以色列的军队

27 以色列人的族长、千夫长、百夫长及其他官长都分定班次,每班两万四千人,每年按月轮流服侍王。

撒巴第业的儿子雅朔班负责第一班,在一月当值,他班内有两万四千人。 他是法勒斯的子孙,统管一月当值的所有将领。 亚哈希人朵代负责二月的班次,他的副官是密基罗,他班内有两万四千人。 祭司耶何耶大的儿子比拿雅负责第三班,在三月当值,他班内有两万四千人。 比拿雅是当时的三十位勇士之一,也是三十位勇士之首。他儿子暗米萨拔在他班内做统领。 约押的兄弟亚撒黑负责第四班,在四月当值,他班内有两万四千人,他儿子西巴第雅后来接替了他。 伊斯拉人珊合负责第五班,在五月当值,他班内有两万四千人。 提哥亚人益吉的儿子以拉负责第六班,在六月当值,他班内有两万四千人。 10 以法莲的子孙比伦人希利斯负责第七班,在七月当值,他班内有两万四千人。 11 谢拉族的户沙人西比该负责第八班,在八月当值,他班内有两万四千人。 12 便雅悯的子孙亚拿突人亚比以谢负责第九班,在九月当值,他班内有两万四千人。 13 谢拉族的尼陀法人玛哈莱负责第十班,在十月当值,他班内有两万四千人。 14 以法莲的子孙比拉顿人比拿雅负责第十一班,在十一月当值,他班内有两万四千人。 15 俄陀聂族的尼陀法人黑玳负责第十二班,在十二月当值,他班内有两万四千人。

以色列各支派的官长

16 以下是以色列各支派的首领:吕便支派的首领是细基利的儿子以利以谢;西缅支派的首领是玛迦的儿子示法提雅; 17 利未支派的首领是基姆利的儿子哈沙比雅;亚伦子孙的首领是撒督; 18 犹大支派的首领是大卫的哥哥以利户;以萨迦支派的首领是米迦勒的儿子暗利; 19 西布伦支派的首领是俄巴第雅的儿子伊施玛雅;拿弗他利支派的首领是亚斯列的儿子耶利摩; 20 以法莲支派的首领是阿撒细雅的儿子何细亚;玛拿西半个支派的首领是毗大雅的儿子约珥; 21 基列的玛拿西另半个支派的首领是撒迦利亚的儿子易多;便雅悯支派的首领是押尼珥的儿子雅西业; 22 但支派的首领是耶罗罕的儿子亚萨列。以上这些人是以色列各支派的首领。 23 大卫没有统计二十岁以下的以色列人,因为耶和华曾经应许要使以色列的人数像天上的星那样多。 24 洗鲁雅的儿子约押开始统计人数,但没有完成,因为耶和华因此事而向以色列人发烈怒,因此统计的数目没有收录在大卫王记上。

王室产业的主管

25 亚叠的儿子押斯马威管理王室的库房。乌西雅的儿子约拿单管理城邑、村庄和堡垒的库房。 26 基绿的儿子以斯利管理耕田种地的人。 27 拉玛人示每管理葡萄园。实弗米人撒巴底管理葡萄园的酒窖。 28 基第利人巴勒·哈南管理丘陵的橄榄树和无花果树。约阿施管理油仓。 29 沙仑人施提莱管理沙仑的牛群。亚第莱的儿子沙法管理山谷中的牛群。 30 以实玛利人阿比勒管理骆驼群。米仑人耶希底亚管理驴群。 31 夏甲人雅悉管理羊群。以上这些人都是替大卫王管理产业的。

32 大卫的叔叔约拿单很精明,任谋士和书记。哈摩尼的儿子耶歇做众王子的老师。 33 亚希多弗也是王的谋士。亚基人户筛是王的朋友。 34 后来,比拿雅的儿子耶何耶大和亚比亚他接替亚希多弗做谋士。约押在王的军队中做元帅。

27 These are the Israelites (the families’ leaders, the commanders of hundreds and thousands) and their officers who performed their duties for the king on a monthly rotation (one division for each month of the year).

The Levites are not the only leaders in David’s government. While they do perform some duties outside of the temple, most secular work is done by the other tribes.

