1 Chronicles 27 commentary

In the kingdoms of this world readiness for war forms a security for peace; in like manner, nothing so much encourages Satan's assaults as to be unwatchful. So long as we stand armed with the whole armour of God, in the exercise of faith, and preparation of heart for the conflict, we shall certainly be safe, and probably enjoy inward peace.

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 counsellors.

CHAPTER 27

1Ch 27:1-15. Twelve Captains for Every Month.

1. came in and went out month by 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 (see 1Ch 27:7) 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. Whether the same individuals were always enrolled, cannot be determined. The probability is, that provided the requisite number was furnished, no stricter scrutiny would be made. A change of men might, to a certain degree, be encouraged, as it was a part of David's policy to train all his subjects to skill in arms; and to have made the enlistment fall always on the same individuals would have defeated that purpose. To have confined each month's levy rigidly within the limits of one tribe might have fallen hard upon those tribes which were weak and small. The rotation system being established, each division knew its own month, as well as the name of the commander under whom it was to serve. These commanders are styled, "the chief fathers," that is, the hereditary heads of tribes who, like chieftains of clans, possessed great power and influence.

captains of thousands and hundreds--The legions of twenty-four thousand were divided into regiments of one thousand, and these again into companies of a hundred men, under the direction of their respective subalterns, there being, of course, twenty-four captains of thousands, and two hundred forty centurions.

and their officers--the Shoterim, who in the army performed the duty of the commissariat, keeping the muster-roll, &c.

2-3. Jashobeam the son of Zabdiel--(See on 1Ch 11:11; 2Sa 23:8). 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.

4. second month was Dodai--or, "Dodo." Here the text seems to require the supplement of "Eleazar the son of Dodo" (2Sa 23:9).

7. Asahel--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.

1Ch 27:16-24. Princes of the Twelve Tribes.

16. over the tribes of Israel: the ruler--This is a list of the hereditary chiefs or rulers of tribes at the time of David's numbering the people. Gad and Asher are not included; for what reason is unknown. The tribe of Levi had a prince (1Ch 27:17), as well as the other tribes; and although it was ecclesiastically subject to the high priest, yet in all civil matters it had a chief or head, possessed of the same authority and power as in the other tribes, only his jurisdiction did not extend to the priests.

18. Elihu--probably the same as Eliab (1Sa 16:6).

23. 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 (Ge 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.

24. neither was the number put in the account of the chronicles of King David--either because the undertaking was not completed, Levi and Benjamin not having been numbered (1Ch 21:6), or the full details in the hands of the enumerating officers were not reported to David, and, consequently, not registered in the public archives.

the chronicles--were the daily records or annals of the king's reign. No notice was taken of this census in the historical register, as from the public calamity with which it was associated it would have stood as a painful record of the divine judgment against the king and the nation.

25. over the king's treasures--Those treasures consisted of gold, silver, precious stones, cedar-wood, &c.; those which he had in Jerusalem as distinguished from others without the city.

the storehouses in the fields--Grain covered over with layers of straw is frequently preserved in the fields under little earthen mounds, like our potato pits.

27. the vineyards--These seem to have been in the vine growing districts of Judah, and were committed to two men of that quarter.

wine-cellars--The wine is deposited in jars sunk in the court of the house.

28. olive trees and the sycamore trees ... in the low plains--that is, the Shephela, the rich, low-lying ground between the Mediterranean and the mountains of Judah.

29. herds that fed in Sharon--a fertile plain between Cæsarea and Joppa.

30. camels--These were probably in the countries east of the Jordan, and hence an Ishmaelite and Nazarite were appointed to take charge of them.

31. 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 waste 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.

The chief fathers and captains of thousands - The patriarchs, chief generals, or generals of brigade. 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 Israelitish kingdom. See Calmet.

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. No mention is made of a veadar or intercalary month.

Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, a chief priest - Why should not this clause be read as it is in the Hebrew? "Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada the priest, a captain; and in his course," etc. Or, as the Targum has it, "The third captain of the host for the month Sivan was Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada the priest, who was constituted a chief." He is distinguished from Benaiah, the Pirathonite, who was over the eleventh month. Some think that the original word הכהן haccohen, which generally signifies priest, should be translated here a principal officer; so the margin has it. But, in the Old Testament, כהן cohen signifies both prince and priest; and translating it by the former removes the difficulty from this place, for we well know that Benaiah never was a priest.

