2 Chronicles 14:8

8 Now Asa had an army of ¹ 300,000 * * from Judah, bearing large shields and spears, and 280,000 * * from Benjamin, bearing shields and wielding bows; all of them were valiant warriors.

2 Chronicles 14:8 Meaning and Commentary

2 Chronicles 14:8

And Asa had an army of men that bare targets and spears, out of
Judah three hundred thousand
These were armed with a large sort of shield, to protect them, and with spears, to push at an enemy when they came near them, and to close quarters with them:

and out of Benjamin, that bare shields and drew bows, two hundred and
fourscore thousand;
these had also a lesser sort of shields, to defend their bodies, and bows and arrows, to annoy an enemy at a distance:

all these were mighty men of valour;
able bodied men, valiant and courageous; perhaps Asa gathered these together, on hearing that the Ethiopians were preparing to attack him, as follows.

2 Chronicles 14:8 In-Context

6 He built fortified cities in Judah, since the land was undisturbed, and there was no one at war with him during those years, because the LORD had given him rest.

7 For he said to Judah, "Let us build these cities and surround them with walls and towers, gates and bars. The land is still ours because we have sought the LORD our God; we have sought Him, and He has given us rest on every side." So they built and prospered.

8 Now Asa had an army of 300,000 from Judah, bearing large shields and spears, and 280,000 from Benjamin, bearing shields and wielding bows; all of them were valiant warriors.

9 Now Zerah the Ethiopian came out against them with an army of a million men and 300 chariots, and he came to Mareshah.

10 So Asa went out to meet him, and they drew up in battle formation in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah.

Cross References

• 1. 2 Chronicles 13:3