Lux Domini

1 Chronicles 27

Chapter context

What is happening in 1 Chronicles 27?

memoryworshipgenealogyDavid

1 Chronicles 27 belongs to the middle movement of the book, especially the section often described as temple and liturgical preparations. First Chronicles surveys Israel through genealogies and then retells David’s reign with special attention to worship, Levites, and preparations for the temple. Read this chapter with the wider themes of memory, worship, and genealogy in view so the individual verses keep their proper weight.

1 Now the children of Israel after their number, to wit, the chief fathers and captains of thousands and hundreds, and their officers that served the king in any matter of the courses, which came in and went out month by month throughout all the months of the year, of every course were twenty and four thousand.   2 Over the first course for the first month was Jashobeam the son of Zabdiel: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.   3 Of the children of Perez was the chief of all the captains of the host for the first month.   4 And over the course of the second month was Dodai an Ahohite, and of his course was Mikloth also the ruler: in his course likewise were twenty and four thousand.   5 The third captain of the host for the third month was Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, a chief priest: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.   6 This is that Benaiah, who was mighty among the thirty, and above the thirty: and in his course was Ammizabad his son.   7 The fourth captain for the fourth month was Asahel the brother of Joab, and Zebadiah his son after him: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.   8 The fifth captain for the fifth month was Shamhuth the Izrahite: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.   9 The sixth captain for the sixth month was Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.   10 The seventh captain for the seventh month was Helez the Pelonite, of the children of Ephraim: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.   11 The eighth captain for the eighth month was Sibbecai the Hushathite, of the Zarhites: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.   12 The ninth captain for the ninth month was Abiezer the Anetothite, of the Benjamites: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.   13 The tenth captain for the tenth month was Maharai the Netophathite, of the Zarhites: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.   14 The eleventh captain for the eleventh month was Benaiah the Pirathonite, of the children of Ephraim: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.   15 The twelfth captain for the twelfth month was Heldai the Netophathite, of Othniel: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.   16 Furthermore over the tribes of Israel: the ruler of the Reubenites was Eliezer the son of Zichri: of the Simeonites, Shephatiah the son of Maachah:   17 Of the Levites, Hashabiah the son of Kemuel: of the Aaronites, Zadok:   18 Of Judah, Elihu, one of the brethren of David: of Issachar, Omri the son of Michael:   19 Of Zebulun, Ishmaiah the son of Obadiah: of Naphtali, Jerimoth the son of Azriel:   20 Of the children of Ephraim, Hoshea the son of Azaziah: of the half tribe of Manasseh, Joel the son of Pedaiah:   21 Of the half tribe of Manasseh in Gilead, Iddo the son of Zechariah: of Benjamin, Jaasiel the son of Abner:   22 Of Dan, Azareel the son of Jeroham. These were the princes of the tribes of Israel.   23 But David took not the number of them from twenty years old and under: because the LORD had said he would increase Israel like to the stars of the heavens.   24 Joab the son of Zeruiah began to number, but he finished not, because there fell wrath for it against Israel; neither was the number put in the account of the chronicles of king David.   25 And over the king’s treasures was Azmaveth the son of Adiel: and over the storehouses in the fields, in the cities, and in the villages, and in the castles, was Jehonathan the son of Uzziah:   26 And over them that did the work of the field for tillage of the ground was Ezri the son of Chelub:   27 And over the vineyards was Shimei the Ramathite: over the increase of the vineyards for the wine cellars was Zabdi the Shiphmite:   28 And over the olive trees and the sycomore trees that were in the low plains was Baalhanan the Gederite: and over the cellars of oil was Joash:   29 And over the herds that fed in Sharon was Shitrai the Sharonite: and over the herds that were in the valleys was Shaphat the son of Adlai:   30 Over the camels also was Obil the Ishmaelite: and over the asses was Jehdeiah the Meronothite:   31 And over the flocks was Jaziz the Hagerite. All these were the rulers of the substance which was king David’s.   32 Also Jonathan David’s uncle was a counsellor, a wise man, and a scribe: and Jehiel the son of Hachmoni was with the king’s sons:   33 And Ahithophel was the king’s counsellor: and Hushai the Archite was the king’s companion:   34 And after Ahithophel was Jehoiada the son of Benaiah, and Abiathar: and the general of the king’s army was Joab.  

