J. Hastings. CHARIOT {33^, 3tr) Ps 104', n;;n;, nSj^ Ps 46', ipiM., xurrus). — In ancient times war chariots formed an important part of the military strength of a nation. We learn from Egyptian monu- ments that they were largely employed in the armies of the Hittite and Palestinian kings, and thence they were introduced into E^pt about the 17th cent. B.C. (Brugsch, Hist, of Egypt, i. 295). An Egyp. poem mentions that the Hittites brought 2500 chariots against Ramses II. (B.C. 1360) ; and when the Egyptians defeated the allied forces of the Syrians at ilegiddo in the 14th cent. B.C., they captured 2041 horses and 924 chariots. A papyrus relating to the same period described the adven- tures of an Egyptian mohar or official, who drove through PaL in a chariot, accompanied by his servant. In the OT we read of the chariots and horsemen of Pharaoh at the time of the Exodus (Ex U*"- 15'-*). In Pal. the Israelites must have become familiar with the use of chariots in war long before they adopted them. Thus they were used by the Can. kings defeated at the Waters of Merom (Jos ll*"'), by Jabin and Sisera, who had 900 chariots of iron (Jg 4'- '' 5-*) ; and it was through their iron chariots that the Canaanites of the valleys were able to maintain themselves against tlie conquering Israelites (Jg 1", cf. Jos 17"' '*). These chariots were doubtless built of wood (cf. Jos 11' 'burnt their chariots') and plated or strengthened with iron. The translation of Vulg. currus falcati ( Jg 1^' 4'- ") seems to involve an anachronism ; for the use of scythes attached to the axles of war chariots was probably introduced from Persia. Certainly, chariots of this kind are never represented on the monuments of Egypt or Assyria, and Xenophon attributes tlie invention to Cyrus (Cyrop. vi. 1. 27). In the time of Saul the Philistines invaded the country of Israel with 3000 chariots (1 S 13» LXX[Luc.]; see Driver, Text of Sam.). David, during liis Syrian wars, captured 1000 chariots (1 Ch 18*), and on another occasion 700 (2 S 10'«) ; but, following the example of Joshua (Jos 11'), he maimed the horses, reserving only sullicient for 100 chariots (2 S 8*). The introduction of chariots into the Israelite army dates from the time of Solomon, who maintained an establishment of 1400 cliariots (1 K 10^«, 2 Ch 1") and 4000 horses (2 Ch 9-», in 1 K 4» [Heb. 5«] wronc;ly 40,000). These were stationed partly in Jcrusalom and partly in more suitable cities selected for the purpose ( 1 Iv 9'" Iff*). Both chariots and horses were mainly im- ported from Egy|it, and aprofitable trade in them was carried on with the Hittite and Sj-rian kings. We are told that a chariot was brought from Egypt for 600 shekels of silver, and a horse for 150 shekels ( 1 K lO*"-, 2 Ch 1>«'-). Prom this time onwards chariots form a regular part of the army both in the northern and southern kingdoms (1 K iO^ 2 K 7" g'"; ^> 10= 13'- " 8-'>, Is 2',Mic 5'" etc. ). In particular, the king seems regularly to have gone to battle in his chariot (1 K22*"-, 2 K 23»», cf. 1 K 12'«, 2 K9='). Zimri held the important office of captain of half the chariots (1 K 16'). There seem, however, to have often been difficulties in securing a sufficient supply of horses (2 K 7"'- IS-^") ; hence in the time of Isaiah there was a strong party in Judah which favoured a close alliance with Egj'pt (Is 30'-- '" 31' 36'-'). But the consciousness still survived that the use of chariots had been introduced from heathen
countries. Hence, while the historian looks upoa them as a mark of regal despotism (1 S 8"), and the Deuteronomic law forbids the king to multiply horses (Dt 17"), the prophets regard horses and chariots as a sign of dependence on human aid instead of on divine protection (Hos 1' 14^ [Heb. ■*], Is 2' 30" 31')> and they predict their destruction in the Messianic future (Mic 5'" [Heb. '], Zee 9'»).
Frequent allusion is made to the use of war chariots by the Syrians (1 K 20'"-^ 22^', 2 K 6'«-), the Assyrians (Is 5^ 37-'', Nah 3-), the Egyptians (2 K 7«, Jer 46-'- '), and others (Ezk 23-" 26', Is 43", Jer 51-', Hag 2^). Chariots were used also in the later Syrian kingdom (Dn 11", 1 Mac 1" 8«), and Antiochus Eupator is said to have possessed 300 chariots armed with scythes (2 Mac 13-).
The chariot was employed also in times of peace (Gn 50^ 1 K IS*"-, 2 K 5»»i 10'"-, Is 66-*), and was regarded as a mark of high rank. Thus Pharaoh assigned to Joseph his ' second chariot' (Gn 41^) ; Absalom and Adonijah prepared chariots and horses to mark their claims to the throne (2 S 15', 1 K 1°) ; cf. also Is 22", Jer 17=» 2->». In the NT the only chariot mentioned, except in Rev 9', cf. 18'*, is that of the Ethiopian treasurer of Candace (Ac S-*"-). The heathenish practice of dedicating horses and chariots to the sun, introduced by some of the later kings of Judah, was abolished by Josiah (2 K 23").
The chariots of the Hebrews doubtless resembled those used by the surrounding nations, and repre- sented on Egyp. and Assyr. monuments. Tliey were two-wheeled vehicles, open behind, dra«Ti by two horses, and containing two (1 K 22**) or perhaps three persons (2 K 9'-^). The latter view is sup ported by the special Heb. term for an officer, shallih (i-\y), lit. third mnn ; see Ex 14' 15^ 2 K 7^ 9-^ 10^ 15-^ etc. The Egyp. chariots were of light and suuple construction, the material employed being wood, as is proved by sculptures represent- ing the manufacture of chariots. The axle was set far back, and the bottom of the car, which rested on tliis and on the pole, was sometimes formed of a frame interlaced \vith a network of thongs or ropes. The chariot was entirely open behind, and for the greater part of the sides, which were formed by a curved rail rising from each side of the b.ack of the base, and resting on a wooden upright above the pole in front. From this rail, which was strengthened by leather thongs, a bow case of leather, often richly ornamented, hung on tlie right-hand side, slanting forwards; w-hile the (juiver and spear cases inclined in the opposite direc- tion. Tlie wheels, which were fastened on the axle by a linch-pin secured with a short thong, had six spokes in tlie case of war chariots, but in private vehicles sometimes only four. The pole sloped up- wards, and to the end of it a curved yoke was attached. A small saddle at each end of the yoke rested on the withers of the horses, and was secured in its place by breast-band and girth. No traces are to be seen. The bridle was often orna- mented ; a bearing-rein was fastened to the saddle, and the other reins passed through a ring at the side of this. The number of horses to a chariot seems always to have been two ; and in the car, which cont;lined no seat, only rarely are more than two persons depicted, except in triumphal processions.