The Military Divisions

27 And the children of Israel, according to their number, the heads of fathers’ houses, the captains of thousands and hundreds and their officers, served the king in every matter of the military divisions. These divisions came in and went out month by month throughout all the months of the year, each division having twenty-four thousand.

Over the first division for the first month was (A)Jashobeam the son of Zabdiel, and in his division were twenty-four thousand; he was of the children of Perez, and the chief of all the captains of the army for the first month. Over the division of the second month was [a]Dodai an Ahohite, and of his division Mikloth also was the leader; in his division were twenty-four thousand. The third captain of the army for the third month was (B)Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada the priest, who was chief; in his division were twenty-four thousand. This was the Benaiah who was (C)mighty among the thirty, and was over the thirty; in his division was Ammizabad his son. The fourth captain for the fourth month was (D)Asahel the brother of Joab, and Zebadiah his son after him; in his division were twenty-four thousand. The fifth captain for the fifth month was [b]Shamhuth the Izrahite; in his division were twenty-four thousand. The sixth captain for the sixth month was (E)Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite; in his division were twenty-four thousand. 10 The seventh captain for the seventh month was (F)Helez the Pelonite, of the children of Ephraim; in his division were twenty-four thousand. 11 The eighth captain for the eighth month was (G)Sibbechai the Hushathite, of the Zarhites; in his division were twenty-four thousand. 12 The ninth captain for the ninth month was (H)Abiezer the Anathothite, of the Benjamites; in his division were twenty-four thousand. 13 The tenth captain for the tenth month was (I)Maharai the Netophathite, of the Zarhites; in his division were twenty-four thousand. 14 The eleventh captain for the eleventh month was (J)Benaiah the Pirathonite, of the children of Ephraim; in his division were twenty-four thousand. 15 The twelfth captain for the twelfth month was [c]Heldai the Netophathite, of Othniel; in his division were twenty-four thousand.

Leaders of Tribes

16 Furthermore, over the tribes of Israel: the officer over the Reubenites was Eliezer the son of Zichri; over the Simeonites, Shephatiah the son of Maachah; 17 over the Levites, (K)Hashabiah the son of Kemuel; over the Aaronites, Zadok; 18 over Judah, (L)Elihu, one of David’s brothers; over Issachar, Omri the son of Michael; 19 over Zebulun, Ishmaiah the son of Obadiah; over Naphtali, Jerimoth the son of Azriel; 20 over the children of Ephraim, Hoshea the son of Azaziah; over the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joel the son of Pedaiah; 21 over the half-tribe of Manasseh in Gilead, Iddo the son of Zechariah; over Benjamin, Jaasiel the son of Abner; 22 over Dan, Azarel the son of Jeroham. These were the leaders of the tribes of Israel.

23 But David did not take the number of those twenty years old and under, because (M)the Lord had said He would multiply Israel like the (N)stars of the heavens. 24 Joab the son of Zeruiah began a census, but he did not finish, for (O)wrath came upon Israel because of this census; nor was the number recorded in the account of the chronicles of King David.

Other State Officials

25 And Azmaveth the son of Adiel was over the king’s treasuries; and Jehonathan the son of Uzziah was over the storehouses in the field, in the cities, in the villages, and in the fortresses. 26 Ezri the son of Chelub was over those who did the work of the field for tilling the ground. 27 And Shimei the Ramathite was over the vineyards, and Zabdi the Shiphmite was over the produce of the vineyards for the supply of wine. 28 Baal-Hanan the Gederite was over the olive trees and the sycamore trees that were in the lowlands, and Joash was over the store of oil. 29 And Shitrai the Sharonite was over the herds that fed in Sharon, and Shaphat the son of Adlai was over the herds that were in the valleys. 30 Obil the Ishmaelite was over the camels, Jehdeiah the Meronothite was over the donkeys, 31 and Jaziz the (P)Hagrite was over the flocks. All these were the officials over King David’s property.