Each division had 24,000 men: 2-3 Jashobeam (son of Zabdiel, a Perezite) was the leader of all the commanders of the army and the leader of the first division during the first month. Dodai the Ahohite and his division led the division for the second month under Mikloth, their chief officer. Benaiah (son of Jehoiada, the priest) led the third division in the third month. He was a powerful man, in charge of his thirty. Ammizabad (Benaiah’s son) led his father’s division. Asahel (brother of Joab) and Zebadiah his son after him led the fourth division in the fourth month. Shamhuth the Izrahite led the fifth division in the fifth month. Ira (son of Ikkesh, the Tekoite) led the sixth division in the sixth month. 10 Helez (the Pelonite of the Ephraimites) led the seventh division in the seventh month. 11 Sibbecai (the Hushathite of the Zerahites) led the eighth division in the eighth month. 12 Abiezer (the Anathothite of the Benjaminites) led the ninth division in the ninth month. 13 Maharai (the Netophathite of the Zerahites) led the tenth division in the tenth month. 14 Benaiah (the Pirathonite of the Ephraimites) led the eleventh division in the eleventh month. 15 Heldai (the Netophathite of Othniel) led the twelfth division in the twelfth month.

16 Each of the tribes of Israel had leaders from within their families: the leader of the Reubenites was Eliezer (son of Zichri); for the Simeonites was Shephatiah (son of Maacah); 17 for the Levites was Hashabiah (son of Kemuel); for the Aaronites (a part of the Levite clan) was Zadok; 18 for the Judahites was Elihu (one of King David’s brothers); for the Issacharites was Omri (son of Michael); 19 for the Zebulunites was Ishmaiah (son of Obadiah); for the Naphtalites was Jeremoth (son of Azriel); 20 for the Ephraimites was Hoshea (son of Azaziah); for the half-tribe of the Manassehites was Joel (son of Pedaiah); 21 for the portion of the half-tribe of Manassehites that was separated from the others in Gilead was Iddo (son of Zechariah); for the Benjaminites was Jaasiel (son of Abner); 22 for the Danites was Azarel (son of Jeroham). These men were the leaders of the tribes of Israel.

23 When David conducted the census, he did not count anyone 20 years of age and younger because the Eternal had said He would make the population of Israel innumerable, like the stars of heaven. 24 Joab (son of Zeruiah) intended to count them, but he did not finish. It was because Joab attempted to count the innumerable that God was angry at Israel and punished them. Because the census angered God so much, its results are not recorded in the chronicles of King David.

The exile takes a toll not just on the lives of the Jews, but also on Israel herself. The chronicles of King David are among several historical documents stored in the royal archives. When the Babylonians attack Jerusalem and destroy Solomon’s temple, those official records are lost as well. Israel loses significant portions of the nation’s written history, so that history remains only in the oral traditions of the people. Because of this loss of history, the chronicler writes this book for the Jews—so that their descendants will have a testament to the early history and the greatness of the Israelites before they are forgotten.

25 These are other officials in David’s government: Azmaveth (son of Adiel) managed the king’s own storehouses. Jonathan (son of Uzziah) managed the storehouses that did not belong directly to the king in the country, cities, villages, and towers. 26 Ezri (son of Chelub) managed the farmhands who tilled the soil. 27 Shimei (the Ramathite) managed the vineyards, and Zabdi (the Shiphmite) managed the grapes and wine stored in the wine cellars. 28 Baal-hanan (the Gederite) managed the olive and sycamore trees in the Shephelah, and Joash managed oil stored in the storehouses. 29 Shitrai (the Sharonite) managed the cattle grazing in Sharon, and Shaphat (son of Adlai) managed the cattle grazing in the valleys. 30 Obil (the Ishmaelite) managed the camels. Jehdeiah (the Meronothite) managed the donkeys. 31 Jaziz (the Hagrite) managed the flocks. These men were the managers of King David’s property.

32 Jonathan (David’s uncle) was a counselor, a discerning man, and a scribe. Jehiel (son of Hachmoni) was a companion of and attendant for the king’s sons. 33-34 Ahithophel was counselor to the king, and he was succeeded by Jehoiada (son of Benaiah) and Abiathar. Hushai (the Archite) was the king’s confidant. Joab was the leader of the king’s army.