Illustration XXVII: David smote Hadezer, King of Zobah, houghing all his chariot horses and slaying his horsemen (II Samuel 8: 3-4) c. 16th century

Curator: The linear precision and stark contrast are what immediately strike me in this anonymous illustration. Editor: It's a brutal scene, rendered with surprising detachment. This image depicts the biblical King David's defeat of Hadezer, King of Zobah, from II Samuel. The text tells us he "houghed" the horses, a practice we might call hamstringing today. Curator: Note how the composition directs the eye from David and his soldiers on the left, across the disarray of battle, to the distant castle. Editor: It’s a powerful illustration of dominance and subjugation, reflecting biblical themes of conquest and divinely sanctioned violence. The broken chariot and fallen soldier speak volumes. Curator: Indeed. One can appreciate the artist's control of line and form to create such a dynamic scene within a limited palette. Editor: Examining this work compels us to consider how historical narratives and power structures are visually constructed and reinforced. Curator: A fascinating study in contrasts, both visual and thematic. Editor: Absolutely, a window into the justifications of violence, then and perhaps now.