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1 Chronicles 27:16-24 King James Version (KJV)

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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:

17 Of the Levites, Hashabiah the son of Kemuel: of the Aaronites, Zadok:

18 Of Judah, Elihu, one of the brethren of David: of Issachar, Omri the son of Michael:

19 Of Zebulun, Ishmaiah the son of Obadiah: of Naphtali, Jerimoth the son of Azriel:

20 Of the children of Ephraim, Hoshea the son of Azaziah: of the half tribe of Manasseh, Joel the son of Pedaiah:

21 Of the half tribe of Manasseh in Gilead, Iddo the son of Zechariah: of Benjamin, Jaasiel the son of Abner:

22 Of Dan, Azareel the son of Jeroham. These were the princes of the tribes of Israel.

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.

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.

1 Chronicles 27:16-24 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

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16 Furthermore over the tribes H7626 of Israel: H3478 the ruler H5057 of the Reubenites H7206 was Eliezer H461 the son H1121 of Zichri: H2147 of the Simeonites, H8099 Shephatiah H8203 the son H1121 of Maachah: H4601

17 Of the Levites, H3881 Hashabiah H2811 the son H1121 of Kemuel: H7055 of the Aaronites, H175 Zadok: H6659

18 Of Judah, H3063 Elihu, H453 one of the brethren H251 of David: H1732 of Issachar, H3485 Omri H6018 the son H1121 of Michael: H4317

19 Of Zebulun, H2074 Ishmaiah H3460 the son H1121 of Obadiah: H5662 of Naphtali, H5321 Jerimoth H3406 the son H1121 of Azriel: H5837

20 Of the children H1121 of Ephraim, H669 Hoshea H1954 the son H1121 of Azaziah: H5812 of the half H2677 tribe H7626 of Manasseh, H4519 Joel H3100 the son H1121 of Pedaiah: H6305

21 Of the half H2677 tribe of Manasseh H4519 in Gilead, H1568 Iddo H3035 the son H1121 of Zechariah: H2148 of Benjamin, H1144 Jaasiel H3300 the son H1121 of Abner: H74

22 Of Dan, H1835 Azareel H5832 the son H1121 of Jeroham. H3395 These were the princes H8269 of the tribes H7626 of Israel. H3478

23 But David H1732 took H5375 not the number H4557 of them from twenty H6242 years H8141 old H1121 and under: H4295 because the LORD H3068 had said H559 he would increase H7235 Israel H3478 like to the stars H3556 of the heavens. H8064

24 Joab H3097 the son H1121 of Zeruiah H6870 began H2490 to number, H4487 but he finished H3615 not, because there fell wrath H7110 for it H2063 against Israel; H3478 neither was the number H4557 put H5927 in the account H4557 of the chronicles H1697 H3117 of king H4428 David. H1732

1 Chronicles 27:16-24 American Standard (ASV)

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16 Furthermore over the tribes of Israel: of the Reubenites was Eliezer the son of Zichri the ruler: of the Simeonites, Shephatiah the son of Maacah:

17 of Levi, Hashabiah the son of Kemuel: of Aaron, Zadok:

18 of Judah, Elihu, one of the brethren of David: of Issachar, Omri the son of Michael:

19 of Zebulun, Ishmaiah the son of Obadiah: of Naphtali, Jeremoth the son of Azriel:

20 of the children of Ephraim, Hoshea the son of Azaziah: of the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joel the son of Pedaiah:

21 of the half -`tribe' of Manasseh in Gilead, Iddo the son of Zechariah: of Benjamin, Jaasiel the son of Abner:

22 of Dan, Azarel the son of Jeroham. These were the captains of the tribes of Israel.

23 But David took not the number of them from twenty years old and under, because Jehovah had said he would increase Israel like to the stars of heaven.

24 Joab the son of Zeruiah began to number, but finished not; and there came wrath for this upon Israel; neither was the number put into the account in the chronicles of king David.

1 Chronicles 27:16-24 Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

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16 And over the tribes of Israel: Of the Reubenite, a leader `is' Eliezer son of Zichri; of the Simeonite, Shephatiah son of Maachah;

17 of the Levite, Hashabiah son of Kemuel; of the Aaronite, Zadok;

18 of Judah, Elihu, of the brethren of David; of Issachar, Omri son of Michael;

19 of Zebulun, Ishmaiah son of Obadiah; of Naphtali, Jerimoth son of Azriel;

20 of the sons of Ephraim, Hoshea son of Azaziah; of the half of the tribe of Manasseh, Joel son of Pedaiah;

21 of the half of Manasseh in Gilead, Iddo son of Zechariah; of Benjamin, Jaasiel son of Abner; of Dan, Azareel son of Jeroham:

22 these `are' heads of the tribes of Israel.

