1 Kings 20:15

Then he numbered[R.V. mustered] the young men The verb occurs several times in this chapter, and is always rendered -numbered" (see 1 Kings 20:26-27 and the two instances in this verse), as indeed it is in nearly all cases in A.V. But looking at 1 Kings 20:27, in comparison with this verse, -to number" can hardly be correct, for then the operation would have been performed twice over, manifestly a needless proceeding. The verb literally signifies -to visit", hence -to hold a visitation, or gathering," and so -to muster" appears to represent the sense here very well. See also the note on 1 Kings 20:25 below.

even all the children of Israel The LXX. omits these words. The smallness of the number mentioned (7000) is very remarkable. Josephus only speaks of them as the rest of the army. There were no doubt many more men of war in Israel, but if the number in the text be correct, it must be that Ahab had not been able to bring many soldiers together in the city by reason of the suddenness of the attack, or because so many other persons from the country had crowded into the safest places, and thus there was no room for more.