2 Chronicles 25:5

Authorized King James Version

Moreover Amaziah gathered Judah together, and made them captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, according to the houses of their fathers, throughout all Judah and Benjamin: and he numbered them from twenty years old and above, and found them three hundred thousand choice men, able to go forth to war, that could handle spear and shield.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וַיִּקְבֹּ֤ץ
gathered
to grasp, i.e., collect
#2
אֲמַצְיָ֙הוּ֙
Moreover Amaziah
amatsjah, the name of four israelites
#3
אֶת
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
#4
יְהוּדָ֖ה
Judah
jehudah (or judah), the name of five israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory
#5
וַיַּֽעֲמִידֵ֣ם
and made
to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive)
#6
לְבֵית
according to the houses
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
#7
אָב֗וֹת
H1
of their fathers
father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application
#8
וּלְשָׂרֵ֣י
and captains
a head person (of any rank or class)
#9
אֶ֤לֶף
over thousands
hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousand
#10
וּלְשָׂרֵ֣י
and captains
a head person (of any rank or class)
#11
מֵא֨וֹת
hundred
a hundred; also as a multiplicative and a fraction
#12
לְכָל
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
#13
יְהוּדָ֖ה
Judah
jehudah (or judah), the name of five israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory
#14
וּבִנְיָמִ֑ן
and Benjamin
binjamin, youngest son of jacob; also the tribe descended from him, and its territory
#15
וַֽיִּפְקְדֵ֗ם
and he numbered
to visit (with friendly or hostile intent); by analogy, to oversee, muster, charge, care for, miss, deposit, etc
#16
לְמִבֶּ֨ן
old
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
#17
עֶשְׂרִ֤ים
them from twenty
twenty; also (ordinal) twentieth
#18
שָׁנָה֙
years
a year (as a revolution of time)
#19
וָמַ֔עְלָה
and above
properly,the upper part, used only adverbially with prefix upward, above, overhead, from the top, etc
#20
וַיִּמְצָאֵ֗ם
and found
properly, to come forth to, i.e., appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e., find or acquire; figuratively, to occur, meet or be present
#21
שְׁלֹשׁ
them three
three; occasionally (ordinal) third, or (multiple) thrice
#22
מֵא֨וֹת
hundred
a hundred; also as a multiplicative and a fraction
#23
אֶ֤לֶף
over thousands
hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousand
#24
בָּחוּר֙
choice
properly, to try, i.e., (by implication) select
#25
יוֹצֵ֣א
men able to go forth
to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim
#26
צָבָ֔א
to war
a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized for war (an army); by implication, a campaign, literally or figuratively (speci
#27
אֹחֵ֖ז
that could handle
to seize (often with the accessory idea of holding in possession)
#28
רֹ֥מַח
spear
a lance (as thrown); especially the iron point
#29
וְצִנָּֽה׃
and shield
a (large) shield (as if guarding by prickliness)

Analysis

The salvation theme here intersects with the metanarrative of redemption running from Genesis to Revelation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of a unified storyline from the promise in Genesis 3:15 to its fulfillment in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine revelation contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's saving work from the Exodus to the cross.

Historical Context

This passage must be understood within the political and social structures of the biblical period. The author writes to address believers seeking to understand God's will and purposes, making the emphasis on salvation particularly relevant. Historical documents from this period show cultural practices and social structures that would have been familiar to the original readers, illuminating the verse's original impact.

Questions for Reflection