1Ch 27:1 Now the children of Israel after their number, to wit, the chief fathers and captains of thousands and hundreds, and their officers 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, of every course were twenty and four thousand.
This verse is a general heading to the list 1Ch_27:2-15. The heading has been taken from some fuller and more elaborate description of David’s army, whereof the writer of Chronicles gives us only an abridgement. Omitting the captains of thousands, the captains of hundreds, and the officers (probably “scribes”) who served the king, he contents himself with recording the “chief fathers” or heads of the divisions 1Ch_28:1, and the number of Iraelites in each course.
This enumeration is widely different from the preceding. In that, we have the orders and courses of the priests and the Levites in their ecclesiastical ministrations; in this, we have the account of the order of the civil service, that which related simply to the political state of the king and the kingdom. Twenty-four persons, chosen out of David’s worthies, each of whom had a second, were placed over twenty-four thousand men, who all served a month in turn at a time; and this was the whole of their service during the year, after which they attended to their own affairs. Thus the king had always on foot a regular force of twenty-four thousand, who served without expense to him or the state, and were not oppressed by the service, which took up only a twelfth part of their time, and by this plan he could at any time, when the exigency of the state required it, bring into the field twelve times twenty-four thousand, or two hundred and eighty-eight thousand fighting men, independently of the twelve thousand officers, which made in the whole an effective force of three hundred thousand soldiers; and all these men were prepared, disciplined, and ready at a call, without the smallest expense to the state or the king. These were, properly speaking, the militia of the Israelite kingdom.
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.
the chief fathers - the chief men in the tribes, the princes of them, not the natural fathers of the soldiers in each course
Twelve captains for every month - Here is an account of the standing military force of Israel. A militia formed, it would seem, at the beginning of David’s reign was raised in the following order: Twelve legions, corresponding to the number of tribes, were enlisted in the king’s service. Each legion comprised a body of twenty-four thousand men, whose term of service was a month in rotation, and who were stationed either at Jerusalem or in any other place where they might be required. There was thus always a force sufficient for the ordinary purposes of state, as well as for resisting sudden attacks or popular tumults; and when extraordinary emergencies demanded a larger force, the whole standing army could easily be called to arms, amounting to two hundred eighty-eight thousand, or to three hundred thousand, including the twelve thousand officers that naturally attended on the twelve princes (1Ch_27:16-24). Such a military establishment would be burdensome neither to the country nor to the royal treasury; for attendance on this duty being a mark of honor and distinction, the expense of maintenance would be borne probably by the militiaman himself, or furnished out of the common fund of his tribe. Nor would the brief period of actual service produce any derangement of the usual course of affairs; for, on the expiry of the term, every soldier returned to the pursuits and duties of private life during the other eleven months of the year.
1Ch 27:2 Over the first course for the first month was Jashobeam the son of Zabdiel: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.
Jashobeam - Jashobeam is mentioned in marginal references as the chief of David’s mighty men. He is called in 1Ch_11:11 “the son of Hachmoni.” We learn from 1Ch_27:3 that he was of the tribe of Judah , being descended from Perez (or Pharez), the son of Judah, from whom David himself sprang. 1Ch_2:3-15.
First course for the first month - Instead of mentioning first, second, third, etc., month, the Targum names them thus: First month, Nisan; second, Aiyar; third, Sivan; fourth, Tammuz; fifth, Ab; sixth, Elul; seventh, Tishri; eighth, Marchesvan; ninth, Cisleu; tenth, Tebeth; eleventh, Shebat; twelfth, Adar. The month Nisan, sometimes called Abib, which was March:
Jashobeam the son of Zabdiel - the first and chief of David's worthies, 1Ch_11:11 And this is the number of the mighty men whom David had : Jashobeam, a Hachmonite, the chief of the captains. He lifted up his spear against three hundred, who were killed by him at one time. Hachmoni was his father, Zabdiel probably one of his ancestors; or there might be different names of the same individual. In the rotation of the military courses, the dignity of precedence, not of authority, was given to the hero.
