1 Chronicles 12:24

The children of Judah, etc.] The list which follows suggests two questions, (1) Whence did the Chronicler derive it? (2) Are the statements of numbers contained in it trustworthy?

In answer to the first question it may be confidently said that the list as it stands is the composition of the Chronicler himself, for the syntax and vocabulary of the passage are his. Its statements may, however, be based on those of some ancient document. As to the second question it must be confessed that the numbers given to the Northern tribes, especially the trans-Jordanic tribes, are surprisingly large, especially when compared with those of the Southern; thus while the totals of Judah, Simeon, Levi, and Benjamin taken together amount to 25,200 warriors, those of Zebulun, Naphtali, Dan, and Asher amount to 155,600. Yet compare the numbers given in 2 Samuel 24:9 (800,000 men in Israel who drew sword).