David’s Secular Officials

27 This is the list of the Israelites, the family heads, the commanders of thousands and the commanders of hundreds, and their officers who served the king in every matter to do with the divisions that were on rotated military duty each month throughout[a] the year. There were 24,000 in each division:

Jashobeam son of Zabdiel was in charge of the first division,(A) for the first month; 24,000 were in his division. He was a descendant of Perez and chief of all the army commanders for the first month.

Dodai the Ahohite was in charge of the division for the second month, and Mikloth was the leader; 24,000 were in his division.

The third army commander, as chief for the third month, was Benaiah son of the priest Jehoiada; 24,000 were in his division. This Benaiah was a mighty man among the Thirty and over the Thirty, and his son Ammizabad was in charge[b] of his division.

The fourth commander, for the fourth month, was Joab’s brother Asahel, and his son Zebadiah was commander after him; 24,000 were in his division.

The fifth, for the fifth month, was the commander Shamhuth the Izrahite; 24,000 were in his division.

The sixth, for the sixth month, was Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite; 24,000 were in his division.

10 The seventh, for the seventh month, was Helez the Pelonite from the descendants of Ephraim; 24,000 were in his division.

11 The eighth, for the eighth month, was Sibbecai the Hushathite, a Zerahite; 24,000 were in his division.

12 The ninth, for the ninth month, was Abiezer the Anathothite, a Benjaminite; 24,000 were in his division.

13 The tenth, for the tenth month, was Maharai the Netophathite, a Zerahite; 24,000 were in his division.

14 The eleventh, for the eleventh month, was Benaiah the Pirathonite from the descendants of Ephraim; 24,000 were in his division.

15 The twelfth, for the twelfth month, was Heldai the Netophathite, of Othniel’s family;[c] 24,000 were in his division.

16 The following were in charge of the tribes of Israel:

For the Reubenites, Eliezer son of Zichri was the chief official;

for the Simeonites, Shephatiah son of Maacah;

17 for the Levites, Hashabiah son of Kemuel; for Aaron, Zadok;

18 for Judah, Elihu, one of David’s brothers; for Issachar, Omri son of Michael;

19 for Zebulun, Ishmaiah son of Obadiah;

for Naphtali, Jerimoth son of Azriel;

20 for the Ephraimites, Hoshea son of Azaziah;

for half the tribe of Manasseh, Joel son of Pedaiah;

21 for half the tribe of Manasseh in Gilead, Iddo son of Zechariah;

for Benjamin, Jaasiel son of Abner;

22 for Dan, Azarel son of Jeroham.

Those were the leaders of the tribes of Israel.(B)

23 David didn’t count the men aged twenty or under, for the Lord had said he would make Israel as numerous as the stars of the sky.(C) 24 Joab son of Zeruiah began to count them, but he didn’t complete it. There was wrath against Israel because of this census,(D) and the number was not entered in the Historical Record[d] of King David.

25 Azmaveth son of Adiel was in charge of the king’s storehouses.

Jonathan son of Uzziah was in charge of the storehouses in the country, in the cities, in the villages, and in the fortresses.

26 Ezri son of Chelub was in charge of those who worked in the fields tilling the soil.

27 Shimei the Ramathite was in charge of the vineyards.

Zabdi the Shiphmite was in charge of the produce of the vineyards for the wine cellars.

28 Baal-hanan the Gederite was in charge of the olive and sycamore trees(E) in the Judean foothills.[e]

Joash was in charge of the stores of olive oil.

29 Shitrai the Sharonite was in charge of the herds that grazed in Sharon,(F) while Shaphat son of Adlai was in charge of the herds in the valleys.

30 Obil the Ishmaelite was in charge of the camels.

Jehdeiah the Meronothite was in charge of the donkeys.

31 Jaziz the Hagrite(G) was in charge of the flocks.

All these were officials in charge of King David’s property.

32 David’s uncle Jonathan was a counselor; he was a man of understanding and a scribe. Jehiel son of Hachmoni attended[f] the king’s sons. 33 Ahithophel(H) was the king’s counselor. Hushai(I) the Archite was the king’s friend. 34 After Ahithophel came Jehoiada son of Benaiah,(J) then Abiathar.(K) Joab was the commander of the king’s army.(L)

Footnotes

  1. 27:1 Lit that came in and went out month by month for all months of
  2. 27:6 LXX; MT omits in charge
  3. 27:15 Lit belonging to Othniel
  4. 27:24 LXX; MT reads the number of the Historical Record
  5. 27:28 Or the Shephelah
  6. 27:32 Lit was with

The Military Divisions

27 This is the list of the people of Israel, the heads of families, the commanders of the thousands and the 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 twenty-four thousand:

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

Leaders of Tribes

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

Other Civic Officials

25 Over the king’s treasuries was Azmaveth son of Adiel. Over the treasuries in the country, in the cities, in the villages and in the towers was Jonathan son of Uzziah. 26 Over those who did the work of the field, tilling the soil, was Ezri son of Chelub. 27 Over the vineyards was Shimei the Ramathite. Over the produce of the vineyards for the wine cellars was Zabdi the Shiphmite. 28 Over the olive and sycamore trees in the Shephelah was Baal-hanan the Gederite. Over the stores of oil was Joash.(M) 29 Over the herds that pastured in Sharon was Shitrai the Sharonite. Over the herds in the valleys was Shaphat son of Adlai. 30 Over the camels was Obil the Ishmaelite. Over the donkeys was Jehdeiah the Meronothite. 31 Over the flocks was Jaziz the Hagrite. 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; Jehiel son of Hachmoni attended the king’s sons. 33 Ahithophel was the king’s counselor, and Hushai the Archite was the king’s friend.(N) 34 After Ahithophel came Jehoiada son of Benaiah and Abiathar. Joab was commander of the king’s army.(O)

Footnotes

  1. 27.6 Gk Vg: Heb Ammizabad was his division