Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Chronicles 27:25
And over the king’s treasures [was] Azmaveth the son of Adiel: and over the storehouses in the fields, in the cities, and in the villages, and in the castles, [was] Jehonathan the son of Uzziah:
25 31. Various Officers of the King
Twelve different officers are named here who acted as stewards of king David’s property.
25. treasures storehouses ] R.V. treasuries treasuries (the same Heb. word is repeated).
castles ] Lit. towers; cp. 2Ch 26:10; 2Ch 27:4.
Jehonathan ] R.V. Jonathan.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
This section is important as showing that David, the younger son of a not very opulent family 1Sa 16:11, 1Sa 16:20, had now become a large landed proprietor, as well as a capitalist, possessed of much moveable wealth. We may perhaps see the sources of both these kinds of property, in the successful wars which he had waged 1Sa 27:8-9; 1Sa 30:20; 2Sa 8:4, 2Sa 8:7-8, 2Sa 8:12; in the revenue derived from subject kings 1Sa 8:2, 1Sa 8:14; 1Sa 10:19; and in the purchase and occupation of lands in different places. Further, he enjoyed, of course, the usual rights of a Jewish king over the landed property of his subjects, and was thus entitled to receive a tithe of the produce in tithes (1Sa 8:15, 1Sa 8:17) and in benevolences. Compare 1Sa 10:27; 1Sa 16:20, etc.
1Ch 27:25
The castles – Probably the watchtowers in the border districts, exposed to raids from the plundering tribes of the desert 2Ch 26:10; 2Ch 27:4.
1Ch 27:28
In the low plains – Rather, in the Shephelah, the proper name of the low tract between the hill country of Judaea and the Mediterranean.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 25. – 31. Over the king’s treasures] We see from these verses in what the personal property of David consisted: –
1. Treasures, gold, silver, &c.
2. Goods and grain in castles, cities villages, and in the fields.
3. Vineyards and their produce.
4. Olive-trees and their produce.
5. Neat cattle, in different districts.
6. Camels and asses: they had no horses.
7. Flocks, sheep, goats, &c.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Over the kings treasures; of gold or silver, or other things of great price, which for greater security were kept in Jerusalem, and in the kings palace; and thither the tribute money also was sent and committed to his care.
Over the storehouses of the fruits of the earth, or that share of them which belonged to the king, which were laid up in the fields, or cities, or villages, or castles, as there was conveniency and occasion.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
25. over the king’s treasuresThosetreasures consisted of gold, silver, precious stones, cedar-wood, c.those which he had in Jerusalem as distinguished from otherswithout the city.
the storehouses in thefieldsGrain covered over with layers of straw is frequentlypreserved in the fields under little earthen mounds, like our potatopits.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Ver. 25-32. And over the king’s treasures was Azmaveth the son of Adiel,…. The historian here proceeds to relate who were employed in the economical and civil affairs of David; and the first mentioned is the lord of his treasury, who had the care of his gold and silver brought into his exchequer, either by a levy on his own people, or by the tribute of others: Jehonathan the son of Uzziah had the care of the storehouses, in which were laid up what the fields, cities, villages, and castles that belonged to the king produced, whether by fruits gathered in, or by rents collected: Ezri the son of Chelub looked after his workmen in the fields, employed in the tillage of the ground: Shimei of Ramath, in the tribe of Benjamin, had the care of the vineyards, to see that they were dressed and pruned, and kept in good order: Zabdi of Shepham, Nu 34:10 had the charge of the wine squeezed out of the grapes, both in the presses and in the cellars: Baalhanan of Gedor, in the tribe of Judah, Jos 15:36 was over the olive and sycamore trees, to see that they were well taken care of: and Joash was entrusted with the cellars where the oil was deposited: Shitrai the Sharonite had the herds of cattle fed in Sharon committed to his trust; whether in Sharon beyond Jordan, or that about