BOOK 13 OF 66 · HISTORY · KING JAMES BIBLE

1 Chronicles 27

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1 Chronicles 27 Overview

First Chronicles 27 describes monthly military divisions that serve the king in rotation, tribal rulers, supervisors over David’s property and agriculture, and key counselors and officials. The chapter gives a practical picture of how a large kingdom is administered throughout the year. It also notes that David did not include those under twenty in his numbering because God had promised to multiply Israel greatly.

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Before you read 1 Chronicles 27

Coming from

Chapter 26 organized gatekeepers, treasurers, and Levitical officers.

In this chapter

The focus widens to military rotations, tribal leadership, royal estates, agriculture, counselors, and the machinery of David’s government.

Leads into

Chapter 28 brings Israel’s leaders together as David publicly charges Solomon and hands over the divinely given temple pattern.

Key understandingExplore deeper

The monthly divisions prevent the army from being represented as one permanently mobilized force; service rotates. The note about David’s numbering should be distinguished from the sinful census of chapter 21: the chapter records an administrative structure without repeating the condemned act in the same way.

Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper

Truth 1

Stable government requires organized service beyond the king himself.

Truth 2

Leadership responsibilities are distributed across military, tribal, agricultural, financial, and advisory roles.

Truth 3

David’s kingdom includes practical stewardship of land, herds, stores, and labor.

Truth 4

The nation’s multiplication is remembered as connected to God’s promise.

Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper

Connection 1

First Chronicles 21 records the sinful census and should be compared carefully with the numbering notice here.

Connection 2

Genesis 15:5 and 22:17 contain promises of multiplied descendants.

Connection 3

Second Samuel 23 and First Chronicles 11–12 show many of the military leaders who stand behind David’s organized kingdom.

What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper

Keep this clear 1

Do not assume every administrative number is another sinful census; context and purpose matter.

Keep this clear 2

The chapter’s governmental system is descriptive of David’s monarchy, not a mandated political constitution for all nations.

Keep this clear 3

Organizational efficiency should not be confused with spiritual faithfulness; later chapters still call leaders to seek God.

Read 1 Chronicles 27 watching for…

The month-by-month military rotation.

The list of tribal rulers.

The officials overseeing different kinds of property.

David’s counselors and close advisers.

The note explaining who was excluded from the numbering.

Chapter outline4 sections

1-15Twelve military divisions serve the king month by month 16-24Leaders of the tribes are named, and Joab’s unfinished census is noted 25-31Officers are appointed over David’s treasuries, fields, vineyards, herds, and flocks 32-34David’s counselors and leading advisers are named

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.

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 tribes of Israel: the ruler of the Reubenites was Eliezer the son of Zichri: of the Simeonites, Shephatiah the son of Maachah:

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

Of Judah, Elihu, one of the brethren of David: of Issachar, Omri the son of Michael:

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

Of the children of Ephraim, Hoshea the son of Azaziah: of the half tribe of Manasseh, Joel the son of Pedaiah:

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 sycomore 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 counseller, a wise man, and a scribe: and Jehiel the son of Hachmoni was with the king's sons:

And Ahithophel was the king's counseller: and Hushai the Archite was the king's companion:

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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1 Chronicles 27:20

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