1 Kings 4:26
New International Version
Solomon had four thousand stalls for chariot horses, and twelve thousand horses.

New Living Translation
Solomon had 4,000 stalls for his chariot horses, and he had 12,000 horses.

English Standard Version
Solomon also had 40,000 stalls of horses for his chariots, and 12,000 horsemen.

Berean Standard Bible
Solomon had 4,000 stalls for his chariot horses and 12,000 horses.

King James Bible
And Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen.

New King James Version
Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen.

New American Standard Bible
Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen.

NASB 1995
Solomon had 40,000 stalls of horses for his chariots, and 12,000 horsemen.

NASB 1977
And Solomon had 40,000 stalls of horses for his chariots, and 12,000 horsemen.

Legacy Standard Bible
Solomon had 40,000 stalls of horses for his chariots, and 12,000 horsemen.

Amplified Bible
Solomon also had 40,000 stalls of horses for his chariots, and 12,000 horsemen.

Christian Standard Bible
Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Solomon had 40,000 stalls of horses for his chariots, and 12,000 horsemen.

American Standard Version
And Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen.

Contemporary English Version
Solomon had 40,000 stalls of chariot horses and 12,000 chariot soldiers.

English Revised Version
And Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Solomon had stalls for 40,000 chariot horses. He also had 12,000 chariot soldiers.

Good News Translation
Solomon had forty thousand stalls for his chariot horses and twelve thousand cavalry horses.

International Standard Version
Solomon owned 40,000 stalls for the horses that drove his chariots, and he employed 12,000 men to drive them.

Majority Standard Bible
Solomon had 4,000 stalls for his chariot horses and 12,000 horses.

NET Bible
Solomon had 4,000 stalls for his chariot horses and 12,000 horses.

New Heart English Bible
Solomon had four thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen.

Webster's Bible Translation
And Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen.

World English Bible
Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Solomon has forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen.

Young's Literal Translation
And Solomon hath forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen.

Smith's Literal Translation
And there will be to Solomon forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Solomon had forty thousand stalls of chariot horses, and twelve thou- sand for the saddle.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And Solomon had forty thousand stalls of chariot horses, and twelve thousand riding horses.

New American Bible
Solomon had forty thousand stalls for horses for chariots and twelve thousand horsemen.

New Revised Standard Version
Solomon also had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots and twelve thousand horsemen.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses for his riding, and twelve thousand horsemen.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Solomon's Wealth
25Throughout the days of Solomon, Judah and Israel dwelt securely from Dan to Beersheba, each man under his own vine and his own fig tree. 26Solomon had 4,000 stalls for his chariot horses and 12,000 horses. 27Each month the governors in turn provided food for King Solomon and all who came to his table. They saw to it that nothing was lacking.…

Cross References
2 Chronicles 9:25
Solomon had 4,000 stalls for horses and chariots, and 12,000 horses, which he stationed in the chariot cities and also with him in Jerusalem.

1 Kings 10:26
Solomon accumulated 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horses, which he stationed in the chariot cities and also with him in Jerusalem.

2 Chronicles 1:14
Solomon accumulated 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horses, which he stationed in the chariot cities and also with him in Jerusalem.

Deuteronomy 17:16
But the king must not acquire many horses for himself or send the people back to Egypt to acquire more horses, for the LORD has said, ‘You are never to go back that way again.’

1 Samuel 8:11-12
He said, “This will be the manner of the king who will reign over you: He will take your sons and appoint them to serve his own chariots and horses, and to run in front of his chariots. / He will appoint some for himself as commanders of thousands and of fifties, and others to plow his ground, to reap his harvest, and to make his weapons of war and equipment for his chariots.

Isaiah 2:7
Their land is full of silver and gold, with no limit to their treasures; their land is full of horses, with no limit to their chariots.

2 Samuel 8:4
David captured from him a thousand chariots, seven thousand charioteers, and twenty thousand foot soldiers, and he hamstrung all the horses except a hundred he kept for the chariots.

