1 Chronicles 27

This is the list of the people of Israel, counted by their numbers: the heads of families, the commanders over thousands and over hundreds, and their officers who served the king in every matter having to do with the divisions. These divisions took turns on duty, one month at a time, all through the year. Each division had 24,000 men.

1Now 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.

NoteThis describes a militia, not a standing professional army. Twelve divisions of 24,000 men each took a month of duty in turn, so most men were at home farming for eleven months of the year. "Commanders over thousands and over hundreds" is the standard Israelite chain of command, with units named by size. The Hebrew word for "thousand" (eleph) can also mean a clan or a military unit of unspecified size, so the totals may be smaller than they sound.

2Jashobeam son of Zabdiel was in charge of the first division, which served the first month. His division had 24,000 men.

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

3He was a descendant of Perez, and he was chief over all the army commanders for the first month.

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

NotePerez was a son of Judah, and his descendants formed the leading clan of the tribe of Judah, David's own family line. Saying a commander was "of Perez" placed him in the most prominent family of the ruling tribe.

4Dodai the Ahohite was in charge of the division for the second month, and Mikloth was the ruler in his division. His division also had 24,000 men.

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.

5The third army commander, on duty for the third month, was Benaiah son of Jehoiada, a leading priest. His division 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.

NoteThe Hebrew is ambiguous about who the priest is. It can mean that Benaiah himself held priestly rank, or (more likely, since he appears elsewhere purely as a soldier) that his father Jehoiada was the priest. Translations differ.

6This is the Benaiah who was a mighty fighter among the Thirty and was over the Thirty. His son Ammizabad was in charge of his division.

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

Note"The Thirty" was the name of David's corps of elite warriors, listed by name in 1 Chronicles 11 and 2 Samuel 23. To be "over the Thirty" was to command that corps.

7The fourth commander, for the fourth month, was Asahel the brother of Joab. His son Zebadiah took the post after him. His division had 24,000 men.

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.

NoteAsahel, Joab's brother, was killed early in David's rise (2 Samuel 2), which is why his son is listed as taking the post after him. The list appears to preserve the original roster along with the replacement.

8The fifth commander, for the fifth month, was Shamhuth the Izrahite. His division had 24,000 men.

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

9The sixth, for the sixth month, was Ira son of Ikkesh, from the town of Tekoa. His division 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.

NoteTekoa was a town in the hills of Judah, about ten miles south of Jerusalem.

10The seventh, for the seventh month, was Helez the Pelonite, from the tribe of Ephraim. His division 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.

11The eighth, for the eighth month, was Sibbecai the Hushathite, from the family of Zerah. His division 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.

NoteZerah was Perez's twin brother and, like him, a son of Judah; the Zerahites were one of the main clans of that tribe.

12The ninth, for the ninth month, was Abiezer from Anathoth, of the tribe of Benjamin. His division 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.

NoteAnathoth was a village belonging to the priests, a few miles northeast of Jerusalem in the territory of Benjamin.

13The tenth, for the tenth month, was Maharai from Netophah, from the family of Zerah. His division 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.

14The eleventh, for the eleventh month, was Benaiah from Pirathon, of the tribe of Ephraim. His division 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.

15The twelfth, for the twelfth month, was Heldai from Netophah, of the family of Othniel. His division 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.

NoteOthniel was a well-known early leader from the generation after the conquest, related to Caleb; "of the family of Othniel" identifies Heldai's descent, not his rank.

16These men were the leaders over the tribes of Israel. Over the tribe of Reuben was Eliezer son of Zichri. Over the tribe of Simeon was Shephatiah son of Maachah.

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:

17Over the tribe of Levi was Hashabiah son of Kemuel. Over the descendants of Aaron was Zadok.

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

NoteLevi was the tribe set apart for religious duties. Aaron's descendants were the one branch within Levi who could serve as priests, so they are counted separately here. Zadok was the head of that priestly line under David.

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

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

Note"Elihu" is probably another form of the name Eliab, David's eldest brother (1 Samuel 16).

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

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

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

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

21Over the half tribe of Manasseh living in Gilead was Iddo son of Zechariah. Over the tribe of Benjamin was Jaasiel son of Abner.

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

NoteThe tribe of Manasseh held land on both sides of the Jordan River, so it was spoken of as two half tribes. Gilead is the highland region on the eastern side.

22Over the tribe of Dan was Azareel son of Jeroham. These were the leaders of the tribes of Israel.

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

NoteThe list is missing Gad and Asher, and no reason is given. It still reaches twelve names by counting the two halves of Manasseh separately and listing Levi and Aaron's priestly line as two entries.

23David did not count the men who were twenty years old or younger, because the LORD had said he would make Israel as many as the stars in the sky.

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.

NoteCounting men "from twenty years old" meant counting those fit for military service; anyone younger was not on the muster roll. The promise about the stars is God's word to Abraham in Genesis 15 and 22: that his descendants would be beyond counting.

24Joab son of Zeruiah began the count but did not finish it, because anger came against Israel because of it. The total was never written into the official records of King David's reign.

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.

NoteThis refers back to the census in 1 Chronicles 21, which brought a plague on the nation. "The official records of King David's reign" means the royal court annals, a separate administrative document, not the book of Chronicles you are reading.

25Azmaveth son of Adiel was in charge of the king's treasures. Jehonathan son of Uzziah was in charge of the storehouses out in the countryside, in the towns, in the villages, and in the fortified places.

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:

Note"Fortified places" translates a word for towers or strongholds, walled depots built to guard stored grain and goods in open country.

26Ezri son of Chelub was in charge of the field workers who farmed the land.

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

27Shimei from Ramah was in charge of the vineyards. Zabdi the Shiphmite was in charge of the grape harvest that went to the wine cellars.

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

28Baal-hanan from Geder was in charge of the olive trees and the sycomore trees in the low hills. Joash was in charge of the stores of olive oil.

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:

NoteThe sycomore here is not the modern sycamore tree. It was a fig-bearing tree of the lowlands whose fruit was cheap, everyday food for poorer people. The "low hills" are the Shephelah, the belt of rolling foothills between the coastal plain and the hill country.

29Shitrai from Sharon was in charge of the cattle grazing in Sharon. Shaphat son of Adlai was in charge of the cattle in the valleys.

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:

NoteSharon was the broad, well-watered coastal plain running north from Joppa, known for rich grazing land.

30Obil the Ishmaelite was in charge of the camels. Jehdeiah from Meronoth was in charge of the donkeys.

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

31Jaziz the Hagerite was in charge of the sheep and goats. All these men were the officials in charge of King David's property.

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

NoteThe Ishmaelites and Hagrites were desert peoples of the eastern and southern margins, reckoned as descendants of Ishmael and of Hagar. They were known as herders of camels and flocks, which is presumably why foreigners held these particular posts in the royal household.

32Jonathan, David's uncle, was an adviser to the king. He was a man of good sense and kept written records. Jehiel son of Hachmoni looked after the king's sons.

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:

NoteThe Hebrew word translated "uncle" can also mean a more distant relative or a close associate, so the exact relationship is uncertain. A "scribe" was a trained official who could read, write and keep records, a rare and valuable skill, closer to a senior civil servant than a copyist.

33Ahithophel was the king's adviser. Hushai the Archite was the king's companion.

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

Note"The king's companion" (or "friend") was a formal court office, not a description of personal affection: a trusted confidential adviser attached to the king. Ahithophel was famous as the shrewdest counselor of his age; he later deserted David for Absalom's rebellion (2 Samuel 15-17).

34After Ahithophel came Jehoiada son of Benaiah, and Abiathar. Joab was the commander of the king's army.

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