Asahel the brother of Joab - This verse proves that the division and arrangement mentioned above were made before David was acknowledged king in Hebron; for Asahel, the brother of Joab, who was fourth captain, was slain by Abner, while Ishbosheth reigned over Israel at Mahanaim, 2Sam 2:19-23.

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.

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.

Over the king's treasures - We see from these verses in what the personal property of David consisted: -

1. Treasures, gold, silver, etc.

2. Goods and grain in castles, cities villages, and in the fields.

3. Vineyards and their produce.

4. Olive-trees and their produce.

5. Neat cattle, in different districts.

6. Camels and asses: they had no horses.

7. Flocks, sheep, goats, etc.

And after Ahithophel - The Targum is curious: "When they went to war, they asked counsel of Ahithophel; and, after the counsel of Ahithophel, they inquired by Urim and Thummim of Jehoiada, the son of Benaiah, prince of the Sanhedrin, and chief of the priesthood; and from Abiathar, the high priest. And after they had inquired by Urim and Thummim, they went out to battle, well armed with bows and slings; and Joab, the general of the king's troops, led them on." It is worthy of remark, that Obil, an Ishmaelite or Arab, was put over the camels, which is a creature of Arabia; and that Jaziz, a Hagarene, (the Hagarenes were shepherds by profession), was put over the flocks: nothing went by favor; each was appointed to the office for which he was best qualified; and thus men of worth were encouraged, and the public service effectually promoted.

Officers - The standing militia of Israel as it was settled under their several officers. Of courses - In all the business wherein the king had occasion for these persons who were to attend him by turns. Came in, &c. - who being armed and mustered, and to wait upon the king, at Jerusalem or other places, as the king should see fit. By this order near three hundred thousand of his people were instructed and exercised in the use of their arms, and fitted for the defence of their king and kingdom when it should be needful, and in the mean time sufficient provision was made against any sudden tumults or irruptions of enemies. And this monthly course was contrived that the burden of it might be easy and equally distributed among the people.

The ruler - These were the princes of the tribes, the constant rulers of the tribes; who seem to have had a superior power to these twenty four captains, and therefore are named before them, being probably the king's chief counsellors and assistants in the great affairs of his kingdom.

Tribes - 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.

Because - And therefore to number them all both above and under twenty years old, had been both an infinite trouble and a tempting of God, or a questioning the truth of his promises.

Vineyards - Over the workmen and labourers in the vineyards; as the next officer is over the fruit of the vineyards. In like manner, one man was over the labourers in the fields, ver.26, and another over the fruits of the fields put into stores.

All these - It is observable, here are no officers for state, none for sport, no master of the ceremonies, or of the bounds, but all for substance, 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. Those magistrates who would have their subjects industrious, must themselves be examples of application to business.

A scribe - Either one learned in the laws of God, which were also the laws of the land, or, the king's secretary. King's sons - As their tutor or governour.

Counsellor - The person whose counsel in matters of state the king most prized and followed. Companion - Or his friend, 2Sam 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.

After Ahithophel - After his death, these were his chief counsellors.

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.

The standing Force or Militia of Israel as it was settled under their several Officers, as it here follows.

i. e. In all the business wherein the King had occasion for these Persons who were to attend upon him or his Commands by Courses or by Turns. Or, according to all the order or state of the Divisions, or, about the Companies or Courses into which they were distributed.

i. e. Executed their Office: which is commonly signified by this Phrase, as Numb. 27. 17. and elsewhere.

Who were to be Armed and Mustered and to wait upon the King either at Jerusalem on in other places as the King should see fit. By this Order near 300000 of his People were instructed and exercised in the use of the Arms and fitted for the Defence of their King and Kingdom when it should be needful, and in the mean time sufficient Provision was made against any sudden Tumults or Irruptions of Enemies. And this monthly Course was contrived that the Burden of it might be easie and equally distributed [illegible: 1 word] the People.

2 Over the first course for the first month, was Jashobeam the son of Zabdiel: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.

