Military Organization

27 Here is the listing of the sons of Israel by family heads, commanders and captains, and other officers who served the king in everything military. Army divisions were on duty a month at a time for the twelve months of the year. Each division comprised 24,000 men.

2-3 First division, first month: Jashobeam son of Zabdiel was in charge with 24,000 men. He came from the line of Perez. He was over all the army officers during the first month.

The division for the second month: Dodai the Ahohite was in charge: 24,000 men; Mikloth was the leader of his division.

5-6 Commander for the third month: Benaiah son of Jehoiada the priest with 24,000 men. This was the same Benaiah who was a Mighty Man among the Thirty and their chief. His son Ammizabad was in charge of the division.

Fourth division for the fourth month: Asahel brother of Joab; his son Zebadiah succeeded him: 24,000 men.

Fifth division, fifth month: commander Shamhuth the Izrahite: 24,000 men.

Sixth division, sixth month: Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite: 24,000 men.

10 Seventh division, seventh month: Helez the Pelonite, an Ephraimite: 24,000 men.

11 Eighth division, eighth month: Sibbecai the Hushathite, a Zerahite: 24,000 men.

12 Ninth division, ninth month: Abiezer the Anathothite, a Benjaminite: 24,000 men.

13 Tenth division, tenth month: Maharai the Netophathite, a Zerahite: 24,000 men.

14 Eleventh division, eleventh month: Benaiah the Pirathomite, an Ephraimite: 24,000 men.

15 Twelfth division, twelfth month: Heldai the Netophathite from the family of Othniel: 24,000 men.

Tribal Administrators

16-22 Administrators of the affairs of the tribes:

for Reuben: Eliezer son of Zicri;

for Simeon: Shephatiah son of Maacah;

for Levi: Hashabiah son of Kemuel;

for Aaron: Zadok;

for Judah: Elihu, David’s brother;

for Issachar: Omri son of Michael;

for Zebulun: Ishmaiah son of Obadiah;

for Naphtali: Jerimoth son of Azriel;

for Ephraim: Hoshea son of Azaziah;

for one half-tribe of Manasseh: Joel son of Pedaiah;

for the half-tribe of Manasseh in Gilead: Iddo son of Zechariah;

for Benjamin: Jaasiel son of Abner;

for Dan: Azarel son of Jeroham.

These are the administrative officers assigned to the tribes of Israel.

23-24 David didn’t keep a count of men under the age of twenty, because God had promised to give Israel a population as numerous as the stars in the sky. Joab son of Zeruiah started out counting the men, but he never finished. God’s anger broke out on Israel because of the counting. As it turned out, the numbers were never entered into the court records of King David.

Supply Officers

25 The king’s storage facilities were supervised by Azmaveth son of Adiel. Jonathan son of Uzziah was responsible for the warehouses in the outlying areas.

26 Ezri son of Kelub was in charge of the field workers on the farms.

27 Shimei the Ramathite was in charge of the vineyards and Zabdi the Shiphmite was in charge of grapes for the wine vats.

28 Baal-Hanan the Gederite was in charge of the olive and sycamore-fig trees in the western hills, and Joash was in charge of the olive oil.

29 Shitrai the Sharonite was in charge of herds grazing in Sharon and Shaphat son of Adlai was in charge of herds in the valley.

30-31 Obil the Ishmaelite was in charge of the camels, Jehdeiah the Meronothite was in charge of the donkeys, and Jaziz the Hagrite was in charge of the flocks.

These were the ones responsible for taking care of King David’s property.

David’s Counselors

32 Jonathan, David’s uncle, a wise and literate counselor, and Jehiel son of Hacmoni, were responsible for raising the king’s sons.

33-34 Ahithophel was the king’s counselor; Hushai the Arkite was the king’s friend. Ahithophel was later replaced by Jehoiada son of Benaiah and by Abiathar.

Joab was commander of the king’s army.