32 Also Jehonathan, David’s uncle, was a counselor, a wise man, and a [d]scribe; and Jehiel the [e]son of Hachmoni was with the king’s sons. 33 (Q)Ahithophel was the king’s counselor, and (R)Hushai the Archite was the king’s companion. 34 After Ahithophel was Jehoiada the son of Benaiah, then (S)Abiathar. And the general of the king’s army was (T)Joab.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 27:4 Heb. Dodai, usually spelled Dodo, 2 Sam. 23:9
  2. 1 Chronicles 27:8 Shammah, 2 Sam. 23:11, or Shammoth, 1 Chr. 11:27
  3. 1 Chronicles 27:15 Heleb, 2 Sam. 23:29, or Heled, 1 Chr. 11:30
  4. 1 Chronicles 27:32 secretary
  5. 1 Chronicles 27:32 Or Hachmonite

27 Forsooth the sons of Israel by their number, the princes of families, the tribunes, and centurions, and prefects, that ministered to the king by their companies of knights, entering in and going out by each month in the year, were sovereigns, each by himself, upon four and twenty thousand. (Now the number of Israelites, that is, the leaders of the families, and the tribunes, and the centurions, and the prefects, who served the king with their companies of horsemen, coming in and going out each month of the year, was twenty-four thousand in each company, or division.)

Jashobeam, the son of Zabdiel, was sovereign of the first company in the first month, and under him were four and twenty thousand; (Jashobeam, the son of Zabdiel, was the leader of the first company in the first month, and under him were twenty-four thousand;)

of the sons of Pharez, was the prince of all [the] princes in the host, in the first month. (of the sons of Perez, he was the leader of all the leaders in the army, in the first month.)

Dodai (the) Ahohite had the company of the second month, and after himself he had another man, Mikloth by name, that governed a part of the host of four and twenty thousand. (Dodai the Ahohite led the second company in the second month, and he had another man, named Mikloth, who helped him govern his division of twenty-four thousand./And Eleazar, the son of Dodai the Ahohite, led the second company in the second month, and he governed his division of twenty-four thousand.)

And Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, the priest, was duke of the third company in the third month, and four and twenty thousand were in his parting; (And Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, the priest, was the leader of the third company in the third month, and twenty-four thousand were in his division;)

that is Benaiah, the strongest man among (the) thirty, and above (the) thirty; and Ammizabad, his son, was sovereign of his company (after him). (this is Benaiah, the strongest man among The Thirty, and he was a leader of The Thirty; and his son Ammizabad was the leader of his company after him.)

In the fourth month, the fourth prince was Asahel, the brother of Joab, and Zebadiah, his son, (was the leader) after him, and four and twenty thousand were in his company.

In the fifth month, the fifth prince was Shamhuth (the) Izrahite, and four and twenty thousand were in his company.

In the sixth month, the sixth prince was Ira, the son of Ikkesh, (the) Tekoite, and four and twenty thousand were in his company.

10 In the seventh month, the seventh prince was Helez (the) Pelonite, of the sons of Ephraim, [and] four and twenty thousand were in his company.

11 In the eighth month, the eighth prince was Sibbecai (the) Hushathite, of the generation of Zarhites (of the sons of Zareh), and four and twenty thousand were in his company.

12 In the ninth month, the ninth prince was Abiezer (the) Anetothite, of the generation of Benjamin (of the sons of Benjamin), and four and twenty thousand were in his company.

13 In the tenth month, the tenth prince was Maharai, and he was (a) Netophathite, of the generation of Zarhites (of the sons of Zareh), and four and twenty thousand were in his company.

14 In the eleventh month, the eleventh prince was Benaiah (the) Pirathonite, of the sons of Ephraim, and four and twenty thousand were in his company.

15 In the twelfth month, the twelfth prince was Heldai (the) Netophathite, of the generation of Othniel (of the sons of Othniel), and four and twenty thousand were in his company.

16 Forsooth these were the sovereigns of the lineages of Israel (And these were the rulers of the tribes of Israel); duke Eliezer, the son of Zichri, was sovereign to Reubenites; duke Shephatiah, the son of Maachah, was sovereign to Simeonites;

17 Hashabiah, the son of Kemuel, was sovereign to the Levites; Zadok was sovereign to Aaronites;

18 Elihu, the brother of David, was sovereign to the lineage of Judah (Elihu, David’s brother, was the ruler of the tribe of Judah); Omri, the son of Michael, was sovereign to Issacharites.

19 Ishmaiah, the son of Obadiah, was sovereign to Zebulunites; Jerimoth, the son of Azriel, was sovereign to Naphtalites;

20 Hoshea, the son of Azaziah, was sovereign to the sons of Ephraim; Joel, the son of Pedaiah, was sovereign to the half lineage of Manasseh (Joel, the son of Pedaiah, was the ruler of the western half of the tribe of Manasseh);

21 and Iddo, the son of Zechariah, was sovereign to the (other) half lineage of Manasseh in Gilead; and Jaasiel, the son of Abner, was sovereign to Benjamin; (and Iddo, the son of Zechariah, was the ruler of the eastern half of the tribe of Manasseh in Gilead; and Jaasiel, the son of Abner, was the ruler of Benjamin;)

22 and Azareel, the son of Jeroham, was sovereign to Dan; these were the princes of the sons of Israel. (and Azareel, the son of Jeroham, was the ruler of Dan; these were the leaders of the Israelites.)

