1 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. |
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 Of the children of Perez was the chief of all the captains of the host for the first month. |
4 And 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. |
5 The 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. |
6 This is that Benaiah, who was mighty among the thirty, and above the thirty: and in 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 Zarhites: and in his course were twenty and four thousand. |
12 The ninth captain for the ninth month was Abiezer the Anetothite, 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 Zarhites: 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. |
16 Furthermore over the tribes of Israel: the ruler of the Reubenites was Eliezer the son of Zichri: of the Simeonites, Shephatiah the son of Maachah: |
17 Of the Levites, Hashabiah the son of Kemuel: of the Aaronites, 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, Jerimoth 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, Azareel the son of Jeroham. These were the princes of the tribes of Israel. |
23 But 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. |
24 Joab 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. |
25 And 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: |
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: 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 low plains 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 Over the camels also was Obil the Ishmaelite: and over the asses was Jehdeiah the Meronothite: |
31 And over the flocks was Jaziz the Hagerite. All these were the rulers of the substance which was king David's. |
32 Also Jonathan David's uncle was a counseller, a wise man, and a scribe: and Jehiel the son of Hachmoni was with the king's sons: |
33 And Ahithophel was the king's counseller: and Hushai the Archite was the king's companion: |
34 And after Ahithophel was Jehoiada the son of Benaiah, and Abiathar: and the general of the king's army was Joab. |
27 The captains for every month of the year, Ch1 27:1-15.
The princes of the several tribes, Ch1 27:16-24.
The officers of the court, Ch1 27:25-34.
27:1 Officers - The standing militia of Israel as it was settled under their several officers. Of courses - In all the business whereinthe king had occasion for these persons who were to attend him by turns.Came in, etc - who being armed and mustered, and to wait upon the king, atJerusalem or other places, as the king should see fit. By this ordernear three hundred thousand of his people were instructed and exercised inthe use of their arms, and fitted for the defence of their king and kingdomwhen it should be needful, and in the mean time sufficient provision wasmade against any sudden tumults or irruptions of enemies. And this monthlycourse was contrived that the burden of it might be easy and equallydistributed among the people.
27:16 The ruler - These were the princes of the tribes, the constant rulers of the tribes; who seem to have had a superior power tothese twenty four captains, and therefore are named before them, beingprobably the king's chief counsellors and assistants in the great affairsof his kingdom.
27:22 Tribes - Of the most of the tribes, not of all: for Gad is omitted, probably because that tribe was joined with the Reubenitesunder one prince.
27:23 Because - And therefore to number them all both above and under twenty years old, had been both an infinite trouble and a tempting of God,or a questioning the truth of his promises.
27:27 Vineyards - Over the workmen and labourers in the vineyards; as the next officer is over the fruit of the vineyards. In like manner, oneman was over the labourers in the fields, ver. Ch1 27:26, and another over thefruits of the fields put into stores.
27:31 All these - It is observable, here are no officers for state, none for sport, no master of the ceremonies, or of the bounds, but allfor substance, agreeable to the simplicity and plainness of those times.David was a great soldier, a great scholar, and a great prince; andyet a great husband of his estate. Those magistrates who would havetheir subjects industrious, must themselves be examples of applicationto business.
27:32 A scribe - Either one learned in the laws of God, which were also the laws of the land, or, the king's secretary. King's sons - As theirtutor or governour.
27:33 Counsellor - The person whose counsel in matters of state the king most prized and followed. Companion - Or his friend,Sa2 15:37, the person whom he trusted with his secrets, andwhose conversation was most pleasant and acceptable to him. Observe,A cunning man was his counsellor: but an honest man was his friend.
27:34 After Ahithophel - After his death, these were his chief counsellors.