1 Chronicles 27

1 CHRONICLES CHAPTER 27

Organization of the People (27:1-34)

      • ESV Study Bible writes, “The Chronicler concludes this section on David’s provision of leadership for Solomon with details (derived from four lists) of the non-Levitical military and political officials serving the kingdom.”

Military Commanders and Divisions

        • On these first 15 verses, NLT Illustrated Study Bible says, “David’s reserve army was organized into twelve divisions, each serving on active duty one month each year. Their duties probably included protecting the borders, policing, keeping order in conquered territories, manning fortresses, and tending military equipment (horses and chariots). The divisions were not related to Israel’s tribal structure; each division contained individuals from various tribes, indicating the integration of the kingdom.”

        • NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible adds that, “Each division was placed under the command of one of David’s ‘mighty warriors’…”

      • The following is a list of Israelite family leaders and commanders of units of a thousand and a hundred, as well as their officers who served the king in all that concerned the army divisions. Each division was assigned to serve for one month during the year, and each consisted of 24,000 troops.

        • Zabdiel’s son Jashobeam was in charge of the first division, which was assigned the first month, and there were 24,000 men in his division. Jashobeam was a descendant of Perez, and he was in charge of all the army commanders for the first month.

        • Dodai, a descendant of Ahoah, was in charge of the division assigned the second month. There were 24,000 men in his division.

        • There are issues with this verse (v. 4).

          • More than a few commentaries agree (including Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers, Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges, Pulpit Commentary, Barnes’ Notes on the Bible, etc) that, based on 1 Chron 11:12 and 2 Sam 23:9, that the text should read, “Eleazar the son of Dodai the Ahohite.”

        • There is an additional possibility of text corruption with respect to Mikloth. I have sided with the ESV rendering of this verse which follows the LXX in omitting a phrase included in the Masoretic. NET Bible notes the extra material in the Masoretic, “Heb ‘and his division and Mikloth, the leader.’” However, Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers lists some possibilities for interpreting the verse if indeed Mikloth is in the correct reading, “Perhaps the ‘and’ before Mikloth is spurious. (Comp. end of 1Chronicles 27:6.) The sense may then be that this division included Mikloth ‘the prince,’ an unknown personage; or that Mikloth was the chief man in the division. (See 1Chronicles 8:32; 1Chronicles 9:37, where Mikloth is a Benjamite name.) The LXX. and Vulg. agree with Authorised Version; the Syriac and Arabic are wanting in this chapter.”

        • Benaiah, who was Jehoiada the priest’s son, was the third army commander assigned the third month. He was the leader of his division which consisted of 24,000 troops. This is the Benaiah who was a mighty man among the Thirty, and in command of the Thirty. His son was Ammizabad.

        • Joab’s brother Asahel was commander of the fourth division which was assigned the fourth month. His son Zebadiah succeeded him, and his division consisted of 24,000 troops.

          • This is very interesting considering Asahel was killed before David was king over all of Israel. Benson Commentary remarks, “As Asahel was killed before all Israel had acknowledged David as king, it is likely that this course was called the course of Asahel, in honour to his memory, it being commanded by his son. Poole, however, thinks that the foundation of this project was laid while David was in Hebron, and that then his forces were divided into twenty-four courses, under twenty-four chief commanders, whereof Asahel was one, only that the number of his forces was then much less than that which is here mentioned: but, he adds, when David was fully settled in his whole kingdom, the design was perfected, and his soldiers were increased to this number. Zebadiah his son after him — That is, after his death, of which see 2 Samuel 2:23. And in his course were twenty-four thousand — Not Asahel’s, for in his time they were not so numerous, but Zebadiah’s his son.”

        • Shamhuth the Izrahite was commander of the fifth division, which was assigned the fifth month, and there were 24,000 troops in his division.

          • The NLT Illustrated Study Bible footnote for this verse says that “Shamhuth” is a variant spelling of “Shammah,” listing 1 Chron 11:27 and 2 Sam 23:25 as support.

        • Ira, who was the son of Ikkesh from Takoa was commander of the sixth division which consisted of 24,000 troops, and was assigned the sixth month.

        • Helez, who was a descendant of Ephraim from Pelon, was commander of the seventh division which was assigned the seventh month, and consisted of 24,000 troops.

        • Sibbekai, who was a descendant of Zerah from Hushah, was commander of the eighth division which was assigned the eighth month and consisted of 24,000 troops.

        • Abiezer, who was from Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin, was commander of the ninth division which was assigned the ninth month and consisted of 24,000 troops.

        • Maharai, who was a descendant of Zerah from Netophah, was commander of the tenth division which was assigned the tenth month, and consisted of 24,000 troops.

        • Benaiah, who was from Pirathon in Ephraim, was commander of the eleventh division which was assigned the eleventh month, and consisted of 24,000 troops.

        • Heldai, who was a descendant of Othniel from Netophah, was commander of the twelfth division which was assigned the twelfth month, and consisted of 24,000 troops.

          • The NLT Illustrated Study Bible footnote for this verse says that “Heldai” is a variant spelling of “Heled,” listing 1 Chr 11:30 and 2 Sam 23:29 as support.”

Leaders of the Tribes

        • On verses 16-22, ESV Study Bible writes, “These leaders of the tribes are probably David’s appointees. Their actual role in this administration is unknown. This section may indicate that the centralization of power, together with a move away from the old tribal system of eldership during Solomon’s reign (1 Kings 4:7-19), had already begun in the latter part of David’s reign. The order and enumeration of the tribes differs here from 1 Chronicles 2, counting Aaron as a tribe and omitting Gad and Asher.”

        • NLT Illustrated Study Bible adds, “The order of the tribes roughly follows Num 1:5-15: the six sons of Leah, the two sons of Rachel (the ‘tribe’ of Joseph = Ephraim and Manasseh, followed by Benjamin), followed by the two sons of Bilhah (Dan and Naphtali). Changes from the order of that list are that Naphtali is transferred to his geographical location next to Zebulun, and the tribe of Levi is inserted at the position of Levi’s birth order, with the family of Aaron (the priests) listed separately. Absent from this list are the two sons of Zilpah (Gad and Asher).”

      • The following were leaders of the tribes of Israel:

        • The leader of Reuben was Zikri’s son Eliezer.

        • The leader of Simeon was Maakah’s son Shephatiah.

          • The leader of Levi was Kemuel’s son Hashabiah.

          • The leader of Aaron’s descendants was Zadok.

        • The leader of Judah was David’s brother Elihu.

          • NLT Illustrated Study Bible points out that, “The name Elihu might refer to Eliab (2:13), or he might have been a different brother of David.”

          • The leader of Issachar was Michael’s son Omri.

          • The leader of Zebulun was Obadiah’s son Ishmaiah.

          • The leader of Naphtali was Azriel’s son Jerimoth.

          • The leader of Ephraim was Azaziah’s son Hoshea.

          • The leader of the half-tribe of Manasseh was Pedaiah’s son Joel.

          • The leader of the half-tribe of Manasseh in Gilead (east) was Zechariah’s son Iddo.

          • The leader of Benjamin was Abner’s son Jaasiel.

          • The leader of Dan was Jeroham’s son Azarel.

      • These were the leaders of the Israelite tribes.

      • David didn’t count the men aged 20 or younger because Yahweh had promised to make Israel as numerous as the stars in the sky. Zeruiah’s son Joab began to count the men, but he didn’t finish. Wrath came against Israel because of this census, and the number wasn’t recorded in the book called, “The Annals of King David.”

        • ESV Study Bible notes, “Joab’s failure to complete the unauthorized census (21:6) stemmed from his recognition that David’s presumptuous act ran counter to God’s promise of innumerable descendants to Abraham (see Gen 15:5).”

Administrators and Counselors

        • On verses 25-31, ESV Study Bible writes, “A list of 12 administrators of the royal property (v. 31b). David is presented as one blessed with wealth. His estates included storehouses in Jerusalem and the provinces, lands for various crops, and livestock. The income from these sources would have met some of the expenses of his bureaucracy.”

      • Adiel’s son Azmaveth was in charge of the king’s treasuries.

      • Uzziah’s son Jonathan was in charge of the treasuries in the field, in the cities, in the towns, and in the towers.

        • Kelub’s son Ezri was in charge of the field workers who farmed the land.

        • Shimei from Ramah was in charge of the vineyards.

        • Zabdi from Shepham was in charge of the produce of the vineyards for the wine cellars.

      • Baal Hanan from Geder was in charge of the olive and sycamore trees in the western foothills.

        • Joash was in charge of the stores of olive oil.

        • Shitrai from Sharon was in charge of the herds that grazed in Sharon.

        • Adlai’s son Shaphat was in charge of the herds that grazed in the valleys.

        • Obil the Ishmaelite was in charge of the camels.

        • Jehdeiah from Meronoth was in charge of the donkeys.

        • Jaziz the Hagrite was in charge of the flocks.

      • All of these were the officials in charge of King David’s property.

      • David’s uncle Jonathan was a wise counselor and a scribe.

        • ESV Study Bible remarks, “This Jonathan, David’s uncle, is not otherwise known.”

        • Hakmoni’s son Jehiel attended the king’s sons.

        • Ahithophel was the king’s counselor.

        • HCSB recalls, “Ahithophel later defected to Absalom’s rebellion (2 Sm 15:12, 31).”

        • Hushai the Arkite was the king’s friend.

        • In light of the reminder above, the same source notes that, “Hushai, on the other hand, remained loyal to David during that same rebellion (2 Sm 15:32).”

        • As we noted back in 2 Sam 16, the reference to Hushai as the king’s “friend,” may actually be an official court title rather than just what we think of when we say someone is our “friend.” When the same word is used in 2 Sam 16:16, the NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible says, “The Hebrew word rendered ‘confidant’ here is not the normal Hebrew word for ‘confidant’ or ‘friend,’ though it looks much like it, and it may represent a borrowing from the Egyptian honorific ‘acquaintance of the king.’ In other words, ‘Confidant/Friend of David’ may have been an official court title held by Hushai in David’s government, a sort of ‘privy counselor.’…”

        • Ahithophel was succeeded by Benaiah’s son Jehoiada, and by Abiathar.

        • Joab was the commander of the king’s army.

        • On the verses comprising the fourth and final list, vv. 32-34, NLT Illustrated Study Bible notes, “The register of David’s officials concludes with this list of influential persons in the king’s immediate entourage.”

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