Lydda and Joppa, near the Mediterranean sea, both affording fruitful pastures for herds; and this man, being of Sharon, was a fit man to be employed in such service: and Shaphat the son of Adlai was over those herds that were in the valleys, where were good pastures for them; such officers Pharaoh king of Egypt had, Ge 47:6 and as early as the times of Ninus king of Assyria, one named Simma was master of the king’s cattle l, as Faustulus was to Amulius king of the Latines m; and so Tyrrhus in Virgil n had the command of all the king’s cattle; and Cicero mentions another in the same office o: Obil the Ishmaelite (an Arab, as the Targum) had the care of the camels; and a very proper person he was, who must know the nature of them, and how to manage them, Arabia, or the land of the Ishmaelites, abounding with them. This man was so called, either because he was an Ishmaelite by birth, and was proselyted to the Jewish religion; or he was an Israelite that had dwelt some time in the land of Ishmael, and therefore so called. Bochart p thinks he had his name of Obil from his office, the word in the Arabic language signifying a keeper of camels. Jehdeiah the Meronothite was over the asses, which were employed in ploughing and carrying burdens; and Jaziz the Hagarite was over the flocks of sheep, the chief shepherd, who had the command of all the under shepherds, and a very proper person, being an Hagarite, or Arab; for such dwelt in tents for the sake of pasturage for their flocks, as Jarchi notes: these were the principal men that had the care of David’s personal substance; so, in later times, the Roman Caesars q had such sort of servants to take care of their farms, fields, fruit, cattle, c. the rest that follow were David’s courtiers. Jonathan, or to whom David was uncle, the son of Shimea, his brother being a wise and learned man, was his counsellor, see 2Sa 21:21 and Jehiel the Hachmonite was preceptor, or tutor to the king’s sons, that brought them up, and took care of their education Ahithophel was his counsellor until the conspiracy and rebellion of Absalom; and Hushai the Archite was his companion, friend, and favourite, with whom he conversed at leisure hours. After the death of Ahithophel, Jehoiada the son of Benaiah, and Abiathar, were his counsellors, and Joab the general of his army.
l Diodor. Sicul. l. 2. p. 93. m Liv. Hist. Decad. 1. l. 1. p. 5. n Aeneid. l. 7. Tyrrhusque pater, &c. ver. 485. o Apud Servium, in ib. p Hierozoic. par. 1. l. 2. c. col. 77. q Vid. Pignorium de Servis, p. 548.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
The managers of David’s possessions and domains. – The property and the income of the king were (1Ch 27:25) divided into treasures of the king, and treasures in the country, in the cities, the villages, and the castles. By the “treasures of the king” we must therefore understand those which were in Jerusalem, i.e., the treasures of the royal palace. These were managed by Azmaveth. The remaining treasures are specified in 1Ch 27:26. They consisted in fields which were cultivated by labourers (1Ch 27:26); in vineyards (1Ch 27:27); plantations of olive trees and sycamores in the Shephelah, the fruitful plain on the Mediterranean Sea (1Ch 27:28); in cattle, which pastured partly in the plain of Sharon between Caesarea Palestina and Joppa, partly in various valleys of the country (1Ch 27:29); and in camels, asses, and sheep (1Ch 27:30.). All these possessions are called , and the overseers of them . They consisted in the produce of agriculture and cattle-breeding, the two main branches of Israelitish industry.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
Domestic Officers, verses 25-31
The twelve men named in these verses were supervising servants of David, to oversee the various interests he had of a material nature. That he had widespread possessions, and varied, is evident from these verses. None of those named here of any further prominence in the Scriptures. The first had charge over his treasures; the second over his stores in the fields, cities, villages, and castles (or towers); the third over the land to cultivate it for the king; the fourth over the vineyard horticulture; the fifth over the making and storing of the wine; the sixth over the culture of the olives and wild sycamore figs.
