Commanders of the Army

27 Now this is the number of the sons of Israel, the heads of fathers’ households, the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and their officers who served the king in all the affairs of the divisions which came in and went out month by month throughout the months of the year, each division numbering twenty-four thousand:

Jashobeam the son of Zabdiel [a](A)was in charge of the first division for the first month; and in his division were twenty-four thousand. He was from the sons of Perez, and was chief of all the commanders of the army for the first month. Dodai the Ahohite and his division was in charge of the division for the second month, Mikloth being the chief officer; and in his division were twenty-four thousand. The third commander of the army for the third month was Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada the priest, as chief; and in his division were twenty-four thousand. This Benaiah was the mighty man of the thirty, and was in charge of thirty; and over his division was his son Ammizabad. The fourth, for the fourth month was Asahel the brother of Joab, and Zebadiah his son after him; and in his division were twenty-four thousand. The fifth, for the fifth month was the commander Shamhuth the Izrahite; and in his division were twenty-four thousand. The sixth, for the sixth month was Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite; and in his division were twenty-four thousand. 10 The seventh, for the seventh month was Helez the Pelonite of the sons of Ephraim; and in his division were twenty-four thousand. 11 The eighth, for the eighth month was Sibbecai the Hushathite of the Zerahites; and in his division were twenty-four thousand. 12 The ninth, for the ninth month was Abiezer the Anathothite of the Benjaminites; and in his division were twenty-four thousand. 13 The tenth, for the tenth month was Maharai the Netophathite of the Zerahites; and in his division were twenty-four thousand. 14 The eleventh, for the eleventh month was Benaiah the Pirathonite of the sons of Ephraim; and in his division were twenty-four thousand. 15 The twelfth, for the twelfth month was Heldai the Netophathite of Othniel; and in his division were twenty-four thousand.

Chief Officers of the Tribes

16 Now in charge of the tribes of Israel: chief officer for the Reubenites was Eliezer the son of Zichri; for the Simeonites, Shephatiah the son of Maacah; 17 for Levi, Hashabiah the son of Kemuel; for Aaron, Zadok; 18 for Judah, Elihu, one of David’s brothers; for Issachar, Omri the son of Michael; 19 for Zebulun, Ishmaiah the son of Obadiah; for Naphtali, Jeremoth the son of Azriel; 20 for the sons of Ephraim, Hoshea the son of Azaziah; for the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joel the son of Pedaiah; 21 for the half-tribe of Manasseh in Gilead, Iddo the son of Zechariah; for Benjamin, Jaasiel the son of Abner; 22 for Dan, Azarel the son of Jeroham. (B)These were the leaders of the tribes of Israel. 23 But David did not [b]count those twenty years of age and under, (C)because the Lord had said He would multiply Israel (D)as the stars of heaven. 24 Joab the son of Zeruiah had begun to count them, but did not finish; and because of (E)this, wrath came upon Israel, and the number was not included in the account of the chronicles of King David.

Various Overseers

25 Now Azmaveth the son of Adiel was responsible for the king’s storehouses. And Jonathan the son of Uzziah was responsible for the storehouses in the country, the cities, the villages, and the towers. 26 Ezri the son of Chelub was responsible for the [c]agricultural workers who tilled the soil. 27 Shimei the Ramathite was responsible for the vineyards; and Zabdi the Shiphmite was responsible for the [d]produce of the vineyards stored in the wine cellars. 28 Baal-hanan the Gederite was responsible for the olive and (F)sycamore trees in the [e]Shephelah; and Joash was responsible for the stores of oil. 29 Shitrai the Sharonite was responsible for the cattle which were grazing in (G)Sharon; and Shaphat the son of Adlai was responsible for the cattle in the valleys. 30 Obil the Ishmaelite was responsible for the camels; and Jehdeiah the Meronothite was responsible for the donkeys. 31 Jaziz the (H)Hagrite was responsible for the flocks. All these were [f]overseers of the property which belonged to King David.

Counselors

32 Also Jonathan, David’s uncle, was a counselor, a man of understanding, and a scribe; and Jehiel the son of Hachmoni [g]tutored the king’s sons. 33 (I)Ahithophel was counselor to the king; and (J)Hushai the Archite was the king’s friend. 34 Jehoiada the son of (K)Benaiah, and (L)Abiathar [h]succeeded Ahithophel; and Joab was the (M)commander of the king’s army.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 27:2 Lit was over, and so throughout the ch
  2. 1 Chronicles 27:23 Lit take their number of
  3. 1 Chronicles 27:26 Lit doers of the work of the field for the work of...
  4. 1 Chronicles 27:27 Lit what was in the vineyards
  5. 1 Chronicles 27:28 Or lowlands
  6. 1 Chronicles 27:31 Or rulers
  7. 1 Chronicles 27:32 Lit was with
  8. 1 Chronicles 27:34 Lit after

27 The Israeli army was divided into twelve regiments, each with 24,000 troops, including officers and administrative staff. These units were called up for active duty one month each year. Here is the list of the units and their regimental commanders:

2-3 The commander of the First Division was Jashobeam. He had charge of 24,000 troops who were on duty the first month of each year.

