects the parallel text in 2 Chr 9:25, a suitable number for Solomon’s 1,400 chariots (1 Kgs 10:26; 2 Chr 1:14). • 12,000 horses: The Hebrew can be translated as “horsemen” (Exod 15:19-21) or “horses” (Joel 2:4). To be prepared for battles, Solomon built towns to accommodate his forces (1 Kgs 9:19).”

“forty thousand: Kg1 10:25, Kg1 10:26; Deu 17:16; Sa2 8:4; Ch2 1:14, Ch2 9:25; Psa 20:7 3 Kings (1 Kings) 4:27”