Topical Bible: Chariots: Bound With Traces

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Topical Encyclopedia

In the ancient world, chariots were a significant mode of transportation and warfare, often symbolizing power and military might. The term "bound with traces" refers to the method by which horses were harnessed to the chariot, allowing them to pull it efficiently. This setup was crucial for the chariot's speed and maneuverability, making it a formidable tool in battle.

Biblical References and Context

Chariots are frequently mentioned throughout the Bible, often in the context of warfare and divine intervention. In the Old Testament, chariots are depicted as symbols of strength and military prowess. For instance, in Exodus 14:7, Pharaoh's pursuit of the Israelites is described: "He took six hundred of the best chariots, along with all the other chariots of Egypt, with officers over all of them." This passage highlights the reliance on chariots as a key component of the Egyptian military.

The construction and use of chariots were advanced for their time, with the "traces" being the leather straps or ropes that connected the horses to the chariot. This allowed for effective control and speed, which were essential in battle scenarios. The Israelites, during their conquest of Canaan, encountered chariots as formidable obstacles. Joshua 11:4 describes the Canaanite forces: "They came out with all their troops and a large number of horses and chariots—a huge army, as numerous as the sand on the seashore."

Symbolism and Divine Intervention

Chariots also serve as a symbol of human reliance on military strength, contrasted with reliance on God. In Psalm 20:7, the psalmist declares, "Some trust in chariots and others in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God." This verse underscores the biblical theme that true security and victory come from God, not from human military capabilities.

The prophet Isaiah echoes this sentiment in Isaiah 31:1, warning against reliance on Egypt's chariots: "Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in the abundance of chariots and in the multitude of horsemen. They do not look to the Holy One of Israel; they do not seek the LORD."

Divine Overcoming of Chariots

Throughout the biblical narrative, God demonstrates His power over chariots, often turning them into instruments of His will. In the account of the Exodus, God intervenes to protect the Israelites from Pharaoh's chariots. Exodus 14:25 describes how God caused confusion among the Egyptian charioteers: "He caused their chariot wheels to wobble, so that they had difficulty driving. 'Let us flee from the Israelites,' said the Egyptians, 'for the LORD is fighting for them against Egypt.'"

Similarly, in the account of Sisera's defeat in Judges 4, God uses natural elements to render the Canaanite chariots ineffective. Judges 4:15 states, "At Barak’s advance, the LORD routed Sisera and all his chariots and army by the sword, and Sisera abandoned his chariot and fled on foot."

Conclusion

Chariots, bound with traces, represent both the height of ancient military technology and a recurring biblical theme of reliance on human strength versus divine power. Through various narratives, the Bible illustrates that while chariots may symbolize earthly might, ultimate victory and deliverance come from God alone.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Micah 1:13
O you inhabitant of Lachish, bind the chariot to the swift beast: she is the beginning of the sin to the daughter of Zion: for the transgressions of Israel were found in you.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Canaan
... It is possible that traces of this vague and ... wore high-laced sandals; their hair
was bound with a ... was freely used, and made into armour, weapons, and chariots. ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter ii canaan.htm

The Seven Trumpets.
... could easily discover the deep and bloody traces of the ... their onset was like that
of chariots and many ... the trumpet, Loose the four messengers bound near the ...
/.../bliss/a brief commentary on the apocalypse/the seven trumpets.htm

The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
... Israelites had no chance against them wherever they had sufficient space to put
into the field large bodies of infantry or to use their iron-bound chariots. ...
/.../chapter iiithe hebrews and the.htm

The Schoolboy of Madaura
... Long files of chariots were encountered carrying provisions to ... a Byzantine fortress,
and vague traces vanishing away ... Besides, she was bound to perish: the gods ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bertrand/saint augustin/v the schoolboy of madaura.htm

The Roman Conflagration and the Neronian Persecution.
... his odes at supper; he drove his chariots in the ... According to the legend, Dirce was
bound to a raging ... 6) traces the persecution, refers to the divisions among ...
/.../history of the christian church volume i/section 37 the roman conflagration.htm

The Eighteenth Theban Dynasty
... driven along in platoons, their arms bound in strange ... of his captor; then came the
chariots, arms, slaves ... the process of embalming could not remove the traces. ...
/.../chapter iiithe eighteenth theban dynasty.htm

A Nation's Struggle for a Home and Freedom.
... Traces of three different versions of the crossing of ... The Canaanites were armed with
chariots and the best ... its early crises and ultimately bound together the ...
/.../kent/the making of a nation/study xii a nations struggle.htm

"Honey in the Mouth!"
... His chariots are on the way. ... that God has a people that Christ is bound to bring
home ... obliterate, annihilate, and extinguish sin, and all the traces that could ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 37 1891/honey in the mouth.htm

Sin Slain
... which seemed to be all honey has traces of bitter ... again upon thee with twice nine
hundred chariots, and thou ... old Satan himself, all chained and bound and cast ...
//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 6 1860/sin slain.htm

Sennacherib (705-681 BC )
... were bound by the archers: all that were found of thee were bound together, they ...
ranged behind them to support them: "Elam bare the quiver with chariots of men ...
/.../chapter isennacherib 705-681 b c.htm