1 Chronicles 27

Military Divisions

1 And as for the number of the {Israelites}, the heads of {families}, the commanders of thousands and hundreds, and their officials who serve the king in all matters of the working groups that came and went, month by month, throughout all the months of the year, each working group: twenty-four thousand.
2 Over the first working group for the first month: Jashobeam the son of Zabdiel. And [he was] over his working group [of] twenty-four thousand.
3 From the sons of Perez [who was] the chief of the commanders of the armies for the first month.
4 And over the working groups of the second month: Dodai the Ahohite and his working group, and Mikloth the commander. And [he was] over his working group [of] twenty-four thousand.
5 The third commander of the army for the third month [was] Benaiah son of Jehoiada the chief priest. And [he was] over his working group [of] twenty-four thousand.
6 This [was] Benaiah [who was] a mighty warrior of thirty, and over the thirty and his working group [was] Ammizabad his son.
7 The fourth, for the fourth month, [was] Asahel the brother of Joab and his son Zebadiah after him. And [he was] over his working group [of] twenty-four thousand.
8 The fifth, for the fifth month, the commander [was] Shamhuth the Izrahite. And [he was] over his working group [of] twenty-four thousand.
9 The sixth, for the sixth month, [was] Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite. And [he was] over his working group [of] twenty-four thousand.
10 The seventh, for the seventh month, [was] Helez the Pelonite, from the sons of Ephraim. And [he was] over his working group [of] twenty-four thousand.
11 The eighth, for the eighth month, [was] Sibbecai the Hushathite of the Zerahites. And [he was] over his working group [of] twenty-four thousand.
12 The ninth, for the ninth month, [was] Abiezer the Anathothite of the Benjamites. And [he was] over his working group [of] twenty-four thousand.
13 The tenth, for the tenth month, [was] Maharai the Netophathite of the Zerahites. And [he was] over his working group [of] twenty-four thousand.
14 The eleventh, for the eleventh month, [was] Benaiah the Pirathonite from the sons of Ephraim. And [he was] over his working group [of] twenty-four thousand.
15 The twelfth, for the twelfth month, [was] Heldai the Netophathite, of Othniel. And [he was] over his working group [of] twenty-four thousand.

Leaders of the Tribes and Other High Ranking Officials

16 And over the tribes of Israel, for the Reubenites: the commander [was] Eliezer the son of Zikri. For the Simeonites: Shephatiah the son of Maacah.
17 For Levi: Hashabiah the son of Kemuel. For Aaron, Zadok.
18 For Judah: Elihu, from the brothers of David. For Issachar: Omri the son of Michael.
19 For Zebulun: Ishmaiah the son of Obadiah. For Naphtali: Jerimoth the son of Azriel.
20 For the Ephraimites: 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 son of Abner.
22 For Dan: Azarel the son of Jeroham. These [were] the commanders of the tribes of Israel.
23 And David did not {take a census of those twenty years old or under} because Yahweh promised to make Israel more numerous than the stars of heaven.
24 Joab the son of Zeruiah began to count, but he did not finish. But wrath came upon Israel concerning this, and the number was not included in {the chronicles} of King David.
25 And over the treasury rooms of the king [was] Azmaveth the son of Adiel. And over the treasuries in the country, in the cities, in the unwalled villages, and in the towers [was] Jonathan the son of Uzziah.
26 And over those who did the work in the field to till the soil [was] Ezri the son of Kelub.
27 And over the vineyards [was] Shemei the Ramathite. And over the produce in the vineyards for the storehouses of the wine [was] Zabdi the Shiphmite.
28 And over the olive trees and the sycamore trees that [were] in the Shephelah [was] Baal-Hanan the Gederite. And over the treasury houses of olive oil [was] Joash.
29 And over the cattle pastured in the Sharon [was] Shitrai the Sharonite. And over the cattle in the valley [was] Shaphat the son of Adlai.
30 And over the camels [was] Obil the Ishmaelite. And over the female donkeys [was] Jehdeiah the Meronothite. And over the sheep [was] Jaziz the Hagrite.
31 All of these [were] officials of the property of King David.
32 And Jehonathan the uncle of David [was] an adviser, a man of insight, and he was a scribe. And Jehiel the son of Hachmoni [was] with the sons of the king.
33 And Ahithophel [was] an adviser to the king, and Hushai the Arkite [was] a friend of the king.
34 And after Ahithophel [came] Jehoiada, the son of Benaiah, and Abiathar. And Joab [was] the commander of the king's army.

1 Chronicles 27 Commentary

Chapter 27

David's military force. (1-15) Princes and officers. (16-34)

Verses 1-15 In the kingdoms of this world readiness for war forms a security for peace; in like manner, nothing so much encourages Satan's assaults as to be unwatchful. So long as we stand armed with the whole armour of God, in the exercise of faith, and preparation of heart for the conflict, we shall certainly be safe, and probably enjoy inward peace.

Verses 16-34 The officers of the court, or the rulers of the king's substance, had the oversight and charge of the king's tillage, his vineyards, his herds, his flocks, which formed the wealth of eastern kings. Much of the wisdom of princes is seen in the choice of their ministry, and common persons show it in the choice of their advisers. David, though he had all these about him, preferred the word of God before them all. Thy testimonies are my delight and my counsellors.

Footnotes 6

  • [a]. Literally "sons/children of Israel"
  • [b]. Literally "fathers"
  • [c]. Literally "take up their count from a son of twenty years and to less"
  • [d]. Or "said"
  • [e]. Literally "in the numbering of the words of the days"
  • [f]. 1 Chronicles 27:31 begins here in the Hebrew Bible

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO 1 CHRONICLES 27

In this chapter we have an account of twelve military courses, or twelve legions of soldiers, with the captains of them, that served David monthly in their turns, 1Ch 27:1-15 and of the princes of the several tribes, 1Ch 27:16-24 and of his economical rulers, 1Ch 27:25-31, and of his counsellors and general, 1Ch 27:32-34.

1 Chronicles 27 Commentaries

Scripture quotations marked (LEB) are from the Lexham English Bible. Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software.