Of whom see 2 Sam. 23. 8. and 1 Chron. 11. 11.

3 Of the children of Perez , was the chief of all the captains of the host for the first month.

Or, of Pharez, of the Posterity of Iudah, Gen. 46. 12. This seems to be understood of Iashobeam, and to be mentioned as a reason why he was the Chief, &c. and the verse may be rendred thus, He was (which is easily understood out of the foregoing words) of the children of Perez (and consequently of the Tribe of Iudah, to which the Pre-eminence belonged, and of which Iudah was) and he was (or, therefore he was) the Chief (to wit, in Dignity and Precedency, though not in Power and Authority, for these captains were equal in Power, and Ioah was their General) of all the Captains of Host (whose several Names here follow) and was for the first month. Therefore he was first in Order and was Captain for the first month.

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.

Who was either 1. the Captain of this Course after the death of this Dodai, as Zebadiah was after Asahel, v. 7. But the differing Phrase there and here sufficiently intimates that the same thing is not meant in both Places. Or, 2. his Lieutenant or Deputy in case of his necessary Absence. But why should such an one be named here and not in the rest of the Courses? Or rather 3. one of the Officers of his Course; who seems here particularly to be named as a person then of great Note and Eminency.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 word] ▪ [illegible: 1 word], [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 word] 23. 9.

5 The third captain of the host for the third month, was Benajah the son of Jehojada a chief priest : and in his course were twenty and four thousand.

Or, the chief Priest. Or rather, a chief Prince, as this Hebrew Word is oft used, as Gen. 41. 45. & 47. 22. 2 Sam. 8. 18. & 20. 26. 1 King. 4. 5. 2 King. 10. 11. and elsewhere. Probably he was not onely a Captain of this Course, but a great Officer in the Court and State. For although the Priests might take up Arms in some special Cases, yet it is not likely that such were constant Officers in the Kings Army, especially seeing the rest of the Captains here named were of other Tribes. Besides, neither Benajah nor Jehojadah was High-Priest at that time, but Zadok or Abiathar, and before them Abimelech, in whom the Priesthood had been for a long time together, even in the days of Samuel and S[illegible: 1+ letters]ul and David and Solomon.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 word] ▪ principal [illegible: 1 word] ▪

6 This is that Benajah, who was mighty among the thirty, and above the thirty: and in his course was Ammizabad his son .

Who seems to have been his Fathers Lieutenant, because his Father was Captain of the Kings Guards, 2 Sam. 8. 18. and therefore needed a Deputy in the one or in the other place.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 word] 23. 20, [illegible: 1+ letters]3. [illegible: 1 word]. 12. 22.

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.

By which, it seems, the Foundation of this Project was laid whilst David was in Hebron, during which time Asahel was slain, and Davids Forces were then divided into 24 Courses under 24 Chief Commanders, whereof Asahel was one; onely it is probable that the number of their Forces was much less than that which is here mentioned: But when David was fully settled in his whole Kingdom, the design was perfected and the numbers of their Souldiers increased to this Number.

i. e. After his death; of which see 2 Sam. 2. 23.

Not Asahels, for in his time they were not so numerous, but Zebadiahs his Son.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 word] 23. 24. [illegible: 1 word]. 26.

8 The fifth captain for the fifth month, was Shamhuth the [illegible: 1 word]: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.

Supposed to be the same called [illegible: 1 word] ▪ 2 Sam. 23. 11. and Sha[illegible: 1+ letters]moth, 1 Chron. 11. 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.

So called also 1 Chron. 11. 27. and the Paltite, 2 Sam. 23. 26.

11 The eighth captain for the eighth month, was Sibbecai the Hushathite, of the Zarhites : and in his course were twenty and four thousand.

Of the Family of the Zarhites.

Marginal references: 2 Sam. 21. 18.

16 Furthermore, over the children of Israel : the ruler of the Reubenites was Eliezer the son of Zichri: of the Simeonites, Shephatiah the son of Maacha.

i. e. These were the Princes of the Tribes, as they are called below, v. 22. who were the most ancient and constant Rulers of the Tribes at all times whether of War or Peace; who seem to have had a Superiour Power to these 24 Captains, and therefore are named before them, ch. 28. 1. being probably the Kings Chief Counsellours and Assistants in the great Affairs of his Kingdom.