23 And 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.

24 Joab 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.

1 Chronicles 27:16-24 Darby English Bible (DARBY)

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16 And over the tribes of Israel were: for the Reubenites Eliezer the son of Zichri was the prince; for the Simeonites, Shephatiah the son of Maachah;

17 for the Levites, Hashabiah the son of Kemuel; for Aaron, Zadok;

18 for Judah, Elihu of the brethren of David; for Issachar, Omri the son of Michael;

19 for Zebulun, Jishmaiah the son of Obadiah; for Naphtali, Jerimoth the son of Azriel;

20 for the children of Ephraim, Hosea the son of Azaziah; for the half tribe of Manasseh, Joel the son of Pedaiah;

21 for the half [tribe] of Manasseh in Gilead, Jiddo the son of Zechariah; for Benjamin, Jaasiel the son of Abner;

22 for Dan, Azareel the son of Jeroham. These were the princes of the tribes of Israel.

23 And David took not their number from twenty years old and under; for Jehovah had said he would increase Israel as the stars of heaven.

24 Joab the son of Zeruiah began to number, but he did not finish; and there fell wrath for it upon Israel; and the number was not put in the account of the chronicles of king David.

1 Chronicles 27:16-24 World English Bible (WEB)

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16 Furthermore over the tribes of Israel: of the Reubenites was Eliezer the son of Zichri the ruler: of the Simeonites, Shephatiah the son of Maacah:

17 of Levi, Hashabiah the son of Kemuel: of Aaron, Zadok:

18 of Judah, Elihu, one of the brothers of David: of Issachar, Omri the son of Michael:

19 of Zebulun, Ishmaiah the son of Obadiah: of Naphtali, Jeremoth the son of Azriel:

20 of the children of Ephraim, Hoshea the son of Azaziah: of the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joel the son of Pedaiah:

21 of the half-tribe of Manasseh in Gilead, Iddo the son of Zechariah: of Benjamin, Jaasiel the son of Abner:

22 of Dan, Azarel the son of Jeroham. These were the captains of the tribes of Israel.

23 But David didn't take the number of them from twenty years old and under, because Yahweh had said he would increase Israel like the stars of the sky.

24 Joab the son of Zeruiah began to number, but didn't finish; and there came wrath for this on Israel; neither was the number put into the account in the chronicles of king David.

1 Chronicles 27:16-24 Bible in Basic English (BBE)

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16 And over the tribes of Israel: the ruler of the Reubenites was Eliezer, the son of Zichri; of the Simeonites, Shephatiah, the son of Maacah;

17 Of Levi, Hashabiah, the son of Kemuel; of Aaron, Zadok;

18 Of Judah, Elihu, one of the brothers of David; of Issachar, Omri, the son of Michael;

19 Of Zebulun, Ishmaiah, the son of Obadiah; of Naphtali, Jerimoth, the son of Azriel;

20 Of the children of Ephraim, Hoshea, the son of Azaziah; of the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joel, the son of Pedaiah;

21 Of the half-tribe of Manasseh in Gilead, Iddo, the son of Zechariah; of Benjamin, Jaasiel, the son of Abner;

22 Of Dan, Azarel, the son of Jeroham. These were the captains of the tribes of Israel.

23 But David did not take the number of those who were under twenty years old, for the Lord had said that he would make Israel like the stars of heaven in number.

24 The numbering was started by Joab, the son of Zeruiah, but he did not go on to the end; and because of it, wrath came on Israel and the number was not recorded in the history of King David.

Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on 1 Chronicles 27

Commentary on 1 Chronicles 27 Matthew Henry Commentary

John Gill   Keil & Delitzsch   Robert Jamieson: Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible  

Chapter 27

In this chapter we have the civil list, including the military,

  • I. The twelve captains for every separate month of the year (v. 1-15).
  • II. The princes of the several tribes (v. 16-24).
  • III. The officers of the court (v. 25-34).

1Ch 27:1-15

We have here an account of the regulation of the militia of the kingdom. David was himself a man of war, and had done great things with the sword; he had brought into the field great armies. Now here we are told how he marshalled them when God had given him rest from all his enemies. He did not keep them all together, for that would have been a hardship on them and the country; yet he did not disband and disperse them all, for then he would have left his kingdom naked, and his people would have forgotten the arts of war, wherein they had been instructed. He therefore contrived to keep up a constant force, and yet not a standing army. The model is very prudent.

