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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
Version (NKJV)