Commanders of the Army

27 Now this is the number of the sons of Israel, the heads of fathers’ households, the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and their officers who served the king in all the affairs of the divisions which came in and went out month by month throughout the months of the year, each division numbering twenty-four thousand:

Jashobeam the son of Zabdiel [a](A)was in charge of the first division for the first month; and in his division were twenty-four thousand. He was from the sons of Perez, and was chief of all the commanders of the army for the first month. Dodai the Ahohite and his division was in charge of the division for the second month, Mikloth being the chief officer; and in his division were twenty-four thousand. The third commander of the army for the third month was Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada the priest, as chief; and in his division were twenty-four thousand. This Benaiah was the mighty man of the thirty, and was in charge of thirty; and over his division was his son Ammizabad. The fourth, for the fourth month was Asahel the brother of Joab, and Zebadiah his son after him; and in his division were twenty-four thousand. The fifth, for the fifth month was the commander Shamhuth the Izrahite; and in his division were twenty-four thousand. The sixth, for the sixth month was Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite; and in his division were twenty-four thousand. 10 The seventh, for the seventh month was Helez the Pelonite of the sons of Ephraim; and in his division were twenty-four thousand. 11 The eighth, for the eighth month was Sibbecai the Hushathite of the Zerahites; and in his division were twenty-four thousand. 12 The ninth, for the ninth month was Abiezer the Anathothite of the Benjaminites; and in his division were twenty-four thousand. 13 The tenth, for the tenth month was Maharai the Netophathite of the Zerahites; and in his division were twenty-four thousand. 14 The eleventh, for the eleventh month was Benaiah the Pirathonite of the sons of Ephraim; and in his division were twenty-four thousand. 15 The twelfth, for the twelfth month was Heldai the Netophathite of Othniel; and in his division were twenty-four thousand.

Chief Officers of the Tribes

16 Now in charge of the tribes of Israel: chief officer for the Reubenites was Eliezer the son of Zichri; for the Simeonites, Shephatiah the son of Maacah; 17 for Levi, Hashabiah the son of Kemuel; for Aaron, 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 sons of Ephraim, 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. (B)These were the leaders of the tribes of Israel. 23 But David did not [b]count those twenty years of age and under, (C)because the Lord had said He would multiply Israel (D)as the stars of heaven. 24 Joab the son of Zeruiah had begun to count them, but did not finish; and because of (E)this, wrath came upon Israel, and the number was not included in the account of the chronicles of King David.

Various Overseers

25 Now Azmaveth the son of Adiel was responsible for the king’s storehouses. And Jonathan the son of Uzziah was responsible for the storehouses in the country, the cities, the villages, and the towers. 26 Ezri the son of Chelub was responsible for the [c]agricultural workers who tilled the soil. 27 Shimei the Ramathite was responsible for the vineyards; and Zabdi the Shiphmite was responsible for the [d]produce of the vineyards stored in the wine cellars. 28 Baal-hanan the Gederite was responsible for the olive and (F)sycamore trees in the [e]Shephelah; and Joash was responsible for the stores of oil. 29 Shitrai the Sharonite was responsible for the cattle which were grazing in (G)Sharon; and Shaphat the son of Adlai was responsible for the cattle in the valleys. 30 Obil the Ishmaelite was responsible for the camels; and Jehdeiah the Meronothite was responsible for the donkeys. 31 Jaziz the (H)Hagrite was responsible for the flocks. All these were [f]overseers of the property which belonged to King David.

Counselors

32 Also Jonathan, David’s uncle, was a counselor, a man of understanding, and a scribe; and Jehiel the son of Hachmoni [g]tutored the king’s sons. 33 (I)Ahithophel was counselor to the king; and (J)Hushai the Archite was the king’s friend. 34 Jehoiada the son of (K)Benaiah, and (L)Abiathar [h]succeeded Ahithophel; and Joab was the (M)commander of the king’s army.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 27:2 Lit was over, and so throughout the ch
  2. 1 Chronicles 27:23 Lit take their number of
  3. 1 Chronicles 27:26 Lit doers of the work of the field for the work of...
  4. 1 Chronicles 27:27 Lit what was in the vineyards
  5. 1 Chronicles 27:28 Or lowlands
  6. 1 Chronicles 27:31 Or rulers
  7. 1 Chronicles 27:32 Lit was with
  8. 1 Chronicles 27:34 Lit after