23 And David would not number them that were within twenty years, for the Lord [had] said, that he would multiply Israel as the stars of heaven. (But David did not list those who were under twenty years of age, for the Lord had said that he would multiply Israel like the stars in the heavens.)

24 Joab, the son of Zeruiah, began for to number Israel, but he fulfilled not; for ire of God fell upon Israel for this thing, and therefore the number of them that were numbered, was not told in the books of (the) chronicles of king David. (Joab, the son of Zeruiah, began to count the Israelites, but he did not finish the census; for God’s anger fell upon the Israelites for this thing, and so the number of them who were counted, was not told in the books of The Chronicles of King David.)

25 Forsooth Azmaveth, the son of Adiel, was (sovereign) on the treasuries of the king; but Jehonathan, the son of Uzziah, was sovereign over these treasures, that were in cities, and in towns, and in towers. (And Azmaveth, the son of Adiel, was in charge of the king’s treasuries; and Jehonathan, the son of Uzziah, was in charge of his treasures, or of his treasuries, that were in the cities, and in the towns, and in the towers.)

26 And Ezri, the son of Chelub, was sovereign upon the work of husbandry, and upon [the] earth-tillers, that tilled the land (who worked the land);

27 and Shimei (the) Ramathite was sovereign upon [the] tillers of (the) vineries; and Zabdi (the) Shiphmite was sovereign upon the wine cellars;

28 for Baalhanan (the) Gederite was (sovereign) [up]on the olive places, and the fig places, that were in the field places; and Joash was sovereign upon the shops, either cellars, of oil;

29 and Shitrai (the) Sharonite was sovereign upon the droves that were pastured in Sharon; and Shaphat, the son of Adlai, was over the oxen in valleys; (and Shitrai the Sharonite was in charge of the herds that were pastured in Sharon; and Shaphat, the son of Adlai, was in charge of the oxen in the valleys;)

30 and Obil of Ishmael was over the camels; and Jehdeiah (the) Meronothite was over the asses; (and Obil of Ishmael was in charge of the camels; and Jehdeiah the Meronothite was in charge of the donkeys;)

31 and Jaziz (the) Hagerite was over the sheep; all these were princes of the chattel of king David. (and Jaziz the Hagerite was in charge of the sheep; all these were the overseers of King David’s possessions.)

32 And Jonathan, the brother of David’s father, was a counsellor, a mighty man, and prudent, and lettered; he and Jehiel, the son of Hachmoni, were with the sons of the king.

33 Also Ahithophel was a counsellor of the king; and Hushai (the) Archite was a friend of the king.

34 After Ahithophel was Jehoiada, the son of Benaiah, and Abiathar; but Joab was prince of the host of the king (and Joab was the leader of the king’s army).

L’organisation de l’armée

27 Voici la liste des Israélites, chefs de groupe familial qui furent les commandants des « milliers » ou des « centaines » et les administrateurs qui assistaient le roi pour tout ce qui concernait les divisions militaires appelées tour à tour à prendre mensuellement leur service. Chaque division comptait 24 000 hommes[a].

