Skip to main content
1 chronicles 27:1-15

Explore the Bible Online

1 Chronicles 27:1-15

King James Version (KJV)

“In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us, and we had better let God do most of the talking.”

— D.L. Moody

Scripture focus

1. 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. 2. Over the first course for the first month [was] Jashobeam the son of Zabdiel: and in his course [were] twenty and four thousand. 3. Of the children of Perez [was] the chief of all the captains of the host for the first month. 4. 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. 5. 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. 6. This [is that] Benaiah, [who was] mighty [among] the thirty, and above the thirty: and in his course [was] Ammizabad his son. 7. 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. 8. The fifth captain for the fifth month [was] Shamhuth the Izrahite: and in his course [were] twenty and four thousand. 9. The sixth [captain] for the sixth month [was] Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite: and in his course [were] twenty and four thousand. 10. 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. 11. The eighth [captain] for the eighth month [was] Sibbecai the Hushathite, of the Zarhites: and in his course [were] twenty and four thousand. 12. The ninth [captain] for the ninth month [was] Abiezer the Anetothite, of the Benjamites: and in his course [were] twenty and four thousand. 13. The tenth [captain] for the tenth month [was] Maharai the Netophathite, of the Zarhites: and in his course [were] twenty and four thousand. 14. 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. 15. The twelfth [captain] for the twelfth month [was] Heldai the Netophathite, of Othniel: and in his course [were] twenty and four thousand.

1 Chronicles 27:1-15 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on 1 Chronicles 27:1

Theological / Devotional

The chief fathers. The heads of the tribal clans, that is, of the twelve tribes of Israel.

After giving an outline of the religious organization of the land (chs. 22–26), the record gives a brief account of the military and civil administration. This is done by presenting a catalogue of officers and civil administrators, setting forth such details as would give a brief picture of the civil administration as established by David. Verses 1–15 give a catalogue of the commanders of the 12 army corps, vs. 16–24 list the princes of the tribes, vs. 25–31 list the names of the 12 overseers of the royal estates, and vs. 32–34 list the names of the king’s privy counselors.

Captains of thousands. Compare ch. 13:1.

That served the king. The king was, of course, commander in chief of the armies. Only with that prerogative could he function, truly, as head of the realm.

Month by month. Each month a division of 24,000 men stood at arms as a sort of national guard, ready for instant action. This constant rotation of troops made possible the drilling of a large number of men so that an adequate army of trained men would be available at any time, should an emergency arise. Since the term of service was only a month, there was no great hardship on anyone.

By SdaBc