1Ch 27:3 Of the children of Perez was the chief of all the captains of the host for the first month.
1Ch_27:3 further relates of him that he was of the sons (descendants) of Perez, and the head of all the army chiefs in the first month (i.e., in the division for the first month). 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:
1Ch 27:4 And over the course of the second month was Dodai an Ahohite, and of his course was Mikloth also the ruler: in his course likewise were twenty and four thousand.
1Ch 27:5 The third captain of the host for the third month was Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, a chief priest: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.
A chief priest - Rather, “the chief priest” - an expression by which is meant, not the high priest, but probably the high priest’s deputy, who is sometimes called “the second priest” 2Ki_25:18. It was Jehoiada, and not Benaiah, who was a priest.
Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, a chief priest - He is distinguished from Benaiah, the Pirathonite, who was over the eleventh month.
1Ch 27:6 This is that Benaiah, who was mighty among the thirty, and above the thirty: and in his course was Ammizabad his son.
1Ch 27:7 The fourth captain for the fourth month was Asahel the brother of Joab, and Zebadiah his son after him: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.
Asahel the brother of Joab – It appears likely that Asahel died before the courses, as here described, could have been instituted. Perhaps the arrangements of David in his later years were based upon institutions belonging to the period of his reign at Hebron . This officer having been slain at the very beginning of David’s reign [2Sa_2:23], his name was probably given to this division in honor of his memory, and his son was invested with the command.
and Zebadiah his son after him - points to his death, as they mention his son as his successor in the command of the fourth division of the army. When Asahel, therefore, is called commander of the fourth division of the host, it is done to honor him.
1Ch 27:8 The fifth captain for the fifth month was Shamhuth the Izrahite: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.
Shamhuth - Shamhuth is called in 1Ch_11:27 Shammoth, and in 2Sa_23:25 Shamma. He was born in Harod; here he is called the Jizrahite 1Ch_27:13, of the family of Zerah the son of Judah (1Ch_2:4, 1Ch_2:6).
1Ch 27:9 The sixth captain for the sixth month was Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.
1Ch 27:10 The seventh captain for the seventh month was Helez the Pelonite, of the children of Ephraim: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.
1Ch 27:11 The eighth captain for the eighth month was Sibbecai the Hushathite, of the Zarhites: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.
1Ch 27:12 The ninth captain for the ninth month was Abiezer the Anetothite, of the Benjamites: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.
1Ch 27:13 The tenth captain for the tenth month was Maharai the Netophathite, of the Zarhites: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.
Maharai belonged also to the family of Zerah; see 1Ch_27:11, 1Ch_27:8.
1Ch 27:14 The eleventh captain for the eleventh month was Benaiah the Pirathonite, of the children of Ephraim: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.
1Ch 27:15 The twelfth captain for the twelfth month was Heldai the Netophathite, of Othniel: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.
1Ch 27:16 Furthermore over the tribes of Israel: the ruler of the Reubenites was Eliezer the son of Zichri: of the Simeonites, Shephatiah the son of Maachah:
Over the tribes of Israel - 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 Chr. 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.
Over the tribes of Israel - In this enumeration there is no mention of the tribes of Asher and Gad. Probably the account of these has been lost from this register. These rulers appear to have been all honorary men, without pay, like the lords lieutenants of our counties.
Over the tribes of Israel - These persons appear to have been civil rulers over their several tribes, and honorary men. The officers of the court, or the rulers of the king's substance, had the oversight and charge of the king's tillage, his vineyards, his herds, his flocks, which formed the wealth of eastern kings. Much of the wisdom of princes is seen in the choice of their ministry, and common persons show it in the choice of their advisers. David, though he had all these about him, preferred the word of God before them all. Thy testimonies are my delight and my counselors.
