SPECIAL TOPIC: CHARIOTS

SPECIAL TOPIC: CHARIOTS (BDB 939)

The Dictionary of Biblical Imagery notes that chariots were used in three distinct ways (p. 138).

1. Royal transportation

a. Egypt – Gen. 41:43; 50:9

b. Israel – 2 Sam. 15:1; 1 Kgs. 1:5; Song of Songs 3:9

2. Divine transportation and army – 2 Kgs. 2:11; 6:17; Ps. 68:17,104; Isa. 66:15; Jer. 17:25; Hab. 3:8

3. Military weapon (selected examples)

a. Egypt – Exod. 14:6,7,9,17,18,23,26,28; 15:4,9; Deut. 11:4; Josh. 24:6

b. Canaanite – Deut. 20:1; Jos. 11:4; 17:16,18; Jdgs. 1:19; 4-5

c. Philistine – Jdgs. 1:19; 1 Sam. 13:5; 2 Sam. 1:6

d. Israelite – 1 Sam. 8:11-12; 2 Sam. 15:1; 1 Kgs. 10:26-29

(note Ps. 20:1; Isa. 31:1)

The iron may have been around the wheels or simply ornamental. It represented a superior technology!