New International Reader s Version - NIrV - 1996
1 Chronicles 27
1
Here is the list of the Israelites who served in the king's army. They included leaders of families. They included commanders of thousands of men and commanders of hundreds. They also included other officers. All of them served the king in everything concerning the army companies that were on duty month by month all through the year. The total number of men in each company was 24,000.
2
Jashobeam was in charge of the first company for the first month. He was the son of Zabdiel. The total number of men in Jashobeam's company was 24,000.
Reference
People
3
He belonged to the family line of Perez. He was chief of all of the army officers for the first month.
Reference
Parallel theme
Numbers 26:20
4
Dodai was in charge of the second company for the second month. He belonged to the family line of Ahoah. Mikloth was the leader of Dodai's company. The total number of men in Dodai's company was 24,000.
Reference
People
5
The third army commander for the third month was the priest Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada. Benaiah was the chief. The total number of men in Benaiah's company was 24,000.
6
That same Benaiah was a mighty man among the Thirty. In fact, he was leader over the Thirty. His son Ammizabad was in charge of his company.
People
7
The fourth commander for the fourth month was Joab's brother Asahel. Asahel's son Zebadiah was the next commander after him. The total number of men in Asahel's company was 24,000.
Reference
People
8
The fifth commander for the fifth month was Shamhuth. He was an Izrahite. The total number of men in Shamhuth's company was 24,000.
Reference
People
9
The sixth commander for the sixth month was Ira. He was the son of Ikkesh from Tekoa. The total number of men in Ira's company was 24,000.
Reference
10
The seventh commander for the seventh month was Helez. He was a Pelonite from Ephraim. The total number of men in Helez's company was 24,000.
Reference
11
The eighth commander for the eighth month was Sibbecai. He was a Hushathite from Zerah. The total number of men in Sibbecai's company was 24,000.
Reference
12
The ninth commander for the ninth month was Abiezer. He was from Anathoth in Benjamin. The total number of men in Abiezer's company was 24,000.
Reference
13
The tenth commander for the tenth month was Maharai. He was a Netophathite from Zerah. The total number of men in Maharai's company was 24,000.
Reference
14
The 11th commander for the 11th month was Benaiah. He was from Pirathon in Ephraim. The total number of men in Benaiah's company was 24,000.
Reference
Parallel theme
1 Chronicles 11:31
15
The 12th commander for the 12th month was Heldai. He was a Netophathite from the family line of Othniel. The total number of men in Heldai's company was 24,000.
Reference
People
16
Here are the officers over the tribes of Israel. Over the tribe of Reuben was Eliezer, the son of Zicri. Over Simeon was Shephatiah, the son of Maacah.
People
17
Over Levi was Hashabiah, the son of Kemuel. Over Aaron was Zadok.
Reference
People
Parallel theme
1 Chronicles 26:30
19
Over Zebulun was Ishmaiah, the son of Obadiah. Over Naphtali was Jerimoth, the son of Azriel.
People
20
Over Ephraim was Hoshea, the son of Azaziah. Over half of the tribe of Manasseh was Joel, the son of Pedaiah.
People
21
Over the half of the tribe of Manasseh in Gilead was Iddo, the son of Zechariah. Over Benjamin was Jaasiel, the son of Abner.
People
22
Over Dan was Azarel, the son of Jeroham. Those were the officers over the tribes of Israel.
People
23
David didn't count the men who were 20 years old or less. That's because the Lord had promised to make the people of Israel as many as the stars in the sky.
Reference
24
Joab, the son of Zeruiah, began to count the men. But he didn't finish. The Lord was angry with Israel because David had begun to count the men. So the number wasn't written down in the official records of King David.
25
Azmaveth was in charge of the royal storerooms. He was the son of Adiel. Jonathan was in charge of the storerooms in the fields, towns, villages and lookout towers. He was the son of Uzziah.
People
27
Shimei was in charge of the vineyards. He was from Ramah. Zabdi was in charge of the grapes from the vineyards. He was also in charge of storing the wine. He was a Shiphmite.
People
28
Baal-Hanan was in charge of the olive trees and sycamore-fig trees in the western hills. He was from Geder. Joash was in charge of storing the olive oil.
Reference
People
29
Shitrai was in charge of the herds that ate grass in Sharon. He was from Sharon. Shaphat was in charge of the herds in the valleys. He was the son of Adlai.
Reference
📍 Sharon 1
People
Parallel theme
1 Chronicles 5:16
30
Obil was in charge of the camels. He was from the family line of Ishmael. Jehdeiah was in charge of the donkeys. He was from Meronoth.
People
31
Jaziz was in charge of the flocks. He was a Hagrite. All of those men were the officials in charge of King David's property.
