With the Eighteenth Dynasty, chariots came to be standard Egyptian army equipment. From that time on the kings always went forth to war in chariots. Two royal chariots of the Eighteenth Dynasty have survived to the present day, and their construction is therefore well known. They were open at the rear, and consisted of a semicircular standing board made of wood, encircled by a rim that rose in a graceful curve to the height of approximately 21/2 ft. above the standing board. The chariots had two wheels and a tongue, and were drawn by two small horses. They were usually manned by two men, a warrior and a charioteer.

 In Hebrew, as well as in other Semitic languages, “the third one,” here probably meaning “the third one on the chariot.” In Assyria it became the technical term for the driver of the chariot. In Hebrew, however, the word seems to have been synonymous with “distinguished warrior” (see 2 Kings 9:25; etc.). Inasmuch as two men are regularly depicted on Egyptian chariots, it would seem that the word here translated “captain” should be rendered “distinguished warrior.” The 600 chosen chariots with their crews probably belonged to the king’s bodyguard, and could be made ready for action, such as the pursuit of the Israelites, at the moment’s notice.