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Glossary

Perez Person v. 3

=Pharez, (q. v. ), breach, the son of Judah ( Neh. 11:4 ). “The chief of all the captains of the host for the first month” in the reign of David was taken from his family ( 1 Chr. 27:3 ).

Mikloth Person v. 4

Staves. (1. ) An officer under Dodai, in the time of David and Solomon ( 1 Chr. 27:4 ). (2. ) A Benjamite ( 1 Chr. 8:32 ; 9:37 , 38).

Benaiah Person v. 5-6, 14, 34

Built up by Jehovah. (1. ) The son of Jehoiada, chief priest ( 1 Chr. 27:5 ). He was set by David over his body-guard of Cherethites and Pelethites ( 2 Sam. 8:18 ; 1 Kings 1:32 ; 1 Chr. 18:17 ).

Jehoiada Person v. 5, 34

Jehovah-known. (1. ) The father of Benaiah, who was one of David’s chief warriors ( 2 Sam. 8:18 ; 20:23 ). (2. ) The high priest at the time of Athaliah’s usurpation of the throne of Judah.

Ammizabad Person v. 6

People of the giver, the son of Benaiah, who was the third and chief captain of the host under David ( 1 Chr. 27:6 ).

Asahel Person v. 7

Made by God, the youngest son of Zeruiah, David’s sister. He was celebrated for his swiftness of foot.

Joab Person v. 7, 24, 34

Jehovah is his father. (1. ) One of the three sons of Zeruiah, David’s sister, and “captain of the host” during the whole of David’s reign ( 2 Sam. 2:13 ; 10:7 ; 11:1 ; 1 Kings 11:15 ).

Zebadiah Person v. 7

Gift of Jehovah. (1. ) A son of Asahel, Joab’s brother ( 1 Chr. 27:7 ). (2. ) A Levite who took part as one of the teachers in the system of national education instituted by Jehoshaphat ( 2 Chr. 17:7 , 8).

Tekoa Place v. 9

Pitching of tents; fastening down, a town of Judah, about 12 miles south of Jerusalem, and visible from the city. Modern identification: Khirbet Teku’a.

Hushah Place v. 11

Biblical settlement. Modern identification: Husan.

Anathoth Place v. 12

Biblical settlement. Modern identification: Ras el Kharruba.

Netophah Place v. 13, 15

Distillation; dropping, a town in Judah, in the neighbourhood, probably, of Bethlehem ( Neh. 7:26 ; 1 Chr. 2:54 ). Two of David’s guards were Netophathites ( 1 Chr. 27:13 , 15). Modern identification: Khirbet Badd Faluh.

Pirathon Place v. 14

Prince, or summit, a place “in the land of Ephraim” ( Judg. 12:15 ), now Fer’on, some 10 miles south-west of Shechem. This was the home of Abdon the judge. Modern identification: Farata.

Othniel Person v. 15

Lion of God, the first of the judges. His wife Achsah was the daughter of Caleb ( Josh. 15:16 , 17; Judg. 1:13 ). He gained her hand as a reward for his bravery in leading a successful expedition against Debir (q. v. ).

Shephatiah Person v. 16

Judged of the Lord. (1. ) A son of David by Abital ( 2 Sam. 3:4 ). (2. ) A Benjamite who joined David at Ziklag ( 1 Chr. 12:5 ). (3. ) A Simeonite prince in David’s time ( 1 Chr. 27:16 ).

Zichri Person v. 16

Remembered; illustrious. (1. ) A Benjamite chief ( 1 Chr. 8:19 ). (2. ) Another of the same tribe ( 1 Chr. 8:23 ).

Hashabiah Person v. 17

Regarded by Jehovah. (1. ) Merarite Levite ( 1 Chr. 6:45 ; 9:14 ). (2. ) A son of Jeduthun (25:3, 19). (3. ) Son of Kemuel (26:30). (4. ) One of the chief Levites ( 2 Chr. 35:9 ). (5. ) A Levite ( Neh. 11:22 ).

