David’s Secular Officials

27 This is the list of the Israelites, the heads of families, 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 Jehoiada the priest; 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 sons 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 sons 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 20 or under, for the Lord had said He would make Israel as numerous as the stars of heaven.(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. 1 Chronicles 27:1 Lit that came in and went out month by month for all months of
  2. 1 Chronicles 27:6 LXX; MT omits in charge
  3. 1 Chronicles 27:15 Lit belonging to Othniel
  4. 1 Chronicles 27:24 LXX; MT reads Number
  5. 1 Chronicles 27:28 Or the Shephelah
  6. 1 Chronicles 27:32 Lit was with

Military Divisions

27 The Israelis, according to the number of the leaders of their families, the officers of groups of thousands and groups of hundreds, and their leaders who served the king on behalf of the army divisions of 24,000 soldiers on duty month by month throughout the year, consisted of the following.

Zabdiel’s son Jashobeam was responsible[a] for the first division of 24,000 soldiers[b] for the first month. A descendant of Perez, he was chief of all the commanders of the army for the first month.

Dodai the Ahohite was responsible for the division of the second month. Mikloth served as chief officer[c] of his division, consisting of 24,000 soldiers.

Jehoiada’s son Benaiah the priest was commander of the third division for the third month, consisting of 24,000 soldiers. This was the same Benaiah who was one of the elite men of the Thirty and in command of the Thirty. His son Ammizabad was responsible for his division.

Joab’s brother Asahel was fourth for the fourth month, assisted[d] by his son Zebadiah, with 24,000 soldiers in his division.

The fifth commander for the fifth month was Shamhuth the Izrahite. His division consisted of 24,000 soldiers.

Ikkesh’s son Ira from Tekoa was sixth for the sixth month; there were 24,000 soldiers in his division.

10 Helez the Pelonite, an Ephraimite, was seventh for the seventh month; 24,000 soldiers served in his division.

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

12 Abiezer from Anathoth, a descendant of Benjamin, was ninth for the ninth month; 24,000 soldiers served in his division.

13 Mahari from Netophah, a Zerahite, was tenth for the tenth month; 24,000 soldiers served in his division.

14 Benaiah from Pirathon, an Ephraimite, was eleventh for the eleventh month; 24,000 soldiers served in his division.

15 Heldai the Netophathite, from Othniel, was twelfth for the twelfth month; 24,000 soldiers served in his division.

Tribal Leaders

16 Wielding the scepters of Israel for the descendants of Reuben, there was[e] Zichri’s son Eliezer as chief officer;[f] for the descendants of Simeon there was Maacah’s son Shephatiah; 17 for Levi there was Kemuel’s son Hashabiah; for Aaron there was Zadok; 18 for Judah there was Elihu, one of David’s brothers; for Issachar there was Michael’s son Omri; 19 for Zebulun there was Obadiah’s son Ishmaiah; for Naphtali, there was Azriel’s son Jerimoth; 20 for the descendants of Ephraim, there was Azaziah’s son Hoshea; for the half-tribe of Manasseh, there was Pedaiah’s son Joel; 21 for the half-tribe of Manasseh in Gilead, there was Zechariah’s son Iddo; for Benjamin, there was Abner’s son Jaasiel; 22 for Dan, there was Jeroham’s son Azarel. These were the leaders of the tribes of Israel.

23 David did not complete a census of those younger than 20 years of age, since the Lord had said he would make Israel as numerous as the stars of heaven. 24 Zeruiah’s son Joab began the census, but never completed it. Nevertheless, God became angry with Israel because of this, so the number was never entered into the official records of the Annals of King David.[g]

Civic Leaders

25 Adiel’s son Azmaveth was responsible for the king’s treasuries. Uzziah’s son Jonathan was in charge of treasuries located in the country, in cities, in villages, and in towers. 26 Chelub’s son Ezri supervised the field workers who tilled the soil. 27 Shimei the Ramathite supervised the vineyards. In charge over the produce of the vineyards for the wine cellars was Zabdi the Shiphmite. 28 Baal-hanan the Gederite supervised the olive and sycamore[h] trees in the Shephelah.[i] Joash supervised the oil reserves. 29 Shitrai the Sharonite supervised the herds that were pastured in Sharon. Adlai’s son Shaphat supervised the herds in the valleys. 30 Obil the Ishmaelite supervised the camels. Jehdeiah the Meronothite supervised the donkeys. Jaziz the Hagrite supervised the flocks. 31 All of these served as stewards over King David’s property.

32 David’s uncle Jonathan was a counselor, since he was a man of understanding and a scribe, and Hachmoni’s son Jehiel was an attendant to the king’s sons. 33 Ahithophel served as an advisor to the king, Hushai the Archite was the king’s trusted associate, 34 and under Ahithophel there was Benaiah’s son Jehoiada and Abiathar. Joab served as commander of the king’s army.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 27:2 Lit. over; and so throughout the chapter
  2. 1 Chronicles 27:2 The Heb. lacks soldiers; and so throughout the chapter
  3. 1 Chronicles 27:4 Lit. Nagid; i.e. a senior officer entrusted with dual roles of operational oversight and administrative authority
  4. 1 Chronicles 27:7 Or followed
  5. 1 Chronicles 27:16 The Heb. lacks there was; and so throughout the chapter
  6. 1 Chronicles 27:16 Lit. Nagid; i.e. a senior officer entrusted with dual roles of operational oversight and administrative authority
  7. 1 Chronicles 27:24 An ancient chronicle of Israel, apparently now lost
  8. 1 Chronicles 27:28 The sycamore fruit tree native to Israel bears figs
  9. 1 Chronicles 27:28 I.e. the verdant central lowlands of Israel; cf. Josh 10:40