And Abijah set the battle in array with an army of valiant men of war, [even] four hundred thousand chosen men: Jeroboam also set the battle in array against him with eight hundred thousand chosen men, [being] mighty men of valour.
Ver. 3. And Abijah set the battle in array.] Josephus saith, that Jeroboam began the war, in hope to vanquish young Abijah; but Sethus Calvisius saith, that Abijah, rashly offering war to Jeroboam, yet obtained the victory, when he called upon God.
Even four hundred thousand, &c.] Yet was this great army out numbered by Jeroboam's; so was Asa's six hundred thousand by Zera's million. Huge were the armies of the Jews, that small people in comparison: five hundred thousand - not fifty thousand only, as Ruffinus ill translateth Josephus - were slain on one side; the greatest number that ever we read of slain in any battle.