Preparations for the Building of the Temple – Comments – In 1 Chronicles 22-29, we see King David making preparations to build the Temple. He spent a great amount of effort in gathering materials and organizing the people to serve in the Temple service. He gathered the materials and workmen (chapter 22). He divided the Levites for temple service (chapter 23). He divided the priests (chapter 24). He organized musicians (chapter 25), gatekeepers and treasurers (chapter 26). He organized the military and tribal leaders (chapter 27). He then gave Solomon instructions on building the Temple (chapter 28). Finally, he takes an offering from the people, prays and blesses God, and anoints Solomon as king (chapter 29).

Fuente: Everett’s Study Notes on the Holy Scriptures

The Captains and Princes of Israel

v. 1. Now, the children of Israel after their number, to wit, the chief fathers and captains of thousands and hundreds, the commanders of the twelve divisions of the army and the officers under their command, 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 was the number included in the division or legion of each tribe, their term of service being a month each in rotation. There were thus always twenty-four thousand soldiers on duty, and an army of at least 288,000 men was available on very short notice, which, with its total number of officers, 12,000, could make a very creditable showing at any time. Moreover, it is probable that the same individuals from every tribe were not always enrolled, and that the number of trained soldiers was twice the number given.

v. 2. Over the first course for the first month was Jashobeam, the son of Zabdiel; and in his course were twenty and four thousand, these being, in turn, divided into regiments of one thousand, with twenty-four captains, and into companies of one hundred men each, with 240 centurions. In the military courses the highest dignity, though not that of authority, was given to the hero with the most exploits to his credit.

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

v. 4. And over the course of the second month was Dodai, an Ahohite, a great champion of the army, 2Sa 23:9, and of his course was Mikloth also the ruler, the captain actually in command; in his course likewise were twenty and four thousand.

v. 5. The third captain of the host for the third month was Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, 1Ch 11:22-25; 2Sa 23:23, a chief priest, rather, a chief or principal officer; and in his course were twenty and four thousand.

v. 6. This is that Benaiah who was mighty among the thirty and above the thirty; and in his course was Ammizabad, his son.

v. 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.

v. 8. The fifth captain for the fifth month was Shamhuth the Izrahite; and in his course were twenty and four thousand.

v. 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.

v. 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.

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

v. 12. The ninth captain for the ninth month was Abiezer the Anetothite, of the Benjamites; and in his course were twenty and four thousand.

v. 13. The tenth captain for the tenth month was Maharai the Netophathite, of the Zarhites; and in his course were twenty and four thousand.

v. 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.

v. 15. The twelfth captain for the twelfth month was Heldai (or Heled) the Netophathite, of Othniel, whose family, through his connection with Caleb, was included in the tribe of Judah; and in his course were twenty and four thousand. Many of the champions here named have occurred in the list of David’s heroes, 1Ch 11:27-31.

v. 16. Furthermore, over the tribes of Israel, no reason being evident for the order of the tribes as here given, and for the omission of Gad and Asher: the ruler of the Reubenites was Eliezer, the son of Zichri; of the Simeonites, Shephatiah, the son of Maachah;

v. 17. of the Levites, Hashabiah, the son of Kemuel, who, although under the high priest in all church affairs, was the civil officer of the tribe and had jurisdiction in all civil matters; of the Aaronites, Zadok, the importance of the line of Eliezcr thus being emphasized;

v. 18. of Judah, Elihu (or Eliab), one of the brethren of David; of Issachar, Omri, the son of Michael;

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

v. 20. of the children of Ephraim, Hoshea, the son of Azaziah; of the half-tribe of Manasseh, west of Jordan, Joel, the son of Pedaiah;

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

v. 22. of Dan, Azareel, the son of Jeroham. These were the princes of the tribes of Israel, the hereditary chiefs, or rulers, in whom the civil authority was vested. Every government is ordained of God, who wants the work of the government to be carried on in a systematic and efficient manner.

Fuente: The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann

EXPOSITION

This chapter, continuing the general subject of David’s arrangements of all the leading departments, sacred and civil, of the kingdom, which he was so soon to yield into the hands of his son Solomon, proceeds in the first fifteen verses to the enumeration of the military courses of his people, month by month. These were twelve in number, each containing twenty,four thousand men; and the captain, or chief, or chief father, of each is specially mentioned.

1Ch 27:1

It is impossible to feel fully satisfied with any translation which the words of this verse offer. Yet there can scarcely he any doubt of the meaning of the verse, viz. that the writer would speak of the children of Israel, including the chief fathers and captains of thousands and hundreds, as regards their courses and their number in their courses, as they succeeded one another, month by month, including also all those officers who served the king in any relation to these coursesthe courses were twelve, and each course was numbered twenty-four thousand. Meantime, when we turn to the list, we do not find any full complement of chiefs, captains, and officers specified, but apparently only the chief of each course, with somewhat ambiguous additions in 1Ch 27:4 (Mikloth), 6 (Ammizabad), 7 (Zebadiah); while what seems an unnecessary stress repeats the number each time. This, however, in fact, tallies with the clause “respecting their number” in the first verse, and may constitute the explanation of the apparent inconsistency in question. Milman says on this military portion of David’s preparations, that he “organized an immense disposable force; every month twenty-four thousand men, furnished in rotation by the tribes, appeared in arms, and were trained as the standing militia of the country. At the head of his army were officers of consummate experience and, what was more highly esteemed in the warfare of the time, extraordinary personal activity, strength, and valour. His heroes remind us of those of Arthuror Charlemagne, excepting that the armour of the feudal chieftains constituted their superiority; here, main strength of body and dauntless fortitude of mind.” Which came in and went out month by month; i.e. exchanged places in rotation (2Ki 11:5-7, 2Ki 11:9; 2Ch 23:8).

1Ch 27:2

Jashobeam is mentioned in 1Ch 12:11 as son of Hachmoni, and as one of those “three mighties” of David, of whom the other two were Eleazar and Shammah (see also 1Ch 12:6); he is again referred to (2Sa 23:8) in a verse of which the text is corrupt, as “the Tachmonite,” or more correctly “the Tahh-cemonite.” The tau in this word is probably an error for the article. Kennicott (‘Dies.,’ 72, 82) confirms this supposition by noting that the Book of Samuel constantly replaces by the definite article what appears in Chronicles as “son of.” He has also shown reason for believing that the words in this passage, “that sat in the seat, are a corruption of the Hebrew text for characters that would spell our name “Jashobeam.” We know nothing of this name “Hachmon,” which may be the name of an earlier forefather, while Zabdiel, thence named “the Hach-monite,” appears to Be the name of the actual father of Jashobeam. Jashobeam was of Judah.

1Ch 27:3

This verse tells us that Jasho-beam belonged to the tribe of Judah, through Perez, the fourth son of Judah (1Ch 2:4).

1Ch 27:4

Before the name Dodai we must supply “Eleazar the son of,” on the authority of 1Ch 11:12; 2Sa 23:9. The allusion to Mikloth (of the tribe of Benjamin, according to 1Ch 8:32; 1Ch 9:37) in this verse is not plain. The translation may possibly be the same which our Authorized Version gives, And over the course of the second month was (Eleazar, the son of) Dodai the Ahohite, and (over) his (or, its) course also Mikloth was ruler. The appearances of the Hebrew text, however, favour the supposition of an inaccurate text. A somewhat similar con. struction and position of words in 2Sa 23:6 is less difficult by the absence of a conjunction before Ammizabad.

1Ch 27:5

Benaiah (1Ch 11:22-25; 2Sa 23:20-23). To this name Keil thinks the word chief (), in the succeeding expression, chief priest, belongs. Thus Jehoiada would be named here only priest. Yet see 1Ch 12:27, where Jehoiada is called ; and 2Ki 25:18; where stands for our , as applied to Seraiah. Benaiah was manifestly a Aaronite.

1Ch 27:7

With this verse, as Keil observes, the description of the successive courses is given with the greatest brevity. Zebadiah was of Judah. Inasmuch as Asahel (1Ch 11:26; 2Sa 23:24) was killed by Abner (2Sa 2:23) before this division of military courses was made, it is evident that his name in this place marks, not the individual, but the family. Possibly he and his name were held in all the greater regard, and his son Zebadiah best known for the sake of his father.

1Ch 27:8

Shamhuth. For variations in the form of this name, see 1Ch 11:27; 2Sa 23:25. In the former of these passages also we have Harorite in place of our Izrahite, and in the latter Harodite. The Izrahite probably means of the family of Zerah (1Ch 2:4, 1Ch 2:6), and of course marks one of the tribe of Judah. The Hebrew evidently does not justify the form as translated “Izrahite.”

1Ch 27:9

For Ira, see 1Ch 11:28; 2Sa 23:26. He was of Tekoa, belonging to Judah.

1Ch 27:10

For Helez, see 1Ch 11:27; 2Sa 23:26. He belonged to Ephraim.

1Ch 27:11

For Sibbecai, see 1Ch 11:29; 1Ch 20:4; 2Sa 21:18; 2Sa 23:27, where by a corruption the name Mebunnai is found for Sibbechai, a corruption all the easier to account for in the similarity of the characters that form the names. He was a Zarhite, and belonged to the tribe of Judah.

1Ch 27:12

For Abiezer, of the tribe of Benjamin, see 1Ch 11:28; 2Sa 23:27. For Anetothite (Anathoth) see 1Ch 6:60 (45); Jos 21:18; Jer 1:1; Jer 11:21; Jer 32:7-9.

1Ch 27:13

For Maharai, of the tribe of Judah, see 1Ch 11:30; 2Sa 23:28. The Netophathite. Though the name of the town Netophah happens to occur only after the Captivity (e.g. Ezr 2:22; Neh 7:26), yet the name of the people, as in this passage, was evidently a name existing before the Captivity (see also 2Sa 2:1-32 :54; 9:16).