Reference
People
Parallel theme
1 Chronicles 5:10
32
Jonathan was David's uncle. He gave good advice. He was a man of understanding. He was also a secretary. Jehiel took care of the king's sons. He was the son of Hacmoni.
People
Summary of 1 Chronicles 27
This chapter describes the military, tribal, agricultural, financial, and royal administration established under David. The chapter provides a detailed picture of how the kingdom functioned near the end of David's reign. Rather than focusing on battles, it shows the administrative structure that allowed the united kingdom to operate effectively.
The chapter begins with the organization of the military forces. Israel was divided into twelve divisions of 24,000 men each, with one division serving during each month of the year. This created a total force of 288,000 men in the annual rotation. Important commanders such as Jashobeam, Benaiah, Asahel, and others were placed over the divisions. The system allowed David to maintain military readiness while rotating soldiers through service rather than keeping the entire army active continuously.
The chapter then lists the leaders of the tribes of Israel. Tribal administration remained important even though David had created a centralized monarchy. Leaders represented Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Naphtali, Ephraim, Manasseh, Benjamin, and Dan. Both halves of Manasseh are separately represented because one portion lived west of the Jordan while the other occupied territory in Gilead.
The chapter also explains that David did not include people younger than twenty in the census. The incomplete census recalls the earlier episode in which Joab began numbering Israel but stopped after God's judgment. This provides an important reminder that David's administrative ambitions were still subject to God's authority.
A large section describes officials responsible for the king's resources. There were administrators for storehouses, agricultural workers, vineyards, wine production, olive trees, olive oil, cattle, camels, donkeys, and sheep. These details reveal how much of the kingdom's wealth depended on agriculture and livestock. David's government had developed specialized officials to manage these resources.
The final verses identify members of David's royal advisory circle. Jonathan served as a counselor, Ahithophel was a counselor, Hushai was a trusted companion, and Joab remained commander of the army. These men formed part of the leadership structure surrounding the king.
Historically, the chapter is valuable because it provides a picture of the administrative sophistication of David's kingdom. The monarchy was no longer simply a king and an army. It included rotating military divisions, tribal governors, agricultural managers, livestock supervisors, storehouse officials, counselors, and senior commanders.
The chapter also prepares the reader for the transition to Solomon. David is approaching the end of his reign, and the structures he has established will provide the foundation for the next generation.
Overall, 1 Chronicles 27 portrays David as an organizer and administrator as much as a warrior. His reign created systems for defense, agriculture, taxation and resources, tribal leadership, royal counsel, and national administration. These structures helped transform Israel from a collection of tribes into a more centralized and organized kingdom ready for Solomon's reign and the construction of the Temple.
The chapter begins with the organization of the military forces. Israel was divided into twelve divisions of 24,000 men each, with one division serving during each month of the year. This created a total force of 288,000 men in the annual rotation. Important commanders such as Jashobeam, Benaiah, Asahel, and others were placed over the divisions. The system allowed David to maintain military readiness while rotating soldiers through service rather than keeping the entire army active continuously.
The chapter then lists the leaders of the tribes of Israel. Tribal administration remained important even though David had created a centralized monarchy. Leaders represented Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Naphtali, Ephraim, Manasseh, Benjamin, and Dan. Both halves of Manasseh are separately represented because one portion lived west of the Jordan while the other occupied territory in Gilead.
The chapter also explains that David did not include people younger than twenty in the census. The incomplete census recalls the earlier episode in which Joab began numbering Israel but stopped after God's judgment. This provides an important reminder that David's administrative ambitions were still subject to God's authority.
A large section describes officials responsible for the king's resources. There were administrators for storehouses, agricultural workers, vineyards, wine production, olive trees, olive oil, cattle, camels, donkeys, and sheep. These details reveal how much of the kingdom's wealth depended on agriculture and livestock. David's government had developed specialized officials to manage these resources.
The final verses identify members of David's royal advisory circle. Jonathan served as a counselor, Ahithophel was a counselor, Hushai was a trusted companion, and Joab remained commander of the army. These men formed part of the leadership structure surrounding the king.
Historically, the chapter is valuable because it provides a picture of the administrative sophistication of David's kingdom. The monarchy was no longer simply a king and an army. It included rotating military divisions, tribal governors, agricultural managers, livestock supervisors, storehouse officials, counselors, and senior commanders.
The chapter also prepares the reader for the transition to Solomon. David is approaching the end of his reign, and the structures he has established will provide the foundation for the next generation.
Overall, 1 Chronicles 27 portrays David as an organizer and administrator as much as a warrior. His reign created systems for defense, agriculture, taxation and resources, tribal leadership, royal counsel, and national administration. These structures helped transform Israel from a collection of tribes into a more centralized and organized kingdom ready for Solomon's reign and the construction of the Temple.