Solomon's military strength – the number of chariots he gathered as a sign of the kingdom's power and wealth
The number 1400 appears in the Bible as the count of chariots King Solomon gathered, mentioned in both 1 Kings 10:26 and 2 Chronicles 1:14. The chariots were a central part of Solomon's military buildup and testified to Israel's wealth and power at its peak. Along with 12,000 horsemen, they formed a formidable army force, stationed in their own chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem. This military buildup was not without theological tension, however, since Deuteronomy 17:16 warns the king against acquiring many horses and chariots. Solomon's chariot fleet can thus be read both as a sign of God's blessing and as a foreshadowing of the arrogance that later led to the kingdom's division. 1400 can be decomposed into 14 × 100. The number 14 is the numerical value (gematria) of the Hebrew name David (דוד: dalet=4, vav=6, dalet=4), which creates an indirect link between 1400 and the Davidic kingdom. In Matthew 1:17, Jesus' genealogy is structured into three groups of 14 generations from Abraham to Jesus, where the number 14 emphasizes the messianic line through David. Archaeological finds from the Iron Age in Megiddo and Hazor have revealed large stable complexes that can be linked to Solomon's time, supporting the biblical descriptions of an extensive chariot force.*