2 Kings 3:4 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

An hundred thousand lambs, &c.— Though this is a very large number, we are to consider that these countries abounded with sheep, insomuch that Solomon offered a hundred and twenty thousand at the dedication of the temple, 2 Chronicles 7:5 and the Reubenites drove from the Hagarites two hundred and fifty thousand, 1 Chronicles 5:21 for, as Bochart observes, their sheep frequently brought forth two at a time, and sometimes twice a year; and he remarks further, that in ancient times, when the people's riches consisted in cattle, this was the only way of paying tribute. See Plin. Nat. Hist. lib. 18: cap. 3. Hence Ludolph is of opinion, that this great number of cattle was not a tribute which the Moabites were obliged to pay to the Israelites every year, but upon some special occasion only; as for instance, upon the accession of a new king, or the like. See Lud. Ethiopic. Hist. lib. 2: cap. 3 and Scheuchzer on the place.