1Ch 27:17 Of the Levites, Hashabiah the son of Kemuel: of the Aaronites, Zadok:
1Ch 27:18 Of Judah, Elihu, one of the brethren of David: of Issachar, Omri the son of Michael:
Elihu - of the brethren of David, is only another form of the name Eliab, 1Ch_2:13, David's eldest brother, who, as Jesse's first-born, had become tribal prince of Judah.
1Ch 27:19 Of Zebulun, Ishmaiah the son of Obadiah: of Naphtali, Jerimoth the son of Azriel:
1Ch 27:20 Of the children of Ephraim, Hoshea the son of Azaziah: of the half tribe of Manasseh, Joel the son of Pedaiah:
Of Manasseh two tribal princes are named, because the one half of this tribe had received its inheritance on this side Jordan, the other beyond Jordan.
1Ch 27:21 Of the half tribe of Manasseh in Gilead, Iddo the son of Zechariah: of Benjamin, Jaasiel the son of Abner:
1Ch 27:22 Of Dan, Azareel the son of Jeroham. These were the princes of the tribes of Israel .
Tribes of Israel - Of the most of the tribes, not of all: for Gad is omitted, probably because that tribe was joined with the Reubenites under one prince.
1Ch 27:23 But David took not the number of them from twenty years old and under: because the LORD had said he would increase Israel like to the stars of the heavens.
David took not the number of them from twenty years old and under - David’s numbering of the people was therefore a military arrangement in order to fix the amount of his standing army. There was a feeling that it would be irreverent to attempt to count what God had promised should be countless.
David took not the number of them from twenty years old and under - Only those that were twenty years and upwards; but, according tone scholar, 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 2Sa_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.
But David took not the number of them from twenty years old and under — The census which David ordered did not extend to all the Israelites; for to contemplate such an enumeration would have been to attempt an impossibility (Gen_28:14), and besides would have been a daring offense to God. The limitation to a certain age was what had probably quieted David’s conscience as to the lawfulness of the measure, while its expediency was strongly pressed upon his mind by the army arrangements he had in view.
1Ch 27:24 Joab the son of Zeruiah began to number, but he finished not, because there fell wrath for it against Israel; neither was the number put in the account of the chronicles of king David.
Because there fell wrath - literally, “And there fell wrath.” The falling of God’s wrath was not the cause of Joab’s ceasing. His motive is clearly stated in 1Ch_21:6 But Levi and Benjamin he did not count among them; for the king's word was evil to Joab.
Neither was the number put in - The meaning is, that in the portion of the chronicles of King David which treated of numbers - the number of the standing army, of the Levitical and priestly courses, the singers, etc. - the return of the number of the people made by Joab was not entered. The disastrous circumstances which followed on the taking of the census perhaps produced a feeling that God might he further provoked by its being put on record in the state archives.
Neither was the number put in the account - Joab did not return the whole number; probably the plague began before he had finished: or, he did not choose to give it in, as he had entered on this work with extreme reluctance; and he did not choose to tell the king how numerous they were. The two tribes of Benjamin and Levi not being counted by him
1Ch 27:25 And over the king's treasures was Azmaveth the son of Adiel: and over the storehouses in the fields, in the cities, and in the villages, and in the castles, was Jehonathan the son of Uzziah:
This section is important as showing that David, the younger son of a not very opulent family 1Sa_16:11, 1Sa_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 1Sa_27:8-9; 1Sa_30:20; 2Sa_8:4, 2Sa_8:7-8, 2Sa_8:12; in the revenue derived from subject kings 1Sa_8:2, 1Sa_8:14; 1Sa_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 (1Sa_8:15, 1Sa_8:17) and in “benevolences.”
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 – he 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:
over the king’s treasures — Those treasures consisted of gold, silver, precious stones, cedar-wood, etc.; those which he had in Jerusalem as distinguished from others without the city.
