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1 Chronicles 27

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David’s Monthly Military Courses 1–15

1
Now the children of Israel after their number, to wit, the heads of fathers’housesand the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and their officers that served the king, in any matter of the courses which came in and went out month by month throughout all the months of the year—of every course were twenty and four thousand. ​
2
Over the first course for the first month was Jashobeam the son of Zabdiel: and in his course were twenty and four thousand. ​
3
He was of the children of Perez, the chief of all the captains of the host for the first month.
4
And over the course of the second month was Dodai the Ahohite, and his course; and Mikloth the ruler: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.
5
The third captain of the host for the third month was Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada the priest, chief: and in his course were twenty and four thousand. ​
6
This is that Benaiah, who was the mighty man of the thirty, and over the thirty: and of his course was Ammizabad his son.
7
The fourth captain for the fourth month was Asahel the brother of Joab, and Zebadiah his son after him: and in his course were twenty and four thousand. ​
8
The fifth captain for the fifth month was Shamhuth the Izrahite: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.
9
The sixth captain for the sixth month was Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.
10
The seventh captain for the seventh month was Helez the Pelonite, of the children of Ephraim: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.
11
The eighth captain for the eighth month was Sibbecai the Hushathite, of the Zerahites: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.
12
The ninth captain for the ninth month was Abiezer the Anathothite, of the Benjamites: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.
13
The tenth captain for the tenth month was Maharai the Netophathite, of the Zerahites: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.
14
The eleventh captain for the eleventh month was Benaiah the Pirathonite, of the children of Ephraim: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.
15
The twelfth captain for the twelfth month was Heldai the Netophathite, of Othniel: and in his course were twenty and four thousand. ​

Princes and Rulers Over the Tribes 16–24

16
Furthermore over the tribes of Israel: of the Reubenites was Eliezer the son of Zichri the ruler: of the Simeonites, Shephatiah the son of Maacah: ​
17
of Levi, Hashabiah the son of Kemuel: of Aaron, Zadok: ​
18
of Judah, Elihu, one of the brethren of David: of Issachar, Omri the son of Michael: ​
19
of Zebulun, Ishmaiah the son of Obadiah: of Naphtali, Jeremoth the son of Azriel:
20
of the children of Ephraim, Hoshea the son of Azaziah: of the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joel the son of Pedaiah:
21
of the half-tribe of Manasseh in Gilead, Iddo the son of Zechariah: of Benjamin, Jaasiel the son of Abner:
22
of Dan, Azarel the son of Jeroham. These were the captains of the tribes of Israel.
23
But David took not the number of them from twenty years old and under, because Jehovah had said he would increase Israel like to the stars of heaven. ​
24
Joab the son of Zeruiah began to number, but finished not; and there came wrath for this upon Israel; neither was the number put into the account in the chronicles of king David. ​

Administrators of the Royal Property 25–31

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 castles, was Jonathan the son of Uzziah: ​
26
and over them that did the work of the field for tillage of the ground was Ezri the son of Chelub:
27
and over the vineyards was Shimei the Ramathite: and over the increase of the vineyards for the wine-cellars was Zabdi the Shiphmite:
28
and over the olive-trees and the sycomore-trees that were in the lowland was Baal-hanan the Gederite: and over the cellars of oil was Joash:
29
and over the herds that fed in Sharon was Shitrai the Sharonite: and over the herds that were 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: and over the flocks was Jaziz the Hagrite.
31
All these were the rulers of the substance which was king David’s.

The King’s Counselors and Chief Officers 32–34

32
Also Jonathan, David’s uncle, was a counsellor, a man of understanding, and a scribe: and Jehiel the son of Hachmoni was with the king’s sons: ​
33
and Ahithophel was the king’s counsellor: and Hushai the Archite was the king’s friend: ​
34
and after Ahithophel was Jehoiada the son of Benaiah, and Abiathar: and the captain of the king’s host was Joab. ​

Bible text: American Standard Version (1901) · Public domain

Study Notes for 1 Chronicles 27

Verse 1

month by month — Each course served 'month by month throughout all the months of the year', 24,000 in each, which makes 288,000 across the twelve (12 × 24,000). Machaloqeth, 'course', is also the word for the divisions of the priests (1 Chr 24:1) and the porters (1 Chr 26:1). Solomon's twelve officers likewise served 'each man his month' (1 Kings 4:7).

