Introduction

Gill, in his commentary, gives us a useful summary of this chapter.

‘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, 1 Chronicles 27:1, and of the princes of the several tribes, 1 Chronicles 27:16, and of his economical rulers, 1 Chronicles 27:25, and of his counsellors and general, 1 Chronicles 27:32.’

ARMY DIVISIONS

‘This is the list of the Israelites—heads of families, commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, and their officers, who served the king in all that concerned the army divisions that were on duty month by month throughout the year. Each division consisted of 24,000 men. In charge of the first division, for the first month, was Jashobeam, son of Zabdiel. There were 24,000 men in his division. He was a descendant of Perez and chief of all the army officers for the first month. In charge of the division for the second month was Dodai the Ahohite; Mikloth was the leader of his division. There were 24,000 men in his division. The third army commander, for the third month, was Benaiah son of Jehoiada the priest. He was chief, and there were 24,000 men in his division. This was the Benaiah who was a mighty warrior among the Thirty and was over the Thirty. His son Ammizabad was in charge of his division. The fourth, for the fourth month, was Asahel, the brother of Joab; his son Zebadiah was his successor. There were 24,000 men in his division. The fifth, for the fifth month, was the commander Shamhuth the Izrahite. There were 24,000 men in his division. The sixth, for the sixth month, was Ira, the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite. There were 24,000 men in his division. The seventh, for the seventh month, was Helez the Pelonite, an Ephraimite. There were 24,000 men in his division. The eighth, for the eighth month, was Sibbekai the Hushathite, a Zerahite. There were 24,000 men in his division. The ninth, for the ninth month, was Abiezer the Anathothite, a Benjamite. There were 24,000 men in his division. The tenth, for the tenth month, was Maharai the Netophathite, a Zerahite. There were 24,000 men in his division. The eleventh, for the eleventh month, was Benaiah the Pirathonite, an Ephraimite. There were 24,000 men in his division. The twelfth, for the twelfth month, was Heldai the Netophathite, from the family of Othniel. There were 24,000 men in his division.’ 1 Chronicles 27:1-15

Here we have a list of the captains of David’s army. There were to be 24,000 men in each of the twelve divisions of the army, and each division was to serve one month during the year, 1 Chronicles 27:1-15. This means that each man had one month of service and eleven months of private life.

Jashobeam, 1 Chronicles 27:2, was a Benjamite, and he is known for killing three hundred men with a spear, 1 Chronicles 11:10-14. He was one of David’s mighty men and one of three great warriors, 2 Samuel 23:9 / 2 Samuel 23:13 / 2 Samuel 23:16-19 / 2 Samuel 23:22-23.

Nobody knows anything about Perez, 1 Chronicles 27:3. Dodai, 1 Chronicles 27:4, was also one of David’s military leaders. One of his sons, Eleazar, is mentioned in 2 Samuel 23:9 / 1 Chr. 11:12, where he is called Dodo.

Benaiah is described as a great hero in Israel, 1 Chronicles 27:5-6. He was a man who killed two mighty Moabites, a lion in a pit on a snowy day, and a fearsome Egyptian, 2 Samuel 23:20-21.

The professional military leaders would be the three and thirty, 1 Chronicles 27:6, of 1 Chronicles 11:20, with the Kerethites, Pelethites and Gittites. Asahel, the brother of Joab, 1 Chronicles 27:7, was killed in battle by Abner, who was the commander of Ish-Bosheth’s armies, 2 Samuel 2:18-23.

Nobody knows anything about Shamhuth, 1 Chronicles 27:8. Ira, 1 Chronicles 27:9, is mentioned in 2 Samuel 23:26 / 1 Chronicles 11:28. Helez, 1 Chronicles 27:10, is also mentioned in 2 Samuel 23:26. Sibbekai, 1 Chronicles 27:11, killed one of the giants, 2 Samuel 21:18-22 / 1 Chronicles 20:4-8. Abiezer, 1 Chronicles 27:12, was from Anathoth and probably a Benjamite.