1Ch 27:14

For this Benaiah, who was of Ephraim, see 1Ch 11:31; 2Sa 23:30. For Pirathon, see Jdg 12:15, where alone the place is mentioned.

1Ch 27:15

For Heldai, who belonged to Judah, see 1Ch 11:30, where the name appears as Heled, and 2Sa 23:29, where it appears as Heleb. For Othniel (who was nephew and son-in-law of Caleb, and first deliverer of the people after Joshua), see Jos 15:17; Jdg 3:9. These twelve captains then comefrom Judah seven, from Benjamin and Ephraim two each, and from Levi one.

1Ch 27:16-22

These verses give the names of the rulers (1Ch 27:16), or princes (1Ch 27:22), of ten out of the twelve tribes of Israel. The tribes not mentioned are Gad and Asher, an omission which reminds of that of the two tribes Dan and Zebulon from the genealogies contained in 1Ch 4:1-43.-7; and equally unexplained. These designations ruler () and prince () are the same as are found in the list of 1Ch 4:1-15the former in 1Ch 4:4, and translated also as here “ruler;” and the latter in 1Ch 4:1, 1Ch 4:3, 1Ch 4:5, 1Ch 4:8, under the Authorized Version word of” captains.” This rehearsal of the rulers or captains of the tribes stands evidently in no special relation to the preceding military enumeration, but it forms naturally enough one of four lists in this chapter that purport to set forth David’s complete arrangement of the affairs of the kingdom. So far as the enumeration goes, it appears to aim at fulness and no omission, for the “Aaronites” (1Ch 4:17) are given, and Ephraim and the two halves of Manasseh separately (verses 20, 21).

1Ch 27:17

It is, perhaps, remarkable that Hashabiahpresumably a Gershoniteis not distinguished from the Hebronite (i.e. Kohathite) of the same name (1Ch 26:30); some, however, think that our Hasha-biah is the Kohathite. For Zadok, see 1Ch 6:4, 1Ch 6:12. He was of the line of Eleazar.

1Ch 27:18

David’s eldest brother Eliab is no doubt intended here by the name Elihu. The Septuagint gives Eliab. For Michael, see 1Ch 7:3.

1Ch 27:21

There is no reason to doubt that Jaasiel is the son of the Abner who was Saul’s own cousin (1Ch 9:36; 1Sa 14:50).

1Ch 27:22

These thirteen princes of the tribes of Israel were presumably in each case those who represented the tribe according to lineal descent in David’s time. Though Gad and Asher are left out, the thirteen are filled up by the allowance of two for Levi, viz. one for the Levites and one for the priests; and three for Joseph, viz. one for Ephraim and two for the divided tribe of Manasseh.

1Ch 27:23

The contents of this and the following verse may be supposed to be suggested by the distinct reference to the matter of number in the first verse of the chapter, and in the latter halves of the following fourteen verses, contrasting with the utter absence of any allusion to the same matter, when the whole body of the tribes and their princes are the subject, in 1Ch 27:16-22. The deeper significance of the latter part of this verse probably comes to this; that God had already given his people the proudest name for their numbers, in saying that they should be numberless, like to the stars of the heavens, and perpetually on the increase.

1Ch 27:24

It seems a little surprising to read of Joab, fixed on the page of history as the person who began to number, but finished not, when we have been already particularly told that it was he to whom King David’s command to number was “abominable” (1Ch 21:6). However differently enough from the method of either nature or mankind, the antidote has here preceded the evil. For because there fell wrath for it, read the Hebrew, and there was for this wrath upon Israel. The last sentence of the verse purports to say that such numbering as had been done before the point at which Joab stopped was not honoured by a place, where other numbers were found, in the register of the chronicles of King David.

1Ch 27:25-31

These verses have for their primary object, not to give an exhaustive summary of the wealth of David and the sources thereof, but to give the names of those persons who were charged with the care, or the management and care, of’ it. The classification, however, is interesting, and may be naturally expected to be tolerably complete. We do not find any distinction made between such property as might have belonged to David as private property, and such as belonged to him as kingprobably because there was none worth making.

1Ch 27:25

For storehouses, read, as in former clause, treasures. The suggestion of the second half of this verse in comparison with the first is that Azmaveth’s charge was over treasures in Jerusalem. For the castles, see 2Ch 17:12; 2Ch 27:4. The word , though the same in both clauses, may probably enough cover precious treasure, as of gold, silver, costly raiment, etc. (1Ki 14:26; 1Ki 15:18), more particularly in the first clause, and grain, fruit, etc. (2Ch 11:11), in the latter, for the word has distinctly this double application. (See for some illustration of this verse also, Sallust; ‘De Belle Jugurth.,’ 12.)

1Ch 27:26

This verse appears to give the name, not (as in the former verse) of the person who had charge of the stored grain, fruits, etc, but of the chief superintendent and manager of the labour and labourers of the field.

1Ch 27:27

This verse specifies the officer who had the management of the vineyards, and also the officer who had charge over the wine-cellars. The description of Ramathite does not assist us to identify Shimei, though the choice of place is ample (Jos 13:26; Jos 18:25; Jos 19:29, Jos 19:36; Jdg 15:17). For Shiphmite, see Num 34:10, Num 34:11; to the place Shepham, mentioned in which passage, the reference here may be. For over the increase, read over that which in the vineyards, etc; where the initial stands for .

1Ch 27:28

A similar couple of officers to those of the last verse are described here. By the low plains here in the Authorized Version is translated what had been better left untranslated, i.e. the Shephelah, one of the five divisions of Judaea. It comprised the low-lying tract of land on the coast and, roughly speaking, stretching from Joppa to Gaza. The sycamore tree (, a plural masculine, and once , a plural feminine, Psa 78:1-72 :87) is to be distinguished from the sycamine, being that kind of mulberry tree called fig mulberry. The Septuagint, however, does not observe the distinction, and always translates . It was a common tree, and useful to the poor. It is the same with the black mulberry of Egypt, and abounded in Palestine (1Ki 10:27). Its fruit was eatable, and its wood, though soft, yet valuable for enduringness. The name Baal-hanan comes first before us as that of a King of Edom (Gen 36:38, Gen 36:39; 1Ch 1:49). The place Gederah (Jos 15:36), or Beth-gader (1Ch 2:51), attached to the name of the present Baal-hanan, renders it not less probable that he was of similar extraction.

1Ch 27:29

Sharon (see 1Ch 5:16, 1Ch 5:21). It means with the article, which, with one exception, always accompanies it, “the level laud,” and on the west of the Jordan exactly corresponds with the Mishor on the east, a word of identical signification with Sharon. The tract of pasture-land which it designated stretched from Carmel to Joppa. The valleys here intended are not specified.

1Ch 27:30

Whether the word Obil (), is a proper name or not, it signifies “a tender of camels” by derivation. The task suited the Ishmaelite, no doubt! Nothing is known of the Meronothite, nor of the situation of the place called Meronoth, unless anything may be conjectured from Neh 3:7.

1Ch 27:31

For the Hagerite tribe, see 1Ch 5:10, 1Ch 5:18-22. For the rulers of the substance, the Hebrew words are . The number of them adds up again to twelve; Keil justly supposes that the two named in 1Ch 5:25 were those principal officers to whom the other ten delivered the proceeds of their respective charges.

1Ch 27:32-34

These verses contain the names of seven men of high position, and who were, at all events, important enough, in one respect or another, for this closing special mention.

1. Jonathan and Ahithophel are singled out as counsellors () of the king.

2. Hushai the Archite is mentioned as the companion () of the king.

3. Jehoiada the son of Benaiah, and Abiathar are mentioned as standing in a similar relation of counsellors to the king with Ahithophel, but after him.

4. The great general of the whole army of the king (), Joab, has a place found for his name.

5. And the name of Jehiel is mentioned as of one with the king’s sons. The first thing which may be observed as to this enumeration is that it is not one whole belonging to the later portion of David’s time. Ahithophel had brag before put an end to his own life (2Sa 17:21-23; also see 2Sa 15:12, 2Sa 15:31, 2Sa 15:34; 2Sa 16:20-23). Secondly, that out of the seven names, four or five are already well known to us in some other capacity; for see the lists of 1Ch 18:14-17; 2Sa 8:16-18; 2Sa 20:23-26. And thirdly, that in one or two instances, a different or additional part is assigned to the names mentioned. The impression left with us is rather of honourable or special mention made of seven who had been distinguished helpers of the king or the kingdom at one time or another.

1Ch 27:32

Nothing is known of any uncle to David, named Jonathan, but special mention is made, in 1Ch 20:7 and 2Sa 21:21, of a nephew, son of Shimea, who rendered valuable service, and u-hose name was Jonathan. It is possible that the Hebrew may mean “nephew,” as simply meaning “relative.” It must be admitted, however, as very remarkable, that in Leviticus, Numbers, the historical books, Jeremiah, and Amos, to the number of sixteen times in all, the word confessedly means “uncle;” while this seventeenth time, it would appear to mean “nephew.” On the other hand, in Proverbs, Canticles, Isaiah, Ezekiel, to the number of thirty-six times in all, the word follows its other branch of signification of “love,” and in particular “one beloved.” Nothing certain can be said of the Jehiel of this verse, but, if a son of Hachmoni, we may presume him to have been related to Jashobeam of verse 2 and 1Ch 11:11.

1Ch 27:33

For Hushai the Archite, see 2Sa 15:32, 2Sa 15:37; 2Sa 16:16; 2Sa 17:14, 2Sa 17:15.

