Jewish chariots were no doubt imitated from Eg}'p- tian models, if not actually imported frt>m Egypt These appear to have come into use not earlier thsn the 18th dynasty (B.C. 1580). The war-chariot, frnm which the chariot used in peace did not essentially dif- fer, was extremely simple in its construction. It con- sisted, as appears both from Egyptian paintings and rs- liefs, as well as fW>m an actual specimen preserved st Florence, of a neariy semidrcolu' wooden frame with
CHARIOT
215
CHARIOT
atnlghtened rides, resting posteriorly od the axle-tree of a pair of wheels, and supporting a rail of wood or ivoiy attached to the frame by leathern thongs and one wooden upright in firant. The floor of the car was made of rope net-work, intended to give a more springy fiMiting to the occupants. The car was mounted from tiie back, which was open, and the sides were strength- ened and ornamented with leather and metal binding.
Aadeat Egyptian Chariot of War, with Bow-eaaes and com- plete Fomltore, except the Yoke.
Attadied to the off or right-hand side, and crossing each other diagonaUy, were the bow-case, and inclining backwards, the quiver and spear-case. If two persons were in the chariot a second bow^case was added. The wheels, of which there were 2, had 6 spokes: those of pesce chariots had sometimes 4, fiutened to the axle by a linch-pin secured by a thong. There were no traces ; but the horses, which were often of different colors, wore only a breast-band and girths, which were attached to the saddle, together with head furniture, consisting of cheek-pieces, throat-lash, head-stall, and straps across the forehead and nose. A bearing-rein was fostened to a ring or hook in fhmt of the saddle, and the driving- raini passed through other rings on each side of boUi horses. From the central point of the saddle rose a short steti of metal, ending in a knob, whether for use or mere ornament is not certain. The driver stood on the off side, and in discharging his arrow hung his whip from the wrist. In some instances the king is repre- Moted alone in his chariot, with the reins fastened HHind htt body, thus using his weapons with his hands at liberty. Most commonly two persons, and some- times three, rode in the chariot, of whom the third was employed to carry the state umbrella (2 Kings ix, 20, 24;lKfaig8xxii,84; Actsviii,88). A second chariot uoally accompanied the king to battle, to be used in esse of necessity (2 Chron. xxv, 84).
On peaceable occasions the Egyptian gentleman sometimes drove alone in his chariot, attended by ser- ▼ants on fbot. The horses wore housings to protect them from heat and insects. For royal personages and women of rank, an umbrella was carried by a bearer or fixed upright in the chariot Sometimes mules were driven instead of horses, and in travelling sometimes oxen ; but for travelling purposes the sides of the char- iot appear to have been dosed. One instance ooonrs
of a 4-wheeled car, which (like the rir^xkineXoc dfutl^ of Herod, ii, 68) was used for religious purposes. See Cart. The processes of manufacture of chariots and harness are fully illustrated by existing sculptures, in which also are represented tlie chariots used by neigh- boring nations (Wilkinson, Ane. Egypt, i, 868, 886; ii, 76,76»2ded.).
t S 4
Ancient Egyptian Caiariot-makers.
Figi 1, Sawing oat the Axle; S, Preparing the bent pieces of
Wood,a,b; 8, 4, Shaping the Pole, d; e,e, Wheels.
The earliest Egyptian chariot noticed in Scripture (Oen. xU, 48) was doubtless a state- chariot; but, among the Egyptians, it does not appear to have been diflferent ftam the war-chariot, the splendid military appointments of which rendered it fit for purposes of royal pomp. Hence, although the same word (n^3*1Q^ merhaboK) is again used for chariots of state in Cfen. xlvi, 29 ; 1 Sam. viii, 11 ; 2 Sam. xv, 1, it undoubtedly denotes a war-chariot in Exod. xv, 4 ; Joel ii, 6. In Isa. ii, 7, the same word appears to comprehend char- iots of every kind which were found in cities. In fact, chariots anciently in the East were used almost entire- ly for purposes of state or of war, being very rarely employed by private persons. We also observe that where private carriages were known, as in Egypt, they were of the same shape as those used in war, only hav- ing less complete military accoutrements, although re- taining the case for arrows. One of the most interest- ing of the Egyptian paintings represents a person of quality arriving late at tok entertainment in his cur- ride, drawn (like all the Egyptian chariots) by two horses (one hidden by the other in profile). He is at-
Ancieut ii^fyptian vjurnde.
tended by a number of running footmen, one of whom hastens forward to knock at tiie door of the house, another advances to take the reins, a third bears a stool to assist his master in alighting, and most of them car- ry their sandals In their hands, that they may run with the more ease. This convejrs a lively illustration of such passages as 1 Sam. viii, 11 ; 2 Sam. xv, 1. The principal distinction between these private chariots and those actually used in war was, as appears finom the monuments, tliat in the former the party drove hhn- self, whereas in war the chariot, as among the Greeks, often contained a second person to drive it, that the warrior might be at liberty to employ his weapons with the more efi^Bct. But this was not always the case; for in the Egyptian monuments we often see even royal personages alone in their chariots, wairing f^iriously, with the reins lashed round their waist. So it appears that Jehu (who certainly rode in a war-chariot) drove himself, for his peculiar style of driving was recognised at a considerable distance (2 Kings ix, 20). The Egyp- tians used horses in the equipment of an armed force before Jacob and his sons had settled in Goshen ; they had chariots of war, and mounted asses and mules, and