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

Called also Elia[illegible: 1+ letters], 1 Sam. 16. 6.

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

Of the most of the Tribes, not of all: for G[illegible: 1+ letters]d is omitted, probably because that Tribe was joyned with tho Reubenites under one Prince; and Asher, for some such reason; or for some other Causes now unknown and not worth our Enquiry.

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 .

The meaning is, David when he desired to number the people▪ he designed to number onely those who were from tw[illegible: 1+ letters]nty years old and upward, or (which is the same thing) thos[illegible: 1+ letters] that drew sword, 1 Chron. 21. 5. and not those who were from 20 years old and under.

And therefore to number them all both above and under twenty years old had been both an infinite trouble and a tempting of God, or a questioning of the Truth of his Promises. And possibly this Circumstance might in part deceive or quiet David[illegible: 1+ letters] Conscience, that his desire of knowing the number of his People did not proceed from distrust of Gods Promise or Providence, but from a prudent Care to know the true State and Strength of his Kingdom.

Marginal references: Gen. 15. 5.

24 Joab the son of Zerujah 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 .

To wit, All from 20 years old and upward, as David commanded him.

For Levi and Benjamin he counted not, 1 Chron. 21. 6.

Whilst he was doing the Work; which was one reason which made him to cease. Heb. And there fell, &c. Though David numbred them with Caution and Limitation, as was noted before, yet this did not hinder Gods Wrath from falling upon Israel for this Sin.

The sence is either 1. That the full number was not registred, because Levi and Benjamin were not counted by Joab. Or rather 2. That David being sensible of and smarting for his Sin, would not have the number brought in by Joab to him put into the publick Register, though God would have it recorded in Scripture for the instruction of succeeding Ages. For he speaks not here of the Account given in to the King, which was done, and was Joabs Act; but of the putting of the Account into the publick Records, which was not done, and which could not be done but by Davids Command or Permission.

Marginal references: 2 Sam. 24. 15. Ch. 21. [illegible: 1+ letters].; Heb. as[illegible: 1+ letters]ended.

25 And over the kings 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.

Of Gold, or Silver, or other things of great price, which for greater security were kept in Jerusalem and in the Kings Palace: and thither the Tribute-money also was sent and committed to his Care.

Of the Fruits of the Earth, or that share of them which belonged to the King, which were laid up in the Fields, or Cities, or Villages, or Castles, as there was conveniency and occasion.

26 And over them that did the work of the field for tillage of the ground, was Ezri the son of Chelub.

Over the Kings Husbandry.

27 And over the vineyards was Shimei the Ramathite: over the increase of the vineyards for the wine-cellars, was Zabdi the Shiphmite.

i. e. Over the Workmen and Labourers in the Vineyards; as the next Officer is over the Fruit of the Vineyards. In like manner one man was over the Labourers in the Fields, v. 26. and another over the Fruits of the Fields put into Stores after the manner, v▪ 25.

Marginal references: Heb. over that which was of the Vineyards.

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.

A place Famous for its Fruitfulness. See Isa. 33. 9. & 35. 2.

30 Over the camels also, was Obil the Ishmeelite : and over the asses, was Jehdeja the Meronothite.

So called either because he was born of that People, or had lived among them; or from some notable Exploit which he did against them.

32 Also Jonathan Davids uncle was a counseller, a wise man, and a scribe : and Jehiel the son of Hachmoni was with the kings sons .

Either one learned in the Laws of God, which were also the Laws of the Land, by which all their Counsels were to be ruled Or, the Kings Secretary.

As their Tutor or Governour.

Marginal references: Or, Secretary.; Or, Hachmoni[illegible: 1+ letters]e.

33 And Ahithophel was the kings counseller , and Hushai the Archite was the kings companion .

The Person whose Counsel in matters of State the King most prized and followed.

Or, his Friend, as he is called▪ a Sam. 15. 37. The Person whom he most trusted with all his Secrets, and whose Conversation was most pleasant and acceptable to him.