1 Kings 1:5
At that time Adonijah, David’s son by Haggith, began to exalt himself, saying, “I will be king!” And he acquired chariots and horsemen and fifty men to run ahead of him.

2 Chronicles 9:28
Solomon’s horses were imported from Egypt and from all the lands.

1 Kings 9:19
as well as all the store cities that Solomon had for his chariots and horses—whatever he desired to build in Jerusalem, Lebanon, and throughout the land of his dominion.

2 Chronicles 1:16-17
Solomon’s horses were imported from Egypt and Kue; the royal merchants purchased them from Kue. / A chariot could be imported from Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver, and a horse for a hundred and fifty. Likewise, they exported them to all the kings of the Hittites and to the kings of Aram.

Psalm 20:7
Some trust in chariots and others in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.

Zechariah 9:10
And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the horse from Jerusalem, and the bow of war will be broken. Then He will proclaim peace to the nations. His dominion will extend from sea to sea, and from the Euphrates to the ends of the earth.

Revelation 19:11-14
Then I saw heaven standing open, and there before me was a white horse. And its rider is called Faithful and True. With righteousness He judges and wages war. / He has eyes like blazing fire, and many royal crowns on His head. He has a name written on Him that only He Himself knows. / He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and His name is The Word of God. ...

Acts 8:27-28
So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official in charge of the entire treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. He had gone to Jerusalem to worship, / and on his return was sitting in his chariot reading Isaiah the prophet.


Treasury of Scripture

And Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen.

forty thousand

1 Kings 10:25,26
And they brought every man his present, vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and garments, and armour, and spices, horses, and mules, a rate year by year…

Deuteronomy 17:16
But he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he should multiply horses: forasmuch as the LORD hath said unto you, Ye shall henceforth return no more that way.

2 Samuel 8:4
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.

Jump to Previous
Carriages Chariot Chariots Forty Four Horsemen Horses Solomon Spaces Stalls Thousand Twelve
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Carriages Chariot Chariots Forty Four Horsemen Horses Solomon Spaces Stalls Thousand Twelve
1 Kings 4
1. Solomon's princes
7. His twelve officers for provision
20. The peace and largeness of his kingdom
22. His daily provision
26. His stable
29. His wisdom














Solomon
The name Solomon, derived from the Hebrew "Shlomo," means "peaceful." Solomon, the son of King David and Bathsheba, is renowned for his wisdom, wealth, and building projects, including the First Temple in Jerusalem. His reign is often seen as a golden age for Israel, marked by peace and prosperity. Solomon's name itself is a reminder of the peace and stability that characterized his rule, a fulfillment of God's promise to David that his son would reign in peace.

had
The verb "had" indicates possession and control. In the context of Solomon's reign, it reflects the vast resources and wealth that were under his command. This possession is not merely about material wealth but also about the responsibility and stewardship that comes with such abundance. Solomon's ability to maintain such a large number of horses and chariots speaks to the organizational and administrative skills that were necessary to manage the kingdom effectively.

four thousand stalls
The phrase "four thousand stalls" highlights the scale of Solomon's resources. Stalls were structures used to house horses, indicating a significant investment in infrastructure. This number suggests a well-organized and maintained system, reflecting the prosperity and military preparedness of Solomon's kingdom. Archaeological findings have uncovered similar structures in ancient Near Eastern cultures, underscoring the historical accuracy of such descriptions in the Bible.

for his chariot horses
Chariot horses were a symbol of military strength and power in the ancient world. The use of chariots revolutionized warfare, providing speed and mobility. Solomon's investment in chariot horses indicates a strategic approach to defense and a deterrent against potential adversaries. This phrase underscores the importance of preparedness and the role of wisdom in governance, as Solomon ensured the security of his kingdom through such means.

and twelve thousand horses
The mention of "twelve thousand horses" further emphasizes the magnitude of Solomon's wealth and military capability. Horses were valuable assets, not only for warfare but also for trade and transportation. The number twelve, often symbolizing completeness or perfection in the Bible, may also suggest the comprehensive nature of Solomon's resources. This abundance is a testament to God's blessing upon Solomon's reign, fulfilling the promises made to David regarding his lineage.

