1 Chronicles 27

Beginning with chapter 23, 1 Chronicles records how David, in his final years, organized the kingdom and the service of the temple. Following 1 Chronicles 26, which deals with the Levites, priests, singers, gatekeepers, and treasurers, this chapter sets out the organization of the army, the tribes, and the royal administration. In the next chapter, 1 Chronicles 28, David assembles the congregation and entrusts the building of the temple to Solomon.

Outline

• Verses 1–15 The army is divided into twelve divisions, each serving for one month in rotation. Each division numbers 24,000 men. The commanders from the first month through the twelfth are Jashobeam, Dodai, Benaiah, Asahel, Shamhuth, Ira, Helez, Sibbecai, Abiezer, Maharai, Benaiah the Pirathonite, and Heldai.
• Verses 16–22 A list of the leaders of the tribes. Levi and the descendants of Aaron are listed separately, and Manasseh is divided into its two half-tribes. Gad and Asher do not appear in this list.
• Verses 23–24 David did not number those twenty years old and under. Joab began the census but did not finish it; wrath came upon Israel because of it, and the number was not recorded in the chronicles of King David.
• Verses 25–31 The overseers of the king's property, each in charge of a particular area: the storehouses, the farmland, the vineyards, the wine, the olive and sycamore trees, the oil, the herds, the camels, the donkeys, and the flocks.
• Verses 32–34 The king's closest officials: a counselor and scribe, the attendant of the king's sons (one who stayed with them and cared for them), the king's companion, and the commander of the army.

Key Verses

• 1 Chronicles 27:23 "the LORD had said he would increase Israel like to the stars of the heavens" — This links the decision not to count the whole population with God's promise.
• 1 Chronicles 27:24 "there fell wrath for it against Israel" — This points back to the census episode in 1 Chronicles 21.
• 1 Chronicles 27:33 "And Ahithophel was the king's counsellor: and Hushai the Archite was the king's companion" — The two men who would later oppose each other during the rebellion of Absalom appear side by side.

People and Places

• David: King of Israel, who established this organization.
• Joab: Son of Zeruiah and commander of the king's army.
• Benaiah: Son of Jehoiada, commander of the third month's division and chief of the "thirty" mighty men.
• Asahel: Joab's brother and commander of the fourth month's division. His son Zebadiah succeeded him.
• Zadok: Leader of the descendants of Aaron.
• Elihu: An older brother of David and leader of Judah.
• Jonathan: David's uncle, a counselor and scribe.
• Ahithophel: The king's counselor.
• Hushai: An Archite and the king's companion.
• Abiathar: A priest who came next after Ahithophel.
• Twelve Tribes of Israel: The list of leaders in verses 16–22 is arranged by tribe.

Points for Reflection

• Asahel was killed by Abner before David became king over all Israel (2 Samuel 2), yet here he appears as the commander of a division. Commentators offer various explanations: for example, that his name remained attached to the division, or that, as verse 7 indicates, his son Zebadiah actually carried out the duties.
• Many of the twelve commanders share names with men in the lists of David's mighty men in 2 Samuel 23 and 1 Chronicles 11.
• The record of twelve divisions of 24,000 men serving in rotation is commonly understood to describe not a standing army but a system of monthly rotating service.
• The phrase "like to the stars of the heavens" in verse 23 recalls the promise given to Abraham (Genesis 15). In the New Testament, Hebrews 11:12 also refers to this promise as "the stars of the sky in multitude."
• This chapter simply introduces Ahithophel and Hushai side by side. The account of Ahithophel siding with Absalom and Hushai thwarting his counsel appears in the narrative beginning in 2 Samuel 15.