1Ch 27:34

The after of this verse may possibly be the after of time, i.e. after the death of Ahithophel, instead of the after of place, i.e. subordinate. Jehoiada the son of Benaiah. Either the individual of 1Ch 27:5; 1Ch 18:17; 2Sa 8:18; 2Sa 20:23, is not the person here intended, or we have here the names accidently reversed. There seems no sufficient reason to doubt that the high priest of the Ithamar branch is here meant.

HOMILIES BY J.R. THOMSON

1Ch 27:23.-The increase of Israel.

A devout mind will ever acknowledge that not only individual, but also national, prosperity is from God. It was a conviction with all the pious Hebrews that their nation had been selected by a special decree and appointed to a special purpose. This conviction came to their minds to sober them in times of national prosperity, and to comfort and fortify them in periods of affliction, disaster, and captivity.

I. WHEN THIS PROMISE WAS GIVEN. It was given at the very commencement of Israel’s life; it was given to Abraham, the father of the faithful. The Lord showed Abraham the stars of heaven, and assured him that so numerous should be his seed.

II. HOW THIS PROMISE WAS REGARDED. It was not likely that an assurance so inspiriting, so glorious, should be forgotten; it was embodied in national tradition; it was enshrined in sacred literature; it was fitted to dignify their conception of their calling as a people; and it was a rebuke to their national pride. As on the occasion referred to in the text, it was designed to lead them to place their hopes, not so much in their own strength or fortune, as in the purpose and the promises of the God of Israel, the God of all the nations of the earth.

III. IN WHAT WAY THIS PROMISE WAS, AND IS YET TO BE, FULFILLED. Under Solomon the nation of Israel reached its highest pitch of fame and power. But it is pleasant and encouraging to believe that the promise recorded in the text will be fulfilled in a deeper sense than that which appears on the surface. There is a true Israel, composed of all who, sharing Abraham’s faith, are Abraham’s spiritual children. These are destined to be numerous as the sands of the desert, as the leaves of the forest, as the dew-drops of the morning, as the stars of heaven. This is a kingdom whose subjects shall ever multiply, whose glory shall know no limit and no end.T.

1Ch 27:25-31.–Earth’s produce.

David was a man of war, and it is not surprising that these historical books are largely occupied with an enumeration of his armies, catalogues of his mighty men of valour, and records of his military exploits. But it is interesting and instructive to observe that the chronicler does not pass unnoticed matters which give an aspect of peace and prosperity to David’s reign. The king was not only a commander and a judge, but also an administrator and an economist. The chronicler, in referring as he does in this place to the accumulation of wealth and to material prosperity generally, indicates that in his judgment a nation’s greatness does not consist simply in the number of its warriors or the brilliance of its feats of arms.

I. THE PRODUCE OF THE EARTH IS FROM THE LORD. There are here enumerated the stores of corn, the vineyards and the oliveyards, the flocks, the camels, and the herds which largely constituted David’s wealth. “The earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof.”

II. THE GIFTS OF GOD‘S BOUNTY ARE TO BE RECEIVED WITH GRATITUDE. The Creator has made all things for man’s use and comfort. “He hath put all things under his feet, all sheep and oxen, all beasts of the field.” To him daily thanks are due.

III. THE GIFTS OF GOD ARE TO BE ENJOYED WITH TEMPERANCE AND SOBRIETY. When the creature is abused, the Creator is dishonoured; but a just and temperate use of material wealth is improving to man and honourable to God.

IV. THE POSSESSOR OF MATERIAL WEALTH SHOULD CONSECRATE ALL TO THE GIVER. Christians especially, who are “not their own,” are bound to regard and to use all their property as God’s. So used, it will not minister to pride, but will become a means of grace. In this certainly David has set us an example worthy of imitation.T.

HOMILIES BY W. CLARKSON

1Ch 27:1-34.-Wisdom, kindness, and folly.

In reading this chapter we are struck with three features of David’s rule.

1. The presence of royal wisdom in:

(1) Securing the safety of his kingdom by a sufficient militia without sustaining a burdensome standing army. One month’s practice in the year would suffice to maintain their soldierly qualities without seriously interfering with their civil pursuits (1Ch 27:1).

(2) Adopting the system of promotion by merit. In the list of captains (1Ch 27:2-15) we meet with names of men that had distinguished themselves by their courage and capacity, and who had “earned their promotion.” Favouritism is a ruinous policy, and fatal to kings and ministers.

(3) Limiting his own personal requirements to a moderate demand. David lived as became such a king as he was, but he did not indulge in a costly and oppressive “civil list” (see 1Ch 27:25-31).

(4) Choosing so sagacious a counsellor as Ahithophel (2Sa 17:1-3, 2Sa 17:14), and so true and brave a friend as Hushai (2Sa 17:7-14).

2. The presence of personal kindness. Although David acted, most wisely, on the principle that the highest pests should be reserved for the most capable men and those who “deserved well of their country,” yet he did not neglect his own kindred in the hour of his opportunity. We find, amongst others of the foremost men, the names of his relatives, Asahel (1Ch 27:7); Jonathan, his uncle (1Ch 27:32); Joab (1Ch 27:34).

3. The presence of royal folly. We are reminded here of the grievous error, the disastrous departure from rectitude, when, notwithstanding the wise counsel and somewhat strenuous opposition of Joab, he insisted on numbering the people (1Ch 27:23, 1Ch 27:24). Regarding the folly of the king, we learn

I. THAT HUMAN NATURE, EVEN AT ITS BEST, BEARS THE STAIN OF IMPERFECTION. Devout and humble as David was, prosperous and beneficent as was his reign, he yet fell, more than once, into sin; and on this occasion (of the numbering) he involved the nation in a terrible calamity. He resembled all other good men of every age. Human excellency is a beautiful but a blemished thing; it has admirable qualities, but is never without defects; it halts somewhere. Therefore:

1. Let us conclude that there is certain to be something in ourselves which needs to be corrected; we also, though we possess the mens conscia recti, have faults which others see and which they regret to see in us.

2. Let us not be hasty in estimating the character of others; if we judge men by the first thing we see in them, it may be that we shall apprise them by the one pardonable fault behind, which, unrecognized by us, hide a hundred virtues. We should not like to be judged by the first action our neighbours chanced to witness in us.

3. Let us make all kindly allowance for men when we know them; and placing their many solid graces against their few superficial failings, let us not withhold our esteem, or our confidence, or our affection. Regarding David’s kindness, we learn

II. THAT WE DO WELL TO USE OUR OWN ELEVATION TO SERVE OUR KINDRED. Nepotism is a crime as well as a sin, but, when other things are equal and when opportunity offers, we should surely remember those whom, by the ties of affinity, God commends to our kindness, and those whom, by profession of friendship in earlier and humbler days, we promised to assist. And in view of the king’s wisdom, we may learn

III. THAT GOODNESS AND WISDOM TOGETHER ARE A SOURCE OF INCALCULABLE BENEFIT. David without his devoutness would have been nothing to his country or his kind; without his wisdom he would have been little more. Piety and prudence together are a power for God and man.C.

HOMILIES BY F. WHITFIELD

1Ch 27:1-34 -The army, tribal princes, royal possessions, and chief counsellors of the king.

This chapter brings before us the organization of the army, and also the public administration (1Ch 27:1-15); next we have a list of the princes of the twelve tribes (1Ch 27:16-24); then we have the managers of the domains and royal possessions rots. 25-31); and lastly, the chief counsellors of the king (1Ch 27:32-34). These subjects follow the arrangement of the Levites’ service, because it was David’s earnest desire before his death to give the constitution of his kingdom a more stable form. David’s object in numbering the people, as we may gather from the twenty-third verse, was to leave his kingdom, strong within and without, to his son. There were twelve divisions of the army, consisting of twenty-four thousand men in each. In the enumeration of the tribal princes, the tribes of Gad and Asher are omitted without any reason being assigned for the omission. With regard to David’s domains and possessions, the property and income of the king were divided into treasures of the king. treasures in the country, in the cities, the villages, and the castles. The treasures of the king were the treasures of the royal palace in Jerusalem. The remaining treasures were fields, vineyards, plantations, cattle, camels, asses, and sheep. Officers were set over these various departments. With reference to David’s counsellors (1Ch 27:32-34), we have here enumerated three catalogues, and the mention of Joab as the commander-in-chief of the army.W.

HOMILIES BY R. TUCK

1Ch 27:23.–God’s promises checking man’s wilfulness.

The impulse on David leading him to number Israel has never been adequately explained. Probably there were some peculiar national conditions which are not detailed. The connection of the reference to the “numbering,” which is made in this verse, intimates that it was a part of some military arrangements which the king was advised to make. Possibly in order to fix the amount of his standing army, he desired to know the number of men in his kingdom who were above the age of twenty, the age from which military service was required. Eastern writers give curious illustrations of the Oriental prejudice against numbering possessions. “The apprehension of a Nemesis on any overweening display of prosperity, if not consistent with the highest revelations of the Divine nature in the Gospels, pervaded all ancient, especially all Oriental religions. David’s act implied a confidence and pride alien to the spirit inculcated on the kings of the chosen people.” What does come prominently out in the narrative is that David was wilful in the matter, but that God kept his very wilfulness under some limitations and restraints. David was kept from taking a complete census, because he felt it irreverent to attempt to count what God was understood to have promised should be countless. David’s own heart, as well as Divine judgments, brought to him the conviction of his wilfulness and sin. Apply to modern phases of religious life and religious work. In both we are so keen to observe, and so anxious to reckon up and boast of, the results of our work. The individual Christian wants to count and value the steps of his personal spiritual growth; and the Christian worker, in his varied spheres, despairs if he cannot show the actual fruitage of his toil, thinking there will be no harvest from his seeding if his own hand does not bind the sheaves. Much may be said, and much may be said severely, of the almost mania that possesses some Churches for “numbering the people,” and counting up the net gains of Christian work. In both spheres God’s promises should check this desire to count.