Also, the seventh was over the storage cellars for the olive oil; the eighth over David’s herds in the rich plain of Sharon; the ninth over the herds which fed in the valleys; the tenth was over the camels (this man, Obil, was an Ishmaelite, possibly a camel-breeder from that desert country where camels are used extensively); the eleventh over the asses (donkeys); the twelfth over the flocks of sheep and goats.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
22. THE STEWARDS OF THE TREASURIES (1Ch. 27:25-31)
TEXT
1Ch. 27:25. And over the kings treasures was Azmaveth the son of Adiel: and over the treasures in the fields, in the cities, and in the villages, and in the castles, was Jonathan the son of Uzziah: 26. and over them that did the work of the field for tillage of the ground was Ezri the son of Chelub: 27. and over the vineyards was Shimei the Ramathite: and over the increase of the vineyards for the winecellars was Zabdi the Shiphmite: 28. and over the olive-trees and the sycamore-trees that were in the lowland was Baal-hanan the Gederite: and over the cellars of oil was Joash: 29. and over the herds that fed in Sharon was Shitrai the Sharonite: and over the herds that were in the valleys was Shaphat the son of Adlai: 30. and over the camels was Obil the Ishmaelite: and over the asses was Jehdeiah the Meronothite: and over the flocks was Jaziz the Hagrite. 31. All these were the rulers of the substance which was king Davids.
PARAPHRASE
1Ch. 27:25. Azmaveth (son of Adi-el) was the chief financial officer in charge of the palace treasuries, and Jonathan (son of Uzziah) was chief of the regional treasuries throughout the cities, villages, and fortresses of Israel. 26. Ezri (son of Chelub) was manager of the laborers on the kings estates. 27. And Shime-i from Ramath had the oversight of the kings vineyards; and Zabdi from Shiphma was responsible for his wine production and storage. 28. Baal-hanan from Gedera was responsible for the kings olive yards and sycamore trees in the lowlands bordering Philistine territory, while Joash had charge of the supplies of olive oil. 29. Shitrai from Sharon was in charge of the cattle on the Plains of Sharon, and Shaphat (son of Adlai) had charge of those in the valleys. 30. Obil, from the territory of Ishmael, had charge of the camels, and Jehdeiah from Meronoth had charge of the donkeys. 31. The sheep were under the care of Jaziz the Hagrite. These men were King Davids overseers.
COMMENTARY
The stewardship of the treasures of the king, himself, was assigned to Azmaveth. Jonathan was chargeable for the grain, fruit, produce of the agricultural operation. Ezri had charge of the field laborers and the actual preparation and care of the soil. Shimei was assigned to manage the production of grapes. Zabdi was a specialist in the storage of the vintage. Baal-hanan was the chief officer responsible for olive groves and sycamore trees which produced a kind of edible fig. The prophet, Amos, dressed sycamore trees (Amo. 7:14). The storage of olive oil was Joashs field of service. Sharon was a beautiful plain and provided good pasture between Mt. Carmel and Joppa. Shitrai specialized in animal husbandry in that district. Other valley regions and the oversight of flocks and grazing fell to the direction of Shaphat. Obil was the camel man. The name Obil means camel. Jehdeiah had charge of the asses. This assignment was very important because the mule was the royal carriage. Jaziz was Davids steward responsible for the kings sheep and goats. There were many departments in Davids government. He was careful to see that someone was responsible for every area of concern.
Fuente: College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
III.THE TWELVE OVERSEERS OF THE ROYAL ESTATES AND PROPERTY (1Ch. 27:25-31).
The number of these officers is noticeable, twelve being a normal number in Israelite institutions.
(25) And over the kings treasures.That is, those of the palace on Zion.
And over the storehouses.The Hebrew has the same word treasures. The treasures in the fields (sdh), or the country, in the cities, the villages and the castles (migdlm), or towers (2Ch. 26:10; Mic. 4:8), include all that belonged to David outside the walls of Jerusalem.
Jehonathan was comptroller-general of the revenues from these sources.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
OFFICERS OF THE KING’S REVENUE, 25-31.
