Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Chronicles 17:14
And these [are] the numbers of them according to the house of their fathers: Of Judah, the captains of thousands; Adnah the chief, and with him mighty men of valor three hundred thousand.
14. these are the numbers of them ] R.V. this was the numbering of them.
the house of their fathers ] R.V. their fathers’ houses.
Adnah the chief ] R.V. Adnah the captain; cp. 2Ch 17:15, Jehohanan the captain.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
14 19 (no parallel in 1 Kin.). The Number of Jehoshaphat’s Army
The numbers here given, if they are to be literally understood, must be pronounced impossibly high, especially since they are represented as exclusive of the garrisons in Judah, and perhaps as representing the forces stationed in Jerusalem itself (2Ch 17:13). Cp. note on 2Ch 14:8.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The captains of thousands; Adnah the chief – literally, princes of thousands, Adnah the prince. The writer does not mean that Adnah (or Johohanan, 2Ch 17:15) was in any way superior to the other princes, but only that he was one of them.
Three hundred thousand – This number. and those which follow in 2Ch 17:15-18, have been with good reason regarded as corrupt by most critics. For:
(1) They imply a minimum population of 1,480 to the square mile, which is more than three times greater than that of any country in the known world (circa 1880s).
(2) they produce a total just double that of the next largest estimate of the military force of Judah, the 580, 000 of 2Ch 14:8.
(3) they are professedly a statement, not of the whole military force, but of the force maintained at Jerusalem (2Ch 17:13; compare 2Ch 17:19).
It is probable that the original numbers have been lost, and that the loss was suppplied by a scribe, who took 2Ch 14:8 as his basis.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 14. Adnah, the chief] He was generalissimo of all this host. These are the numbers of the five battalions: under Adnah, three hundred thousand; Jehohanan, two hundred and eighty thousand, Amasiah, two hundred thousand; Eliada, two hundred thousand; Jehozabad, one hundred and eighty thousand; in all, one million one hundred and sixty thousand.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
14. these are the numbersThewarriors were arranged in the army according to their fathers houses.The army of Jehoshaphat, commanded by five great generals andconsisting of five unequal divisions, comprised one million onehundred and sixty thousand men, without including those whogarrisoned the fortresses. No monarch, since the time of Solomon,equalled Jehoshaphat in the extent of his revenue, in the strength ofhis fortifications, and in the number of his troops.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And these are the numbers of them, according to the house of their fathers,…. Both of the tribe of Judah and of Benjamin: and first
of Judah, the captains of thousands; some had 1000 men under them, and some one hundred:
Adnah the chief; he was the principal commander or general of them:
and with him mighty men of valour, three hundred thousand; such a number was under his command.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(14) And these . . . their fathers.And this is their muster (or census), according to their father-houses (clans), 1Ch. 24:3. The warriors were marshalled in the army according to clans, so that men of the same stock fought side by side with their kindred. Perhaps in the original document this heading was followed by a much more detailed scheme of names and divisions than that which the text presents.
Of Judah.To Judah (belonged) captains of thousands, viz., the three enumerated in 2Ch. 17:14-16 : Adnah, Jehohanan, and Amasiah. They were the principal officers, or generals, of the entire forces of Judah.
Adnah the chiefTo wit, the captain Adnah. That Adnah was commander-in-chief is implied by his being named first, and his corps being the largest.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
14. Three hundred thousand The numbers in this verse and the four verses following are generally regarded as corrupt. “They imply,” observes the writer last quoted, “a minimum population of 1480 to the square mile, which is more than three times greater than that of any country in the known world. It is probable that the original numbers have been lost, and the loss supplied by a scribe who took 2Ch 14:8, as his basis.”
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
2Ch 17:14. And these are the numbers of them That is, of the soldiers, as well as of those who were employed in the king’s works, in the several cities, &c. which he built. See 2Ch 17:19.
REFLECTIONS.1st, Jehoshaphat no sooner comes to the throne, than we see the dawnings of a glorious reign.
1. He strengthened his kingdom, by placing strong garrisons in the cities of Judah, and those which his father had recovered from Israel; and prepared against that danger which Ahab’s growing power seemed to threaten.
2. Religion was his great concern. He copied after the best of his predecessors in their best days; such as were the first of David, before the matter of Uriah, and the numbering of the people, had blotted his fair copy. Faithful to the worship of God, he abhorred all idols: the law of God was his rule of duty, and Israel’s apostacy rendered his fidelity more singular and exemplary. Inspired with holy zeal, his heart with delight and sincerity was engaged for God; and no difficulties deterred him from the path of duty. The idols and groves, which in the declining days of Asa might have been set up again, he utterly destroyed, with all the high places where they still offered sacrifices to these abominations. Note; (1.) In the fairest human pattern there will be found imperfections; but there is a Son of David, more than man, who has set us a spotless example, that we should follow his steps. (2.) Fidelity in God’s service is the stability of a nation. (3.) A lively soul on wings of faith and love mounts up to God, rises superior to every difficulty, and looks down upon every thing, besides his favour, as altogether vanity.