I. APPLY TO PERSONAL RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE. God has promised to “bring us off more than conquerors;” to “perfect that which concerns us;” to give us “more grace;” to ensure us “all sufficiency in all good things;” and to be “with us always;” so there is no need for constantly testing our own spiritual state, and trying to gain assurance by counting the steps upward which we may have made. Our best help is the

(1) faith that daily keeps “looking off” unto Jesus;

(2) the prayer that keeps us mindful of, and ever pleading, the promises; and

(3) the “work” for Christ which so thoroughly absorbs us that we have no time to think about our own feelings.

II. APPLY TO CHRISTIAN LABOURS IN THE CHURCH AND IN THE WORLD. God has promised abundant fruitage as the result of faithful Christian toil: a wondrous harvest-home, and not one sheaf missing. It is enough. Why should we trouble about results, and count up converts? Let them be as many as ever God wills, and let us be satisfied with the joy of our working, and the smile of our Master which surely rests upon us in the doing.

Still, as in the older days of David, there is grave reason to fear that numbering results tends to nourish human pride and conceit, and sets men upon boasting of the “great Babylon which they have builded.” The most essential quality of Christian work is the meekness of self-forgetfulness, that will be wholly amazed if, one wondrous day, God should point to sheaves safe in his garner, and say, “These were gathered in by thee.” True and humble hearts learn to leave all the “numbering” work to God, and to the great revealing day.R.T.

1Ch 27:25-31.-The trust of riches,

In these verses some of David’s wealth is enumerated, especially that portion which consisted in estates, herds, and flocks. Accepting life on the earth as the sphere of our “probation,” or “moral training,” we need to see that all things which bear their influence upon us may be, and indeed are, used by God as agencies in this gracious work over which he presides. Riches, therefore, may be a Divine trust committed to some men with a distinct view to their culture through this trust; and it is precise]y this view of riches which needs to be more generally taught and apprehended, so that it may become a most solemn thing for any man to have this trust, and all who have it may be much more impressed with the responsibility of it than with the advantage and privilege of it. We easily take up with two imperfect notions.

1. We say that riches are tokens of Divine favour. But this may not be assumed as a universal fact. Riches may be a token of Divine wrath and judgment, and the very agency of a man’s punishment. And riches may be a sign of God’s anxiety about our moral state, and the need for subjecting us to some severe moral testing. To some natures no more searching test could be found than the trust of prosperity and wealth.

2. Or we say that riches are the rewards of virtue, and assume that men must be acceptable to God because they are rich, and that others must be out of acceptance, seeing that they are poor. But then we must face the difficulty which the Psalmist Asaph felt so bitterly (Psa 73:1-28.)the wicked are often the rich, and the righteous are among the down-trodden poor. It is evident that no general rule will fit all cases, and that, in wise Divine orderings, wealth and poverty are arranged for the highest good of the individual and the permanent good of the whole. Did we know all, we should never envy those to whom God entrusts the riches. Neither of these conceptions is sufficiently true to be accepted without due consideration of certain other and important representations, such as

(1) that riches may be Divine judgments;

(2) that riches may be Divine trials;

(3) that riches always are Divine trusts, of which due account will presently be required.

Then attention needs to be directed to three things in relation to our riches:

(1) The wise care of them, as not ours, but God’s;

(2) the faithful use of them, as not given to us for our sake, but for the sake of others, whom we may bless by means of them; and

(3) the watchful culture of the soul‘s life while in the enjoyment of them, seeing that the precise peril of them is that they tend to nourish a self-confidence which is fatally injurious to the soul’s health and life.

Illustrate from the parable of the farmer who was getting over-rich, and had no storehouses large enough for his harvests, but who was not rich toward God. And see the counsels given to the rich by the Apostle James.R.T.

Fuente: The Complete Pulpit Commentary

1Ch 27:1. Now the children of Israel, &c. We have here an account of the manner in which the army was disposed. It was distributed into twelve legions, each consisting of twenty-four thousand men, who were commanded by one of the chief of the fathers, under whom there were captains of thousands and captains of hundreds. Each of these legions attended one month for the security of the king and kingdom; at the end of which they retired to their respective places of abode, and were succeeded by another legion. See Patrick and Lowman.

Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke

. Division of the Military Officers; Order of the Service and of the Royal Househould: 1 Chronicles 27

1. The Twelve Divisions of the Army: 1Ch 27:1-15

1Ch 27:1 And the sons of Israel after their number, the heads of the houses and the captains of thousands and hundreds, and their officers that served the king in any matter of the courses, that which came in and that which went out month by month for all the months of the year, the one course was twenty and four thousand. 2Over the first course, for the first month, was Jashobam son of Zabdiel; and in his course were twenty and four thousand. 3Of the sons of Perez, the chief of all the captains of the host for the first month. 4And over the course of the second month was Dodai1 the Ahohite, and his course, and Mikloth the commander; and in his course were twenty and four thousand. 5The third captain of the host, for the third month, was Benaiah son of Jehoiada the priest as chief; and in his course were twenty 6and four thousand. This is Benaiah the hero of the thirty, and above the 7thirty; and his course was for Ammizabad his son. The fourth, for the fourth month, was Asahel Joabs brother, and Zebadiah his son after him; and in 8his course were twenty and four thousand. The fifth, for the fifth month, was the captain Shamhuth the Izharite; and in his course were twenty and four 9thousand. The sixth, for the sixth month, was Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite; 10and in his course were twenty and four thousand. The seventh, for the seventh month, was Helez the Pelonite, of the sons of Ephraim; and in his 11course were twenty and four thousand. And the eighth, for the eighth month, was Sibbechai the Hushathite, of the Zarhites; and in his course were twenty 12and four thousand. And the ninth, for the ninth month, was Abiezer the Anthothite, of the Benjamites; and in his course were twenty and four13thousand. The tenth, for the tenth month, was Maharai the Netophathite, of 14the Zarhites; and in his course were twenty and four thousand. The eleventh, for the eleventh month, was Benaiah the Pirathonite, of the sons of Ephraim; 15and in his course were twenty and four thousand. The twelfth, for the twelfth month, Heldai the Netophathite, of Othniel; and in his course were twenty and four thousand.

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

16And over the tribes of Israel: of the Reubenites, Eliezer son of Zichri was 17ruler: of the Simeonites, Shephatiah son of Maachah. Of Levi, Hashabiah son of Kemuel: of Aaron, Zadok. 18Of Judah, Elihu.2 of the brethren of David: of Issachar, Omri son of Michael. 19Of Zebulun, Ishmaiah son of 20Obadiah: of Naphtali, Jerimoth son of Azriel. Of the sons of Ephraim, Hoshea son of Azariah: of the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joel son of Pedaiah. 21Of the half-tribe of Manasseh in Gilead, Iddo son of Zechariah: of Benjamin, 22Jaasiel son of Abner. Of Dan, Azarel son of Jeroham: these are the princes of the tribes of Israel. 23But David took not their number from twenty years old and under, because the Lord had promised to increase Israel as the stars of heaven. 24Joab the son of Zeruiah began to number, but did not finish, because for this there was wrath against Israel; and the number was not put in the account of the chronicles of King David.

3. The Lords of the Treasures and Possessions of David: 1Ch 27:25-31

25And over the kings treasures was Azmaveth son of Adiel: and over the stores in the country, in the cities, and the villages, and the towers, was26Jonathan son of Uzziah. And over the field-labourers for tillage of the ground was Ezri son of Chelub. 27And over the vineyards was Shimi the Ramathite; and over that which was in the vineyards of stores in wine was Zabdi the Shiphmite. 28And over the olive-trees and the sycamores which were in the Shephelah was Baal-hanan the Gederite: and over the cellars of oil was Joash. 29And over the herds that fed in Sharon was Shitrai[3] the Sharonite: and over the herds in the valleys was Shaphat son of Adlai. And 30over the camels was Obil the Ishmaelite: and over the asses was Jehdeiah the Meronothite.4 31And over the flocks Jaziz the Hagrite: all these were rulers of the substance which belonged to King David.

4. The State Counsellors of David: 1Ch 27:32-34

32And Jonathan, Davids kinsman, was a counsellor, a wise man, and a cribe; and Jehiel son of Hachmoni was with the kings sons. 33And Ahithophel was the kings counsellor; and Hushai the Archite was the kings friend. 34And after Ahithophel was Jehoiada son of Benaiah, and Abiathar; and the general of the kings army was Joab.

EXEGETICAL

Preliminary Remark.In this list of the military and civil officers of David, the collocation of ministers and associates of the army, domains, and Kingdom of this king is connected with the survey contained in 1 Chronicles 23-26 of the Levites and priests in his reign, and also with the account of the census of the people in 1 Chronicles 21 to the latter 1Ch 27:23-24 distinctly refer, which show the fore-mentioned captains of the military divisions and princes of the tribes as included in that census, and thereby indicate the political and military import of that measure (comp. on 1Ch 21:1; 1Ch 21:6). With the registers of Levites and priests in 1 Chronicles 23-26, however, our section is connected partly by its position and the similarity of its contents, partly by the circumstance that both, the spiritual (Levitical) and the temporal hierarchy of officers had obtained their more permanent regulation and organization in the last year of his government, and, indeed, in connection with the census of the people, as appears again from 1Ch 27:23.

