Definition: 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.
Explanation: Okay, letโs break down this verse from 2 Samuel 8:4. Itโs a really significant passage about God's covenant with David and his kingdom. Hereโs what it means in simpler terms: The Basic Idea: God is giving David a huge advantage โ heโs essentially getting a huge, powerful team of soldiers to protect him and his kingdom. Itโs like giving him a really fancy, well-equipped army. Let's break down the details: โAnd David took from him a thousand [chariots], and seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen:โ This tells us that God is providing David with a massive number of vehicles โ chariots (like large wagons), horses, and soldiers. "A thousand" means a huge quantity, "seven hundred" means a significant number, and "twenty thousand" is an enormous amount. It's a really impressive display of power and resources. โAnd David houghed all the chariot [horses], but reserved of them [for] an hundred chariots.โ This is the key part! David specifically chose to reserve a hundred chariots for himself. The word "houghed" means to hold or keep something, and here it suggests heโs holding onto these vehicles as a special gift โ a promise of protection and strength. What does this mean in bigger picture? This verse is about God's covenant with David. A covenant is a binding agreement between two people. God's covenant with David was that he would rule over all Israel (the whole nation). This massive display โ the huge number of vehicles โ symbolizes this promise and highlights Davidโs position as the King of Israel. It shows Godโs commitment to protecting him and his kingdom, and gives him a significant advantage in power and influence. In essence, it's a statement about God's favor towards David and his establishment of a powerful kingdom. --- Do you want me to: Explain another verse from 2 Samuel? Give you more context about the time period this verse comes from?