Marginal references: 2 Sam [illegible: 1+ letters]5. 12.; 2 Sam▪ [illegible: 1 word]

34 And after Ahithophel , was J[illegible: 1+ letters]hojada the son of Benajah, and Abiathar; and the general of the kings army was Joab.

i. e. After his death, these were his Chief Counsellers.

Marginal references: Ch. 11 [illegible: 1+ letters].

1Ch 27:1 The twelve divisions of the army. - 1Ch 27:1. The lengthy superscription, “And the sons of Israel according to their number, the heads of the fathers'-houses, and the princes over the thousands and the hundreds, and their scribes, who swerved the king in regard to every matter of the divisions; which month for month of all months of the year went and came, one division 24,000 men,” is towards the end so intimately interwoven with the divisions of the army, that it can only refer to this, i.e., only to the catalogue, 1Ch 27:2-15. Since, then, we find in this catalogue only the twelve classes, the number of the men belonging to each, and their leaders, and since for this the short superscription, “the Israelites according to their number, and the princes of the divisions which served the king,” would be amply sufficient, Bertheau thinks that the superscription originally belonged to a more complete description of the classes and their different officers, of which only a short extract is here communicated. This hypothesis is indeed possible, but is not at all certain; for it is questionable whether, according to the above superscription, we have a right to expect an enumeration by name of the various officials who served the king in the classes of the army. The answer to this question depends upon our view of the relation of the words, “the heads of the fathers'-houses, and the princes,” to the first clause, “the sons of Israel according to their number.” Had these words been connected by the conjunction ו (וראשׁי) with this clause, and thereby made co-ordinate with it, we should be justified in having such an expectation. But the want of the conjunction shows that these words form an apposition, which as to signification is subordinate to the main idea. If we take this appositional explanation to mean something like this, “the sons of Israel, according to their number, with the heads of the fathers'-houses and the princes,” the emphasis of the superscription falls upon למספּרם, and the number of the sons of Israel, who with their heads and princes were divided into classes, is announced to be the important thing in the following catalogue. That this is the meaning and object of the words may be gathered from this, that in the second half of the verse, the number of the men fit for service, who from month to month came and went as one class, is stated האחת, one at a time (distributive), as in Jdg 8:18; Num 17:6, etc.; cf. Ew. §313, a, note 1. וצא בּוא, used of entering upon and leaving the service (cf. 2Ch 23:4, 2Ch 23:8; 2Ki 11:5, 2Ki 11:7,2Ki 11:9). But the words are hardly to be understood to mean that the classes which were in service each month were ordered from various parts of the kingdom to the capital, and there remained under arms; but rather, as Clericus, that they paratae essent ducum imperiis parere, si quid contigisset, dum ceterae copiae, si necesse essent, convenirent.

1Ch 27:2

Over the first division was Jashobeam, scil. commander. The second מחלקתּו על is to be rendered, “in his division were 24,000 men,” i.e., they were reckoned to it. As to Jashobeam, see on 1Ch 11:11 and 2Sa 23:8.

1Ch 27:3 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).

1Ch 27:4

Before דּודי, according to 1Ch 11:12, בּן אלעזר has been dropped out (see on 2Sa 23:9). The words הנּגיד וּמקלות וּמחלקתּו are obscure. At the end of the sixth verse similar words occur, and hence Bertheau concludes that וּ before מקלות is to be struck out, and translated, “and his divisions, Mikloth the prince,” which might denote, perhaps, “and his division is that over which Mikloth was prince.” Older commentators have already translated the word in a similar manner, as signifying that Mikloth was prince or chief of this division under the Ahohite Eleazar. All that is certain is, that מקלות is a name which occurred in 1Ch 8:32 and 1Ch 9:37 among the Benjamites.

1Ch 27:5-6

Here the form of expression is changed; הצּבא שׂר, the chief of the third host, begins the sentence. As to Benaiah, see 1Ch 11:22 and the commentary on 2Sa 23:20. ראשׁ does not belong to הכּהן, but is the predicate of Benaiah: “the prince of the ... was Benaiah ... as head,” sc. of the division for the third month. This is added, because in 1Ch 27:6 still a third military office held by Benaiah is mentioned. He was hero of the (among the) thirty, and over the thirty, i.e., more honoured than they (cf. 1Ch 11:25 and 2Sa 23:23). - With 1Ch 27:6 cf. what is said on the similar words, 1Ch 27:4.