Kemuel Person v. 17

Helper of God, or assembly of God. (1. ) The third son of Nahor ( Gen. 22:21 ). (2. ) Son of Shiphtan, appointed on behalf of the tribe of Ephraim to partition the land of Canaan ( Num. 34:24 ). (3. ) A Levite.

Zadok Person v. 17

Righteous. (1. ) A son of Ahitub, of the line of Eleazer ( 2 Sam. 8:17 ; 1 Chr. 24:3 ), high priest in the time of David ( 2 Sam. 20:25 ) and Solomon ( 1 Kings 4:4 ).

David Person v. 18, 23-24

Beloved, the eighth and youngest son of Jesse, a citizen of Bethlehem. His father seems to have been a man in humble life. His mother’s name is not recorded. Some think she was the Nahash of 2 Sam. 17:25 .

Elihu Person v. 18

Whose God is he. (1. ) “The son of Barachel, a Buzite” ( Job 32:2 ), one of Job’s friends.

Ishmaiah Person v. 19

Heard by Jehovah. (1. ) A Gibeonite who joined David at Ziklag, “a hero among the thirty and over the thirty” ( 1 Chr. 12:4 ). (2. ) Son of Obadiah, and viceroy of Zebulun under David and Solomon ( 1 Chr. 27:19 ).

Jerimoth Person v. 19

Heights. (1. ) One of the sons of Bela ( 1 Chr. 7:7 ). (2. ) 1 Chr. 24:30 , a Merarite Levite. (3. ) A Benjamite slinger who joined David at Ziklag ( 1 Chr. 12:5 ). (4. ) A Levitical musician under Heman his father.

Naphtali Person v. 19

My wrestling, the fifth son of Jacob. His mother was Bilhah, Rachel’s handmaid ( Gen. 30:8 ). When Jacob went down into Egypt, Naphtali had four sons ( Gen. 46:24 ). Little is known of him as an individual.

Obadiah Person v. 19

Servant of the Lord. (1. ) An Israelite who was chief in the household of King Ahab ( 1 Kings 18:3 ).

Zebulun Person v. 19

Dwelling, the sixth and youngest son of Jacob and Leah ( Gen. 30:20 ). Little is known of his personal history. He had three sons (46:14).

Azaziah Person v. 20

Whom Jehovah strengthened. (1. ) One of the Levitical harpers in the temple ( 1 Chr. 15:21 ). (2. ) The father of Hoshea, who was made ruler over the Ephraimites ( 1 Chr. 27:20 ).

Joel Person v. 20

Jehovah is his God. (1. ) The oldest of Samuel’s two sons appointed by him as judges in Beersheba ( 1 Sam. 8:2 ). (See VASHNI. ) (2. ) A descendant of Reuben ( 1 Chr. 5:4 , 8). (3. ) One of David’s famous warriors.

Pedaiah Person v. 20

Redemption of the Lord. (1. ) The father of Zebudah, who was the wife of Josiah and mother of king Jehoiakim ( 2 Kings 23:36 ). (2. ) The father of Zerubbabel ( 1 Chr. 3:17-19 ). (3. ).

Abner Person v. 21

Father of light; i. e., “enlightening”, the son of Ner and uncle of Saul. He was commander-in-chief of Saul’s army ( 1 Sam. 14:50 ; 17:55 ; 20:25 ).

Benjamin Person v. 21

Son of my right hand. (1. ) The younger son of Jacob by Rachel ( Gen. 35:18 ). His birth took place at Ephrath, on the road between Bethel and Bethlehem, at a short distance from the latter place.

Gilead Place v. 21

Biblical region. Modern identification: Tell edh Dhahab esh Sherqiyeh.

Iddo Person v. 21

(1. ) Timely ( 1 Chr. 6:21 ). A Gershonite Levite. (2. ) Lovely. The son of Zechariah ( 1 Chr. 27:21 ), the ruler of Manasseh in David’s time. (3. ) Timely.

