Chariots and Horsemen

Biblical Contradiction or Clerical Error?

1 Chronicles 18:3-5

And David smote Hadarezer king of Zobah unto Hamath, as he went to stablish his dominion by the river Euphrates. And David took from him a thousand chariots, and seven thousand horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen: David also houghed all the chariot horses, but reserved of them an hundred chariots.

And when the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadarezer king of Zobah, David slew of the Syrians two and twenty thousand men.

  • 1,000 chariots = 7,000 horsemen
  • 20,000 footmen
  • 22,000 men
  • 49,000 total dead

 2 Samuel 10:18

And the Syrians fled before Israel; and David slew the men of seven hundred chariots of the Syrians, and forty thousand horsemen, and smote Shobach the captain of their host, who died there.

  • 700 chariots = 4,900 horsemen
  • 40,000 horsemen
  • 44,900 total dead

 

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