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2 Samuel 8:4

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does 2 Samuel 8:4 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And David took from him a thousand and seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen: and David hocked all the chariot horses, but reserved of them for a hundred chariots.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And David took from him a thousand and seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen: and David hocked all the chariot horses, but reserved of them for a hundred chariots.
2 Samuel 8:4 — American Standard Version

Context — 2 Samuel 8

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
1And after this it came to pass, that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them: and David took the bridle of the mother city out of the hand of the Philistines.
2And he smote Moab, and measured them with the line, making them to lie down on the ground; and he measured two lines to put to death, and one full line to keep alive. And the Moabites became servants to David, and brought tribute.
3David smote also Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to recover his dominion at the River.
4And David took from him a thousand and seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen: and David hocked all the chariot horses, but reserved of them for a hundred chariots.
5And when the Syrians of Damascus came to succor Hadadezer king of Zobah, David smote of the Syrians two and twenty thousand men.
6Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus; and the Syrians became servants to David, and brought tribute. And Jehovah gave victory to David whithersoever he went.
7And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.
← 2 Samuel 8:32 Samuel 8:5 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And David took from him a thousand [chariots], and seven hundred horsemen, etc.] “Chariots” are not in the text here, it is only 1700 “horsemen”; but it is supplied from (<131804>1 Chronicles 18:4); where the word is expressly mentioned, and there the horsemen are said to be seven thousand as in the Septuagint version here, and in Josephus f137; which may be reconciled by observing, with Kimchi and Abarbinel, that here the chief officers are meant, there all the chariots and horsemen that were under their command are mentioned, which together made up that large number; or else here are meant the ranks and companies of horse David took, which were seven hundred; and these having ten in a…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Seven hundred horsemen - It should be seven thousand, as in 1 Chronicles 18:4. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Seven hundred - Or, seven hundred companies of horsemen, that is, in all seven thousand; as it is Ch1 18:4, there being ten in each company, and each ten having a ruler or captain. Houghed - - That is, cut the sinews of their legs, that they might be useless for war. 2 Kings (2 Samuel) 8:5”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“8:4 David would have crippled . . . horses to prevent their reuse by the enemy and because kings in Israel were not to accumulate horses (Deut 17:16).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“from him: or, of his chariots: As Ch1 18:4 seven hundred. In the parallel place in Chronicles it is "seven thousand horsemen, a far more probable number. The letter ז, zayin, with a dot upon it stands for seven thousand, and the final letter ן, noon, for seven hundred. The great similarity of these letters might easily cause the one to be mistaken for the other, and so produce an error in this place. David houghed, Deu 17:16; Jos 11:6, Jos 11:9; Psa 20:7, Psa 33:16, Psa 33:17 reserved: Kg1 10:26 2 Kings (2 Samuel) 8:5”
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Sources and verification