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Chapter 27

Army Commanders.[a] This is the list of the Israelite family heads, commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and other officers who served the king in all that pertained to the divisions, of twenty-four thousand men each, that came and went month by month throughout the year.

Over the first division for the first month was Ishbaal, son of Zabdiel, and in his division were twenty-four thousand men; a descendant of Perez, he was chief over all the commanders of the army for the first month. Over the division of the second month was Eleazar, son of Dodo, from Ahoh, and in his division were twenty-four thousand men.(A) (B)The third army commander, for the third month, was Benaiah, son of Jehoiada the chief priest, and in his division were twenty-four thousand men. This Benaiah was a warrior among the Thirty and over the Thirty. His son Ammizabad was over his division. Fourth, for the fourth month, was Asahel, brother of Joab, and after him his son Zebadiah, and in his division were twenty-four thousand men.(C) Fifth, for the fifth month, was the commander Shamhuth, a descendant of Zerah, and in his division were twenty-four thousand men. Sixth, for the sixth month, was Ira, son of Ikkesh, from Tekoa, and in his division were twenty-four thousand men. 10 Seventh, for the seventh month, was Hellez, from Beth-pelet, of the Ephraimites, and in his division were twenty-four thousand men. 11 Eighth, for the eighth month, was Sibbecai the Hushathite, a descendant of Zerah, and in his division were twenty-four thousand men.(D) 12 Ninth, for the ninth month, was Abiezer from Anathoth, of Benjamin, and in his division were twenty-four thousand men. 13 Tenth, for the tenth month, was Maharai from Netophah, a descendant of Zerah, and in his division were twenty-four thousand men. 14 Eleventh, for the eleventh month, was Benaiah the Pirathonite, of the Ephraimites, and in his division were twenty-four thousand men. 15 Twelfth, for the twelfth month, was Heldai the Netophathite, of the family of Othniel, and in his division were twenty-four thousand men.

Tribal Leaders. 16 Over the tribes of Israel, for the Reubenites the leader was Eliezer, son of Zichri; for the Simeonites, Shephatiah, son of Maacah; 17 for Levi, Hashabiah, son of Kemuel; for Aaron, Zadok; 18 for Judah, Eliab,(E) one of David’s brothers; for Issachar, Omri, son of Michael; 19 for Zebulun, Ishmaiah, son of Obadiah; for Naphtali, Jeremoth, 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 commanders of the tribes of Israel.

23 David did not count those who were twenty years of age or younger, for the Lord had promised to multiply Israel like the stars of the heavens.(F) 24 Joab, son of Zeruiah, began to take the census, but he did not complete it, for because of it wrath fell upon Israel. Therefore the number was not recorded in the book of chronicles of King David.(G)

Overseers. 25 Over the treasuries of the king was Azmaveth,(H) the son of Adiel. Over the treasuries in the country, the cities, the villages, and the towers was Jonathan, son of Uzziah. 26 Over the farm workers who tilled the soil was Ezri, son of Chelub. 27 Over the vineyards was Shimei from Ramah, and over their produce for the wine cellars was Zabdi the Shiphmite. 28 Over the olive trees and sycamores of the Shephelah was Baalhanan the Gederite, and over the stores of oil was Joash. 29 Over the cattle that grazed in Sharon was Shitrai the Sharonite, and over the cattle in the valleys was Shaphat, the son of Adlai; 30 over the camels was Obil the Ishmaelite; over the donkeys was Jehdeiah the Meronothite; 31 and over the flocks was Jaziz the Hagrite. All these were the overseers of King David’s possessions.

David’s Court. 32 Jonathan, David’s uncle and a man of intelligence, was counselor and scribe; he and Jehiel, the son of Hachmoni, attended the king’s sons. 33 Ahithophel was also the king’s counselor, and Hushai the Archite was the king’s friend.(I) 34 After Ahithophel[b] came Jehoiada, the son of Benaiah, and Abiathar. The commander of the king’s army was Joab.

Footnotes

  1. 27:1–15 This list of army commanders is similar to, but distinct from, the list of David’s warriors given in 11:10–47. The schematic enumeration of the soldiers presented here appears artificial and exaggerated (12 x 24,000 = 288,000 men!). However, the Hebrew word (’eleph) translated “thousand” might also designate a military unit of much smaller size.
  2. 27:34 After Ahithophel: after Ahithophel’s suicide (2 Sm 17:23), Jehoiada succeeded him as the king’s counselor. Abiathar: David’s priest, along with Zadok. See note on 18:16.

27 Of the princes and rulers that ministered unto the King.

The children of Israel also after their number, even the chief fathers and captains of thousands and of hundreds, and their officers that served the king by divers [a]courses, [b]which came in and went out, month by month throughout all the months of the year: in every course were four and twenty thousand.