1. The Twelve Divisions of the Army: vers.115.And the sons of Israel after their number. 1Ch 27:1 forms the full superscription to the following list. As this contains only the twelve divisions of the army of 24,000 men each, with the names of their commanders, this circumstantial superscription seems to promise too much; the detailed description of the army divisions announced in it, and of their officers, appears in 1Ch 27:2-15 to be no longer complete, but only preserved in the form of an abstract (Berth.). But the chief stress rests on after their number (), as the determination of the monthly changing military courses at the strength of 24,000 each, immediately after the close of this superscription, clearly shows. Hence all else that is here indicated, the mention of the captains of the thousands and hundreds, the officers, etc., is to be regarded as of mere secondary account.That which came in and that which went out month by month, properly, the coming in and outgoing, namely, the course going in and out of service at the beinning of every month; comp. 2Ki 11:5; 2Ki 11:7; 2Ki 11:9, and 2Ch 23:4; 2Ch 23:8. Here naturally only the monthly attendance of each of the twelve divisions or corps is spoken of, not that they had changed places every month, and were stationed one after another in Jerusalem, which would have been quite impossible for so large a corps.The one course; taken distributively, as Num. 17:18;Jdg 8:18.

1Ch 27:2. Over the first course Jashobam. Concerning this Jashobam (perhaps Ishbosheth) son of Zabdiel, see on 1Ch 11:11.And in his course were twenty and four thousand, literally, on () his course went 24,000 men.

1Ch 27:3. Of the sons of perez: he was descended from that distiguished Jewish family from which David sprang; comp. 1Ch 2:4 ff.The chief of all the captains of the host for the first month, stood as first in the series of twelve commanders relieving each other monthly, but was still subordinate to the commander of the whole army (generalissimo), namely, to Joab (1Ch 27:34).

1Ch 27:4. Dodai the Ahohite. On the omission of Eleazar son of before Dodai, see the Crit. Note.And his course, and Mikloth the commander. before appears to introduce the consequent, and seems to be superfluous, as it is wanting before , 1Ch 27:6, in a similar connection. At all events, Mikloth is a proper name, as 1Ch 8:32, 1Ch 9:37 f. prove; whether the there named Benjamite be identical with the present Mikloth must remain doubtful.

1Ch 27:5. The third captain was Benaiah … as chief., predicate to Benaiah, not attribute to . Concerning this Benaiah and his distinguished position as hero of the thirty, and above the thirty (more honoured than all of them), see 1Ch 11:22; 1Ch 11:25; 2Sa 23:23. For the constuction in 1Ch 27:6 b,comp. on 1Ch 27:4 b

1Ch 27:7. Asahel and Zebadiah his son after him. This from of expression contains a plain reference to the early death of Asahel (1Ch 11:26), his tragic end, which Abner prepared for him, 2Sa 2:18-23. The Fourth course would thus, at least for the late time now in question, have to be designated properly after Asahels son Zebadiah, its than living leader. But it is called (honoris causa) de patris defuncti nomine, as Clericus well remarks, just as the family of the Maccabees is distinguished by the name Asmonans.

1Ch 27:8 ff. The following names shamhuth (earlier, 1Ch 11:27, Shammoth; 2Sa 23:11, Shammah), Ira, Helez, Sibbechai, Abiezer, Maharai, Benaiah, and Heldai occurred together already, though in a somewhat different order, in the list of heroes in 1Ch 11:27-31.Shamhuth the Izrahite, the descendant of Zerah son of Judah, 1Ch 2:4; 1Ch 2:6; stands for , and this is equivalent to , 1Ch 27:11; 1Ch 27:13.

1Ch 27:15.Heldai theNetophathite, of Othniel, belonging to the family of Othniel, incorporated by his connection with Caleb into the tribe of Judah, Jos 15:17; Jdg 1:12-15. The name Heldai is besides in 1Ch 11:30 Heleh, and in 2Sa 23:29, by an error of the pen, Heleb.

2. The Princes of the Twelve Tribes: 1Ch 27:16-24.In this list the twelve tribes are enumerated in quite a different order from that in Genesis, and even that in 1Ch 4:7. of our book. A fundamental ground for the order here exhibitedReuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Naphtali, Ephraim, Manasseh, Benjamin, Dancan the less be ascertained, because the names of two tribes (Gad and Asher) have fallen out probably by an old corruption of the text; and there is no means even of conjecturing what was their original place in the list. There remains, therefore, only an uncertain surmise that Dan has been assigned the last place on account of his fall into idolatry; comp. evangelical and ethical reflections on 1 Chronicles 1-9, No. 3.

1Ch 27:17. Of Aaron, Zadok. Whether this naming of a prince of the Aaronites, namely, the high, priest Zadok, of the line of Eleazar, along with that of the Levite was to make amends for the omitted princes of Gad and Asher is uncertain.

1Ch 27:18. Of Judah, Elihu. That Eliab (1Ch 2:13) is to be read, with the Sept., for Elihu is most probable, even for this reason, that Eliab was the first-born of Jesse, to whom the dignity of prince must have naturally fallen.

1Ch 27:21. Of the half in Gilead, literally, toward Gilead (), a suitable designation of the east half of Manasseh.

1Ch 27:23-24. Closing Remark on the Two Lists referring to the Army of Israel, 1Ch 27:2-15 and 1Ch 27:16-22.But David took not their number from twenty years old and under; he had only those above twenty years numbered. On , to take, determine, a number, comp. Num 3:40, and Exo 30:12; Num 1:49.Because the Lord had promised to increase Israel as the stars of heaven. This ground for the remark that David included only those above twenty years in his census of the people obviously means that to number the whole mass of the people, which Gods promise to the patriarchs (Gen 22:17, etc.) had designated as innumerable, was not intended by David; he had only wished to ascertain the number of those able to bear arms for the organization of his army. On 1Ch 27:24 a, comp. 1Ch 21:6.And the number was not put in the account of the chronicles of King David,– literally, and the number went not up, etc.; comp. , 2Ch 20:34, on account of which parallel, moreover, is not to be read for , especially as the phrase does not occur in Chronicles. The second is rather to be understood in the sense of reckoning, register of numbers, and therefore we are to think of the statistical section of the annals of Davids reign (Berth., Kamph., etc.). In these the result of that great census of the people had no place according to our passage; and if, 1Ch 21:5, a communication regarding this result is made, it must have been derived from some other source.

3. The Lords of the Treasures and Possessions of David: 1Ch 27:25-31.And over the kings treasures was Azmaveth. These first-mentioned treasures in general (; comp. 1Ch 26:20; Job 38:22) were perhaps, as the contrast with the treasures in the country teaches, the stores or spoils of war preserved in Jerusalem, so far as they were crown and not temple property (1Ch 26:22); thus rightly Luther: over the treasure of the king.And over the stores in the country, in the cities, and the villages, and the towers, that is, in the forts or keeps; comp. the notice of such towers in 2Ch 26:10; Mic 4:8; Son 4:4.

1Ch 27:26. And over the field-labourers for tillage of the ground was Ezri. Here begins the specification of the stores in the field, with the royal domains or fields ( here in the strict or proper sense, not as in 1Ch 27:25).

1Ch 27:27. And over the vineyards was Shimi the Ramathite, of Ramah in the tribe of Benjamin, Jos 18:25. The next following officer, Zabdi, the manager of the wine-stores in the vineyards, is called , the Shiphmite, coming perhaps from , a place mentioned in Num 34:10 f., on the north border of Canaan. But perhaps it is more natural to refer to , in the south of Judah (1Sa 30:28), as the south produced the most wine, and of course the most vineyards and vine cultivators.

1Ch 27:28. And over the olive-trees and the sycamores in the Shephelah, in the lowlands of the fruitful plain, between the hills of Judah and the Mediterranean, Jos 15:53. , olive plantations and gardens; comp. Deu 6:11,1 Kings 5:25; and so the following How important the produce of the sycamores must have been in the times of David and Solomon appears from the proverbial expression, 1Ki 10:27, 2Ch 1:15 : Cedar-wood as plentiful as the sycamores that grew in the Shephelah. Comp. C. Hoffmann, Blicke in die frhere Geschichte des gelobten Landes, p. 171; None of the plants adorning the country in that time is so fallen as those oft-mentioned sycamores, of which only a few still stand in the gardens of Jaffa as tokens of bygone beauty. On the coast, on the hot soil, moistened by under water, stood in broad plantations these mighty, shady, leafy crowns, the native land of which is Egypt. They are mentioned at Jericho in the time of Christ (Luk 19:4). Did they, as the herdsman Amos, who plucked their figs, intimates Amo 7:14, extend to the now so cool and dry valleys of Tekoa, about the Frank Mountains, that now bear among the Arabs the name of paradise, as a monument of vanished glories? At all events, they were proverbially common in Solomons time; and this leads to one of those numerous indications of a former abundance of water, etc.Baal-hanan the Gederite, of Geder or Gederah, situated in the lowlands south-east of Jabneh (comp. Jos 12:13; Jos 15:36, and our remark on Beth-geder, ii. 51); is thus not really different from , 1Ch 12:4. Keil would derive rather from Gedor (), on the hills of Judah, Jos 15:58; but the form of the Gentilicium is against this.And over the herds in the valleys, namely, those in the hill country of Judah towards the Dead Sea and the Jordan; comp. 1Ch 12:15.

1Ch 27:30. And over the camels was Obil the Ishmaelite. As the riches of the king consisted in camels (comp. Job 1:3; Jdg 7:12) in the south country, where the Ishmaelites formerly wandered, a descendant of this race was appointed overseer of them. So it might be with the Hagarite Jaziz, who was placed over the flocks (comp. 1Ch 5:10; 1Ch 5:19; Psa 83:7). For Jehdeiah the Meronothite, see Crit. Note.

1Ch 27:31. All these were rulers of the property which belonged to King David., property, a wider notion than that of the treasures of the king, 1Ch 27:25, including these (the treasures in Jerusalem) and the treasures in the country. The total number of the officers appointed to take charge of all this property, as they are named above, is twelve, namely, the two head officers, 1Ch 27:25 (for the city, Azmaveth; for the country, Jonathan), and the ten overseers of the tillage and pasturage, the latter of whom were to give a yearly account of the produce of the stock under their charge to the former. The number twelve can scarcely be accidental here, though it is not expressly noticed.

