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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.
Over the first course for the first month was Jashobeam the son of Zabdiel: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.
Of the children of Perez 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: in his course likewise were twenty and four thousand.
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.
This is that Benaiah, who was mighty among the thirty, and above the thirty: and in 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 Shamhuth 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 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 Benaiah the Pirathonite, of the children of Ephraim: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.
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:
Of the half tribe of Manasseh in Gilead, Iddo the son of Zechariah: of Benjamin, Jaasiel the son of Abner:
Of Dan, Azareel the son of Jeroham. These were the princes of the tribes of Israel.
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.
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.
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:
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: 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 low plains was Baalhanan 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:
Over the camels also was Obil the Ishmaelite: and over the asses was Jehdeiah the Meronothite:
And over the flocks was Jaziz the Hagerite. All these were the rulers of the substance which was king David's.
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:
And after Ahithophel was Jehoiada the son of Benaiah, and Abiathar: and the general of the king's army was Joab.

New Defender's Study Bible Notes

27:1 Now the children of Israel. I Chronicles 27:1-15 seems to refer to David’s standing army, rotating month by month, with each monthly course consisting of 24,000 men. Although this is not stated explicitly, the implication is that each of the twelve tribes supplied one course of 24,000 men for one month each year (probably all could be called up as needed in times of war).


27:2 Jashobeam. Captain of the first course, Jashobeam, had been recognized as the first of David’s “mighty men” (I Chronicles 11:11).


27:5 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada. Benaiah was also one of David’s “mighty men,” as were Asahel (I Chronicles 27:7), Abiezer (I Chronicles 27:12), Maharai (I Chronicles 27:13), Benaiah (I Chronicles 27:14) and Heldai (I Chronicles 27:15). See I Chronicles 11:24,26,28,30-31. David had appointed each of these men to be head over one of the twelve courses. Another, Dodai (I Chronicles 27:4) was the father of Eleazar, one of the three mightiest of David’s mighty men (I Chronicles 11:12).


27:16 over the tribes of Israel. These governors (the connotation of “princes”—I Chronicles 27:22) of the tribes of Israel include Elihu, David’s brother, as prince of Judah. For reasons not clear, neither Gad nor Asher is listed.


27:23 the stars of the heavens. Even though Joab only counted men over twenty years of age, and did not include the tribes of Levi or Benjamin, the number recorded was over a million fighting men, far greater in number than the stars that could be seen with the naked eye.


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