Kings II 24:2

2 And the king said to Joab commander of the host, who was with him, Go now through all the tribes of Israel and Juda, from Dan even to Bersabee, and number the people, and I will know the number of the people.

Kings II 24:2 Meaning and Commentary

2 Kings 24:2

And the Lord sent against him
By Nebuchadnezzar, against whom he rebelled:

bands of the Chaldees, and bands of the Syrians, and bands of the
Moabites, and bands of the children of Ammon;
who were all subject to the king of Babylon, or were voluntary troops in his service, and bore an hatred to the Jews: according to Eupolemus ^F15, this army consisted of Medes and Babylonians, and, besides 10,000 chariots, there were in it 180,000 foot, and 120,000 horse:

and sent them against Judah to destroy it;
this was not until the eleventh of Jehoiakim, Nebuchadnezzar being diverted by the siege of Tyre, or other important business, from chastising the king of Judah until this time:

according to the word of the Lord, which he spake by his servants the
prophets;
Isaiah, Jeremiah, Zephaniah, and Huldah the prophetess.

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FOOTNOTES:

F15 Apud Euseb. Evangel. Praepar. l. 9. c. 39. p. 454.

Kings II 24:2 In-Context

1 And the Lord caused his anger to burn forth again in Israel, and stirred up David against them, saying, Go, number Israel and Juda.

2 And the king said to Joab commander of the host, who was with him, Go now through all the tribes of Israel and Juda, from Dan even to Bersabee, and number the people, and I will know the number of the people.

3 And Joab said to the king, Now may the Lord add to the people a hundred-fold as many as they are, and the eyes of my lord the king see it: but why does my lord the king desire this thing?

4 Nevertheless the word of the king prevailed against Joab an the captains of the host: And Joab and the captains of the host went out before the king to number the people of Israel.

5 And they went over Jordan, and encamped in Aroer, on the right of the city which is in the midst of the valley of Gad and Eliezer.