1Ch 27:7

From here onwards the mode of expression is very much compressed: the fourth of the fourth month, instead of the chief of the fourth host of the fourth month. Asahel (see 1Ch 11:26 and on 2Sa 23:24) was slain by Abner (2Sa 2:18-23) in the beginning of David’s reign, and consequently long before the division of the army here recorded. The words, “and Zebadiah his son after him,” point 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 merely honoris causâ, since the division over which his son was named, de patris defuncti nomine (Cler.).

1Ch 27:8

Shamhuth is called in 1Ch 11:27 Shammoth, and in 2Sa 23:25 Shamma. He was born in Harod; here he is called היּזרח the Jizrahite, = הזּרחי, 1Ch 27:13, of the family of Zerah the son of Judah (1Ch 2:4, 1Ch 2:6).

1Ch 27:9

Ira; see 1Ch 11:28, 2Sa 23:26.

1Ch 27:10

Helez: 1Ch 11:27; 2Sa 23:26.

1Ch 27:11

Sibbecai; see 1Ch 11:29, 2Sa 23:27.

1Ch 27:12

Abiezer; see 1Ch 11:28; 2Sa 23:27; he was of Anathoth in the tribe of Benjamin (Jer 1:1).

1Ch 27:13

Maharai (see 1Ch 11:30; 2Sa 23:28) belonged also to the family of Zerah; see 1Ch 27:11, 1Ch 27:8.

1Ch 27:14

Benaiah of Pirathon; see 1Ch 11:31, 2Sa 23:30.

1Ch 27:15

Heldai, in 1Ch 11:30 Heled, in 2Sa 23:29 erroneously called Heleb, belonging to Othniel’s family (Jos 15:17).

1Ch 27:16-17 The princes of the twelve tribes. - The enumeration of the tribal princes, commencing with the words, “and over the tribes of Israel,” immediately follows the catalogue of the divisions of the army with their commanders, because the subjects are in so far connected as the chief management of the internal business of the people, divided as they were into tribes, was deposited in their hands. In the catalogue the tribes Gad and Asher are omitted for reasons unknown to us, just as in 1 Chron 4-7, in the genealogies of the tribes, Dan and Zebulun are. In reference to Levi, on the contrary, the Nagid of Aaron, i.e., the head of the priesthood, is named, viz., Zadok, the high priest of the family of Eleazar.

1Ch 27:18-19

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 27:20-22

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. גּלעדה, towards Gilead, to designate the East-Jordan Manassites.

1Ch 27:23-24 1Ch 27:23 and 1Ch 27:24 contain a concluding remark on the catalogue of the twelve detachments into which the men capable of bearing arms in Israel were divided, contained in 1Ch 27:2-15. David had not taken their number from the men of twenty years and under, i.e., he had only caused those to be numbered who were over twenty years old. The word מספּרם points back to למספּרם, 1Ch 27:1. מספּר נשׂא as in Num 3:40 = ראשׁ נשׂא, Exo 30:12; Num 1:49, to take up the sum or total. The reason of this is given in the clause, “for Jahve had said (promised) to increase Israel like to the stars of heaven” (Gen 22:17), which cannot mean: For it was impossible for David to number all, because they were as numerous as the stars of heaven, which of course cannot be numbered (Berth.). The thought is rather that David never intended to number the whole people from the youngest to the eldest, for he did not desire in fidem divinarum promissionum inquirere aut eam labefactare (J. H. Mich.); and he accordingly caused only the men capable of bearing arms to be numbered, in order to organize the military constitution of the kingdom in the manner recorded in 1Ch 27:2-15. But even this numbering which Joab had begun was not completed, because wrath came on Israel because of it, as is narrated in 1 Chron 21. For this reason also the number, i.e., the result of the numbering begun by Joab, but not completed, is not included in the number of the chronicle of King David, i.e., in the official number which was usually inserted in the public annals. בּמספּר neither stands for בּספר (according to 2Ch 20:34), nor does it denote, “in the section which treats of the numberings” (Berth.). היּמים דּברי is a shorter expression for h' דּברי ספר, book of the events of the day.

