Charles Ellicott Commentary 1 Samuel 15:4

"And Saul summoned the people, and numbered them in Telaim, two hundred thousand footmen, and ten thousand men of Judah." — 1 Samuel 15:4 (ASV)

In Telaim. —This place is identical with Telem (Joshua 15:24), a place on the southern border of Judah, near the region where the Amalekites chiefly dwelt.— Kimchi Telaim, however, signifies “lambs;” “Beth,” house of, should probably be understood. Thus it was no town, but the “place or house of lambs”—some open spot, where, at the proper season, the lambs were collected from the pastures in the wilderness.— Dean Payne Smith.

Ten thousand men of Judah. —Again the numbers of this great tribe are out of proportion to the numbers furnished by the rest of the tribes (see Note on 1 Samuel 11:8).