Over the first course for the first month was Jashobeam the son of Zabdiel: and in his course were four and twenty thousand.

Of the sons of Perez was the chief over all the princes of the armies for the first month.

And over the course of the second month was Dodai an Ahohite, and this was his course, and Mikloth was [c]a captain, and in his course were four and twenty thousand.

The captain of the third host for the third month was Benaiah the son of Jehoiada the chief Priest: and in his course were four and twenty thousand.

This Benaiah was mighty among (A)thirty and above the thirty, and in his course was Ammizabad his son.

The fourth for the fourth month was Asahel the brother of Joab, and Zebadiah his son after him: and in his course were four and twenty thousand.

The fifth for the fifth month was prince Shamhuth the Izrahite: and in his course four and twenty thousand.

The sixth for the sixth month was Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite: and in his course four and twenty thousand.

10 The seventh for the seventh month was Helez the Pelonite, of the sons of Ephraim: and in his course four and twenty thousand.

11 The eight for the eight month was Sibbechai the Hushathite of the Zarhites: and in his course four and twenty thousand.

12 The ninth for the ninth month was Abiezer the Anathothite of the sons of [d]Jemini: and in his course four and twenty thousand.

13 The tenth for the tenth month was Maharai the Netophathite of the Zarhites: and in his course four and twenty thousand.

14 The eleventh for the eleventh month was Benaiah the Pirathonite of the sons of Ephraim: and in his course four and twenty thousand.

15 The twelfth for the twelfth month was Heldai the Netophathite, of Othniel: and in his course four and twenty thousand.

16 ¶ Moreover [e]the rulers over the tribes of Israel were these: over the Reubenites was ruler, Eliezer the son of Zichri: over the Simeonites, Shephatiah the son of Maachah:

17 Over the Levites, Hashabiah the son of Kemuel: over them of Aaron, and Zadok:

18 Over Judah, Elihu of the brethren of David: 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 sons of Ephraim, Hoshea the son of Azaziah: over the half tribe of Manasseh, Joel the son of Pedaiah:

21 Over the [f]other half 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 are the princes of the tribes of Israel.

23 But David took not the number of them from twenty years old and under, because the Lord had said that he would increase Israel like unto the stars of the heavens.

24 And (B)Joab the son of Zeruiah began to number: but he finished it not, [g]because there came wrath for it against Israel: neither was the number put into the [h]Chronicles of king David.

25 And over the king’s treasures was Azmaveth the son of Adiel: and over the treasures in the fields, in the cities and in the villages, and in the towers was Jehonathan the son of Uzziah:

26 And over the workmen in the field that tilleth the ground, was Ezri the son of Chelub:

27 And over them that dressed the vines, was Shimei the Ramathite: and over that which appertained to the vines, and over the store of the wine was Zabdi the Shiphmite:

28 And over the olive trees and mulberry trees that were in the valleys, was Baal-Hanan the Gederite: and over the store of the oil was Joash:

29 And over the oxen that fed in Sharon, was Shitrai the Sharonite: and over the oxen in the valleys was Shaphat the son of Adlai:

30 And over the camels was Obil the Ishmaelite: and over the asses was Jehdeiah the Meronothite:

31 And over the sheep was Jaziz the Hagrite: all these were the rulers of the substance that was king David’s.

32 And Jehonathan David’s uncle a man of counsel and understanding (for he was a [i]scribe) and Jehiel the son of Hachmoni were with the King’s [j]sons.

33 And Ahithophel was the king’s counselor, and Hushai the Archite the king’s friend.

34 And [k]after Ahithophel was Jehoiada the son of Benaiah and Abiathar: and captain of the King’s army was Joab.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 27:1 Hebrew, divisions, or bands.
  2. 1 Chronicles 27:1 Which executed their charge and office, which is meant by coming in, and going out.
  3. 1 Chronicles 27:4 That is, Dodai’s lieutenant.
  4. 1 Chronicles 27:12 Or, Benjamin.
  5. 1 Chronicles 27:16 Meaning, besides these twelve captains.
  6. 1 Chronicles 27:21 Which is beyond Jordan, in respect of Judah: also one captain was over the Reubenites and the Gadites.
  7. 1 Chronicles 27:24 And the commandment of the King was abominable to Joab, 1 Chron. 21:6.
  8. 1 Chronicles 27:24 The Hebrews make both these books of Chronicles but one, and at this verse make the midst of the book as touching the number of verses.
  9. 1 Chronicles 27:32 That is, a man learned in the word of God.
  10. 1 Chronicles 27:32 To be their schoolmasters and teachers.
  11. 1 Chronicles 27:34 After that Ahithophel had hanged himself, 2 Sam. 17:23, Jehoiada was made counselor.