1Ch 27:25-26 The managers of David’s possessions and domains. - The property and the income of the king were (1Ch 27:25) divided into treasures of the king, and treasures in the country, in the cities, the villages, and the castles. By the “treasures of the king” we must therefore understand those which were in Jerusalem, i.e., the treasures of the royal palace. These were managed by Azmaveth. The remaining treasures are specified in 1Ch 27:26. They consisted in fields which were cultivated by labourers (1Ch 27:26); in vineyards (1Ch 27:27); plantations of olive trees and sycamores in the Shephelah, the fruitful plain on the Mediterranean Sea (1Ch 27:28); in cattle, which pastured partly in the plain of Sharon between Caesarea Palestina and Joppa, partly in various valleys of the country (1Ch 27:29); and in camels, asses, and sheep (1Ch 27:30.). All these possessions are called רכוּשׁ, and the overseers of them הרכוּשׁ שׂרי. They consisted in the produce of agriculture and cattle-breeding, the two main branches of Israelitish industry.

1Ch 27:27

Special officers were set over the vineyards and the stores of wine. The שׁ in שׁבּכּרמים is a contraction of אשׁר: “over that which was in the vineyards of treasures (stores) of wine.” The officer over the vineyards, Shimei, was of Ramah in Benjamin (cf. Jos 18:25); he who was over the stores of wine, Zabdi, is called השּׁפמי, probably not from שׁפם on the northern frontier of Canaan, Num 34:10, the situation of which has not yet been discovered, but from the equally unknown שׁפמוה in the Negeb of Judah, 1Sa 30:28. For since the vineyards, in which the stores of wine were laid up, must certainly have lain in the tribal domain of Judah, so rich in wine (Num 13:23.; Gen 49:11), probably the overseers of it were born in the same district.

1Ch 27:28-29

As to the שׁפלה, see on Jos 15:33. הגּדרי, he who was born in Geder, not Gedera, for which we should expect הגּדרתי (1Ch 12:4), although the situation of Gedera, south-east from Jabne (see on Jos 12:4), appears to suit better than that of גּדר or גּדור in the hill country of Judah; see Jos 12:13 and Jos 15:58.

1Ch 27:30-31

The name of the Ishmaelite who was set over the camels, Obil (אוביל), reminds us of the Arab. abila, multos possedit vel acquisivit camelos. המּרנמי, he of Meronoth (1Ch 27:30 and Neh 3:17). The situation of this place is unknown. According to Neh 3:7, it is perhaps to be sought in the neighbourhood of Mizpah. Over the smaller cattle (sheep and goats) Jaziz the Hagarite, of the people Hagar (cf. 1Ch 5:10), was set. The oversight, consequently, of the camels and sheep was committed to a Hagarite and an Ishmaelite, probably because they pastured in the neighbourhood where the Ishmaelites and Hagarites had nomadized from early times, they having been brought under the dominion of Israel by David. The total number of these officials amounted to twelve, of whom we may conjecture that the ten overseers over the agricultural and cattle-breeding affairs of the king had to deliver over the annual proceeds of the property committed to them to the chief manager of the treasures in the field, in the cities, and villages, and towns.

1Ch 27:32 David’s councillors. 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. Besides Joab, who is met with in all catalogues as prince of the host, i.e., commander-in-chief, we find in our catalogue partly other men introduced, partly other duties of the men formerly named, than are mentioned in these three catalogues. From this it is clear that it is not the chief public officials who are enumerated, but only the first councillors of the king, who formed as it were his senate, and that the catalogue probably is derived from the same source as the preceding catalogues. Jonathan, the דּוד of David. The word דּוד generally denotes a father’s brother; but since a Jonathan, son of Shimea, the brother of David, occurs 1Ch 20:7 and 2Sa 21:21, Schmidt and Bertheau hold him to be the same as our Jonathan, when דּוד would be used in the general signification of “relative,” here of a nephew. Nothing certain can be ascertained in reference to it. He was יויץ, councillor, and, as is added, a wise and learned man. סופר is here not an official designation, but signifies literatus, learned, scholarly, as in Ezr 7:6. Jehiel, the son of Hachmon, was with the children of the king, i.e., was governor of the royal princes.