Maharai, 1 Chronicles 27:13, was a military leader, 2 Samuel 23:28 / 1 Chronicles 11:30. Nobody knows anything about this Benaiah, 1 Chronicles 27:14. Heldai, 1 Chronicles 27:15, was a descendant of Othniel the judge, Joshua 15:17 / Judges 1:13 / Judges 3:9 / Judges 3:11 / 1 Chronicles 4:13.

Coffman, in his commentary, says the following.

‘Apparently, this arrangement continually surrounded David with 24,000 armed men, month by month, and made available for any emergency the entire 288,000. It also left the soldiery practically free eleven months in the year to pursue their own interests. The monotonous repetition is characteristic of ancient records and denies the notion that ‘The Chronicler’ invented these records.’

LEADERS OF THE TRIBES

‘The leaders of the tribes of Israel: over the Reubenites: Eliezer son of Zikri; over the Simeonites: Shephatiah son of Maakah; over Levi: Hashabiah son of Kemuel; over Aaron: Zadok; over Judah: Elihu, a brother of David; over Issachar: Omri son of Michael; over Zebulun: Ishmaiah son of Obadiah; over Naphtali: Jerimoth son of Azriel; over the Ephraimites: Hoshea son of Azaziah; over half the tribe of Manasseh: Joel son of Pedaiah; over the half-tribe of Manasseh in Gilead: Iddo son of Zechariah; over Benjamin: Jaasiel son of Abner; over Dan: Azarel son of Jeroham. These were the leaders of the tribes of Israel. David did not take the number of the men twenty years old or less, because the LORD had promised to make Israel as numerous as the stars in the sky. Joab, son of Zeruiah, began to count the men but did not finish. God’s wrath came on Israel on account of this numbering, and the number was not entered in the book of the annals of King David.’ 1 Chronicles 27:16-24

Those who were chosen to be leaders of the tribes were to be respected by the people. These were to be the respected elders from whom leadership would come for each tribe, 1 Chronicles 27:16-22.

David didn’t take the number of the men twenty years old or less, because God had promised to make Israel as numerous as the stars in the sky, 1 Chronicles 27:23 / Genesis 15:5 / Genesis 22:17 / Genesis 26:4 / Deuteronomy 1:10 / Deuteronomy 10:22 / Deuteronomy 28:62.

Barnes, in his commentary, says the following.

‘Gad and Asher are omitted from this list of the tribes. Similarly, Dan and Zebulon are omitted from the genealogical survey of the tribes, 1 Chronicles 4-8. We can only suppose that the lists, as they came down to the writer of Chronicles, were incomplete. The ‘rulers’ or ‘princes’ of the tribes appear to have been the oldest lineal descendants of the patriarchs according to the law of primogeniture.’

Coffman, in his commentary, says the following concerning David, not counting those twenty years old or under, 1 Chronicles 27:23.

‘There is a hint here as to the reason why God was displeased with David’s numbering Israel.’

Madsen, in his commentary, says the following.

‘David refrained from counting them because such an act would have implied a doubt on David’s part of God’s promise in Genesis 22:17. Evidently, his efforts to find out exactly how many able-bodied soldiers Israel had likewise exhibited a sinful doubt on David’s part. He was apparently tempted to trust in the number of his troops, instead of relying upon the promise of God.’

Gill, in his commentary, says the following concerning 1 Chronicles 27:24.

‘Joab began to number, by the order of David, but entirely against his own will, 1 Chronicles 21:2, but he didn’t finish, the two tribes of Benjamin and Levi not being counted by him, 1 Chronicles 21:6. The plague broke forth before he had done numbering, which put a stop to it, 1 Chronicles 21:14.’

THE KING’S OVERSEERS

‘Azmaveth, son of Adiel, was in charge of the royal storehouses. Jonathan, son of Uzziah, was in charge of the storehouses in the outlying districts, in the towns, the villages and the watchtowers. Ezri, son of Kelub, was in charge of the workers who farmed the land. Shimei the Ramathite was in charge of the vineyards. Zabdi the Shiphmite was in charge of the produce of the vineyards for the wine vats. Baal-Hanan the Gederite was in charge of the olive and sycamore-fig trees in the western foothills. Joash was in charge of the supplies of olive oil. Shitrai the Sharonite was in charge of the herds grazing in Sharon. Shaphat, son of Adlai, was in charge of the herds in the valleys. Obil the Ishmaelite was in charge of the camels. Jehdeiah the Meronothite was in charge of the donkeys. Jaziz the Hagrite was in charge of the flocks. All these were the officials in charge of King David’s property.’ 1 Chronicles 27:25-31

Here we have a list of the administrators of David’s personal property. David acquired his wealth, not by taxation as did Solomon and the kings that followed him, but by the spoils of war and tribute from those he conquered.

