2 Chronicles 17:12

“And Jehoshaphat waxed great exceedingly, etc.] In wealth and riches, power and authority, in his forces and fortifications: and he built in Judah castles, and cities of stores; castles for the defence of his kingdom, and store cities to lay up corn, and wine, and all provisions, in case of an invasion, or against a time of war.”

“17:12-19 Jehoshaphat’s international status, building enterprises, and army characterized his great rule. Archaeological excavations have revealed a line of highway forts in the Jordan Valley near the Dead Sea dating to his time. • The number of troops in his army—totaling more than a million in Jerusalem—seems unreasonably high. Because the leaders were based on tribal divisions (17:14), it is possible that the term translated as “thousand” (’elep) should instead be translated as “squad” or “platoon,” a much smaller military unit. The totals might also include reserve divisions that served on rotation (see 1 Chr 27:1-15). The number of troops credited to Jehoshaphat is approximately triple…”

“am 3092-3115, bc 912-889 waxed great: Ch2 18:1; Ch1 29:25 in Judah: Ch2 8:2-6, Ch2 11:5-12, Ch2 14:6, Ch2 14:7, Ch2 26:6-9, Ch2 27:4, Ch2 32:5, Ch2 32:27-29 castles: or, palaces 2 Chronicles 17:13”

“Description of Jehoshaphat's power. - Ch2 17:12. And Jehoshaphat became ever greater, sc. in power. The partic. הולך expresses the continuous advance in greatness, cf. Ew. 280, b, as the infin. absol. does elsewhere, e.g., Gen 8:3. למעלה עד as in Ch2 16:12. \- He built castles in Judah. בּירניּות, only here and in Ch2 27:4, from בּירנית, derivative formed from בּירה by the Syriac termination נית-, fem. of ן-: castle, fortress. On מסכּנות ערי cf. Ch2 8:4. Ch2 17:13 וגו רבּה וּמלעכה is rightly translated by Luther, "und hatte viel Vorraths" (and had much store). מלעכה denotes here, as in Exo 22:7-10, property, that which has been gained by work or business. The signification, much work, opera…”