A la tête de la première division affectée au premier mois[b] se trouvait Yashobeam, fils de Zabdiel. Sa division comptait 24 000 hommes. Il était de la lignée de Pérets et commandait tous les chefs d’armée du premier mois. A la tête de la division du second mois comprenant également 24 000 hommes se trouvait Dodaï l’Ahohite. Miqloth était le chef de sa division. Le commandant de la troisième armée pour le troisième mois était Benaya, fils du grand-prêtre Yehoyada. Il avait dans sa division 24 000 hommes. Ce Benaya était l’un des guerriers du groupe des trente, il était à sa tête. Son fils Ammizadab avait sa division sous ses ordres. Le quatrième commandant affecté au quatrième mois était Asaël, frère de Joab. Son fils Zebadia lui succéda. Sa division comprenait 24 000 hommes. Le cinquième, pour le cinquième mois, était le commandant Shamehouth de la famille d’Yizrah. Sa division comptait 24 000 hommes. Pour le sixième mois : Ira fils d’Iqqesh, le Teqoïte. Sa division comptait 24 000 hommes. 10 Le septième, pour le septième mois : Hélets le Pelonite, des descendants d’Ephraïm. Sa division comptait 24 000 hommes. 11 Le huitième, pour le huitième mois : Sibbekaï, le Houshatite, de la famille des Zérahites. Sa division comptait 24 000 hommes. 12 Le neuvième, pour le neuvième mois : Abiézer, d’Anatoth, des Benjaminites. Sa division comptait 24 000 hommes. 13 Le dixième, pour le dixième mois : Maharaï, de Netopha, de la famille des Zérahites. Sa division comptait 24 000 hommes. 14 Le onzième, pour le onzième mois : Benaya, de Piratôn, des Ephraïmites. Sa division comptait 24 000 hommes. 15 Le douzième, pour le douzième mois : Heldaï, de Netopha, descendant d’Otniel. Sa division comptait 24 000 hommes.

Les chefs des tribus

16 Voici les chefs des tribus d’Israël : les Rubénites avaient comme chef Eliézer, fils de Zikri ; les Siméonites : Shephatia, fils de Maaka. 17 Pour Lévi, c’était Hashabia, fils de Qemouel ; pour Aaron, Tsadoq ; 18 pour Juda : Elihou, frère de David ; pour Issacar : Omri, fils de Michaël ; 19 pour Zabulon : Yishmaya, fils d’Abdias ; pour Nephtali : Yerimoth, fils d’Azriel ; 20 pour les descendants d’Ephraïm : Osée, fils d’Azazia ; pour la demi-tribu de Manassé : Joël, fils de Pedaya ; 21 pour la demi-tribu de Manassé en Galaad : Yiddo, fils de Zacharie ; pour Benjamin : Yaasiel, fils d’Abner ; 22 pour Dan : Azaréel, fils de Yeroham. Ce sont là les chefs des tribus d’Israël.

23 David ne comptait pas dans le dénombrement les moins de vingt ans, car l’Eternel avait promis de rendre Israël aussi nombreux que les étoiles du ciel[c]. 24 Joab, fils de Tserouya, avait commencé le recensement ; mais il ne l’acheva pas. D’ailleurs, à cause de ce recensement, l’Eternel se mit en colère contre Israël. C’est pourquoi les chiffres de ce recensement n’ont pas été reportés dans les Annales du roi David[d].

Les administrateurs des biens du roi

25 Le responsable des trésors du roi était Azmaveth, fils d’Adiel. Le responsable des trésors entreposés à la campagne, dans les villes, les villages, et les tours, était Jonathan, fils d’Ozias. 26 Le responsable des ouvriers agricoles qui cultivaient la terre était Ezri, fils de Keloub. 27 Le responsable des vignobles était Shimeï, de Rama ; celui des réserves de vin dans les vignes était Zabdi, de Shepham. 28 Le responsable des plantations d’oliviers et de sycomores du Bas-Pays[e] était Baal-Hanân, de Guéder ; celui des réserves d’huile était Joas. 29 Le responsable des troupeaux de bétail qui avaient leur pâture dans la plaine du Saron[f] était Shitraï, de Saron ; celui du bétail qui se trouvait dans les vallées était Shaphath, fils d’Adlaï. 30 Le responsable des chameaux était Obil, l’Ismaélite[g] ; celui des ânesses était Yéhdeya, de Méronoth. 31 Le responsable des troupeaux de moutons et de chèvres était Yaziz, l’Agarénien. Tous ceux-là étaient les intendants des biens du roi David.

Les conseillers privés de David

32 Jonathan, oncle de David, et son conseiller, un homme intelligent, qui était secrétaire, avait la charge, avec Yehiel, fils de Hakmoni, de l’éducation des fils du roi. 33 Ahitophel était conseiller du roi. Houshaï, l’Arkien, était son confident. 34 Après Ahitophel, il y eut Yehoyada, fils de Benaya, et Abiatar. Joab était chef des armées du roi.