  • 1. He kept up 24,000 constantly in arms, I suppose in a body, and disciplined, in one part or other of the kingdom, the freeholders carrying their own arms and bearing their own charges while they were up. This was a sufficient strength for the securing of the public peace and safety. Those that are Israelites indeed must learn war; for we have enemies to grapple with, whom we are concerned constantly to stand upon our guard against.
  • 2. He changed them every month; so that the whole number of the militia amounted to 288,000, perhaps about a fifth part of the able men of the kingdom. By being thus distributed into twelve courses, they were all instructed in, and accustomed to, military exercises; and yet none were compelled to be in service, and at expenses, above one month in the year (which they might very well afford), unless upon extraordinary occasions, and then they might all be got together quickly. It is the wisdom of governors, and much their praise, while they provide for the public safety, to contrive how to make it effectual and yet easy, and as little as possible burdensome to the people.
  • 3. Every course had a commander in chief over it. Besides the subaltern officers that were rulers over thousands, and hundreds, and fifties, there was one general officer to each course or legion. All these twelve great commanders are mentioned among David's worthies and champions, 2 Sa. 23 and 1 Chr. 11. They had first signalized themselves by their great actions and then they were advanced to those great preferments. It is well with a kingdom when honour thus attends merit. Benaiah is here called a chief priest, v. 5. But, cohen signifying both a priest and a prince, it might better be translated here a chief ruler, or (as in the margin) a principal officer. Dodai had Mikloth (v. 4) either for his substitute when he was absent or infirm, or for his successor when he was dead. Benaiah had his son under him, v. 6. Asahel had his son after him (v. 7), and by this it seems that this plan of the militia was laid in the beginning of David's reign; for Asahel was killed by Abner while David reigned in Hebron. When his wars were over he revived this method, and left the military affairs in this posture, for the peaceable reign of his son Solomon. When we think ourselves most safe, yet, while we are here in the body, we must keep in a readiness for spiritual conflicts. Let not him that girdeth on the harness boast as he that puts it off.

1Ch 27:16-34

We have here an account,

  • I. Of the princes of the tribes. Something of the ancient order instituted by Moses in the wilderness was still kept up, that every tribe should have its prince or chief. It is probable that it was kept up all along, either by election or by succession, in the same family; and those are here named who were found in that office when this account was taken. Elihu, or Eliab, who was prince of Judah, was the eldest son of Jesse, and descended in a right line from Nahshon and Salmon, the princes of this tribe in Moses's time. Whether these princes were of the nature of lord-lieutenants that guided them in their military affairs, or chief-justices that presided in their courts of judgment, does not appear. Their power, we may suppose, was much less now that all the tribes were united under one king than it had been when, for the most part, they acted separately. Our religion obliges us to be subject, not only to the king as supreme, but unto governors under him (1 Pt. 2:13, 14), the princes that decree justice. Of Benjamin was Jaaziel the son of Abner, v. 21. Though Abner was David's enemy, and opposed his coming to the throne, yet David would not oppose the preferment of his son, but perhaps nominated him to this post of honour, which teaches us to render good for evil.
  • II. Of the numbering of the people, v. 23, 24. It is here said,
    • 1. That when David ordered the people to be numbered he forbade the numbering of those under twenty years old, thinking thereby to save the reflection which what he did might otherwise cast upon the promise that they should be innumerable; yet it was but a poor salvo, for it had never been customary to number those under twenty, and the promise of their numbers chiefly respected the effective men.
    • 2. That the account which David took of the people, in the pride of his heart, turned to no good account; for it was never perfected, nor done with exactness, nor was it ever recorded as an authentic account. Joab was disgusted with it, and did it by halves; David was ashamed of it, and willing it should be forgotten, because there fell wrath for it against Israel. A good man cannot, in the reflection, please himself with that which he knows God is displeased with, cannot make use of that, nor take comfort in that, which is obtained by sin.
  • III. Of the officers of the court.
    • 1. The rulers of the king's substance (as they are called, v. 31), such as had the oversight and charge of the king's tillage, his vineyards, his olive-yards, his herds, his camels, his asses, his flocks. Here are no officers for state, none for sport, no master of the wardrobe, no master of the ceremonies, no master of the horse, no master of the hounds, but all for service, agreeable to the simplicity and plainness of those times. David was a great soldier, a great scholar, and a great prince, and yet a great husband of his estate, kept a great deal of ground in his own hand, and stocked it, not for pleasure, but for profit; for the king himself is served of the field, Eccles. 5:9. Those magistrates that would have their subjects industrious must themselves be examples of industry and application to business. We find, however, that afterwards the poor of the land were thought good enough to be vine-dressers and husbandmen, 2 Ki. 25:12. Now David put his great men to preside in these employments.
    • 2. The attendants on the king's person. They were such as were eminent for wisdom, being designed for conversation. His uncle, who was a wise man and a scribe, not only well skilled in politics, but well read in the scriptures, was his counsellor, v. 32. Another, who no doubt excelled in learning and prudence, was tutor to his children. Ahithophel, a very cunning man, was his counsellor: but Hushai, an honest man, was his companion and confidant. It does not appear that he had many counsellors; but those he had were men of great abilities. Much of the wisdom of princes is seen in the choice of their ministry. But David, though he had all these trusty and well-beloved cousins and counsellors about him, preferred his Bible before them all. Ps. 119:24, Thy testimonies are my delight and my counsellors.