English Standard Version ESV
The Message Bible MSG
1 This is the number of the people of Israel, the heads of fathers' houses, the commanders of thousands and hundreds, and their officers who served the king in all matters concerning the divisions that came and went, month after month throughout the year, each division numbering 24,000:
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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 Jashobeam the son of Zabdiel was in charge of the first division in the first month; in his division were 24,000.
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First division, first month: Jashobeam son of Zabdiel was in charge with 24,000 men.
3 He was a descendant of Perez and was chief of all the commanders. He served for the first month.
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He came from the line of Perez. He was over all the army officers during the first month.
4 Dodai the Ahohite was in charge of the division of the second month; in his division were 24,000.
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The division for the second month: Dodai the Ahohite was in charge: 24,000 men; Mikloth was the leader of his division.
5 The third commander, for the third month, was Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada the chief priest; in his division were 24,000.
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Commander for the third month: Benaiah son of Jehoiada the priest with 24,000 men.
6 This is the Benaiah who was a mighty man of the thirty and in command of the thirty; Ammizabad his son was in charge of his division.
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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.
7 Asahel the brother of Joab was fourth, for the fourth month, and his son Zebadiah after him; in his division were 24,000.
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Fourth division for the fourth month: Asahel brother of Joab; his son Zebadiah succeeded him: 24,000 men.
8 The fifth commander, for the fifth month, was Shamhuth the Izrahite; in his division were 24,000.
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Fifth division, fifth month: commander Shamhuth the Izrahite: 24,000 men.
9 Sixth, for the sixth month, was Ira, the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite; in his division were 24,000.
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Sixth division, sixth month: Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite: 24,000 men.
10 Seventh, for the seventh month, was Helez the Pelonite, of the sons of Ephraim; in his division were 24,000.
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Seventh division, seventh month: Helez the Pelonite, an Ephraimite: 24,000 men.
11 Eighth, for the eighth month, was Sibbecai the Hushathite, of the Zerahites; in his division were 24,000.
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Eighth division, eighth month: Sibbecai the Hushathite, a Zerahite: 24,000 men.
12 Ninth, for the ninth month, was Abiezer of Anathoth, a Benjaminite; in his division were 24,000.
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Ninth division, ninth month: Abiezer the Anathothite, a Benjaminite: 24,000 men.
13 Tenth, for the tenth month, was Maharai of Netophah, of the Zerahites; in his division were 24,000.
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Tenth division, tenth month: Maharai the Netophathite, a Zerahite: 24,000 men.
14 Eleventh, for the eleventh month, was Benaiah of Pirathon, of the sons of Ephraim; in his division were 24,000.
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Eleventh division, eleventh month: Benaiah the Pirathomite, an Ephraimite: 24,000 men.
15 Twelfth, for the twelfth month, was Heldai the Netophathite, of Othniel; in his division were 24,000.
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Twelfth division, twelfth month: Heldai the Netophathite from the family of Othniel: 24,000 men.
16 Over the tribes of Israel, for the Reubenites, Eliezer the son of Zichri was chief officer; for the Simeonites, Shephatiah the son of Maacah;
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Administrators of the affairs of the tribes: for Reuben: Eliezer son of Zicri;
17 for Levi, Hashabiah the son of Kemuel; for Aaron, Zadok;
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for Simeon: Shephatiah son of Maacah; for Levi: Hashabiah son of Kemuel; for Aaron: Zadok;
18 for Judah, Elihu, one of David's brothers; for Issachar, Omri the son of Michael;
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for Judah: Elihu, David's brother; for Issachar: Omri son of Michael;
19 for Zebulun, Ishmaiah the son of Obadiah; for Naphtali, Jeremoth the son of Azriel;
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for Zebulun: Ishmaiah son of Obadiah; for Naphtali: Jerimoth son of Azriel;
20 for the Ephraimites, Hoshea the son of Azaziah; for the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joel the son of Pedaiah;
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for Ephraim: Hoshea son of Azaziah; for one half-tribe of Manasseh: Joel son of Pedaiah;
21 for the half-tribe of Manasseh in Gilead, Iddo the son of Zechariah; for Benjamin, Jaasiel the son of Abner;
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for the half-tribe of Manasseh in Gilead: Iddo son of Zechariah; for Benjamin: Jaasiel son of Abner;
22 for Dan, Azarel the son of Jeroham. These were the leaders of the tribes of Israel.
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for Dan: Azarel son of Jeroham. These are the administrative officers assigned to the tribes of Israel.
23 David did not count those below twenty years of age, for the LORD had promised to make Israel as many as the stars of heaven.
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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.
24 Joab the son of Zeruiah began to count, but did not finish. Yet wrath came upon Israel for this, and the number was not entered in the chronicles of King David.
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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.
25 Over the king's treasuries was Azmaveth the son of Adiel; and over the treasuries in the country, in the cities, in the villages, and in the towers, was Jonathan the son of Uzziah;
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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 and over those who did the work of the field for tilling the soil was Ezri the son of Chelub;
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Ezri son of Kelub was in charge of the field workers on the farms.
27 and over the vineyards was Shimei the Ramathite; and over the produce of the vineyards for the wine cellars was Zabdi the Shiphmite.
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Shimei the Ramathite was in charge of the vineyards and Zabdi the Shiphmite was in charge of grapes for the wine vats.
28 Over the olive and sycamore trees in the Shephelah was Baal-hanan the Gederite; and over the stores of oil was Joash.
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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 Over the herds that pastured in Sharon was Shitrai the Sharonite; over the herds in the valleys was Shaphat the son of Adlai.
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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 Over the camels was Obil the Ishmaelite; and over the donkeys was Jehdeiah the Meronothite. Over the flocks was Jaziz the Hagrite.
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Obil the Ismaelite was in charge of the camels, Jehdeiah the Meronothite was in charge of the donkeys,
31 All these were stewards of King David's property.
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and Jaziz the Hagrite was in charge of the flocks. These were the ones responsible for taking care of King David's property.
32 Jonathan, David's uncle, was a counselor, being a man of understanding and a scribe. He and Jehiel the son of Hachmoni attended the king's sons.
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Jonathan, David's uncle, a wise and literate counselor, and Jehiel son of Hacmoni, were responsible for rearing the king's sons.
33 Ahithophel was the king's counselor, and Hushai the Archite was the king's friend.
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Ahithophel was the king's counselor; Hushai the Arkite was the king's friend.
34 Ahithophel was succeeded by Jehoiada the son of Benaiah, and Abiathar. Joab was commander of the king's army.
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Ahithophel was later replaced by Jehoiada son of Benaiah and by Abiathar. Joab was commander of the king's army.
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.