3. He not only removed the temptations to sin, but took care to instruct the people in the path of duty. Ignorance of God’s law had greatly prevailed; and to oblige them merely to conform to his reformation, without grounding them on the true foundation of God’s word, promised little stability. The Levites and priests, therefore, are sent in progress through the cities of Judah, with the book of the law, to explain and enforce the commandments of God; and several princes accompanied them, in order to engage the people to hear them, and give countenance to these preachers by their weight and influence. Note; (1.) It is a blessed thing, when princes countenance faithful ministers. Though they cannot make men true converts, their example and authority will induce them to attend. (2.) They who are sent to teach, must see that they take the pure word of God along with them. A true preacher wishes for nothing in his hand but his Bible. (3.) Religion is a reasonable service. Conviction alone, not compulsion, or education, can make a man a christian.
4. The blessing of God attended his labours. The Lord was with him; or, as the Targum generally expresses it, “the word of the Lord,” the divine Logos, to whom all things are committed, strengthened him in his labours, and established his kingdom. The people, charmed with his government, liberally sent their presents to him; and, abounding in riches and honour, his heart, far from being intoxicated by prosperity, was lifted up in greater love and thankfulness to the gracious giver. Note; (1.) God often here rewards piety with prosperity. (2.) Worldly comforts are then truly blessings, when, as the steps of Jacob’s ladder, they raise our hearts to heaven.
2nd, Like the light of the morning, which shineth more and more, so did Jehoshaphat’s glory increase.
1. Feared by his enemies, as beloved by his subjects, the neighbouring princes did not offer to molest him, while those of Philistia and Arabia courted his favour, either by a voluntary present, or exact payment of the tribute which Asa had imposed on them, see 2Ch 17:11. God had put an awe upon them of the majesty of his king in Zion. Note; God hath access to the spirits of men; and, by secret yet irresistible influence, can bow them to his sovereign will.
2. His military preparations greatly advanced. While he reformed the people, he fortified their ramparts, and built new castles and store-cities, strengthening them within and without against their enemies. Under five chief officers, an immense army was enlisted. Probably, all the able men in the country were enrolled, and regularly mustered, though not drawn out except in case of necessity: and this may easily account for the greatness of their number, if we consider also the long peace they had enjoyed, the accession of Israelites to them, and especially the blessing of Abraham, which, no doubt, was eminently fulfilled. Amasiah, one of the officers, is mentioned with an honourable mark of distinction, as a volunteer, who served for the glory of God, not for the sake of pay. Such patriots are scarce.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
2Ch 17:14 And these [are] the numbers of them according to the house of their fathers: Of Judah, the captains of thousands; Adnah the chief, and with him mighty men of valour three hundred thousand.
Ver. 14. Three hundred thousand. ] These were under his command and at hand, to come whensoever the king would.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
three hundred thousand. So far from these numbers being exaggerated, they are a token of Jehovah’s prospering grace. Jehoshaphat could muster 1,600,000; David, 1,300, 000.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
2Ch 17:14-19
2Ch 17:14-19
NUMBERING OF JEHOSHAPHAT’S MIGHTY MEN OF WAR
“And this was the numbering of them according to their fathers’ houses: of Judah, the captains of thousands: Adnah the captain, and with him mighty men of valor three hundred thousand; and next to him Jehohanan the captain, and with him two hundred and fourscore thousand; and next to him Amasiah the son of Zichri, who willingly offered himself unto Jehovah, and with him two hundred thousand mighty men of valor. And of Benjamin: Eliada a mighty man of valor, and with him two hundred thousand armed with bow and shield; and next to him Jehozabad, and with him a hundred and fourscore thousand ready prepared for war. These were they that waited on the king, besides those whom the king put in fortified cities throughout all Judah.”
This represented a standing army of 1,160,000 men, besides the garrisons in the fortified cities; and this goes a long way to explaining why the Arabians and the Philistines brought tribute to Jehoshaphat. In ancient times, as in our own day, peace frequently depended upon the strength of those who desired it.
We should ignore the screams of “exaggeration” which mark the writings of radical critics. Pagan rulers of that era reported even larger armies than this; and until the critics can prove that those were exaggerated reports, they should let these alone. Besides that, we have already noted that the very word from which thousand is translated is disputed as to its exact meaning.
E.M. Zerr:
2Ch 17:14-15. This paragraph is interesting mainly in giving a statement of the strength of Jehoshaphat’s defense.
2Ch 17:16. Willingly offered himself is equivalent to our system of “volunteer” service. This man was one of influence and had 200,000 strong and brave men under him, all for the defense of the king of Judah.
2Ch 17:17. The weapons of warfare differed from each other. It would be good strategy to group the men using each class of weapons for the purpose of unified action. This Benjamite was given command over 200,000 men who used the bona and shield. The first was to use against the enemy, the second as a defense from the enemy’s darts.
2Ch 17:18. Ready prepared for war means they were trained and ready for military service upon call. Verse 19. The forementioned men were “in waiting” always at the immediate call of Jehoshaphat. Besides all these, the king had his men stationed in all the fenced or walled cities scattered over his territory.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
three hundred thousand
(See Scofield “1Co 10:8”).
Fuente: Scofield Reference Bible Notes
the numbers: Gen 12:2, Gen 13:16, Gen 15:5
to the house: Num 1:2, Num 1:18
three hundred: 2Ch 11:1, 2Ch 13:3, 2Ch 14:8, 2Ch 26:13
Reciprocal: Gen 49:8 – thy hand Num 1:26 – General Num 1:27 – General Num 1:46 – General Jdg 20:17 – four hundred 1Ki 12:21 – an hundred 2Ch 25:5 – three 2Ch 32:6 – he set captains