2 Chronicles 17:14

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does 2 Chronicles 17:14 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “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;” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

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;
2 Chronicles 17:14 — American Standard Version

Context — 2 Chronicles 17

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
14And 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;

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And these are the numbers of them, according to the house of their fathers, etc.] 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.”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“HIS GREATNESS, CAPTAINS, AND ARMIES. (Ch2 17:12-19) 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. Next: 2 Chronicles Chapter 18”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“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 times greater than that of any country in the known world (circa 1880’s). (2) they produce a total just double that of the next largest estimate of the military force of Judah, the 580, 000 of 2…”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“the numbers: Gen 12:2, Gen 13:16, Gen 15:5 to the house: Num 1:2, Num 1:18 three hundred: Ch2 11:1, Ch2 13:3, Ch2 14:8, Ch2 26:13 2 Chronicles 17:15”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification