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1
Chronicles Chapter Twenty-seven
New King James Version (NKJV)
INTRODUCTION TO 1 CHRONICLES 27
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.
1 Chronicles
27:1 And the
children of Israel, according to their number, the heads of fathers’ houses,
the captains of thousands and hundreds and their officers, served the king in
every matter of the military divisions. These divisions came in
and went out month by month throughout all the months of the year, each
division having twenty-four thousand.
YLT
1And the sons of Israel,
after their number, heads of the fathers, and princes of the thousands and of
the hundreds, and their officers, those serving the king in any matter of the
courses, that are coming in and going out month by month, throughout all months
of the year -- [are] in each course twenty and four thousand.
Now the children of Israel after their number,.... Not the
whole body of the people, but the militia of the nation; for after the account
of the division of the priests and Levites into courses, follows an account of
the militia of the nation, being divided also into monthly courses; which,
though done in the beginning of David's reign, as Kimchi and Jarchi observe,
yet is here related; and that it was so soon is clear from the instance of
Asahel, who was killed while David was king in Hebron, 1 Chronicles 27:7
to wit:
the chief fathers; the chief men in the tribes, the princes of
them, not the natural fathers of the soldiers in each course, as a learned man
suggestsF9Delaney's Life of King David, vol. 1. p. 319. : since it
can never be thought that such a number sprung from those as made a course of
24,000; for they are distinct from the captains and officers after mentioned,
under which the soldiers were; besides, why should they be called "chief
fathers?" these, no doubt, were the general officers or princes, under
which the captains and inferior officers were:
and captains of thousands and hundreds; in the
several tribes:
and their officers; that were under them:
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; by which it
appears that the militia of the kingdom was divided into twelve courses, which
served each month by turns; when one went out another came in; by which means
the king was well supported and guarded, and had an army at once at command
upon any insurrection or war that might arise; and each course serving but one
month in a year, it was no great burden upon them, even if they maintained
themselves, since they were at leisure, the other eleven months, to attend to
their business; and especially if it was, as Jarchi observes, that not the poor
but the rich were selected for this service:
of every course were twenty and four thousand; so that the
twelve courses amounted to 288,000 men.
1 Chronicles 27:2 2 Over the first division
for the first month was Jashobeam the son of Zabdiel, and in his
division were twenty-four thousand;
YLT
2Over the first course, for
the first month, [is] Jashobeam son of Zabdiel, and on his course [are] twenty
and four thousand;
Verses 2-15
Over the first course for the first month,.... The month
Nisan, sometimes called Abib, which was March:
was Jashobeam the son of Zabdiel; the first and chief of
David's worthies, 1 Chronicles 11:11.
and in his course were twenty and four; and so in all
the following ones; this man was of the posterity of Perez, or Pharez, a son of
Judah, and so had the preference and command of all the captains of the army
for that month:
Dodai an Ahohite; the same with Dodo, 1 Chronicles 11:12
was over the course of the second month, the month Ziv, sometimes called Jiar,
or April; and his lieutenant or successor was Mikloth:
Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, a chief priest; or rather a
prince, a principal officer, was general of the army for the third month,
Sivan, or May; the same was mighty among the thirty, and even above them, for
he was among the three mighty, 1 Chronicles 11:22
and Ammizabad his son succeeded him, or was his deputy, when other ways
employed: though led by our version here, and following the Jewish writers, I
have called Benaiah a priest; see Gill on 1 Kings 2:31, yet I
am now rather of opinion that he was not one; for though priests might bear
arms on some occasions, yet it is not likely that one should be in a constant
military office, and especially general of an army; and besides, this man was
of Kabzeel, a city in the tribe of Judah, which is not mentioned among the
Levitical cities, see 2 Samuel 23:20. Asahel
the brother of Joab was over the course for the fourth month, Tammuz, or June,
and who being slain by Abner, his son Zebadiah succeeded him: Shamhuth, the
same with Shammah, 2 Samuel 23:11 and
Shammoth, 1 Chronicles 11:27
was captain for the fifth month, Ab, or July: Ira the son of Ikkesh, the
Tekoite, was over the course of the sixth month, Elul, or August, see 1 Chronicles 11:28.
Helez the Pelonite was captain for the seventh month, Tisri, or September, see 1 Chronicles 11:27,
the captain for the eighth month, Marchesvan, sometimes called Bul, or October,
was Sibbecai the Hushathite, of the Zarbites, of the posterity of Zerah, a son
of Judah in the line of Hushah, 1 Chronicles 4:4,
the captain of the course for the ninth month, Cisleu, or November was Abiezer,
of Anethoth, in the tribe of Benjamin, see 1 Chronicles 11:28,
Maharai, of Netophah, in the tribe of Judah, and of the posterity of Zerah, was
over the course for the tenth month, Tebet, or December, see 1 Chronicles 11:30
and the captain for the eleventh month, Sheber, or January, was Benaiah, of Pirathon,
in the tribe of Ephraim, see 1 Chronicles 11:31
and over the course for the twelfth month, Adar, or February, was Heldai the
Netophathite, the same with Heled, 1 Chronicles 11:30
and who was of the posterity of Othniel, the first judge in Israel, Judges 1:13.
1 Chronicles 27:3 3 he was
of the children of Perez, and the chief of all the captains of the army for the
first month.
YLT
3of the sons of Perez [is]
the head of all princes of the hosts for the first month.
1 Chronicles 27:4 4 Over the division of the
second month was Dodai[a] an
Ahohite, and of his division Mikloth also was the leader; in his
division were twenty-four thousand.
YLT
4And over the course of the
second month [is] Dodai the Ahohite, and his course, and Mikloth [is] the
president, and on his course [are] twenty and four thousand.
1 Chronicles 27:5 5 The third captain of the
army for the third month was Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada the priest,
who was chief; in his division were twenty-four thousand.
YLT
5Head of the third host, for
the third month, [is] Benaiah son of Jehoiada, the head priest, and on his
course [are] twenty and four thousand.
1 Chronicles 27:6 6 This was the Benaiah who
was mighty among the thirty, and was over the thirty; in his
division was Ammizabad his son.
YLT
6This Benaiah [is] a mighty
one of the thirty, and over the thirty, and [in] his course [is] Ammizabad his
son.
1 Chronicles 27:7 7 The fourth captain
for the fourth month was Asahel the brother of Joab, and Zebadiah his
son after him; in his division were twenty-four thousand.
YLT
7The fourth, for the fourth
month, [is] Asahel brother of Joab, and Zebadiah his son after him, and on his
course [are] twenty and four thousand.
1 Chronicles 27:8 8 The fifth captain for the
fifth month was Shamhuth[b] the
Izrahite; in his division were twenty-four thousand.
YLT
8The fifth, for the fifth
month, [is] the prince Shamhuth the Izrahite, and on his course [are] twenty
and four thousand.
1 Chronicles 27:9 9 The sixth captain
for the sixth month was Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite; in his
division were twenty-four thousand.
YLT
9The sixth, for the sixth
month, [is] Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, and on his course [are] twenty and
four thousand.
1 Chronicles 27:10 10 The seventh captain
for the seventh month was Helez the Pelonite, of the children of
Ephraim; in his division were twenty-four thousand.
YLT
10The seventh, for the
seventh month, [is] Helez the Pelonite, of the sons of Ephraim, and on his
course [are] twenty and four thousand.
1 Chronicles 27:11 11 The eighth captain
for the eighth month was Sibbechai the Hushathite, of the Zarhites; in
his division were twenty-four thousand.
YLT
11The eighth, for the eighth
month, [is] Sibbecai the Hushathite, of the Zarhite, and on his course [are]
twenty and four thousand.
1 Chronicles 27:12 12 The ninth captain
for the ninth month was Abiezer the Anathothite, of the Benjamites; in
his division were twenty-four thousand.
YLT
12The ninth, for the ninth
month, [is] Abiezer the Antothite, of the Benjamite, and on his course [are]
twenty and four thousand.
1 Chronicles 27:13 13 The tenth captain
for the tenth month was Maharai the Netophathite, of the Zarhites; in
his division were twenty-four thousand.
YLT
13The tenth, for the tenth
month, [is] Maharai the Netophathite, of the Zarhite, and on his course [are]
twenty and four thousand.
1 Chronicles 27:14 14 The eleventh captain
for the eleventh month was Benaiah the Pirathonite, of the children of
Ephraim; in his division were twenty-four thousand.
YLT
14Eleventh, for the eleventh
month, [is] Benaiah the Pirathonite, of the sons of Ephraim, and on his course
[are] twenty and four thousand.
1 Chronicles 27:15 15 The twelfth captain
for the twelfth month was Heldai[c] the
Netophathite, of Othniel; in his division were twenty-four thousand.
YLT
15The twelfth, for the
twelfth month, [is] Heldai the Netophathite, of Othniel, and on his course
[are] twenty and four thousand.
1 Chronicles 27:16 16 Furthermore, over the
tribes of Israel: the officer over the Reubenites was Eliezer the son of
Zichri; over the Simeonites, Shephatiah the son of Maachah;
YLT
16And over the tribes of
Israel: Of the Reubenite, a leader [is] Eliezer son of Zichri; of the
Simeonite, Shephatiah son of Maachah;
Verses 16-22
Furthermore, over the cities of Israel,.... Were the
following rulers or princes; the captains over the militia before named were of
David's appointment; but these ruled over their respective tribes in their own
right, or by the choice of their tribes: the ruler of the tribe of Reuben was
Eliezer, the son of Zichri: of the tribe of Simeon, Shephatiah the son of
Maachah; whether this was his father's or mother's name is not certain, it
being the name both of a man and woman: of the tribe of Levi, Hashabiah the son
of Kemuel: of the Aaronites, who were of the same tribe, but, being priests,
are thus distinguished from the Levites, Zadok, who was made high priest in the
times of Solomon: of the tribe of Judah, Elihu, a brother of David's, the same
with Eliab, 1 Samuel 16:6, of
the tribe of Issachar, Omri the son of Michael: of the tribe of Zebulun,
Ishmaiah the son of Obadiah: of the tribe of Naphtali, Jerimoth the son of
Azriel: of the tribe of Ephraim, Hoshea the son of Azaziah: of the half tribe
of Manasseh, on this side Jordan westward, Joel the son of Pedaiah: of the half
tribe of Manasseh, in Gilead, on the other side Jordan eastward, Iddo the son
of Zechariah: of the tribe of Benjamin, Jaasiel the son of Abner, the famous
general on the side of Ishbosheth; of the tribe of Dan, Azareel the son of
Jeroham:
these were the princes of the tribes of Israel; of all
excepting Gad and Asher, who are omitted; perhaps he that was prince of the
tribe of Reuben, or else of the half tribe of Manasseh beyond Jordan, was ruler
of Gad and Asher; these lying between Zebulun and Naphtali, might be under the
prince of one of them.
1 Chronicles 27:17 17 over
the Levites, Hashabiah the son of Kemuel; over the Aaronites, Zadok;
YLT
17of the Levite, Hashabiah
son of Kemuel; of the Aaronite, Zadok;
1 Chronicles 27:18 18 over
Judah, Elihu, one of David’s brothers; over Issachar, Omri the
son of Michael;
YLT
18of Judah, Elihu, of the
brethren of David; of Issachar, Omri son of Michael;
1 Chronicles 27:19 19 over
Zebulun, Ishmaiah the son of Obadiah; over Naphtali, Jerimoth the son of
Azriel;
YLT
19of Zebulun, Ishmaiah son of
Obadiah; of Naphtali, Jerimoth son of Azriel;
1 Chronicles 27:20 20 over
the children of Ephraim, Hoshea the son of Azaziah; over the half-tribe
of Manasseh, Joel the son of Pedaiah;
YLT
20of the sons of Ephraim,
Hoshea son of Azaziah; of the half of the tribe of Manasseh, Joel son of
Pedaiah;
1 Chronicles 27:21 21 over
the half–tribe of Manasseh in Gilead, Iddo the son of Zechariah; over
Benjamin, Jaasiel the son of Abner;
YLT
21of the half of Manasseh in
Gilead, Iddo son of Zechariah; of Benjamin, Jaasiel son of Abner; of Dan,
Azareel son of Jeroham:
1 Chronicles 27:22 22 over
Dan, Azarel the son of Jeroham. These were the leaders of the tribes of
Israel.
YLT
22these [are] heads of the
tribes of Israel.
1 Chronicles 27:23 23 But David did not take the
number of those twenty years old and under, because the Lord had said He
would multiply Israel like the stars of the heavens.
YLT
23And David hath not taken up
their number from a son of twenty years and under, for Jehovah said to multiply
Israel as the stars of the heavens.
But David took not the number of them from twenty years old and
under,.... Only those that were twenty years and upwards; but,
according to Cornelius BertramF11Lucubrat. Franktall, c. 2. , he
numbered them that were under twenty, though but sixteen, seventeen, eighteen,
or nineteen years of age, provided they were of robust bodies, and of a tall
stature, and able to bear arms; which he takes to be the sin of David, in
numbering the people, being contrary to the law of God; yet though he had
ordered them to be numbered, and they were, yet he would not take them and put
them into the account of his chronicles, as in the next verse, that his sin
might not be known, see 2 Samuel 24:9.
because the Lord had said, he would increase Israel like to the
stars in the heavens; which are not to be numbered, and therefore David sinned in
attempting to number the people.
1 Chronicles 27:24 24 Joab the son of Zeruiah
began a census, but he did not finish, for wrath came upon Israel because of
this census; nor was the number recorded in the account of the chronicles of
King David.
YLT
24Joab son of Zeruiah hath
begun to number -- and hath not finished -- and there is for this wrath against
Israel, and the number hath not gone up in the account of the Chronicles of
king David.
Joab the son of Zeruiah began to number,.... By the
order of David, but entirely against his own will, see 1 Chronicles 21:2,
but he finished not; the two tribes of
Benjamin and Levi not being counted by him, 1 Chronicles 21:6.
because there fell wrath for it against Israel; the plague
being broke forth before he had done numbering, which put a stop to it, 1 Chronicles 21:14.
neither was the number put in the account of the chronicles of
David; that which was brought in by Joab, though imperfect, was not
entered into the diary, journal, or annals which David ordered to be written of
all memorable events and transactions in his reign; and which were afterwards
carried on by the kings of Judah, often referred to in the preceding books; and
this was done, not because of the imperfection of the account, but because
David did not choose this sin of his should be transmitted to posterity, though
it has been, notwithstanding this precaution of his.
1 Chronicles 27:25 25 And Azmaveth the son of
Adiel was over the king’s treasuries; and Jehonathan the son of Uzziah
was over the storehouses in the field, in the cities, in the villages, and in
the fortresses.
YLT
25And over the treasures of
the king [is] Azmaveth son of Adiel; and over the treasures in the field, in
the cities, and in the villages, and in the towers, [is] Jehonathan son of
Uzziah;
Verses 25-34
And over the king's treasures was Azmaveth the son of Adiel,.... The
historian here proceeds to relate who were employed in the economical and civil
affairs of David; and the first mentioned is the lord of his treasury, who had
the care of his gold and silver brought into his exchequer, either by a levy on
his own people, or by the tribute of others: Jehonathan the son of Uzziah had
the care of the storehouses, in which were laid up what the fields, cities,
villages, and castles that belonged to the king produced, whether by fruits
gathered in, or by rents collected: Ezri the son of Chelub looked after his
workmen in the fields, employed in the tillage of the ground: Shimei of Ramath,
in the tribe of Benjamin, had the care of the vineyards, to see that they were
dressed and pruned, and kept in good order: Zabdi of Shepham, Numbers 34:10 had
the charge of the wine squeezed out of the grapes, both in the presses and in
the cellars: Baalhanan of Gedor, in the tribe of Judah, Joshua 15:36 was
over the olive and sycamore trees, to see that they were well taken care of:
and Joash was entrusted with the cellars where the oil was deposited: Shitrai
the Sharonite had the herds of cattle fed in Sharon committed to his trust;
whether in Sharon beyond Jordan, or that about Lydda and Joppa, near the
Mediterranean sea, both affording fruitful pastures for herds; and this man,
being of Sharon, was a fit man to be employed in such service: and Shaphat the
son of Adlai was over those herds that were in the valleys, where were good
pastures for them; such officers Pharaoh king of Egypt had, Genesis 47:6 and as
early as the times of Ninus king of Assyria, one named Simma was master of the
king's cattleF12Diodor. Sicul. l. 2. p. 93. , as Faustulus was to
Amulius king of the LatinesF13Liv. Hist. Decad. 1. l. 1. p. 5. ; and
so Tyrrhus in VirgilF14Aeneid. l. 7. Tyrrhusque pater, &c. ver.
