1 Chronicles 27

NOw the children of Israel after their number, to wit, the chief fathers and captains of thousands and hundreds, and their officers The standing Force or Militia of Israel as it was settled under their several Officers, as it here follows. that served the king in any matter of the courses i. e. In all the business wherein the King had occasion for these Persons who were to attend upon him or his Commands by Courses or by Turns. Or, according to all the order or state of the Divisions, or, about the Companies or Courses into which they were distributed., which came in and went out i. e. Executed their Office: which is commonly signified by this Phrase, as Numb. 27. 17. and elsewhere. month by month Who were to be Armed and Mustered and to wait upon the King either at Jerusalem on in other places as the King should see fit. By this Order near 300000 of his People were instructed and exercised in the use of the Arms and fitted for the Defence of their King and Kingdom when it should be needful, and in the mean time sufficient Provision was made against any sudden Tumults or Irruptions of Enemies. And this monthly Course was contrived that the Burden of it might be easie and equally distributed the People., 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 Of whom see 2 Sam. 23. 8. and 1 Chron. 11. 11. the son of Zabdiel: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.

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

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

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

This is that Benajah, who was mighty among the thirty, and above the thirty: and in his course was Ammizabad his son Who seems to have been his Fathers Lieutenant, because his Father was Captain of the Kings Guards, 2 Sam. 8. 18. and therefore needed a Deputy in the one or in the other place..

The fourth captain for the fourth month, was Asahel the brother of Joab By which, it seems, the Foundation of this Project was laid whilst David was in Hebron, during which time Asahel was slain, and Davids Forces were then divided into 24 Courses under 24 Chief Commanders, whereof Asahel was one; only it is probable that the number of their Forces was much less than that which is here mentioned: But when David was fully settled in his whole Kingdom, the design was perfected and the numbers of their Souldiers increased to this Number., and Zebadiah his son after him i. e. After his death; of which see 2 Sam. 2. 23.: and in his Not Asahels, for in his time they were not so numerous, but Zebadiahs his Son. course were twenty and four thousand.

The fifth captain for the fifth month, was Shamhuth Supposed to be the same called 2 Sam. 23. 11. and Sha... moth, 1 Chron. 11. 27. the: 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 So called also 1 Chron. 11. 27. and the Paltite, 2 Sam. 23. 26., 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 Zarhites Of the Family of the Zarhites.: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.

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

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

The eleventh captain for the eleventh month, was Benajah 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 Othniel: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.

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

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

Of Judah, Elihu Called also Elia..., 1 Sam. 16. 6. one of the brethren of David: of Issachar, Omri the son of Michael:

Of Zebulun, Ishmajah the son of Obadiah: of Naphtali, Jerimoth the son of Azriel:

Of the children of Ephraim, Hashea the son of Azaziah: of the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joel the son of Pedajah:

Of the half-tribe of Manasseh in Gilead, Iddo the son of Zechariah: of Benjamin, Ja... siel the son of Abner:

Of Dan, Azareel the son of Jeroham. These were the princes of the Tribes Of the most of the Tribes, not of all: for G... d is omitted, probably because that Tribe was joyned with tho Reubenites under one Prince; and Asher, for some such reason; or for some other Causes now unknown and not worth our Enquiry. of Israel.

But David took not the number of them from twenty years old and under The meaning is, David when he desired to number the people he designed to number only those who were from tw... nty years old and upward, or (which is the same thing) thos... that drew sword, 1 Chron. 21. 5. and not those who were from 20 years old and under.: because the LORD had said, he would increase Israel like to the stars of the heavens And therefore to number them all both above and under twenty years old had been both an infinite trouble and a tempting of God, or a questioning of the Truth of his Promises. And possibly this Circumstance might in part deceive or quiet David... Conscience, that his desire of knowing the number of his People did not proceed from distrust of Gods Promise or Providence, but from a prudent Care to know the true State and Strength of his Kingdom..

Joab the son of Zerujah began to number To wit, All from 20 years old and upward, as David commanded him., but he finished not For Levi and Benjamin he counted not, 1 Chron. 21. 6., because there fell wrath for it against Israel Whilst he was doing the Work; which was one reason which made him to cease. Heb. And there fell, &c. Though David numbred them with Caution and Limitation, as was noted before, yet this did not hinder Gods Wrath from falling upon Israel for this Sin., neither was the number put in the account of the chronicles of king David The sense is either 1. That the full number was not registred, because Levi and Benjamin were not counted by Joab. Or rather 2. That David being sensible of and smarting for his Sin, would not have the number brought in by Joab to him put into the publick Register, though God would have it recorded in Scripture for the instruction of succeeding Ages. For he speaks not here of the Account given in to the King, which was done, and was Joabs Act; but of the putting of the Account into the publick Records, which was not done, and which could not be done but by Davids Command or Permission..

And 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. was Azmaveth the son of Adiel: and 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. in the fields, in the cities, and in the villages, and in the castles, was Jehonathan the son of Uzziah.

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

And over the vineyards i. e. Over the Workmen and Labourers in the Vineyards; as the next Officer is over the Fruit of the Vineyards. In like manner one man was over the Labourers in the Fields, v. 26. and another over the Fruits of the Fields put into Stores after the manner, v 25. was Shimei the Ramathite: over the increase of the vineyards for the wine-cellars, was Zabdi the Shiphmite.

And over the olive-trees, and the sycamoretrees that were in the low plains, was Baal-hanan the Gederite: and over the cellars of oil was Joash.

And over the herds that fed in Sharon A place Famous for its Fruitfulness. See Isa. 33. 9. & 35. 2., was Shitrai the Sharonite: and over the herds that were in the valleys was Shaphat the son of Adlai.

Over the camels also, was Obil the Ishmeelite So called either because he was born of that People, or had lived among them; or from some notable Exploit which he did against them.: and over the asses, was Jehdeja the Meronothite.

And over the flocks, was Jaziz the Hagerite. All these were the rulers of the substance which was king Davids.

Also Jonathan Davids uncle was a counseller, a wise man, and a scribe Either one learned in the Laws of God, which were also the Laws of the Land, by which all their Counsels were to be ruled Or, the Kings Secretary.: and Jehiel the son of Hachmoni was with the kings sons As their Tutor or Governour..

And Ahithophel was the kings counseller The Person whose Counsel in matters of State the King most prized and followed., and Hushai the Archite was the kings companion Or, his Friend, as he is called a Sam. 15. 37. The Person whom he most trusted with all his Secrets, and whose Conversation was most pleasant and acceptable to him..

And after Ahithophel i. e. After his death, these were his Chief Counsellers., was J... hojada the son of Benajah, and Abiathar; and the general of the kings army was Joab.