Matthew Poole and continuators on 2 Samuel 10:18

18 And the Syrians fled before Israel, and David slew the men of seven hundred chariots of the Syrians, and forty thousand horsemen , and smote Shobach the captain of their host, who died there.

Heb. seven hundred chariots: i. e. The Men belonging to them, that Fought in, or with them; as plainly appears, 1. Because the Men onely, and not the Chariots were capable of being killed, as these are said to have been. 2. Because it is thus explained in the Book of Chronicles, which was written after this Book, for this end, to Explain what was dark or doubtful, and to supply what was omitted here; where instead of these Words, are seven thousand men which Fought in Chariots, 1 Chron. 19. 18. And this is a very common Metonymy; of which, See above Chap. 8. 4. and the Notes on 1 Sam. 13. 5. Although there might be 7000 Chariots in all, whereof 700 were chosen ones; according to the distinction made Exod. 14. 7.

For which in 1 Chron. 19. 18. is forty thousand footmen. Which may be reconciled divers ways. 1. Both these may be true, that he slew 40000 Horsemen, which being the most considerable part and strength of the Army, it might seem sufficient to name them, and every one could easily understand, that the Footmen in that case were certainly cut off; and that he slew also 40000 Footmen, as is said 1 Chron. where he mentions them onely, because they were omitted in 2. Sam. and the Horsemen being expressed here, it was needless to repeat them in 1 Chron. 2. The Horsemen may be here called footmen, in opposition to those that Fought in Chariots; because they sometimes Fought on Horseback, and sometimes came down from their Horses, and Fought on Foot, when the place of the Battel was more commodious for Footmen, than for Horsemen; which it is not improbable was their Case here; for David, being a Soldier of great Prudence and Experience, and understanding the great Numbers of the Syrian Horsemen; whereas the Israelites had but very few, Deut. 17. 16. would doubtless endeavour to chuse a place as inconvenient for their Horsemen as he could. 3. Peradventure the Syrians designed to bring the War into David's Country, and therefore hastned their March, and for that end put their Footmen on Horseback, (as hath been frequently done in like Cases) who, when they came to the place of the Battel, came down from their Horses, and Fought on Foot. So there is no need of acknowledging an error of the Scribe in the Sacred Text: which, yet if it were granted in such Historical Passages of no moment to the Doctrine of Faith and good Life, it would not shake the Foundation of our Faith in matters of great Importance, which it might reasonably be presumed the Providence of God would more watchfully preserve from all depravation or Corruption.