1 Chronicles 27 · WEB
Military, Tribal, and Personal Administrators of David
Listen — WEB narration 0:00 / 0:00 Narration: World English Bible (David Williams), public domain — AudioTreasure.
Tap a verse to copy it, open the Hebrew, or write a note.
Now the children of Israel after their number, the heads of fathers' houses and the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and their officers who served the king, in any matter of the divisions which came in and went out month by month throughout all the months of the year — of every division were twenty-four thousand:
2Over the first division for the first month was Jashobeam the son of Zabdiel; and in his division were twenty-four thousand.
3He was of the sons of Perez, the chief of all the captains of the army for the first month.
4Over the division of the second month was Dodai the Ahohite, and his division; and Mikloth was the ruler; and in his division were twenty-four thousand.
5The third captain of the army for the third month was Benaiah the son of Jehoiada the priest, chief; and in his division were twenty-four thousand.
6This is that Benaiah who was the mighty man of the thirty, and over the thirty; and his division was Ammizabad his son.
7The fourth for the fourth month was Asahel the brother of Joab, and Zebadiah his son after him; and in his division were twenty-four thousand.
8The fifth for the fifth month was the captain Shamhuth the Izrahite; and in his division were twenty-four thousand.
9The sixth for the sixth month was Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite; and in his division were twenty-four thousand.
10The seventh for the seventh month was Helez the Pelonite, of the children of Ephraim; and in his division were twenty-four thousand.
11The eighth for the eighth month was Sibbecai the Hushathite, of the Zarhites; and in his division were twenty-four thousand.
12The ninth for the ninth month was Abiezer the Anathothite, of the Benjaminites; and in his division were twenty-four thousand.
13The tenth for the tenth month was Maharai the Netophathite, of the Zarhites; and in his division were twenty-four thousand.
14The eleventh for the eleventh month was Benaiah the Pirathonite, of the children of Ephraim; and in his division were twenty-four thousand.
15The twelfth for the twelfth month was Heldai the Netophathite, of Othniel; and in his division were twenty-four thousand.
16Furthermore over the tribes of Israel: of the Reubenites, Eliezer the son of Zichri was ruler; of the Simeonites, Shephatiah the son of Maacah;
17of Levi, Hashabiah the son of Kemuel; of Aaron, Zadok;
18of Judah, Elihu, one of the brothers of David; of Issachar, Omri the son of Michael;
19of Zebulun, Ishmaiah the son of Obadiah; of Naphtali, Jeremoth the son of Azriel;
20of the children of Ephraim, Hoshea the son of Azaziah; of the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joel the son of Pedaiah;
21of the half-tribe of Manasseh in Gilead, Iddo the son of Zechariah; of Benjamin, Jaasiel the son of Abner;
22of Dan, Azarel the son of Jeroham. These were the captains of the tribes of Israel.
23But David didn't take the number of them who were from twenty years old and under, because Yahweh had said he would increase Israel like the stars of the sky.
24Joab the son of Zeruiah began to number, but didn't finish; and there came wrath on Israel for this; neither was the number recorded in the chronicles of king David.
25Over the king's treasuries was Azmaveth the son of Adiel; and over the treasuries in the fields, in the cities, and in the villages, and in the towers, was Jonathan the son of Uzziah;
26and over those who did the work of the field for tillage of the ground was Ezri the son of Chelub;
27and over the vineyards was Shimei the Ramathite; and over the produce of the vineyards for the wine cellars was Zabdi the Shiphmite;
28and over the olive trees and the sycamore trees that were in the lowland was Baalhanan the Gederite; and over the cellars of oil was Joash;
29and 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;
30and over the camels was Obil the Ishmaelite; and over the donkeys was Jehdeiah the Meronothite;
31and over the flocks was Jaziz the Hagrite. All these were the rulers of the substance which was king David's.
32Also Jonathan, David's uncle, was a counselor, a man of understanding, and a scribe; and Jehiel the son of Hachmoni was with the king's sons;
33and Ahithophel was the king's counselor; and Hushai the Archite was the king's friend;
34and after Ahithophel was Jehoiada the son of Benaiah, and Abiathar; and the captain of the king's army was Joab.
✶
Summary
David's kingdom ran on an elaborate administrative system. This chapter outlines three tiers: twelve military divisions, each of 24,000 men serving one month per year on rotation (totaling 288,000); leaders appointed over each of the twelve tribes; and a comprehensive list of estate managers overseeing David's personal royal property — from treasuries and farmland to vineyards, olive groves, livestock, camels, and donkeys. The chapter ends with David's inner circle of counselors, notably including Ahithophel and Hushai — figures who would play decisive roles in Absalom's rebellion.
Themes
- Wise, organized governance as stewardship
- The breadth of what it takes to run a kingdom
- Human administration under divine promise
Key verses
- 1 Chr 27:1 — “...of every division were twenty-four thousand.”
- 1 Chr 27:23 — “David didn't take the number of them who were from twenty years old and under, because Yahweh had said he would increase Israel like the stars of the sky.”
- 1 Chr 27:33-34 — “Ahithophel was the king's counselor; and Hushai the Archite was the king's friend.”
Context & background
The twelve monthly military divisions — each of 24,000 men — created a standing force without requiring year-round mobilization of the entire army. This rotating system protected both national security and agricultural productivity. The Sharon plain (v. 29) is the fertile coastal plain of modern central Israel, still known for agricultural productivity. Ahithophel (David's counselor) later betrayed David by advising Absalom during his rebellion; Hushai (David's friend) loyally countered Ahithophel's advice and saved David's life (2 Samuel 15-17). The two men in this brief closing list represent loyalty and betrayal within David's inner circle.
Cross-references
- 1 Kings 4:1-19 — Solomon's similar administrative district system, building on David's structure
- 2 Samuel 15-17 — Ahithophel advises Absalom; Hushai defeats his counsel to save David
- Genesis 15:5 — God's promise to Abraham: descendants like the stars — referenced in v. 23
- Numbers 1 — The original numbering of Israel in the wilderness; pattern repeated here
- Proverbs 11:14 — "In an abundance of counselors there is safety" — David's council exemplifies this