The commander of the Second Division was Dodai (a descendant of Ahohi). He had charge of 24,000 troops who were on duty the second month of each year. Mikloth was his executive officer.

5-6 The commander of the Third Division was Benaiah. His 24,000 men were on duty the third month of each year. (He was the son of Jehoiada the High Priest and was the chief of The Thirty, a group including the mightiest of David’s men.) His son Ammizabad succeeded him as division commander.

The commander of the Fourth Division was Asahel (the brother of Joab), who was later replaced by his son Zebadiah. He had 24,000 men on duty the fourth month of each year.

The commander of the Fifth Division was Shamuth from Izrah, with 24,000 men on duty the fifth month of each year.

The commander of the Sixth Division was Ira, the son of Ikkesh from Tekoa; he had 24,000 men on duty the sixth month of each year.

10 The commander of the Seventh Division was Helez from Pelona in Ephraim, with 24,000 men on duty the seventh month of each year.

11 The commander of the Eighth Division was Sibbecai of the Hushite subclan from Zerah, who had 24,000 men on duty the eighth month of each year.

12 The commander of the Ninth Division was Abiezer (from Anathoth in the tribe of Benjamin), who commanded 24,000 troops during the ninth month of each year.

13 The commander of the Tenth Division was Maharai from Netophah in Zerah, with 24,000 men on duty the tenth month of each year.

14 The commander of the Eleventh Division was Benaiah from Pirathon in Ephraim, with 24,000 men on duty during the eleventh month of each year.

15 The commander of the Twelfth Division was Heldai from Netophah in the area of Othniel, who commanded 24,000 men on duty during the twelfth month of each year.

16-22 The top political officers of the tribes of Israel were as follows:

Over Reuben, Eliezer (son of Zichri);

Over Simeon, Shephatiah (son of Maacah);

Over Levi, Hashabiah (son of Kemuel);

Over the descendants of Aaron, Zadok;

Over Judah, Elihu (a brother of King David);

Over Issachar, Omri (son of Michael);

Over Zebulun, Ishmaiah (son of Obadiah);

Over Naphtali, Jeremoth (son of Azriel);

Over Ephraim, Hoshea (son of Azaziah);

Over the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joel (son of Pedaiah);

Over the other half of Manasseh, in Gilead, Iddo (son of Zechariah);

Over Benjamin, Jaasiel (son of Abner);

Over Dan, Azarel (son of Jeroham).

23 When David took his census, he didn’t include the twenty-year-olds or those younger, for the Lord had promised a population explosion for his people.[a] 24 Joab began the census, but he never finished it, for the anger of God broke out upon Israel; the final total was never put into the annals of King David.

25 Azmaveth (son of Adiel) was the chief financial officer in charge of the palace treasuries, and Jonathan (son of Uzziah) was chief of the regional treasuries throughout the cities, villages, and fortresses of Israel.

26 Ezri (son of Chelub) was manager of the laborers on the king’s estates. 27 And Shimei from Ramath had the oversight of the king’s vineyards; and Zabdi from Shiphma was responsible for his wine production and storage. 28 Baal-hanan from Gedera was responsible for the king’s olive yards and sycamore trees in the lowlands bordering Philistine territory, while Joash had charge of the supplies of olive oil.

29 Shitrai from Sharon was in charge of the cattle on the plains of Sharon, and Shaphat (son of Adlai) had charge of those in the valleys. 30 Obil, from the territory of Ishmael, had charge of the camels, and Jehdeiah from Meronoth had charge of the donkeys. 31 The sheep were under the care of Jaziz the Hagrite. These men were King David’s overseers.

32 The attendant to the king’s sons was Jonathan, David’s uncle, a wise counselor and an educated man.[b] Jehiel (the son of Hachmoni) was their tutor.

33 Ahithophel was the king’s official counselor, and Hushai the Archite was his personal advisor. 34 Ahithophel was assisted by Jehoiada (the son of Benaiah) and by Abiathar. Joab was commander-in-chief of the Israeli army.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 27:23 The Lord had promised a population explosion for his people, literally, “the Lord had said he would increase Israel like to the stars of heaven.”
  2. 1 Chronicles 27:32 an educated man, literally, “a scribe.”