The first two numbers, 300,000 and 280,000, follow exactly the figures of the forces of Judah and Benjamin at the time of Asa (ch. 14:8), and provide a total of 580,000. If the next three numbers, 200,000 under Amasiah, 200,000 under Eliada, and 180,000 under Jehozabad, are additional, they provide another total of 580,000, or a grand total of 1,160,000 in the service of the king, besides those who were in “the fenced cities throughout all Judah” (v. 19). Someone has estimated that an army of this size would imply a population for Judah and Benjamin of between 1,500 and 2,000 per sq. mi., which is far in excess of the most densely populated country of our modern world. Since the total of the last three numbers equals exactly the sum of the first two, it may be the figures for the first two officers represented the total number of men and the other three numbers the size of subordinate divisions. The total may also refer to the total male population of military age. It is doubtful that an army of this size was ever mustered at one time for the defense of Jerusalem.

 The word here translated “thousand,” ’eleph, does not always denote the literal number 1,000 (see on Ex. 12:37). For example, ’eleph is translated “family” in Judges 6:15. It is thought that ’eleph may stand at times for smaller units than 1,000. There is insufficient data to determine its exact designation in every instance.

 There is some doubt also as to the translation of certain Hebrew expressions for numbers (see on Esther 9:16; see also pp. 122, 123). We cannot, therefore, be certain of the exact size of these forces.

Presumably the commander in chief, since Adnah is mentioned first and had the larger corps or perhaps the largest (see below under “three hundred thousand”).

The men were mustered according to their families or clans, with the result that men of the same stock fought side by side with their kindred.