4. The State Counsellors of David: 1Ch 27:32-34; comp. the similar lists of the chief officers of state in 1Ch 18:15-17 (2Sa 8:15-18) and in 2Sa 20:23-26, with which, however, the present has only Joab the commander-in-chief in common, whereas, otherwise, here partly other persons, partly other functions, appear; and, indeed, its chief aim is to name the counsellors () of the king: it is a list of the chief counsellors of David (as it were his private council of state or cabinet).And Jonathan Davids kinsman was a counsellor; (properly favourite, friend, Son 1:13, etc.) may signify the fathers brother, Jer 32:7, in which sense it appears to be taken by the Sept. () and Vulg. (patruus). Yet it signifies also (Jer 32:12) kinsman, cousin in general, and appears here also to convey this wider sense, where scarcely any other Jonathan than the son of Shima is meant, and therefore a nephew of David. On , counsellor, comp. 1Ch 26:14; on the following attribute, wise, 1Ch 25:22; on a scribe (, here not a name of office, as in 1Ch 18:16), 1Ch 2:55; Ezr 7:6.And Jehiel . was with the kings sons, as their instructor or tutor, an office mentioned only here. Whether Hachmoni the father of this Jehiel be the same with the Hachmoni father of Jashobam mentioned 1Ch 11:11 must remain uncertain.

1Ch 27:33. And Ahithophel was counsellor of the king, without doubt the same who became notorious from the history of the revolt of Absalomcomp. 2Sa 15:31; 2Sa 16:23; 2Sa 17:1 ff; Psa 41:10as Hushai the Archite is the well-known opponent of this Ahithophel, 2Sa 15:32; 2Sa 15:37; 2Sa 16:16.

1Ch 27:34. And after Ahithophel was Jehoiada son of Benaiah and Abiathar. That by the latter the well-known high priest of the family of Ithamar (1Chr 5:27) is meant cannot well be doubted; whether with regard to the previous name we are to think of the Benaiah named 1Ch 27:5, captain of the third division, son of Jehoiada the priest, so that here a transposition of the names has taken place (Berth.), appears doubtful. It is perhaps simpler to take the Jehoiada named as successor to Ahithophel in the privy council of the king for a son of that Benaiah who, after the well-known Hebrew custom, bore the name of his grandfather. We may observe, moreover, how clearly the Chronist here again (as in 1Ch 27:7) betrays his acquaintance with certain episodes in the history of David, the special course of which it does not lie within the scope of his plan to narrate.And the general of the kings army was Joab; as such generalissimo, at the same time in some sense minister of war, and therefore eo ipso belonging to the rank of kings counsellors. Accordingly he appears, 1Ch 21:2 ff., in the exercise of his office of counsellor in regard to the census of the people.

In an apologetic respect, it is worthy of remark, in regard to this list of the counsellors of David, that, with the exception of Jehiel, names of persons about David occurring also in the books of Samuel and elsewhere in our books are contained in it, but that it cannot be compiled by the Chronist from the other accounts of the history of this king, because it exhibits something peculiar, not elsewhere occurring, in its statements of the functions of these men. We must therefore assume that this list comes from the same source from which our historian has drawn the previous lists (2326 and 1Ch 27:1-31) (Berth.).

Footnotes:

[1]For , according to 1Ch 11:12, is to be read .

[2]For the Sept., in accordance with 1Ch 2:13 and 1Sa 16:6; 1Sa 17:13, exhibits .

[3]So the Kethib: the Keri has Shirtai ().

[4]Sept. but occurs also, Neh 3:17, as the name of a place near Mizpah; a nowhere.

Fuente: A Commentary on the Holy Scriptures, Critical, Doctrinal, and Homiletical by Lange

CONTENTS

The Chronicle of characters in the temple service is nearly finished. Here therefore in this chapter we have the list of the fathers, and chief captains, the princes of the several tribes, and the officers of the court.

Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

There is very little more to be observed on the contents of those verses, than, that as David wisely thought in time of peace, it is right to be prepared for war, in a world like the present, so here we see the means he adopted to be secure from foreign foes. In a spiritual sense it may be observed, that as good soldiers of Jesus Christ we ought to be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might, and to take to us the whole armour of God. There is somewhat remarkable in the selection of captains for each month in the year. There were twelve tribes of Israel, and Jesus chose twelve apostles. The gates of the New Jerusalem had the names of the same upon them.

Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

XXIV

THE ARMY; CIVIL ORGANIZATION; INTERNATIONAL COMMERCE; RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATION

1Ch 23:1-29:22

The scriptural materials for the life of David present him as a great poet, and we are accustomed to think of him in the light of his poetry, particularly of his elegies and psalms. We think of him as a great warrior from his youth up in the successful campaigns he waged in pushing out the boundaries of the kingdom until they fulfilled the promise to Abraham. Then we think of him as a legislator, as he devised many useful laws, but we seldom give him due credit for his organizing power. A great writer has said that what Alfred the Great did for England, and what Napoleon did for France, David did for his kingdom in the way of organization. I will take up the items of this organization and give you a clear conception of it.

I. The army.

His army roll showed 288,000 men. It would have been a great burden to a small kingdom like this to keep up a standing army of 288,000 men; so he divided his army into twelve great corps. Only one corps would serve a month; in the course of the entire year the 288,000 men would have served each one of them one month. In that way the spirit of military drill and organization was kept up. In case of war he could call out the whole 288,000 and have a vast army of drilled men. So his army organization, we will say, consisted of 288,000 men, twelve army corps of 24,000 each, each corps serving one month in the year, coming on in succession. Each corps was subdivided into, say, twenty-four regiments of 1,000 men each, and each regiment into ten companies of 100 men each, something like the “century” of the Roman Legion, a centurion commanding 100 men. These were the subdivisions of the main army. There was a bodyguard always kept near the king’s person. I do not recall that anywhere the number of this bodyguard is given. Sometimes they are called “Cherethites” and “Pelethites.” Whatever their name, it was a permanent bodyguard of which Benaiah was the commander.

Then there was an order of men sometimes compared to the knighthood, the 600; the original organization of this 600 was in the Cave of Adullam, when David was an outlaw, and it was perpetuated all through his life. This 600, every one a hero and champion, was divided into two bands of 300 each. These bands were divided into companies of 100 each, and the one hundreds were divided into twenties. The six captains over the hundreds and the chief captain over all make the famous seven. The captains over the twenties make the famous thirty. Every man of this band of 600 was an experienced warrior and had signalized himself on many eventful occasions, and every one of the thirty and every one of the seven, that is, the thirty-seven officers, were especially famous.

Let us see if we have this army organization clear: 288,000 divided into twelve corps of 24,000 each; each corps commanded by its own general, with Joab as general-in-chief; each 24,000 serving one month and no more unless there was a war. In addition to that, a bodyguard, the famous 600; the three captains of the first 300 were the most worthy; the three captains of the other 300 were somewhat less worthy. Each 100 was divided into twenties; the captains over the twenties make the thirty worthies; then the six captains over the one hundreds, and a chief captain of the 600 make the thirty-seven worthies. That is David’s military organization.

II. The civil organization.

The civil organization was based upon the law of Moses. Each tribe was governed by its prince, and by a graded system of subordinate judges, chiefs of thousands, chiefs of hundreds, chiefs of fifties, and chiefs of tens, and the ordinary affairs pertaining only to the tribes were attended to by these men. That wag derived from the Mosaic administration, but in David’s time we come to quite a different need, the matters relating to God and his kingdom. For this work David appointed 6,000 Levites as judges and he distributed them over the whole territory. They represented the national affairs only.

These 6,000 Levites had the following functions:

1. They were what we would call “federal judges” judges over matters that pertained to the general government.

2. Sanitary officers.

3. They were charged with education. There never was such a spirit of general education as grew up in this organization of David. First of all, there were the schools of the prophets. They were kept up and had been ever since Samuel’s time. In these schools of the prophets they studied the whole law of God, and particularly music, vocal and instrumental. They also studied everything that related to the prophetic office. That was the curriculum of the schools of the prophets, and that was where David got his education. These 6,000 Levites, each one in his own section, had charge of the educational work, and the result was that when Solomon came to the throne you find him the most thoroughly educated man since the days of Moses. Dr. Taylor, in his King of Israel, well says:

The preeminence attained by Solomon in all the branches of education is, to my mind, an evidence of the advanced condition of the nation generally in this department; since, unless a good foundation of elementary knowledge had been imparted to the youth of the land as a whole, it is hardly possible to account for the appearance of such a man as Solomon in that age. No doubt he was endowed with preternatural wisdom; but this, as is usual in the economy of Providence, would be engrafted upon a high degree of ordinary culture; and the question forces itself upon the historical student, “Who were his tutors, and who taught them?” You do not find the loftiest mountains rising isolatedly from some great plain. The highest mountains are never solitary peaks. They belong usually to some great chain, and are merely the loftiest elevations in a country the general character of which is mountainous; and in the same way the greatest scholars appear, not among ignorant people, but among those who have a high average of education, and in countries where a good substratum of instruction is enjoyed by the common average of the community. The historian, Froude, has put this thought admirably when he says, “No great general ever arose out of a nation of cowards; no great statesman or philosopher out of a nation of fools; no great artist out of a nation of materialists; no great dramatists, except when the drama was the passion of the people. Greatness is never more than the highest degree of an excellence which prevails around it, and forms the environment in which it grows.” Now if these views be correct, the rise of Solomon, who was so conspicuous for his intellectual culture and scientific attainments, may be regarded as a proof that in the reign of David, and more particularly, perhaps, in the zenith of his administration, education was extensively diffused, and earnestly fostered by him among the tribes.

