How many stalls and horsemen did Solomon have?

How many stalls and horsemen did Solomon have?

In 1 Kings 4:26 we read:

“And Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen.”

But 2 Chronicles 9:25 says:

“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.”

At first glance, this looks like a contradiction. One passage says 40,000 stalls, while the other says 4,000 stalls. Yet, both agree that Solomon had 12,000 horsemen.

Possible Explanations

1. Copyist Error
   Ancient manuscripts were copied by hand, and numbers were especially vulnerable to mistakes. The difference may be the result of a simple scribal error.

2. Different Counting Methods
   It is also possible that 1 Kings was counting individual stalls, while 2 Chronicles referred to larger stables or units of stalls.

3. Different Stages of Solomon’s Reign
   Another explanation is that the passages reflect different moments in time. Solomon may have had 4,000 stalls earlier, and by a later stage, expanded to 40,000.

What We Can Learn

Whichever explanation is correct, both passages teach us the same truth: Solomon’s kingdom was greatly blessed, and his resources were abundant. His wealth and power reflected the fulfillment of God’s promises.

The small differences in numbers do not weaken the message of Scripture. Instead, they invite us to study more deeply and trust that God’s Word, in its entirety, remains faithful and true.