The Service of the King: 1 Chronicles 27

Narrator: Ivona Gentwo
1 Chronicles 27  •  1 min. read  •  grade level: 12
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1 Chronicles 27
This chapter (1 Chron. 27:1-151Now 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. 2Over the first course for the first month was Jashobeam the son of Zabdiel: and in his course were twenty and four thousand. 3Of the children of Perez was the chief of all the captains of the host for the first month. 4And 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. 5The 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. 6This is that Benaiah, who was mighty among the thirty, and above the thirty: and in his course was Ammizabad his son. 7The 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. 8The fifth captain for the fifth month was Shamhuth the Izrahite: and in his course were twenty and four thousand. 9The sixth captain for the sixth month was Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite: and in his course were twenty and four thousand. 10The seventh captain for the seventh month was Helez the Pelonite, of the children of Ephraim: and in his course were twenty and four thousand. 11The eighth captain for the eighth month was Sibbecai the Hushathite, of the Zarhites: and in his course were twenty and four thousand. 12The ninth captain for the ninth month was Abiezer the Anetothite, of the Benjamites: and in his course were twenty and four thousand. 13The tenth captain for the tenth month was Maharai the Netophathite, of the Zarhites: and in his course were twenty and four thousand. 14The eleventh captain for the eleventh month was Benaiah the Pirathonite, of the children of Ephraim: and in his course were twenty and four thousand. 15The 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)) deals with the service of the king. As in all these enumerations, the number twelve with its factors is always mentioned. It indeed deals with what concerns the kingdom upon earth, having the twelve tribes as their center. There were army divisions of 24,000 men each for the twelve months of the year, one division for each month. Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, is especially mentioned among David's thirty mighty men (cf. 2 Sam. 23:2020And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man, of Kabzeel, who had done many acts, he slew two lionlike men of Moab: he went down also and slew a lion in the midst of a pit in time of snow: (2 Samuel 23:20)) as head of the third division. God delights to remember him.
1 Chron. 27:32-3432Also Jonathan David's uncle was a counsellor, a wise man, and a scribe: and Jehiel the son of Hachmoni was with the king's sons: 33And Ahithophel was the king's counsellor: and Hushai the Archite was the king's companion: 34And after Ahithophel was Jehoiada the son of Benaiah, and Abiathar: and the general of the king's army was Joab. (1 Chronicles 27:32‑34) remind us of the sorrowful circumstances which accompanied David's career as responsible king, but there is no mention here of the "counsel of Ahithophel," nor of Absalom's rebellion, nor of Joab's treachery. All this does not enter, as we have often repeated, into the purpose of Chronicles. On the contrary, Hushai the Archite is mentioned opposite the simple reference to the name of Ahithophel; Jehoiada the son of Benaiah, one of the mighty men distinguished by David, opposite the name of Abiathar, whom Solomon drove from the priesthood, because he had supported the usurper Adonijah. Joab, great Joab, the captain of the army, the king's relative, the most influential man next to David, is mentioned with but a single phrase.