Chapter 27

T¹his is the list of the Israelites— the heads of families, the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and their officers who served the king in every matter concerning the divisions on rotating military duty each month throughout the year. There were 24,000 men in each division: ²Jashobeam son of Zabdiel was in charge of the first division, which was assigned the first month. There were 24,000 men in his division. ³He was a descendant of Perez and chief of all the army commanders for the first month.

⁴Dodai the Ahohite was in charge of the division for the second month, and Mikloth was the leader. There were 24,000 men in his division. ⁵The third army commander, as chief for the third month, was Benaiah son of Jehoiada the priest. There were 24,000 men in his division. ⁶This Benaiah was mighty among the Thirty and was over the Thirty, and his son Ammizabad was in charge of his division.

⁷The fourth, for the fourth month, was Joab’s brother Asahel, and his son Zebadiah was commander after him. There were 24,000 men in his division. ⁸The fifth, for the fifth month, was the commander Shamhuth the Izrahite. There were 24,000 men in his division. ⁹The sixth, for the sixth month, was Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite. There were 24,000 men in his division. ¹⁰The seventh, for the seventh month, was Helez the Pelonite, an Ephraimite. There were 24,000 men in his division. ¹¹The eighth, for the eighth month, was Sibbecai the Hushathite, a Zerahite. There were 24,000 men in his division. ¹²The ninth, for the ninth month, was Abiezer the Anathothite, a Benjamite. There were 24,000 men in his division. ¹³The tenth, for the tenth month, was Maharai the Netophathite, a Zerahite. There were 24,000 men in his division. ¹⁴The eleventh, for the eleventh month, was Benaiah the Pirathonite, an Ephraimite. There were 24,000 men in his division. ¹⁵The twelfth, for the twelfth month, was Heldai the Netophathite, from the family of Othniel. There were 24,000 men in his division.

T¹⁶hese officers were in charge of the tribes of Israel: ¹⁷over Levi was Hashabiah son of Kemuel; ¹⁸over Judah was Elihu, one of David’s brothers; ¹⁹over Zebulun was Ishmaiah son of Obadiah; ²⁰over the Ephraimites was Hoshea son of Azaziah; ²¹over the half-tribe of Manasseh in Gilead was Iddo son of Zechariah; ²²and over Dan was Azarel son of Jeroham.

²³David did not count the men aged twenty or under, because the LORD had said that He would make Israel as numerous as the stars of the sky. ²⁴Joab son of Zeruiah began to count the men but did not finish. For because of this census wrath came upon Israel, and the number was not entered in the Book of the Chronicles of King David.

A²⁵zmaveth son of Adiel was in charge of the royal storehouses. ²⁶Ezri son of Chelub was in charge of the workers in the fields who tilled the soil. ²⁷Shimei the Ramathite was in charge of the vineyards. ²⁸Baal-hanan the Gederite was in charge of the olive and sycamore trees in the foothills. ²⁹Shitrai the Sharonite was in charge of the herds grazing in Sharon. ³⁰Obil the Ishmaelite was in charge of the camels. ³¹Jaziz the Hagrite was in charge of the flocks.

D³²avid’s uncle Jonathan was a counselor; he was a man of insight and a scribe. ³³Ahithophel was the king’s counselor. ³⁴Ahithophel was succeeded by Jehoiada son of Benaiah, then by Abiathar.