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. CHAPTER XVIII. =1‒3= (compare 1 Kings xxii. 1‒4). THE ALLIANCE BETWEEN JEHOSHAPHAT AND AHAB. ¹Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honour in abundance; and he joined affinity with Ahab. =1.= _joined affinity_] Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat married Athaliah the daughter of Ahab (2 Kings viii. 16, 18, 26). Athaliah though called “daughter” of Omri in 2 Kings viii. 26 was really his grand-daughter. ²And after certain years he went down to Ahab to Samaria. And Ahab killed sheep and oxen for him in abundance, and for the people that were with him, and moved him to go up _with him_ to Ramoth-gilead.