2 Chronicles 12:3

3 with twelve hundred chariots, and sixty thousand horsemen. The people were without number who came with him out of Mitzrayim: the Luvim, the Sukkiyim, and the Kushim.

2 Chronicles 12:3 Meaning and Commentary

2 Chronicles 12:3

With twelve hundred chariots, and threescore thousand horsemen;
and the people were without number
The foot soldiers; their number, according to Josephus F8 was 400,000:

that came with him out of Egypt;
the above numerous army came from thence with him, which was famous for horses and chariots of war, see ( Exodus 14:7 Exodus 14:28 ) , what follow seem to have joined him after he came out of Egypt, or whom he subdued in his way; the Lubim or Lybians, inhabitants of Libya, a country near Egypt the same with the Lehabim; of whom see ( Genesis 10:13 ) ,

the Sukkiims;
who were either the Scenite Arabs, who dwelt in tents, as this word signifies; or the Troglodytes, according to the Septuagint and Vulgate Latin versions, who dwelt in dens and caves, in which sense the word "Succah" is sometimes used, ( Job 38:40 ) ( Psalms 10:9 ) and in their country was a town called Suchae, mentioned by Pliny F9; they inhabited near the Red sea; and if Shishak is the same with Sesostris, as is thought, these people were subdued by him, as Herodotus F11 and Strabo F12 testify:

and the Ethiopians;
some think these were the Cushite Arabs, and that Sesostris came into Arabia is testified by the above writers; though rather the proper Ethiopians are meant, since they are joined with the Lubim or Africans; and since, as Herodotus F13 says, he ruled over Ethiopia; and Diodorus Siculus F14 says he fought with them, and obliged them to pay him tribute.


FOOTNOTES:

F8 Antiqu. l. 8. c. 10. sect. 2.
F9 Nat. Hist. l. 6. c. 29.
F11 Euterpe, sive, l. 2. c. 102.
F12 Geograph. l. 16. p. 529.
F13 Ut supra, (Euterpe, sive, l. 2.) c. 110.
F14 Bibliothec. l. 1. p. 50.

2 Chronicles 12:3 In-Context

1 It happened, when the kingdom of Rechav`am was established, and he was strong, that he forsook the law of the LORD, and all Yisra'el with him.
2 It happened in the fifth year of king Rechav`am, that Shishak king of Mitzrayim came up against Yerushalayim, because they had trespassed against the LORD,
3 with twelve hundred chariots, and sixty thousand horsemen. The people were without number who came with him out of Mitzrayim: the Luvim, the Sukkiyim, and the Kushim.
4 He took the fortified cities which pertained to Yehudah, and came to Yerushalayim.
5 Now Shemayah the prophet came to Rechav`am, and to the princes of Yehudah, who were gathered together to Yerushalayim because of Shishak, and said to them, Thus says the LORD, You have forsaken me, therefore have I also left you in the hand of Shishak.
The Hebrew Names Version is in the public domain.