1Ch 27:26 And over them that did the work of the field for tillage of the ground was Ezri the son of Chelub:
Ezri the son of Chelub looked after his workmen in the fields, employed in the tillage of the ground:
1Ch 27:27 And over the vineyards was Shimei the Ramathite: over the increase of the vineyards for the wine cellars was Zabdi the Shiphmite:
the vineyards — These seem to have been in the vine growing districts of Judah , and were committed to two men of that quarter. 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: Over the workmen and laborers in the vineyards; as the next officer is over the fruit of the vineyards. In like manner, one man was over the laborers in the fields, 1Ch_27:26, and another over the fruits of the fields put into stores.
wine-cellars — The wine is deposited in jars sunk in the court of the house. Zabdi of Shepham, Num_34:10 had the charge of the wine squeezed out of the grapes, both in the presses and in the cellars:
1Ch 27:28 And over the olive trees and the sycomore trees that were in the low plains was Baalhanan the Gederite: and over the cellars of oil was Joash:
Baalhanan of Gedor, in the tribe of Judah, Jos_15:36 was over the olive and sycamore trees, to see that they were well taken care of:
Joash was entrusted with the cellars where the oil was deposited:
in the low plains — that is, the Shephela, the rich, low-lying ground between the Mediterranean and the mountains of Judah.
The sycamore - It has them on the trunk itself, which shoots out little sprigs, in form of grape stalks, at the end of which grow the fruit close to one another, almost like a cluster of grapes. The tree is always green, and bears fruit several times in the year, without observing any certain seasons; for I have seen some sycamores that have given fruit two months after others. The fruit has the figure and smell of real figs, but is inferior to them in the taste, having a disgusting sweetness. Its color is a yellow, inclining to an ochre, shadowed by a flesh color. In the inside it resembles the common figs, excepting that it has a blackish colouring with yellow spots.
1Ch 27:29 And over the herds that fed in Sharon was Shitrai the Sharonite: and over the herds that were in the valleys was Shaphat the son of Adlai:
1Ch 27:30 Over the camels also was Obil the Ishmaelite: and over the asses was Jehdeiah the Meronothite:
1Ch 27:31 And over the flocks was Jaziz the Hagerite. All these were the rulers of the substance which was king David's.
rulers of the substance that was king David’s — How and when the king acquired these demesnes and this variety of property - whether it was partly by conquests, or partly by confiscation, or by his own active cultivation of lands - is not said. It was probably in all these ways. The management of the king’s private possessions was divided into twelve parts, like his public affairs and the revenue derived from all these sources mentioned must have been very large.
1Ch 27:32 Also Jonathan David's uncle was a counsellor, a wise man, and a scribe: and Jehiel the son of Hachmoni was with the king's sons:
A list - supplemental in character - of some chief officers of David, not mentioned before. This catalogue of the king's officials forms a supplementary companion piece to the catalogues of the public officials, 1Ch_18:15-17, and 2Sa_8:15-18 and 2Sa_20:25-26. The list cannot belong to a very late part of David’s reign, since it contains the name of Ahithophel, who killed himself during Absalom’s rebellion 2Sa_17:23.
1Ch 27:33 And Ahithophel was the king's counsellor: and Hushai the Archite was the king's companion:
Counsellor - The person whose counsel in matters of state the king most prized and followed. Ahithophel was also, according to 2Sa_15:31; 2Sa_16:23, David's confidential adviser, and took his own life when Absalom, in his conspiracy against David, did not regard his counsel (2 Sam 17).
Companion - Or his friend, 2Sa_15:37, the person whom he trusted with his secrets, and whose conversation was most pleasant and acceptable to him. Observe, A cunning man was his counsellor: but an honest man was his friend. Hushai the Archite was also a friend and adviser of David (2Sa_15:37 and 2Sa_16:16), who caused Absalom to reject Ahithophel's counsel (2 Sam 17).
1Ch 27:34 And after Ahithophel was Jehoiada the son of Benaiah, and Abiathar: and the general of the king's army was Joab.
