2 Chronicles 17:13. He had much business in the cities of Judah To repair and fortify them, and furnish them with provisions; and to purge out all the relics of idolatry and injustice, which were more secretly and craftily managed in the cities than in the country, and which were first and most prevalent in the cities, and thence spread their infection into the country around them. read more
The reign of Jehoshaphat (17:1-20:37)Jehoshaphat carried on the reform that Asa began, by destroying all the Baal shrines that remained in Judah (17:1-6; cf. 15:17). Positively, he educated the people in the law of God by forming an official group of instructors whom he sent around Judah’s towns and villages. The group consisted of civil leaders, priests and Levites (7-9). He also fortified Judah’s defences and enlarged its army, so that neighbouring countries feared to attack it... read more
had much business = was busily engaged. and the men of. Hebrew, plural 'enosh. App-14 . mighty men. Hebrew. gibbor. read more
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. read more
next to him = under his direction. Hebrew "at his hand" (1 Chronicles 25:2 ). read more
With bow and shield. Figure of speech Zeugma ( App-6 ), by which the second verb is omitted. If we supply the first, the second follows: "[armed] with bow and [using] shield". read more
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... read more
2 Chronicles 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 2 Chronicles 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... read more
14. these are the numbers—The warriors were arranged in the army according to their fathers houses. The army of Jehoshaphat, commanded by five great generals and consisting of five unequal divisions, comprised one million one hundred and sixty thousand men, without including those who garrisoned the fortresses. No monarch, since the time of Solomon, equalled Jehoshaphat in the extent of his revenue, in the strength of his fortifications, and in the number of his troops. read more
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Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Chronicles 17:14
The captains of thousands; Adnah the chief - literally, “princes of thousands, Adnah the prince.” The writer does not mean that Adnah (or Johohanan, 2 Chronicles 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 2 Chronicles 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... read more