Definition: 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.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from 2 Chronicles 25:5. It's a really significant passage about King David’s efforts to build a strong army for the future of Judah. Here’s what it means in simpler terms: The Basic Idea: David was incredibly ambitious. He wanted to create a massive, well-trained army – enough to defend Judah and ultimately, the entire region – and he wanted them to be ready for war. He set a very high goal: to have 300,000 men ready to fight at any time. Let’s unpack it piece by piece: “2 Chronicles 25:5” : This is the verse itself – a specific passage from a book in the Bible. “Moreover Amaziah gathered Judah together…” : Amaziah was a powerful king who lived long ago, and David wanted to show off his success to him. He was essentially a symbol of power and wealth. “…and made them captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds…” : This is the key part. David wasn’t just giving these men a job; he was officially assigning them leadership roles – “captains” - with huge numbers assigned to them. He wanted to give them significant authority. “…according to the houses of [their] fathers…” : This is where it gets interesting. David wasn’t just giving these men any job; he was establishing a system, a hierarchy . It meant they were being given positions based on their lineage – meaning, they were assigned to leadership roles based on their family history. This was important because it showed that the army was built on strong traditions and connection to the past. “…throughout all Judah and Benjamin…” : This means this army wasn’t just a small group; it was spread throughout the entire region of Judah, including the area of Benjamin. “and he numbered them from twenty years old and above...” : David carefully counted these men to ensure they were sufficient for the task. "...and found them three hundred thousand choice [men, able] to go forth to war..." : This is where it gets really impressive. David calculated that he had three hundred thousand men ready to fight! “Choice” means they were carefully selected and deemed suitable for war. "Able" means they were physically strong and capable. So, the overall message is this: David was building a powerful army with a huge number of men – likely a significant force – to defend Judah and prepare for future conflict. It shows his ambition, strategic thinking, and understanding of how to build a formidable military force. In essence, the verse describes a carefully planned effort to create a large, well-equipped army that would be ready to fight when needed. --- Do you want me to: Explain another part of this verse? Talk about the significance of David’s army in the Bible? Discuss what this verse might suggest about David's leadership style?