Verse 2

Jashobeam the son of Zabdiel — He commands the first course in the first month. A Jashobeam stands first among David's mighty men, 'the chief of the captains', who 'lifted up his spear against three hundred slain by him at one time' (1 Chr 11:11). His name (Yashob'am) is built on 'return' and 'people'.

Verse 5

Benaiah the son of Jehoiada — The KJV's 'a chief priest' follows Jehoiada's name, and 1 Chr 12:27 calls a Jehoiada 'the leader of the Aaronites'. Benaiah was 'over the Cherethites and the Pelethites' (1 Chr 18:17) and under Solomon 'over the host' (1 Kings 4:4); the third month is his.

Verse 7

Asahel the brother of Joab, and Zebadiah his son after him — Asahel was 'as light of foot as a wild roe' (2 Sam 2:18), one of the thirty (2 Sam 23:24), and Abner killed him with the spear (2 Sam 2:23). The fourth course still bears his name, with his son commanding 'after him'.

Verse 15

Heldai the Netophathite, of Othniel — The twelfth month closes the year. 'Of Othniel' places him in the line of Othniel son of Kenaz, the deliverer whom the LORD raised up (Judg 3:9; 1 Chr 4:13). Netophathites are named among David's mighty men (1 Chr 11:30).

Verse 16

the ruler of the Reubenites — Nagid, 'ruler', the word applied to David himself in 'thou shalt be ruler over my people Israel' (1 Chr 11:2); v.22 calls them 'princes of the tribes'. The list runs to v.22 and includes both halves of Manasseh (vv.20–21). Gad and Asher are not named.

Verse 17

Of the Levites… of the Aaronites — The priests, Aaron's house, are listed apart from the other Levites. Zadok, a priest with Abiathar (1 Kings 4:4), is described in 1 Chr 12:28 as 'a young man mighty of valour', with twenty-two captains of his father's house.

Verse 18

Elihu, one of the brethren of David — Elihu is not among the sons of Jesse named in 1 Chr 2:13–15, where Eliab is the firstborn and David the seventh. 'Brethren' may cover a kinsman, and the verse does not say whether Elihu is another name of one of Jesse's sons.

Verse 23

like to the stars of the heavens — The promise is the one made to Abraham: 'I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven' (Gen 22:17). The law numbered men 'from twenty years old and upward' (Num 1:3). David left the younger men uncounted, because the LORD had said he would increase Israel.

Verse 24

he finished not — The numbering is the one in 1 Chr 21. 'The king's word was abominable to Joab' (1 Chr 21:6), 'God was displeased with this thing; therefore he smote Israel' (1 Chr 21:7), and 'there fell of Israel seventy thousand men' (1 Chr 21:14). The total therefore never entered David's chronicles.

Verse 25

the storehouses in the fields — 'Treasures' and 'storehouses' are the same word, otsar, a store or depository, the word used for the temple treasures in 1 Chr 26:20. Azmaveth kept the king's own treasures, and Jehonathan the stores in fields, cities, villages and 'castles' (migdal, towers).

Verse 29

the herds that fed in Sharon — 'Fed' is ra'ah, to shepherd, the verb of 'Thou shalt feed my people Israel' (1 Chr 11:2). Sharon appears again as pasture in Isaiah's promise: 'Sharon shall be a fold of flocks' (Isa 65:10). Shitrai the Sharonite kept the herds there, and Shaphat those 'in the valleys'.

Verse 32

a counsellor, a wise man, and a scribe — Jonathan has three titles: counsellor (yaats), a man of understanding (bin) and scribe (sopher). Jehiel the son of Hachmoni is 'with the king's sons'. The next verse names the king's counsellor and his companion.

Verse 33

Ahithophel was the king's counsellor — His counsel was 'as if a man had enquired at the oracle of God' (2 Sam 16:23). He went over to Absalom (2 Sam 15:12), and 'the LORD had appointed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel' (2 Sam 17:14), when Hushai the Archite, 'David's friend' (2 Sam 15:37), gave better counsel.

Verse 34

after Ahithophel — Ahithophel hanged himself when his counsel was not followed (2 Sam 17:23). Abiathar the priest, named here, later followed Adonijah along with Joab (1 Kings 1:7) and was put out of the priesthood by Solomon (1 Kings 2:27). Joab 'went first up' against the Jebusites and 'was chief' (1 Chr 11:6).