1Ch 27:33

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). 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

After Ahithophel, i.e., after his death, was Jehoiada the son of Benaiah (scil. counsellor of the king), and Abiathar. As Benaiah the son of Jehoiada is elsewhere, when named among the public officials of David, called chief of the royal body-guard (cf. 1Ch 18:17), Bertheau does not scruple to transpose the names here. But the hypothesis of such a transposition is neither necessary nor probable in the case of a name which, like Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, so frequently occurs (e.g., in 1Ch 27:5). Since sons not unfrequently received the name of the grandfather, Jehoiada the son of the hero Benaiah may have been named after his grandfather Jehoiada. Abiathar is without doubt the high priest of this name of Ithamar’s family) 1Ch 15:11, etc.; see on 1Ch 6:1-4), and is here mentioned as being also a friend and adviser of David. As to Joab, see on 1Ch 18:15. David’s Last Directions, and His Death - 1 Chronicles 28-29

In order to give over the throne before his death to his son Solomon, and so secure to him the succession, and facilitate his accomplishment of the great work of his reign, the building of the temple, David summoned the estates of his kingdom, the court officials, and the heroes of the people in Jerusalem. In a solemn address he designated Solomon as his divinely chosen successor on the throne, and exhorted him to keep the commandments of God, to serve the Lord with devoted heart, and to build Him a house for a sanctuary (1Ch 28:1-10). He then committed to Solomon the sketches and plans for the sacred buildings and sacred objects of various sorts, with the confident promise that he, by the help of God, and with the co-operation of the priests and of the people, would complete the work (1Ch 28:11-21). Finally, he announced, in the presence of the whole assembly, that he gave over his treasures of gold and silver to this building, and called upon the chiefs of the people and kingdom for a voluntary contribution for the same purpose; and on their freely answering this call, concluded with a solemn prayer of thanks, to which the whole assembly responded, bowing low before God and the king (29:1-20). This reverence they confirmed by numerous burnt-offerings and thank-offerings, and by the repeated anointing of Solomon to be king (1Ch 29:21 and 1Ch 29:22).

David summoned the estates of the kingdom, and presented Solomon to them as his divinely chosen successor on the throne.

The Officers of the Army. (b. c. 1015.)

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. 2 Over the first course for the first month was Jashobeam the son of Zabdiel: and in his course were twenty and four thousand. 3 Of the children of Perez was the chief of all the captains of the host for the first month. 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. 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. 6 This is that Benaiah, who was mighty among the thirty, and above the thirty: and in his course was Ammizabad his son. 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. 8 The fifth captain for the fifth month was Shamhuth the Izrahite: and in his course were twenty and four thousand. 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. 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. 11 The eighth captain for the eighth month was Sibbecai the Hushathite, of the Zarhites: and in his course were twenty and four thousand. 12 The ninth captain for the ninth month was Abiezer the Anetothite, of the Benjamites: and in his course were twenty and four thousand. 13 The tenth captain for the tenth month was Maharai the Netophathite, of the Zarhites: and in his course were twenty and four thousand. 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. 15 The twelfth captain for the twelfth month was Heldai the Netophathite, of Othniel: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.

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 Sam. xxiii. and 1 Chron. xi. 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.

The Military Force. (b. c. 1015.)

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. 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: 26 And over them that did the work of the field for tillage of the ground was Ezri the son of Chelub: 27 And over the vineyards was Shimei the Ramathite: over the increase of the vineyards for the wine cellars was Zabdi the Shiphmite: 28 And over the olive trees and the sycamore trees that were in the low plains was Baal-hanan the Gederite: and over the cellars of oil was Joash: 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: 30 Over the camels also was Obil the Ishmaelite: and over the asses was Jehdeiah the Meronothite: 31 And over the flocks was Jaziz the Hagerite. All these were the rulers of the substance which was king David's. 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: 33 And Ahithophel was the king's counsellor: and Hushai the Archite was the king's companion: 34 And after Ahithophel was Jehoiada the son of Benaiah, and Abiathar: and the general of the king's army was Joab.

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 Pet. ii. 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. v. 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 Kings xxv. 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. cxix. 24, Thy testimonies are my delight and my counsellors.