1 Chronicles

Now the children of Israel after their number, to wit, the chief fathers and captains of thousands and 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.

1Here is the list of the men of Israel who served King David. It names the family leaders and the army captains. Some led a thousand men, and some led a hundred. Their helpers worked for the king in many ways. The army was split into groups. Each group came to work for one month, all year long. Each group had 24,000 men.

NoteA "course" in the old wording means a group that takes its turn. Twelve groups took turns, one for each month of the year.

2Over the first course for the first month was Jashobeam the son of Zabdiel: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.

2Jashobeam son of Zabdiel led the first group. His group worked in the first month. He had 24,000 men.

3Of the children of Perez was the chief of all the captains of the host for the first month.

3Jashobeam came from the family of Perez. He was the head of all the army captains for the first month.

4And over the course of the second month was Dodai an Ahohite, and of his course was Mikloth also the ruler: in his course likewise were twenty and four thousand.

4Dodai the Ahohite led the group for the second month. Mikloth was the leader who helped him. That group also had 24,000 men.

5The third captain of the host for the third month was Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, a chief priest: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.

5Benaiah son of Jehoiada led the group for the third month. His father was a priest, a man who served God at God's house. Benaiah had 24,000 men.

6This is that Benaiah, who was mighty among the thirty, and above the thirty: and in his course was Ammizabad his son.

6This is the same Benaiah who was a great soldier. He was one of the Thirty, and he led them. His son Ammizabad helped lead his group.

7The 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.

7Asahel led the group for the fourth month. He was Joab's brother. His son Zebadiah led after him. That group had 24,000 men.

8The fifth captain for the fifth month was Shamhuth the Izrahite: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.

8Shamhuth the Izrahite led the group for the fifth month. He had 24,000 men.

9The sixth captain for the sixth month was Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.

9Ira son of Ikkesh, from the town of Tekoa, led the group for the sixth month. He had 24,000 men.

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

10Helez the Pelonite led the group for the seventh month. He came from the family of Ephraim. He had 24,000 men.

11The eighth captain for the eighth month was Sibbecai the Hushathite, of the Zarhites: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.

11Sibbecai the Hushathite led the group for the eighth month. He came from the family of Zerah. He had 24,000 men.

12The ninth captain for the ninth month was Abiezer the Anetothite, of the Benjamites: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.

12Abiezer, from the town of Anathoth, led the group for the ninth month. He came from the family of Benjamin. He had 24,000 men.

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

13Maharai, from the town of Netophah, led the group for the tenth month. He came from the family of Zerah. He had 24,000 men.

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

14Benaiah, from the town of Pirathon, led the group for the eleventh month. He came from the family of Ephraim. He had 24,000 men.

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

15Heldai, from the town of Netophah, led the group for the twelfth month. He came from the family of Othniel. He had 24,000 men.

16Furthermore over the tribes of Israel: the ruler of the Reubenites was Eliezer the son of Zichri: of the Simeonites, Shephatiah the son of Maachah:

16These men were the leaders of the tribes, the big families of Israel. Eliezer son of Zichri led the tribe of Reuben. Shephatiah son of Maacah led the tribe of Simeon.

17Of the Levites, Hashabiah the son of Kemuel: of the Aaronites, Zadok:

17Hashabiah son of Kemuel led the tribe of Levi. Zadok led the family of Aaron.

18Of Judah, Elihu, one of the brethren of David: of Issachar, Omri the son of Michael:

18Elihu led the tribe of Judah. He was one of David's brothers. Omri son of Michael led the tribe of Issachar.

19Of Zebulun, Ishmaiah the son of Obadiah: of Naphtali, Jerimoth the son of Azriel:

19Ishmaiah son of Obadiah led the tribe of Zebulun. Jerimoth son of Azriel led the tribe of Naphtali.

20Of the children of Ephraim, Hoshea the son of Azaziah: of the half tribe of Manasseh, Joel the son of Pedaiah:

20Hoshea son of Azaziah led the tribe of Ephraim. Joel son of Pedaiah led half of the tribe of Manasseh.

21Of the half tribe of Manasseh in Gilead, Iddo the son of Zechariah: of Benjamin, Jaasiel the son of Abner:

21Iddo son of Zechariah led the other half of Manasseh, in the land of Gilead. Jaasiel son of Abner led the tribe of Benjamin.

22Of Dan, Azareel the son of Jeroham. These were the princes of the tribes of Israel.

22Azarel son of Jeroham led the tribe of Dan. These were the leaders of the tribes of Israel.

23But David took not the number of them from twenty years old and under: because the LORD had said he would increase Israel like to the stars of the heavens.

23David did not count the men who were twenty years old or younger. The LORD had promised to make Israel a very big people. He said they would be as many as the stars in the sky.

24Joab the son of Zeruiah began to number, but he finished not, because there fell wrath for it against Israel; neither was the number put in the account of the chronicles of king David.

24Joab son of Zeruiah started counting the men, but he did not finish. Trouble came upon Israel because of this counting. So the number was never written in the record book of King David.

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

25Azmaveth son of Adiel took care of the king's treasure. Jonathan son of Uzziah took care of the storehouses. Those were out in the country, in the towns, in the villages, and in the strong towers.

26And over them that did the work of the field for tillage of the ground was Ezri the son of Chelub:

26Ezri son of Chelub was in charge of the workers in the fields. They dug the ground and grew the crops.

27And over the vineyards was Shimei the Ramathite: over the increase of the vineyards for the wine cellars was Zabdi the Shiphmite:

27Shimei from Ramah took care of the grape fields. Zabdi the Shiphmite took care of the grapes that were made into wine.

28And over the olive trees and the sycomore trees that were in the low plains was Baalhanan the Gederite: and over the cellars of oil was Joash:

28Baal-hanan from Geder took care of the olive trees and fig trees in the low hills. Joash took care of the stores of olive oil.

NoteThe "sycomore" tree of the Bible is a kind of fig tree. It is not the same as the sycamore tree in America today.

29And 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:

29Shitrai from Sharon took care of the cattle grazing in Sharon. Shaphat son of Adlai took care of the cattle in the valleys.

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

30Obil the Ishmaelite took care of the camels. Jehdeiah from Meronoth took care of the donkeys.

31And over the flocks was Jaziz the Hagerite. All these were the rulers of the substance which was king David’s.

31Jaziz the Hagrite took care of the sheep and goats. All these men took care of what belonged to King David.

32Also Jonathan David’s uncle was a counsellor, a wise man, and a scribe: and Jehiel the son of Hachmoni was with the king’s sons:

32Jonathan, David's uncle, gave the king advice. He was very wise, and he wrote things down for the king. Jehiel son of Hachmoni took care of the king's sons.

NoteA "scribe" was a person who wrote things down and kept records. Most people back then could not read or write.

33And Ahithophel was the king’s counsellor: and Hushai the Archite was the king’s companion:

33Ahithophel gave advice to the king. Hushai the Archite was the king's close friend.

34And after Ahithophel was Jehoiada the son of Benaiah, and Abiathar: and the general of the king’s army was Joab.

34Later, Jehoiada son of Benaiah gave the king advice, and then Abiathar did. Joab was the leader of the king's whole army.