When we come to study Solomon, in his time, we will find a reference to the wise men of the day. These were the men who grew out of David’s educational system. Solomon is but the product of the educational department set us by David. Let us now see what we have learned about these Levites:

1. They were federal judges, passing sentence on all matters pertaining to the nation at large.

2. They were sanitary men, looking after all matters pertaining to the health of the people.

3. They were educational men.

4. They were the stewards of what is called the “royal property.” We would call it now, in our government, “revenue.” By a single paragraph we are told of David’s overseers of the treasure houses of the tribes, of the vineyards, of the orchards, pastures, etc., so that there must have been what in England would be called “crown-lands,” land that belonged to the general government. In every tribe and in every important place you would see a treasure house.

Let us see what that treasure house was for. The system of worship provided for a central place of worship, and for the support of those who conducted matters at the central place of worship there was a tithe in cattle, grain, vineyards, etc., so you see that it would be necessary to have storehouses all over the nation where these tithes could be gathered up. It took a very consummate organization to put all these matters in such working order that there could be no deficiency in the royal treasury from any part of the land, nothing deficient in sanitary conditions. Nothing anywhere escaped the Argus eyes of the judicial system of government. Moreover, David developed commerce.

III. An international commerce.

This was a tremendous item in the contribution to the wealth of the nation. The kingdom produced more than it could use in the way of clothes, and it was necessary to export surplus products and to bring in things that could not be produced at home. You can imagine the continuous stream of caravans from Damascus to Egypt and from Tyre to Arabia, across the country. It would be necessary to carry to foreign countries various kinds of produce in exchange for the things brought to David from them. In Solomon’s time you will see an enlargement of this commerce. He not only reached the Atlantic Ocean, as in David’s time, through the fleets of Tyre, but China and India by means of the fleet at Eziongeber on the Gulf of Akabah. David would want cedars from Lebanon, and would want to employ skilled artisans and architects. David was a great builder. He built a fine palace for himself, and he built many fine buildings in Jerusalem. In paying for these artisans, architects, and materials from foreign countries he would use the surplus products of his own kingdom, carrying from Judah to Tyre by caravan, to Damascus by caravan, to Egypt, to Arabia. This necessitated treasure-houses and storehouses, and David had them by his system of organization.

IV. The religious organization.

The religious organization surpassed anything that this world has ever known. At no time in the history of the world, in any nation, was there ever such a perfect organization of religious service. After David was made king of all Israel at Hebron, where he had been reigning over Judah seven years, he captured Jerusalem and made that the central place of worship, and there the great feasts were celebrated. He is going to have a system of worship that will not only impress the minds of his own people, but all people who come in touch with them, so that in the days of the captivity the Babylonians would say, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion,” and they would reply, “How can we sing the songs of Zion in a strange land?” and would hang their harps on the willow trees.

There were 38,000 Levites over thirty years of age in this religious organization, 6,000 of whom were set apart for judges, sanitary officers, and educators, leaving 32,000 for the Temple service. These 32,000 men were divided as follows: 24,000 into twenty-four courses of 1,000 each, set apart to minister at the sanctuary; in other words to be servants of the priests for anything the priests would want done; 4,000 set apart as porters; and 4,000 as singers. The priests, that is, the sons of Aaron, were classified into twenty-four courses. This classification continued until the New Testament time. Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist, belonged to the course of Abia, and when it came his turn to go and act as priest in the Temple, it was determined by lot, and the lot fell upon him to offer incense as priest. The priests were divided into twenty-four courses, and the singers divided. There were twenty-four bands of these singers, not all present at one time, but all could be grouped at national festivals, when the Passover came, or Feast of Tabernacles, or Pentecost, or the great day of Atonement; then the entire 4,000 singers would be there with their various instruments of music; the cymbal band, the psaltery band, the harp band, the trumpet band, Alamoth, or female choir, Sheminith, or male choir everybody in that 4,000 would understand just what services were requisite on his part, and just when. One twenty-fourth of the time he had to be there, and on all national occasions he had to be there. Offerings take into consideration the sabbatic cycle, which consisted of the weekly sabbath, every seventh day; the new-moon sabbath, every lunar month; the annual sabbaths, the Passover, Tabernacle, and Pentecost festivals; the land sabbath, all of every seventh year; the jubilee sabbath, every fiftieth year, each and all with its appropriate and imposing ritual, you get some idea of David’s religious system.

When we come to study the book of Psalms, one of the most attractive books in the whole Bible, we will there find that the service of the second temple was based upon David’s plan, and led to our present arrangement of the Psalms. No writer has yet, with sufficient vividness, described the worship at Jerusalem in the Old Testament times. Rev. J. H. Ingraham, the Episcopalian, who committed suicide, attempted to describe it in letters that a daughter of an Egyptian Jew wrote to her father about how the Temple service impressed her in the time of Christ. These letters are found in his Prince of the House of David.

That was the religious organization. One living in any part of the country, from Hamath on the northwest to the Euphrates on the northeast, to Edom on the southeast, to Philistia on the southwest, and a case coming up, there was an appropriate officer to whom his case would be referred; everything was arranged for judicial, executive, and legislative. Some things were attended to in the national convention. This occurred when the great festivals brought the people together in the grand convocation, or when something of special importance was to be done with reference to succession, as we saw when David called the whole nation to accept his son Solomon as king.

QUESTIONS

1. In what spheres was David great?

2. Describe his army organization: (1) How many enrolled? (2) How divided, and why? (3) What the subdivisions?

3. Describe David’s body-guard. Who the commander?

4. Describe the organization of his famous 600; (1) Its divisions; (9) Its subdivisions; (3) Who the famous thirty-seven?

5. Describe the civil organization: (1) What part derived from the Mosaic administration? (2) What additions in David’s time? (3) What the functions of the 6,000 Levites? (4) What proof of the diffusion of education by David? (5) What was the treasure-house?

6. Describe his system of international commerce: (1) Its necessity; (2) How carried on? .

7. Describe his religious organization: (1) How does it compare with the other religious organizations of the world? (2) How many and who constituted it? (3) Its divisions and subdivisions? (4) Its relation to the book of the Psalms?

Fuente: B.H. Carroll’s An Interpretation of the English Bible

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.

Ver. 1. Now the children of Israel, &c. ] David having in the four foregoing chapters taken order for the better settling of the sincere service of God in the temple that was to be built for his name; and so sought God’s kingdom in the first place; prudently proceedeth here, before his death, to settle the militia of the kingdom. He well remembered, that himself was no sooner made king, but the Philistines came up to seek him. 2Sa 5:17 The like whereunto he knew might befall his son Solomon. And although he doubted not of the faithfulness of God’s promises, yet knowing that his providence must also be served, and all good means used, he appointed twelve legions to be ever in readiness to serve upon all occasions for the security of the kingdom; each legion, consisting of twenty-four thousand valiant and expert soldiers, was to wait a month, and then to be relieved and succeeded by another, the whole year about. Thus the ancient Romans had many legions ever in arms; whence that answer of a certain philosopher to Adrian the emperor, who dared him to dispute, It is hard for a man to do his best against such an adversary as commanded thirty legions. The Chinese are said to have always a hundred thousand soldiers ready pressed for any service; but David had two hundred eighty and eight thousand.

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

1 Chronicles Chapter 27

In 1Ch 27 we have more the kingdom in its outward regulations. “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 through out all the months of the year, of every course were twenty and four thousand.” We find the number twenty-four whether it be actual, or in its thousands, very prominent here. Twelve is the number devoted to perfection in human government – in government by man. In the Church, seven, because it is spiritual administration. In Israel, twelve – twelve tribes, not seven. So here in the kingdom by-and-by; only there is a double witness of it. It is twenty-four. Nothing was established when it was only twelve. “In the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established.” The Millennium will be the great establishment of the kingdom. And so we have not perfection. Perfection will be in eternity, but still there will be establishment.

The end of the chapter shows us the various ministers of the king – the rulers of his substance – those that were over the king’s treasures – those that were over the work of the field, his agriculture, his vineyards, his domains as we would call them, the sycamore trees, and so on, the olive yards, the herds, the camels, flocks, asses, and the other chief ministers of the king.

Fuente: William Kelly Major Works (New Testament)

children = sons.

chief fathers = heads of the fathers.

captains of thousands. The host comprised all males over twenty. From this were organized twelve divisions of 24,000 men, commanded by twelve of the thirty. David’s 600 (1Sa 23:13, &c.) divided into three of 200 each (consisting of ten subdivisions of twenty each, commanded by the “thirty”), commanded by the “three”. The commander of the “thirty” was not one of the “three”, but next below them. See notes on 1Ch 11and 2Sa 23.

Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics

Chapter 27

And then the courses were established in chapter twenty-seven. There were twelve captains for, one for each month to oversee a particular month. And then the princes were established for the twelve tribes. And in verse twenty-three, chapter twenty-seven,

But David took not the number of them from twenty years old and under: because the LORD had said he would increase Israel like the stars of heaven. Joab the son of Zeruiah began to number, but he didn’t finish the task, because of the plague that fell upon Israel; and neither was the number put into the account of the chronicles of king David ( 1Ch 27:23-24 ).

And then David’s own personal administration of his own personal wealth. It speaks of the man that he set over his own treasury, over the storehouses of the fields, the cities. The men that were in charge of the work in the field, the tilling of the ground and so forth. The man that was over his vineyards. And the man who was over the increase of the vineyards with the wine cellars. The one who was over the olive trees and the fig trees. And the one who was over the cellars of oil, and another one over the herds that fed in the plains of Sharon. Another one that was over the herds that fed in the valleys and over the camels. And so David had all of these vast things to take care of, and he was, no doubt, a super administrator also.

