Targets and spears. — Shield (or buckler) and lance. The large shield is meant (see 2 Chronicles 9:15). The same phrase is used to describe the warriors of Judah. (1 Chronicles 12:24.)
That bare shields — i.e., the short or round shield (2 Chronicles 9:16).
Drew bows. — (1 Chronicles 8:40; 1 Chronicles 12:2.) The Judæans were the hoplites, or heavy-armed; the Benjaminites the light-armed, or peltasts, as a Greek writer would have said.
Three hundred thousand... two hundred and fourscore thousand. — A total of 580,000, warriors. (Comp. Abijah’s 400,000, 2 Chronicles 13:3.) The entire male population capable of bearing arms must be included in these high figures. Of course, such a thing as a standing army of this strength is not to be thought of.
The proportion of Benjamin relatively to Judah appears much too high. It must, however, be remembered that Benjamin was always famous as a tribe of warriors. (See Genesis 49:27; 1 Chronicles 7:6-11.)
(b) INVASION OF THE CUSHITE ZERAH, AND HIS SIGNAL OVERTHROW (2 Chronicles 14:9-15) — This Section has no Parallel in Kings.