1 Kings 4:26

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

Forty thousand stalls, х 'urwot (H723)] - perhaps pairs of horses for the royal mews (see the notes at 2 Chronicles 1:14; 2 Chronicles 9:25). The word, according to Gesenius, denotes a certain number; which usually stood in one stall, or were harnessed to one vehicle-probably two. [The Hebrews applied cuwciym (H5483) to chariot horses, and paaraashiym (H6571) to riding horses: so that the passage is rendered by the great lexicographer, 'And Solomon had 40,000 pairs of horses for his chariots, and 12,000 steeds' - i:e., for riding.] The Hebrew kings were forbidden to multiply horses (Deuteronomy 17:16). 'The nation was concerned in this matter. But there is not even a hint dropped that Solomon was wrong; and he certainly was not personally punished for it. Whereas transgressing as ruler and representative of the nation, the sin was national, and so was the punishment, which is evident from the history, although not expressed in words. For, before Solomon's time the nation, with no war horses, were singularly fortunate in battle; yet after his time, when they had a cavalry, they were as remarkably unfortunate' (see Michaelis, 'Commentary,' Appendix to article 166; 'Israel after the Fleah,' p. 112; Rawlinson's 'Herodotus,' 2:, p. 178).