Jaasiel Person v. 21

Made by God, one of David’s body-guard, the son of Abner ( 1 Chr. 27:21 ), called Jasiel in 1 Chr. 11:47 .

Zechariah Person v. 21

Jehovah is renowned or remembered. (1. ) A prophet of Judah, the eleventh of the twelve minor prophets. Like Ezekiel, he was of priestly extraction. He describes himself (1:1) as.

Jeroham Person v. 22

Cherished; who finds mercy. (1. ) Father of Elkanah, and grandfather of the prophet Samuel ( 1 Sam. 1:1 ). (2. ) The father of Azareel, the “captain” of the tribe of Dan ( 1 Chr. 27:22 ). (3. ) 1 Chr. 12:7 ; a Benjamite.

Zeruiah Person v. 24

Stricken of the Lord, David’s sister, and the mother of Abishai, Joab, and Asahel.

Adiel Person v. 25

Ornament of God. (1. ) The father of Azmaveth, who was treasurer under David and Solomon ( 1 Chr. 27:25 ). (2. ) A family head of the tribe of Simeon ( 1 Chr. 4:36 ). (3. ) A priest ( 1 Chr. 9:12 ).

Jehonathan Person v. 25

Whom Jehovah gave. (1. ) One of the stewards of David’s store-houses ( 1 Chr. 27:25 ). (2. ) A Levite who taught the law to the people of Judah ( 2 Chr. 17:8 ). (3. ) Neh. 12:18 .

Ezri Person v. 26

Help of Jehovah, the son of Chelub. He superintended, under David, those who “did the work of the field for tillage” ( 1 Chr. 27:26 ).

Ramah Place v. 27

Biblical settlement. Modern identification: Al Ram.

Shepham Place v. 27

Biblical settlement. Modern identification: Hermel.

Shimei Person v. 27

Famous. (1. ) A son of Gershon, and grandson of Levi ( Num. 3:18 ; 1 Chr. 6:17 , 29); called Shimi in Ex. 6:17 .

Zabdi Person v. 27

Gift of Jehovah. (1. ) An ancestor of Achan ( Josh. 7:1 , 17, 18). He is probably the “Zimri” of 1 Chr. 2:6 . (2. ) A Benjamite ( 1 Chr. 8:19 ).

Geder Place v. 28

Biblical settlement. Modern identification: Khirbet Jedur.

Joash Person v. 28

Whom Jehovah bestowed. (1. ) A contracted form of Jehoash, the father of Gideon ( Judg. 6:11 , 29; 8:13, 29, 32). (2. ) One of the Benjamite archers who joined David at Ziklag ( 1 Chr. 12:3 ).

Shephelah Place v. 28

Biblical region. Modern identification: Shephelah.

Shaphat Tribe v. 29

Judge. (1. ) One of the spies. He represented the tribe of Simeon ( Num. 13:5 ). (2. ) The father of Elisha ( 1 Kings 19:16-19 ). (3. ) One of David’s chief herdsmen ( 1 Chr. 27:29 ).

Sharon Place v. 29

A plain, a level tract extending from the Mediterranean to the hill country to the west of Jerusalem, about 30 miles long and from 8 to 15 miles broad. Modern identification: Sharon Plain.

Meronoth Place v. 30

Biblical settlement. Modern identification: Tell en Nasbeh.

Jonathan Person v. 32

Whom Jehovah gave, the name of fifteen or more persons that are mentioned in Scripture. The chief of these are, (1. ) A Levite descended from Gershom ( Judg. 18:30 ). His history is recorded in 17:7-13 and 18:30.

Ahithophel Person v. 33-34

Brother of insipidity or impiety, a man greatly renowned for his sagacity among the Jews. At the time of Absalom’s revolt he deserted David ( Ps. 41:9 ; 55:12-14 ) and espoused the cause of Absalom ( 2 Sam. 15:12 ).

Abiathar Person v. 34

Father of abundance, or my father excels, the son of Ahimelech the high priest. He was the tenth high priest, and the fourth in descent from Eli.