Twelve Captains for Twelve Months

The section begins by explaining the monthly divisions and naming Jashobeam as commander for the first month. His place at the head of the list sets the pattern for all that follows.

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.

The second and third months are assigned to Dodai and to Benaiah son of Jehoiada. Benaiah’s standing among the mighty men briefly enlarges the list with a note about his reputation and household.

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.

The remaining months are filled by Asahel’s line, Shamhuth, Ira, Helez, Sibbecai, Abiezer, Maharai, Benaiah the Pirathonite, and Heldai. The repeated total of 24,000 keeps the focus on the army’s stable order rather than on any single man.

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.