Military Divisions

27 This is the number of the people of Israel, the heads of fathers' houses, the commanders of thousands and hundreds, and their officers who served the king in all matters concerning the divisions that came and went, month after month throughout the year, each division numbering 24,000:

(A)Jashobeam the son of Zabdiel was in charge of the first division in the first month; in his division were 24,000. He was a (B)descendant of Perez and was chief of all the commanders. He served for the first month. (C)Dodai the Ahohite[a] was in charge of the division of the second month; in his division were 24,000. The third commander, for the third month, was (D)Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada the chief priest; in his division were 24,000. This is the Benaiah (E)who was a mighty man of the thirty and in command of the thirty; Ammizabad his son was in charge of his division.[b] (F)Asahel the brother of Joab was fourth, for the fourth month, and his son Zebadiah after him; in his division were 24,000. The fifth commander, for the fifth month, was (G)Shamhuth the Izrahite; in his division were 24,000. Sixth, for the sixth month, was (H)Ira, the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite; in his division were 24,000. 10 Seventh, for the seventh month, was (I)Helez the Pelonite, of the sons of Ephraim; in his division were 24,000. 11 Eighth, for the eighth month, was (J)Sibbecai the Hushathite, of the Zerahites; in his division were 24,000. 12 Ninth, for the ninth month, was (K)Abiezer of Anathoth, a Benjaminite; in his division were 24,000. 13 Tenth, for the tenth month, was (L)Maharai of Netophah, of the Zerahites; in his division were 24,000. 14 Eleventh, for the eleventh month, was (M)Benaiah of Pirathon, of the sons of Ephraim; in his division were 24,000. 15 Twelfth, for the twelfth month, was (N)Heldai the Netophathite, of (O)Othniel; in his division were 24,000.

Leaders of Tribes

16 Over the tribes of Israel, for the Reubenites, Eliezer the son of Zichri was chief officer; for the Simeonites, Shephatiah the son of Maacah; 17 for Levi, (P)Hashabiah the son of Kemuel; for Aaron, (Q)Zadok; 18 for Judah, Elihu, one of David's brothers; for Issachar, Omri the son of Michael; 19 for Zebulun, Ishmaiah the son of Obadiah; for Naphtali, Jeremoth the son of Azriel; 20 for the Ephraimites, Hoshea the son of Azaziah; for the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joel the son of Pedaiah; 21 for the half-tribe of Manasseh in Gilead, Iddo the son of Zechariah; for Benjamin, Jaasiel the son of Abner; 22 for Dan, Azarel the son of Jeroham. These were the (R)leaders of the tribes of Israel. 23 David did not count those below twenty years of age, for the (S)Lord had promised to make Israel as many as the stars of heaven. 24 Joab the son of Zeruiah began to count, but (T)did not finish. Yet (U)wrath came upon Israel for this, and the number was not entered in the chronicles of King David.

25 Over the king's treasuries was (V)Azmaveth the son of Adiel; and over the treasuries in the country, in the cities, in the villages, and in the towers, was Jonathan the son of Uzziah; 26 and over those who did the work of the field for tilling the soil was Ezri the son of Chelub; 27 and over the vineyards was Shimei the Ramathite; and over the produce of the vineyards for the wine cellars was Zabdi the Shiphmite. 28 Over the olive and (W)sycamore trees in the Shephelah was Baal-hanan the Gederite; and over the stores of oil was Joash. 29 Over the herds that pastured in (X)Sharon was Shitrai the Sharonite; over the herds in the valleys was Shaphat the son of Adlai. 30 Over the camels was Obil the Ishmaelite; and over the donkeys was Jehdeiah the Meronothite. Over the flocks was Jaziz the (Y)Hagrite. 31 All these were stewards of King David's property.

32 Jonathan, David's uncle, was a counselor, being a man of understanding and a scribe. He and Jehiel the son of Hachmoni attended the king's sons. 33 (Z)Ahithophel was the (AA)king's counselor, and Hushai the Archite was the king's friend. 34 Ahithophel was succeeded by Jehoiada the son of (AB)Benaiah, and (AC)Abiathar. Joab was (AD)commander of the king's army.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 27:4 Septuagint; Hebrew Ahohite and his division and Mikloth the chief officer
  2. 1 Chronicles 27:6 Septuagint, Vulgate; Hebrew was his division

Judgment on Ephraim and Jerusalem

28 Ah, the proud crown of (A)the drunkards of Ephraim,
    and the fading flower of its glorious beauty,
    which is on the head of the rich valley of those overcome with wine!
Behold, the Lord has (B)one who is mighty and strong;
    like a storm of hail, a destroying tempest,
like (C)a storm of mighty, overflowing waters,
    he casts down to the earth with his hand.
(D)The proud crown of the drunkards of Ephraim
    will be trodden underfoot;
(E)and the fading flower of its glorious beauty,
    which is on the head of the rich valley,
will be like (F)a first-ripe fig[a] before the summer:
    when someone sees it, he swallows it
    as soon as it is in his hand.