This section is interesting as showing the various kinds and sources of David’s royal revenue. Precious metals, grains, fruits, wine, oil, flocks, and herds, furnished each their measure “of the substance which was King David’s.” A stone tablet containing the amount of information here given of any heathen king of David’s time would be gladly bought by the payment of thousands of dollars; and many a sceptic, who treats the Bible with comparative scorn, would be ready to extol the heathen tablet to the skies.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
The particular mention that is made of the respective situations of those heads of houses, no doubt had a divine authority, and may serve to convey to us, that the Lord arrayeth and disposeth all things according to order.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
1Ch 27:25 And over the king’s treasures [was] Azmaveth the son of Adiel: and over the storehouses in the fields, in the cities, and in the villages, and in the castles, [was] Jehonathan the son of Uzziah:
Ver. 25. And over the king’s treasures.] Rich men are but God’s treasurers; and to him they must be accountable.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
over the king’s treasures. There were twelve of these stewards.
treasures = treasuries.
castles = fortresses.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
1Ch 27:25-31
1Ch 27:25-31
DAVID’S DEPARTMENTAL OVERSEERS
“And over the king’s treasures was Azmaveth the son of Adiel: and over the treasures in the fields, in the cities, and in the villages, and in the castles, was Jonathan the son of Uzziah: and over them that did the work of the field for tillage of the ground was Ezri the son of Chelub: and over the vineyards was Shimei the Ramathite: and over the increase of the vineyards for the wine-cellars was Zabdi the Shiphmite: and over the olive-trees and the sycamore-trees that were in the lowland was Baal-hanan the Gederite: and over the cellars of oil was Joash: and over the herds that fed in Sharon was Shitrai the Sharonite: and over the herds that were in the valleys was Shaphat the son of Adlai: and over the camels was Obil the Ishmaelite: and over the asses was Jehdeiah the Meronothite: and over the flocks was Jaziz the Hagrite. All these were the rulers of the substance which was king David’s.”
These officials were, in a sense, stewards of the king’s vast properties.
E.M. Zerr:
1Ch 27:25. No one man had exclusive charge of the interests connected with David’s kingdom. Azmaveth was one among others who had some part of caring for the treasures. Jehona then must have been a rather important man, for his work attached him to the things stored in fields, cities, villages and castles.
1Ch 27:26. Some preceding verses have told of men who had charge of the products of the fields and other sources. Ezri had oversight of the production itself, seeing that the ground was properly tilled.
1Ch 27:27. This means Shimei was to care for the plants of the vineyards. Zabdi was to have charge of the product, to see that the wine was produced and stored in the cellars. These details may seem trivial to the reader, but we should get the lesson of the importance of having a system; doing things in an orderly method. Paul commended the church at Colosse for that. (Col 2:5.)
1Ch 27:28. This sycamore was a fruit tree somewhat like the fig tree. Baalhanan was to care for these and the olive trees that grew in the low plains. The olive tree was cultivated for the oil of the fruit, and Joash was to look after its storage.
1Ch 27:29. The herds of this passage means the larger animals, such as beeves. David was careful to see that full provision was made for the care of these animals by not assigning too much to any one man. The cattle feeding in Sharon and the villages had each a different man.
1Ch 27:30. Camels were used for food and for transportation. They were among the most important beasts of service in old times; one man was charged with the care of these. The asses were used for plowing and transportation; Jehdeiah took care of these.
1Ch 27:31. The many uses for sheep and goats are so familiar that it is unnecessary to comment. Jazib had the care of the flocks. He was a Hagerite, which was of one of the Arabian clans. All these applies to the men in the service of David who are mentioned in the several preceding verses.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
the king’s: 2Ki 18:15, 2Ch 16:2
the storehouses: Gen 41:48, Exo 1:11, 2Ch 26:10, Jer 41:8
Reciprocal: 1Ch 28:1 – the captains of the companies 1Ch 29:6 – the rulers 2Ch 17:13 – much business 2Ch 32:27 – treasuries Pro 24:4 – General Isa 22:15 – treasurer
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1Ch 27:25. Over the kings treasures Of gold, or silver, or other things of great price, which, for greater security, were kept in Jerusalem, and in the kings palace; and thither the tribute-money also was sent, and committed to Azmaveths care. Over the store-houses in the fields Of the fruits of the earth, or that share of them which belonged to the king, which were laid up in the fields, or cities, or villages, or castles, as there was convenience and occasion.