Azmaveth was in charge of the royal storehouses, and Jonathan was in charge of the storehouses in the outlying districts, in the towns, the villages and the watchtowers, 1 Chronicles 27:25. Ezri was in charge of the workers who farmed the land, 1 Chronicles 27:26.

Shimei was in charge of the vineyards, and Zabdi was in charge of the produce of the vineyards for the wine vats, 1 Chronicles 27:27. Baal-Hanan was in charge of the olive and sycamore-fig trees in the western foothills, and Joash was in charge of the supplies of olive oil, 1 Chronicles 27:28.

Shitrai was in charge of the herds grazing in Sharon, and Shaphat was in charge of the herds in the valleys, 1 Chronicles 27:29. Obil was in charge of the camels, and Jehdeiah was in charge of the donkeys, 1 Chronicles 27:30.

Clarke, in his commentary, says the following concerning 1 Chronicles 27:30.

‘It is worthy of remark, that Obil, an Ishmaelite or Arab, was put over the camels which is a creature of Arabia and that Jaziz, a Hagarene, the Hagarenes were shepherds by profession, was put over the flocks, nothing went by favour, each was appointed to the office for which he was best qualified; and thus men of worth were encouraged, and the public service effectually promoted.’

Jaziz was in charge of the flocks, and we are told that all these men were the officials in charge of King David’s property, 1 Chronicles 27:31.

Barnes, in his commentary, says the following.

‘This section is important as showing that David, the younger son of a not very opulent family, 1 Samuel 16:11 / 1 Samuel 16:20, had now become a large, landed proprietor, as well as a capitalist, possessed of much moveable wealth. We may perhaps see the sources of both these kinds of property, in the successful wars which he had waged 1 Samuel 27:8-9 / 1 Samuel 30:20 / 2 Samuel 8:4 / 2 Samuel 8:7-8 / 2 Samuel 8:12, in the revenue derived from subject kings, 1 Samuel 8:2 / 1 Samuel 8:14 / 1 Samuel 10:19, and in the purchase and occupation of lands in different places. Further, he enjoyed, of course, the usual rights of a Jewish king over the landed property of his subjects, and was thus entitled to receive a tithe of the produce in tithes, 1 Samuel 8:15 / 1 Samuel 8:17, and in ‘benevolences’, 1 Samuel 10:27 / 1 Samuel 16:20, etc.’

‘Jonathan, David’s uncle, was a counsellor, a man of insight and a scribe. Jehiel, son of Hakmoni, took care of the king’s sons. Ahithophel was the king’s counsellor. Hushai the Arkite was the king’s confidant. Ahithophel was succeeded by Jehoiada, son of Benaiah and by Abiathar. Joab was the commander of the royal army.’ 1 Chronicles 27:32-34

The list of names mentioned here is probably a supplement to those who are listed in 1 Chronicles 18:14-17 and 2 Samuel 23-26. The list can’t belong to a very late part of David’s reign, since it contains the name of Ahithophel, 1 Chronicles 27:33-34, who killed himself during Absalom’s rebellion, 2 Samuel 17:23.

Coffman, in his commentary, says the following concerning 1 Chronicles 27:32-33.

‘It is of interest that the Chronicler passed over the treachery of Ahithophel during the rebellion of Absalom. He did, however, give the names of David’s counsellors following the suicide of Ahithophel.’

Hushai the Arkite, 1 Chronicles 27:33, was the king’s confidant, 2 Samuel 15:37, but later became the king’s advisor, 1 Kings 4:5. Joab, 1 Chronicles 27:34, was the general of David’s army, 2 Samuel 8:16, and although he was loyal to David, he did disobey him at times, 2 Samuel 19-21.

Go To 1 Chronicles 28