2 Chronicles 9:25

And Solomon had four thousand stalls for horses and chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen; whom he bestowed in the chariot cities, and with the king at Jerusalem.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(25) And Solomon had four thousand stalls for horses and chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen.—See 1Kings 4:26 (where the number of stalls is erroneously stated at 40,000).

The remainder of the verse coincides with 1Kings 10:26.

Having already given an account of Solomon’s chariots and horses, and his importation of the latter from Egypt, in 2Chronicles 1:14-17, an account which is identical with 1Kings 10:26-29, the chronicler naturally avoids mere repetition of that passage in 2Chronicles 9:25-28.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

9:13-31 The imports here mentioned, would show that prosperity drew the minds of Solomon and his subjects to the love of things curious and uncommon, though useless in themselves. True wisdom and happiness are always united together; but no such alliance exists between wealth and the enjoyment of the things of this life. Let us then acquaint ourselves with the Saviour, that we may find rest for our souls. Here is Solomon reigning in wealth and power, in ease and fulness, the like of which could never since be found; for the most known of the great princes of the earth were famed for their wars; whereas Solomon reigned forty years in profound peace. The promise was fulfilled, that God would give him riches and honour, such as no kings have had or shall have. The lustre wherein he appeared, was typical of the spiritual glory of the kingdom of the Messiah, and but a faint representation of His throne, which is above every throne. Here is Solomon dying, and leaving all his wealth and power to one who he knew would be a fool! Ec 2:18,19. This was not only vanity, but vexation of spirit. Neither power, wealth, nor wisdom, can ward off or prepare for the stroke of death. But thanks be to God who giveth the victory to the true believer, even over this dreaded enemy, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

All the kings of the earth - Rather, "all the kings of the land:" all the monarchs, that is, whose dominions were included in So omon's empire (see 1 Kings 4:21).

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

25. Solomon had four thousand stalls—It has been conjectured [Gesenius, Hebrew Lexicon] that the original term may signify not only stall or stable, but a number of horses occupying the same number of stalls. Supposing that ten were put together in one part, this would make forty thousand. According to this theory of explanation, the historian in Kings refers to horses [see 1Ki 10:26]; while the historian in Chronicles speaks of the stalls in which they were kept. But more recent critics reject this mode of solving the difficulty, and, regarding the four thousand stalls as in keeping with the general magnificence of Solomon's establishments, are agreed in considering the text in Kings as corrupt, through the error of some copyist.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

Four thousand stalls, to wit, greater stalls, in each of which were ten stalls, in all forty thousand stalls, as it is in 1 Kings 4:26, See Poole "1 Kings 4:26".

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

See Chapter Introduction

Geneva Study Bible

And Solomon had {m} four thousand stalls for horses and chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen; whom he bestowed in the chariot cities, and with the king at Jerusalem.

(m) That is, ten horses in every stable, which in all amounts to 40,000 as in 1Ki 4:26.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

25. four thousand stalls for horses and chariots] In the parallel passage (1 Kings 4:26 = 2 Chronicles 5:6 Heb.), forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots. The meaning of the word rendered “stalls” is quite uncertain. The rendering of the LXX. suggests “brood-mares” as the meaning.

twelve thousand horsemen] So 1 Kings 4:26 (2 Chronicles 5:6 Heb.); and 2 Chronicles 1:14 (= 1 Kings 10:26).

chariot cities] See note on 2 Chronicles 1:14.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 25. - Four thousand stalls. Not forty thousand, as by error in 1 Kings 4:26. The parallel mentions one thousand four hundred as the number of the chariots (2 Chronicles 1:14). Both agree in twelve thousand as the number of horsemen. Chariot cities (1 Kings 9:19; 2 Chronicles 1:14). Some of the horse and chariot depots were kept near the king, but the rest in those specially chosen and prepared cities, which might be nearest or fittest against time of war-need. 2 Chronicles 9:25

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

2 Chronicles 9:25 does not correspond to the passage 1 Kings 10:26, but in contents and language agrees with 1 Kings 5:6, and 2 Chronicles 9:26 with 1 Kings 5:1. Only the general estimate of Solomon's riches in gold and silver, in 2 Chronicles 9:27, repeated from 2 Chronicles 1:15, corresponds to 1 Kings 10:27. Finally, in 2 Chronicles 9:28 the whole description is rounded off; all that has already been said in 2 Chronicles 1:16, 2 Chronicles 1:17 as to the trade in horses with Egypt (1 Kings 10:28-29) being drawn together into one general statement.