xx. 29) and the remarkable prosperity which properly rewarded such

pious action (xvii. 11 ff. and xx. 1‒28). Yet the possibility that the Chronicler in these passages has incorporated a really old tradition associating Jehoshaphat with some reform or development of judicial affairs in Judah remains open. Some see an old trait in the conjunction of laymen (_princes_, xvii. 7) with the priests and Levites. Again the judicial system indicated in xix. 4‒11 has no little resemblance to that set forth in Deuteronomy xvi. 18‒20, xvii. 8, “and might have been derived from that source.” On this theory, xvii. 7‒9 and xix. 4‒11 would in all likelihood be derived by the Chronicler from some “source” or rather perhaps from two “sources” giving slightly different accounts of Jehoshaphat’s procedure; and this is the view of some commentators (so Kittel and Benzinger). But close examination of the language of both passages reveals strong characteristics of the Chronicler’s style and spirit; and it seems safer to conclude that, while there _may_ possibly have been some tradition connecting Jehoshaphat with such reforms, this account in Chronicles is essentially due to the Chronicler and reflects the situation of his own times.

=9.= _the book of the law of the LORD_] The Chronicler of course meant by this the Pentateuch as we have it. If, however, these verses are drawn from an old source (see the previous note) then the reference in the original may have been to one of the earlier codes embedded in the present Pentateuch.

=10‒13= (no parallel in 1 Kings). THE GREATNESS OF JEHOSHAPHAT.

¹⁰And the fear of the LORD¹ fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were round about Judah, so that they made no war against Jehoshaphat.

¹ Or, _a terror from the LORD_.

=10.= _the fear of the LORD_] Compare xx. 29; Genesis xxxxv. 5.

¹¹And some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents, and silver for tribute; the Arabians also brought him flocks, seven thousand and seven hundred rams, and seven thousand and seven hundred he-goats.

=11.= _some of the Philistines_] See the following note, and also xxvi. 6 (note).

_the Arabians_] compare xxi. 16. The term is here used to signify the desert tribes, in particular those on the south and south-west of Judah. It would be specially impressive to the contemporaries of the Chronicler, because by that period an Arabian people, the Nabateans, had established a powerful state to the south of Judah. On the other hand the Philistines would of course be familiar from the references to them in Samuel and Kings. The tradition that tribute was received from them and from some desert tribes may possibly be correct, especially if Zerah’s army was Arabian (xiv. 8, note) and if Asa’s victory over him is historical.

_flocks_] compare 2 Kings iii. 4.

¹²And Jehoshaphat waxed great exceedingly; and he built in Judah castles and cities of store. ¹³And he had many works in the cities of Judah; and men of war, mighty men of valour, in Jerusalem.

=12.= _castles_] Hebrew _bīrāniyyōth_; compare xxvii. 4 (same word); and xxvi. 10 (“towers”). Such small castles or towers lie scattered along the pilgrim-road from Damascus to Mecca at the present day to make the way safe. See Introduction § 7, p. xlviii.

_cities of store_] compare xi. 11, 12.

=14‒19= (no parallel in 1 Kings). THE NUMBER OF JEHOSHAPHAT’S ARMY.

In these verses Jehoshaphat is credited with an army of 1,160,000 men; and the passage may be noted as the most extreme instance of the midrashic exaggeration of numbers which is a well-marked feature of the Chronicler’s writing. If the possible proportions between the total numbers of a population and the men capable of military service at a given time be considered, it is easy to realise how monstrous an exaggeration are the figures here stated. They serve two purposes: (1) compared with the somewhat smaller numbers assigned to Abijah (xiii. 3) and to Asa (xiv. 8), they indicate that Jehoshaphat’s reign was even more prosperous; and (2) generally, they suggested to the men of the Chronicler’s own generation that in the eyes of all right-thinking men Jerusalem of old in its prosperous hours was not one whit less important and glorious than any huge and much-vaunted city of their own days.

For further examples of midrashic exaggeration, besides the passages named above, compare xi. 1; 1 Chronicles xii. 23, 24; and (as regards sums of money) 1 Chronicles xxii. 14; 2 Chronicles ix. 13.

¹⁴And this was the numbering of them according to their fathers’ houses: of Judah, the captains of thousands; Adnah the captain, and with him mighty men of valour three hundred thousand: ¹⁵and next to him Jehohanan the captain, and with him two hundred and fourscore thousand:

=15.= _next to him_] Literally _at his hand_; the same phrase is used in Nehemiah iii. 2, 4, 5, etc.

_Jehohanan_] Sometimes spelt _Johanan_.

¹⁶and next to him Amasiah the son of Zichri, who willingly offered himself unto the LORD; and with him two hundred thousand mighty men of valour:

=16.= _who willingly offered himself_] Compare Judges v. 9.

¹⁷and of Benjamin; Eliada a mighty man of valour, and with him two hundred thousand armed with bow and shield: ¹⁸and next to him Jehozabad, and with him an hundred and fourscore thousand ready prepared for war. ¹⁹These were they that waited on the king, beside those whom the king put in the fenced cities throughout all Judah.

=17.= _armed with bow and shield_] i.e. light-armed troops; compare note on xiv. 8.