Footnotes

  1. 27.1 Comme dans de nombreux autres textes, il pourrait s’agir de vingt-quatre « milliers » d’hommes. Un « millier » était peut-être un corps d’armée comprenant quelques centaines d’hommes.
  2. 27.2 Mois de la Pâque (Ex 12.2 ; Esd 6.19).
  3. 27.23 Voir Gn 15.5 ; 22.17 ; 26.4.
  4. 27.24 Voir 1 Ch 21.
  5. 27.28 C’est-à-dire la plaine côtière du littoral méditerranéen, célèbre pour sa fertilité. Les sycomores ne doivent pas être confondus avec les arbres portant ce nom dans nos régions : ce sont des figuiers aux feuilles semblables à celle du mûrier qui croissent en abondance de l’Egypte à la Syrie (voir Lc 19.4).
  6. 27.29 Partie nord de la plaine côtière qui s’étend de Jaffa au pied du mont Carmel.
  7. 27.30 Donc un descendant d’Ismaël (voir Gn 16.11-12 ; 25.12-18).

Army Divisions

27 This is the list of the Israelites—heads of families, commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, and their officers, who served the king in all that concerned the army divisions that were on duty month by month throughout the year. Each division consisted of 24,000 men.

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

In charge of the division for the second month was Dodai(B) the Ahohite; Mikloth was the leader of his division. There were 24,000 men in his division.

The third army commander, for the third month, was Benaiah(C) son of Jehoiada the priest. He was chief and there were 24,000 men in his division. This was the Benaiah who was a mighty warrior among the Thirty and was over the Thirty. His son Ammizabad was in charge of his division.

The fourth, for the fourth month, was Asahel(D) the brother of Joab; his son Zebadiah was his successor. There were 24,000 men in his division.

The fifth, for the fifth month, was the commander Shamhuth(E) the Izrahite. There were 24,000 men in his division.

The sixth, for the sixth month, was Ira(F) the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite. There were 24,000 men in his division.

10 The seventh, for the seventh month, was Helez(G) the Pelonite, an Ephraimite. There were 24,000 men in his division.

11 The eighth, for the eighth month, was Sibbekai(H) the Hushathite, a Zerahite. There were 24,000 men in his division.

12 The ninth, for the ninth month, was Abiezer(I) the Anathothite, a Benjamite. There were 24,000 men in his division.

13 The tenth, for the tenth month, was Maharai(J) the Netophathite, a Zerahite. There were 24,000 men in his division.

14 The eleventh, for the eleventh month, was Benaiah(K) the Pirathonite, an Ephraimite. There were 24,000 men in his division.

15 The twelfth, for the twelfth month, was Heldai(L) the Netophathite, from the family of Othniel.(M) There were 24,000 men in his division.

Leaders of the Tribes

16 The leaders of the tribes of Israel:

over the Reubenites: Eliezer son of Zikri;

over the Simeonites: Shephatiah son of Maakah;

17 over Levi: Hashabiah(N) son of Kemuel;

over Aaron: Zadok;(O)

18 over Judah: Elihu, a brother of David;

over Issachar: Omri son of Michael;

19 over Zebulun: Ishmaiah son of Obadiah;

over Naphtali: Jerimoth son of Azriel;

20 over the Ephraimites: Hoshea son of Azaziah;

over half the tribe of Manasseh: Joel son of Pedaiah;

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

over Benjamin: Jaasiel son of Abner;

22 over Dan: Azarel son of Jeroham.

These were the leaders of the tribes of Israel.

23 David did not take the number of the men twenty years old or less,(P) because the Lord had promised to make Israel as numerous as the stars(Q) in the sky. 24 Joab son of Zeruiah began to count the men but did not finish. God’s wrath came on Israel on account of this numbering,(R) and the number was not entered in the book[a] of the annals of King David.

The King’s Overseers

25 Azmaveth son of Adiel was in charge of the royal storehouses.

Jonathan son of Uzziah was in charge of the storehouses in the outlying districts, in the towns, the villages and the watchtowers.

26 Ezri son of Kelub was in charge of the workers who farmed the land.

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 vats.

28 Baal-Hanan the Gederite was in charge of the olive and sycamore-fig(S) trees in the western foothills.

Joash was in charge of the supplies of olive oil.

29 Shitrai the Sharonite was in charge of the herds grazing in Sharon.(T)

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(U) was in charge of the flocks.

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

32 Jonathan, David’s uncle, was a counselor, a man of insight and a scribe. Jehiel son of Hakmoni took care of the king’s sons.

33 Ahithophel(V) was the king’s counselor.

Hushai(W) the Arkite was the king’s confidant. 34 Ahithophel was succeeded by Jehoiada son of Benaiah and by Abiathar.(X)

Joab(Y) was the commander of the royal army.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 27:24 Septuagint; Hebrew number