- multiply horses:
- Multiplying horses for chariots of war and cavalry, or for luxury, would increase the splendour of a monarch, and form a ground of confidence distinct from a proper confidence in God, and inconsistent with it, and with considering him as the glory of Israel. Egypt abounded in horses; and the desire of multiplying these would induce the prince to encourage a trade with that kingdom; and this might make way for the Israelites being again subjugated by the Egyptians, or at least corrupted by their idolatries and vices. Whereas, it was the command of God that they should no more return thither, but be totally detached from them. Besides, they might be tempted to extend their dominion by means of cavalry, and so get scattered among the surrounding idolatrous nations, and thus cease to be that distinct, separate people, which God intended they should be. "And he said,ª° This¹ will be¹ the mannerª of the kingª that¹ shall reignª° over¹ you: He will takeª°¹ your sons,ª and appointª° [them] for himself, for his chariots,ª and [to be] his horsemen;ª and [some] shall runª° beforeª his chariots.ª" {1Sm 8:11} + "And Davidª tookª° from¹ him a thousandª [chariots], and sevenª hundredª horsemen,ª and twentyª thousandª footmen:ªª and Davidª houghedª°¹ all¹ the chariotª [horses], but reservedª° of¹ them [for] an hundredª chariots.ª" {2Sm 8:4} + "Then Adonijahª the sonª of Haggithª exalted²° himself,¹ saying,ª° I¹ will be king:ª° and he preparedª° him chariotsª and horsemen,ª and fiftyª menª to runª° beforeª him." {1Kg 1:5} + "And Solomonª had¹ fortyª thousandª stallsª of horsesª for his chariots,ª and twelveªª thousandª horsemen.ª" {1Kg 4:26} + "And Solomonª gathered togetherª° chariotsª and horsemen:ª and he had¹ a thousandª and fourª hundredª chariots,ª and twelveªª thousandª horsemen,ª whom he bestowedª° in the citiesª for chariots,ª and with¹ the kingª at Jerusalem.ª ... And Solomonª had horsesª broughtª out of Egypt,ª¹ and linen yarn:ª¹ the king'sª merchantsª° receivedª° the linen yarnª¹ at a price.ª" {1Kg 10:26-28} + "And Solomonª had¹ fourª thousandª stallsª for horsesª and chariots,ª and twelveªª thousandª horsemen;ª whom he bestowed²°¹ in the chariotª cities,ª and with¹ the kingª at Jerusalem.ª" {2Ch 9:25} + "Some¹ [trust] in chariots,ª and some¹ in horses:ª but we¹ will rememberª° the nameª of the LORDª our God.ª" {Psa 20:7} + "Now¹ therefore give pledges,²°¹ I pray thee,¹ to¹ my masterª the kingª of Assyria,ª and I will giveª° thee two thousandª horses,ª if¹ thou be ableª° on thy part to setª° ridersª° upon¹ them. ... How¹ then wilt thou turn awayª°¹ the faceª of oneª captainª of the leastª of my master'sª servants,ª and put thy trustª° on¹ Egyptª for chariotsª and for horsemen?ª" {Isa 36:8-9} + "Asshurª shall not¹ saveª° us; we will not¹ rideª° upon¹ horses:ª neither¹ will we sayª° any more¹ to the workª of our hands,ª [Ye are] our gods:ª for¹ in thee the fatherlessª findeth mercy.ª°" {Hsa 14:3}
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