(26) Forty thousand.--By comparison with the parallel passage in 2Chronicles 9:25, and with the notice in 1Kings 10:26 (one thousand four hundred), it seems clear that for "forty thousand" "four thousand" should be read. They were kept in various "chariot cities," as well as at Jerusalem. This multiplication of horses and horsemen--forbidden to the future king in Deuteronomy 17:16, but foretold by Samuel at the inauguration of the kingdom (1Samuel 8:11-12)--is significant of military conquest and an extended empire. The Israelite armies, in frequent contradistinction from their enemies, had been hitherto mainly of infantry; and in Joshua 11:9 the chariots and horses captured were not used, but destroyed, "as the Lord bade Joshua." Such armies were powerful for defence, not for invasion. Now, as it would seem for the first time, this provision of the ancient law, like many others, was set aside, and Solomon's empire assumed the character of other great Oriental monarchies.

Verse 26. - And Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses [40,000 is certainly a clerical error, probably for 4000 (i.e., אַרְבָּיעים for אַרְבָּעָה). For

(1) in the parallel passage in Chronicles the number is stated as 4000.

(2) 4000 agrees, and 40,000 does not, with the other numbers here given.

The chariots, e.g., numbered 1400; the horsemen 12,000. Now for 1400 chariots the proper allowance of horses would be about 4000. We see from the monuments that it was customary to yoke two horses (seldom three) to a chariot; but a third or supernumerary horse was provided to meet emergencies or accidents. 4000 horses would hence be a liberal provision for Solomon's chariots, and it would also agree well with the number of his cavalry. 12,000 cavalry and 40,000 chariot horses are out of all proportion. As to stalls, it seems clear that in ancient, as in modern times, each horse had a separate crib (Vegetins in Bochart, quoted by Keil). Gesenius, however, understands by אֻרְות, not stalls, but teams, or pairs] for his chariots [or chariotry: the word is singular and collective] and twelve hundred horsemen [rather, horses, i.e., riding or cavalry, as distinguished from chariot horses above. See note on 1 Kings 1:5. It has been supposed that this warlike provision is mentioned to account for the peace ("si vis pacem, para bellum") of Solomon's reign, and was designed to overawe the tributary kings. But it is more probable that the idea of the historian was, partly to exhibit the pomp and circumstance of Israel's greatest king, and partly to record a contravention of the law (Deuteronomy 17:16), which was one of the precursors of his fall].

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Solomon
לִשְׁלֹמֹ֗ה (liš·lō·mōh)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 8010: Solomon -- David's son and successor to his throne

had
וַיְהִ֣י (way·hî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

four
אַרְבָּעִ֥ים (’ar·bā·‘îm)
Number - common plural
Strong's 705: Forty

thousand
אֶ֛לֶף (’e·lep̄)
Number - masculine singular
Strong's 505: A thousand

stalls
אֻרְוֺ֥ת (’ur·wōṯ)
Noun - feminine plural construct
Strong's 723: A herding-place for, an animal

for his chariot
לְמֶרְכָּב֑וֹ (lə·mer·kā·ḇōw)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 4817: A chariot, riding seat

horses
סוּסִ֖ים (sū·sîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 5483: A swallow, swift (type of bird)

and twelve
וּשְׁנֵים־ (ū·šə·nêm-)
Conjunctive waw | Number - md
Strong's 8147: Two (a cardinal number)

thousand
אֶ֖לֶף (’e·lep̄)
Number - masculine singular
Strong's 505: A thousand

horses.
פָּרָשִֽׁים׃ (pā·rā·šîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 6571: A steed, a driver, cavalry


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OT History: 1 Kings 4:26 Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses (1Ki iKi i Ki 1 Kg 1kg)
1 Kings 4:25
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