2 Chronicles 25:5

“Moreover Amaziah gathered Judah together, etc.] The inhabitants thereof: and made them captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, according to the houses of their fathers, throughout all Judah and Benjamin; he divided the people, according to their families throughout his kingdom, into thousands and hundreds, and out of their respective families appointed captains over them: and he numbered them from twenty years old and above; the usual age men were numbered at for war, to the fiftieth, according to Josephus; the Roman law f86 obliged none to be soldiers after fifty, nor might any be dismissed before f87; the age of military men with the Romans was from seventeen to forty six, or,…”

“HAVING HIRED AN ARMY OF ISRAELITES AGAINST THE EDOMITES, AT THE WORD OF A PROPHET HE LOSES A HUNDRED TALENTS AND DISMISSES THEM. (Ch2 25:5-10) Amaziah . . . made captains, &c.--As all who were capable of bearing arms were liable to serve, it was quite natural in making up the muster-roll to class them according to their respective families and to appoint the officers of each corps from the same quarter; so that all the soldiers who formed a regiment were brothers, relatives, friends. Thus the Hebrew troops were closely linked together, and had strong inducements to keep steady in their ranks. found them three hundred thousand choice men--This was only a fourth part of Jehoshaphat's army (Ch2…”

“Three hundred thousand - Asa’s army had been nearly twice as numerous, amounting to 580, 000 2 Chronicles 14:8. The diminution was due, in part, to wars 2Ch 21:8, 2 Chronicles 21:16; 2 Chronicles 24:23-24; in part, to the general decadence of the kingdom. return to 'Top of Page'”

“25:5 The inclusion of Benjamin in this listing of military officers indicates that this tribe was part of the kingdom of Judah at that time.”

“am 3177, bc 827 captains over thousands: Exo 18:25; Sa1 8:12; Ch1 13:1, Ch1 27:1 from twenty: Num 1:3 three: Ch2 11:1, Ch2 14:8, Ch2 17:14-18 2 Chronicles 25:6”

“The succeeding section, Ch2 25:5-16, enlarges upon Amaziah's preparations for war with Edom, which had revolted under Joram of Judah, Kg2 8:22; upon the victory over the Edomites in the Valley of Salt, and on the results of this war; - on all which we have in Kg2 14:7 only this short note: "he smote Edom in the valley of Salt 10,000 men, and took Selah in war, and called its name Joktheel unto this day." But the more exact statements of the Chronicle as to the preparations and the results of this war and victory are important for Amaziah's later war with Kings Joash of Israel, which is narrated in Ch2 25:17. of our chapter, because in them lie the causes of that war, so fatal to Amaziah; so…”