(G)In that day the Lord of hosts will be a crown of glory,[b]
    and a diadem of beauty, to the remnant of his people,
and (H)a spirit of justice to him who sits in judgment,
    and (I)strength to those who turn back the battle at the gate.

(J)These also reel with wine
    and (K)stagger with strong drink;
the priest and (L)the prophet reel with strong drink,
    they are swallowed by[c] wine,
    they stagger with strong drink,
they reel in vision,
    they stumble in giving judgment.
For all tables are full of filthy vomit,
    with no space left.

(M)“To whom will he teach knowledge,
    and to whom will he explain the message?
Those who are weaned from the milk,
    those taken from the breast?
10 For it is precept upon precept, precept upon precept,
    line upon line, line upon line,
    here a little, there a little.”

11 (N)For by people of strange lips
    and with a foreign tongue
the Lord will speak to this people,
12     to whom he has said,
(O)“This is rest;
    give rest to the weary;
and this is repose”;
    yet they would not hear.
13 And the word of the Lord will be to them
precept upon precept, precept upon precept,
    line upon line, line upon line,
    here a little, there a little,
(P)that they may go, and fall backward,
    and be broken, and snared, and taken.

A Cornerstone in Zion

14 Therefore hear the word of the Lord, you (Q)scoffers,
    who rule this people in Jerusalem!
15 Because you have said, “We have made a covenant with death,
    and with Sheol we have an agreement,
when the (R)overwhelming whip passes through
    it will not come to us,
for we have made (S)lies our refuge,
    and in falsehood we have taken shelter”;
16 therefore thus says the Lord God,
(T)“Behold, I am the one who has laid[d] as a foundation (U)in Zion,
    a stone, a tested stone,
a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation:
    ‘Whoever believes will not be in haste.’
17 And I will make justice (V)the line,
    and righteousness (W)the plumb line;
and hail will sweep away the refuge of lies,
    and waters will overwhelm the shelter.”
18 Then (X)your covenant with death will be annulled,
    and your agreement with Sheol will not stand;
when the overwhelming scourge passes through,
    you will be beaten down by it.
19 As often as it passes through it will take you;
    (Y)for morning by morning it will pass through,
    by day and by night;
and it will be (Z)sheer terror to understand the message.
20 For the bed is too short to stretch oneself on,
    and the covering too narrow to wrap oneself in.
21 For the Lord will rise up (AA)as on Mount Perazim;
    (AB)as in the Valley of (AC)Gibeon he will be roused;
to do his deed—strange is his deed!
    and to work his work—alien is his work!
22 Now therefore do not (AD)scoff,
    lest your bonds be made strong;
for I have heard (AE)a decree of destruction
    from the Lord God of hosts against the whole land.

23 Give ear, and hear my voice;
    give attention, and hear my speech.
24 Does he who plows for sowing plow continually?
    Does he continually open and harrow his ground?
25 (AF)When he has leveled its surface,
    does he not scatter dill, sow cumin,
and put in wheat in rows
    and barley in its proper place,
    and emmer[e] as the border?
26 (AG)For he is rightly instructed;
    his God teaches him.

27 Dill is not threshed with a threshing sledge,
    nor is a cart wheel rolled over cumin,
but dill is beaten out with a stick,
    and cumin with a rod.
28 Does one crush grain for bread?
    No, he does not thresh it forever;[f]
when he drives his cart wheel over it
    with his horses, he does not crush it.
29 This also comes from the Lord of hosts;
    he is (AH)wonderful in counsel
    and excellent in wisdom.

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 28:4 Or fruit
  2. Isaiah 28:5 The Hebrew words for glory and hosts sound alike
  3. Isaiah 28:7 Or confused by
  4. Isaiah 28:16 Dead Sea Scroll I am laying
  5. Isaiah 28:25 A type of wheat
  6. Isaiah 28:28 Or Grain is crushed for bread; he will surely thresh it, but not forever

Bible Gateway Recommends

ESV Large-Print Study Bible--genuine leather, black (indexed)
ESV Large-Print Study Bible--genuine leather, black (indexed)
Retail: $139.99
Our Price: $87.99
Save: $52.00 (37%)
4.5 of 5.0 stars
ESV Study Bible, Burgundy Genuine Leather with Thumb Index
ESV Study Bible, Burgundy Genuine Leather with Thumb Index
Retail: $124.99
Our Price: $64.99
Save: $60.00 (48%)
4.5 of 5.0 stars
ESV Student Study Bible, Trutone, Green with Mosaic Cross Design
ESV Student Study Bible, Trutone, Green with Mosaic Cross Design
Retail: $44.99
Our Price: $16.99
Save: $28.00 (62%)
4.5 of 5.0 stars
Proverbs, ESV Illuminated Scripture Journal
Proverbs, ESV Illuminated Scripture Journal
Retail: $8.99
Our Price: $4.99
Save: $4.00 (44%)
5.0 of 5.0 stars