And Ahithophel was the king’s counselor: with Hushai the Archite who was the king’s companion: and after Ahithophel was Jehoiada and Joab, of course, was the general of the army ( 1Ch 27:33-34 ). “

Fuente: Through the Bible Commentary

1Ch 27:1-15

1Ch 27:1-15

THE MEN WHO HEADED THE MILITARY STRUCTURE;

HEADS OF EACH OF THE TWELVE TRIBES; AND

OTHER HIGH OFFICERS; HEADS OF THE COURSES; MONTH BY MONTH

“Now the children after their number, to wit, the heads of fathers’ houses and the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and their officers that served the king, in any matter of the courses that went in and went out month by month throughout all the months of the year – of every course were twenty and four thousand. Over the first course for the first month was Jashobeam the son of Zabdiel: and in his course were twenty and four thousand. He was of the children of Perez, the chief of all the captains of the host for the first month. And over the course of the second month was Dodai the Ahohite, and his course; and Mikloth the ruler: and in his course were twenty and four thousand. The third captain of the host for the third month was Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada the priest, chief: and his course were twenty and four thousand. This is that Benaiah, who was the mighty man of the thirty, and over the thirty: and of his course was Ammizabad his son. 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. The fifth captain for the fifth month was Shamuth the Izrahite: and in his course were twenty and four thousand. The sixth captain for the sixth month was Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite: and in his course were twenty and four thousand. 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. The eighth captain for the eighth month was Sibbecai the Hushathite, of the Zerahites: and in his course were twenty and four thousand. The ninth captain for the ninth month was Abiezer the Anathothite, of the Benjamites: and in his course were twenty and four thousand. The tenth captain for the tenth month was Meharai the Netophathite, of the Serahites: and in his course were twenty and four thousand. 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. The twelfth captain for the twelfth month was Heldai the Netophathite, of the children of Ephraim: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.”

These verses present the structure of David’s military establishment, which consisted of a standing army of 288,000 men, rotated 24,000 at a time, month by month, under the commanders here mentioned.

The commanders were “men of extraordinary personal activity, strength and valor, reminding us of the heroes of King Arthur or Charlemagne, except that the armor of the feudal chieftains gave them their superiority, while in the forces of David, it was main strength of body and dauntless fortitude of mind.”

Apparently, this arrangement continually surrounded David with 24,000 armed men, month by month, and made available for any emergency the entire 288,000. It also left the soldiery practically free eleven months in the year to pursue their own interests. The monotonous repetition is characteristic of ancient records and denies the notion that “The Chronicler” invented these records.

E.M. Zerr:

1Ch 27:1. This is a sort of summing up of the men in the service of David. The orderly manner of their service is indicated in this verse. They served a month at a time and took their proper turns. The number of the forces that served in any particular month is suggested in the following verses.

1Ch 27:2-15. There were 24,000 men serving each of the 12 months of the year.

Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary

This chapter gives us an idea of the internal order of the kingdom under the government of David. The courses mentioned in the opening part of the chapter are not mentioned elsewhere in the Old Testament. They may have been the toilers who wrought in some specific work. Perhaps this refers to arrangement made for the labor necessary to build the Temple. Then the rulers of the tribes are named. Following this is a significant statement that in the numbering necessary to organization David was careful not to sin again. He had learned a lesson from experience. Next the rulers of departments are named, and, finally, a list of the chief men in David’s household is given.

The chapter is a striking revelation of the fact that David’s greatness as a king was not confined to his victories in war. He was no less great in peaceful administration. Tilling the soil, careful cultivation, raising cattle and all that pertained to the internal welfare of his people had his attention, and were arranged for under duly qualified and appointed oversight. There is no room for doubt that under the reign of David the Hebrew people realized their greatest strength, even if they did not reach the height of their magnificence. Truly a wonderful man was David. Fundamentally a man of God, he was also a warrior, a poet, an administrator. With his passing, the day of Hebrew greatness passed its meridian.

Fuente: An Exposition on the Whole Bible

6. The Captains, Princes, and Various Officials

CHAPTER 27

1. The twelve captains (1Ch 27:1-15)

2. The princes of the twelve tribes (1 Chron. 27-16-22)

3. The unfinished numbering (1Ch 27:23-24)

4. Various officers (1Ch 27:25-34)

We have here the military organization of Davids kingdom. The army comprised all males over twenty years of age. The host had twelve divisions each of 24,000. It is remarkable how the number twenty-four occurs again and again. Twelve is the governmental number and twice twelve, that is, twenty-four, would indicate a perfect and complete government such as will be established when Heavens King of Glory is enthroned. In the list of the Princes of Israel the tribe of Dan is numbered last. There is something significant about this. Dan, as we have seen, is not mentioned in the chronological register, nor is this tribe mentioned in Rev. 7. Dan is called a serpent (Gen 49:17); it may be that the coming false Messiah will come out of Dan. Gad and Asher are not mentioned in the list.

Fuente: Gaebelein’s Annotated Bible (Commentary)

the chief fathers: The patriarchs, chief generals, or generals of brigade. This enumeration is widely different from that of the preceding. In that, we have the order and course of the priests and Levites, in their ecclesiastical ministrations: in this, we have the account of the order of the civil service, what related simply to the political state of the king and kingdom. Twenty-four persons, chosen out of David’s worthies, each of whom had a second, were placed over 24,000 men, who all served a month at a time, in turn; 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 24,000, 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, bring into the field 12 times 24,000 or 288,000 fighting men, independently of the 12,000 officers, which made in the whole an effective force of 300,000 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.

captains: 1Ch 13:1, Exo 18:25, Deu 1:15, 1Sa 8:12, Mic 5:2

served: 1Ch 28:1, 2Ch 17:12-19, 2Ch 26:11-13

any matter: 1Ki 5:14

month: 1Ki 4:7, 1Ki 4:27

Reciprocal: Num 1:4 – General 1Ch 7:2 – whose number 1Ch 29:6 – the chief 2Ch 1:2 – to the captains 2Ch 25:5 – captains over thousands

Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

1Ch 27:1. Now the children of Israel, &c. After the settlement of sacred affairs, we have here an account of the manner in which the army, or militia, as we may call it, was disposed. It was distributed into twelve legions, each consisting of twenty-four thousand men, who were commanded by one of the chief of the fathers; under whom there were captains of thousands, such as we now call colonels; and then under them captains of hundreds. Each of these legions attended one month, for the security of the king and kingdom; at the end of which they were dismissed, and another legion, with their general, succeeded: so that their course came but once in a year, and that only for one month, which was no considerable burden to them. That served the king in any matter of the courses In all the business in which the king had occasion for these persons. Which came in and went out, &c. Who, being armed and mustered, were 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.

Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

1Ch 27:23. The Lord had said he would increase Israel like to the stars of heaven. Gen 15:5. If all had been numbered, David would have had about a million and a half of men, from twenty to fifty years of age. Women the same number, children three millions and a half, and the people above fifty, one million; so that the population of Davids kingdom could not, at his death, be less than seven millions and a half.

1Ch 27:32. Jonathan, Davids uncle, was a prince, a statesman, and a divine. He expounded the law, for it becomes the highest dignitaries to do this, the best and highest work of God. Eusebius gives us Constantines oration in the church, and it is probable he delivered more than one. Julian also in the days of his youth, read in the churches.

REFLECTIONS.

David, now at the head of a great kingdom, and surrounded by tributary nations, required order, arrangements, and regulations. The priests and levites claimed his first attention. The Lord had raised him to the throne, and he gratefully began his regulations in the Lords house. Next follow in this chapter, the arrangements of the monthly militia, the royal household, and the counsellors of state. And on a review of the whole, we must say, that the art of government under so great a king, soon arrived at perfection. What nation, or court of Europe has wiser arrangements, or maxims more successful in political society? So it shall be in the heavenly kingdom of Davids Son. Thrones, dominions, principalities, and powers, are established in the heavenly as well as in the earthly courts. Order, peace, glory, happiness and joy will be there. No invidious courtier shall spoil the concord of the place; for every one shall be in his own order. Lord, count me worthy to have a dwelling there.

Fuente: Sutcliffe’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

1Ch 27:1-34. Organisation of Davids Army: Enumeration of his Officials (cf. 1Ch 11:10 ff.)

1Ch 27:1. According to this verse the army comprised 288,000 soldiers; this is an exaggeration.

1Ch 27:32. Davids uncle: better kinsman; the Hebrew word dd is used in this general sense.

1Ch 27:33. Cf. 2Sa 15:12; 2Sa 15:37.the kings friend: a title of honour probably adapted from the Egyptian court; it occurs several times in 1 Mac., e.g. 1Ma 2:18, 1Ma 3:38.

Fuente: Peake’s Commentary on the Bible

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, {a} which came in and went out month by month throughout all the months of the year, of every course [were] twenty and four thousand.

(a) Who executed their charge and office, which is meant by coming in and going out.

Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes

Preparations for governmental order ch. 27

David also organized his army (1Ch 27:1-15), Israel’s tribal leaders (1Ch 27:16-24), his administrators (1Ch 27:25-31), and his counselors and advisers (1Ch 27:32-34). He did all this to ensure future stability so what God had promised could happen without unnecessary opposition or confusion. Again the writer mentioned 12 tribes, but in this list these included Levi and the two halves of Manasseh. He omitted Gad and Asher in this tally (1Ch 27:16-24; cf. ch. 7).

Chapters 22-27 record David’s preparation for the fulfillment of those Davidic Covenant promises that would come after he passed off the scene. His preoccupation with God’s promises and his preparations for their fulfillment served as a good example for Chronicles’ original readers. David’s zeal for the house of the Lord reflected his zeal for the reputation of the Lord. He truly put God’s glory before his own personal ambitions.

Fuente: Expository Notes of Dr. Constable (Old and New Testaments)