Topical Bible: Chariots: Sometimes Driven by the Owners

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Chariots in the biblical context are often depicted as symbols of power, speed, and military might. They were a common sight in ancient Near Eastern warfare and are frequently mentioned throughout the Old Testament. While chariots were typically driven by skilled charioteers, there are instances in the Bible where the owners themselves took the reins, demonstrating their personal involvement in battle or significant events.

One notable example is found in the account of Jehu, the son of Jehoshaphat, who was anointed king of Israel. Jehu is described as a fierce and zealous leader, known for his swift and decisive actions. In 2 Kings 9:20 , a watchman reports, "The driving is like that of Jehu son of Nimshi—he drives like a madman." This passage suggests that Jehu himself was at the helm of his chariot, driving with great urgency and intensity as he carried out his mission to overthrow the house of Ahab.

Another instance is seen in the account of Pharaoh's pursuit of the Israelites during the Exodus. In Exodus 14:6-7 , it is recorded, "So Pharaoh prepared his chariot and took his army with him. He took six hundred of the best chariots, along with all the other chariots of Egypt, with officers over all of them." While the text does not explicitly state that Pharaoh personally drove his chariot, the preparation and leadership implied suggest his direct involvement in the pursuit, highlighting the importance of the event.

Chariots were not only used in warfare but also in royal and ceremonial contexts. King Solomon, known for his wealth and wisdom, amassed a significant number of chariots as part of his military and economic strength. 1 Kings 10:26 states, "Solomon accumulated chariots and horses; he had fourteen hundred chariots and twelve thousand horses, which he stationed in the chariot cities and also with him in Jerusalem." While the text does not specify Solomon driving a chariot himself, his ownership and strategic deployment of chariots underscore their importance in his reign.

In the prophetic literature, chariots often symbolize divine intervention and judgment. The prophet Isaiah, for instance, uses the imagery of chariots to convey God's power and impending judgment. Isaiah 66:15 declares, "For behold, the LORD will come with fire—His chariots are like a whirlwind—to execute His anger with fury and His rebuke with flames of fire." Here, the chariots are metaphorical, representing the swiftness and might of God's actions.

The use of chariots in the Bible, whether driven by their owners or others, reflects the broader cultural and historical significance of these vehicles in ancient times. They were not only tools of war but also symbols of authority and divine power, woven into the fabric of biblical narratives to convey themes of leadership, judgment, and deliverance.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

2 Kings 9:16,20
So Jehu rode in a chariot, and went to Jezreel; for Joram lay there. And Ahaziah king of Judah was come down to see Joram.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Sennacherib (705-681 BC )
... most of the native population and driven the rest ... the banks are broken down, and
sometimes large districts ... a confused crowd of archers, chariots, and horsemen. ...
/.../chapter isennacherib 705-681 b c.htm

Homiletical.
... Wherefore it does sometimes come to pass that the calamities ... air round about; they
were being driven to touch ... the Olympic games used to make chariots at full ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/basil/basil letters and select works/iv homiletical.htm

Sargon of Assyria (722-705 BC )
... Taking with him his chariots and one thousand picked ... Mushki, separated these two
countries, sometimes rivals to ... wild boars," and finally were driven into the ...
/.../chapter iiisargon of assyria 722-705.htm

An Exposition on the First Ten Chapters of Genesis, and Part of ...
... Again, though sometimes this, as of wisdom, or that, as of justice and mercy, is
most ... as it is in itself, but will either by thy darkness be driven to a denial ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/an exposition on the first.htm

The Eighteenth Theban Dynasty --(Continued)
... informs us that Ribaddu had been driven from Byblos ... or those of Abimilki to Pharaoh,
sometimes there is ... let loose upon them a whirlwind of chariots and archers ...
/.../chapter ithe eighteenth theban dynastycontinued.htm

The Temples and the Gods of Chaldaea
... deviations from the earlier plans which sometimes make the ... come to the rescue; they
had driven Ishtar and ... and repair thither in closed chariots, followed by a ...
/.../chapter iithe temples and the.htm

Tiglath-Pileser iii. And the Organisation of the Assyrian Empire ...
... Although decimated and driven from fortress to fortress, and ... out, "My father, my
father, the chariots of Israel ... it has been estimated that the owners of landed ...
/.../chapter iitiglath-pileser iii and the.htm

A Treatise of the Fear of God;
... 4. The judgments that sometimes God hath executed upon men for their want of godly
fear, while they have been in his worship and service, put fear and dread ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/a treatise of the fear.htm