485. had the command of all the king's cattle; and Cicero mentions another in
the same officeF15Apud Servium, in ib. : Obil the Ishmaelite (an
Arab, as the Targum) had the care of the camels; and a very proper person he
was, who must know the nature of them, and how to manage them, Arabia, or the
land of the Ishmaelites, abounding with them. This man was so called, either
because he was an Ishmaelite by birth, and was proselyted to the Jewish
religion; or he was an Israelite that had dwelt some time in the land of
Ishmael, and therefore so called. BochartF16Hierozoic. par. 1. l. 2.
c. col. 77. thinks he had his name of Obil from his office, the word in the
Arabic language signifying a keeper of camels. Jehdeiah the Meronothite was
over the asses, which were employed in ploughing and carrying burdens; and
Jaziz the Hagarite was over the flocks of sheep, the chief shepherd, who had
the command of all the under shepherds, and a very proper person, being an
Hagarite, or Arab; for such dwelt in tents for the sake of pasturage for their
flocks, as Jarchi notes: these were the principal men that had the care of
David's personal substance; so, in later times, the Roman CaesarsF17Vid.
Pignorium de Servis, p. 548. had such sort of servants to take care of their
farms, fields, fruit, cattle, &c. the rest that follow were David's
courtiers. Jonathan, or to whom David was uncle, the son of Shimea, his brother
being a wise and learned man, was his counsellor, see 2 Samuel 21:21 and
Jehiel the Hachmonite was preceptor, or tutor to the king's sons, that brought
them up, and took care of their education; Ahithophel was his counsellor until
the conspiracy and rebellion of Absalom; and Hushai the Archite was his
companion, friend, and favourite, with whom he conversed at leisure hours.
After the death of Ahithophel, Jehoiada the son of Benaiah, and Abiathar, were
his counsellors, and Joab the general of his army.
1 Chronicles 27:26 26 Ezri the son of Chelub was
over those who did the work of the field for tilling the ground.
YLT
26and over workmen of the
field for the service of the ground [is] Ezri son of Chelub;
1 Chronicles 27:27 27 And Shimei the Ramathite was
over the vineyards, and Zabdi the Shiphmite was over the produce of the
vineyards for the supply of wine.
YLT
27and over the vineyards [is]
Shimei the Ramathite; and over what [is] in the vineyards for the treasures of
wine [is] Zabdi the Shiphmite;
1 Chronicles 27:28 28 Baal-Hanan the Gederite
was over the olive trees and the sycamore trees that were in the
lowlands, and Joash was over the store of oil.
YLT
28and over the olives, and
the sycamores, that [are] in the low country, [is] Baal-Hanan the Gederite; and
over the treasures of oil [is] Joash;
1 Chronicles 27:29 29 And Shitrai the Sharonite was
over the herds that fed in Sharon, and Shaphat the son of Adlai was over the
herds that were in the valleys.
YLT
29and over the herds that are
feeding in Sharon [is] Shitrai the Sharonite; and over the herds in the valleys
[is] Shaphat son of Adlai;
1 Chronicles 27:30 30 Obil the Ishmaelite was
over the camels, Jehdeiah the Meronothite was over the donkeys,
YLT
30and over the camels [is]
Obil the Ishmeelite; and over the asses [is] Jehdeiah the Meronothite;
1 Chronicles 27:31 31 and Jaziz the Hagrite was
over the flocks. All these were the officials over King David’s
property.
YLT
31and over the flock [is]
Jaziz the Hagerite; all these [are] heads of the substance that king David
hath.
1 Chronicles 27:32 32 Also Jehonathan, David’s
uncle, was a counselor, a wise man, and a scribe; and Jehiel the son of
Hachmoni was with the king’s sons.
YLT
32And Jonathan, uncle of
David, [is] counsellor, a man of understanding, he is also a scribe; and Jehiel
son of Hachmoni [is] with the sons of the king;
1 Chronicles 27:33 33 Ahithophel was the
king’s counselor, and Hushai the Archite was the king’s companion.
YLT
33and Ahithophel [is]
counsellor to the king; and Hushai the Archite [is] the friend of the king;
1 Chronicles 27:34 34 After Ahithophel was
Jehoiada the son of Benaiah, then Abiathar. And the general of the king’s army was
Joab.
YLT
34and after Ahithophel [is]
Jehoiada son of Benaiah, and Abiathar; and the head of the host of the king
[is] Joab.
──《John Gill’s
Exposition of the Bible》
New King James
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