1 Crônicas 27
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
1 Crônicas 27
NJB (LXX versing) Commanders of the Army The Military Divisions David Organizes Military and Civil Affairs Military and Civil Organization Military and Civil Organization 27:1 27:1 27:1 27:1 27:1 27:2-15 27:2-15 27:2-15 27:2-15 (2-15) 27:2-3 27:4 27:5-6 27:7 27:8 27:9 27:10 27:11 27:12 27:13 27:14 Chief Officers of the Tribes Leaders of the Tribes Administration of the Tribes of Israel 27:15 27:16-24 27:16-22 27:16-24 27:16-22 (16-22) 27:16-22 The Completed Census 27:23-24 27:23-24 27:23-24 Various Overseers Other State Officials Administrators of the Royal Property 27:25-31 27:25-34 27:25-31 27:25-31 (25-31) 27:25-31a 27:31b Counselors David's Personal Advisors The King's Personal Advisors 27:32-34 27:32-34 27:32-34 27:32-34 Etc. CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS The organization of the newly restored United Kingdom in the post-exilic period is traced (in a symbolic way, i.e., 24,000 for 12 months) back to David. King David is the idealized leader of God's people. in song, music in organization in victory in battle David used his military leaders as counselors and administrators. The list of names is common with 2 Samuel 23 and 1 Chronicles 11, but they do not always agree.
1 Crônicas 27:1
27:1 Notice the different levels of leadership used by David. tribal elders (i.e., "the heads of father's households") commanders of thousands, commanders of hundreds lower ranked military officers See NIDOTTE, vol. 1, p. 407, for "commanders." They were divided into 24,000 for each month. This is an idealistic number matching the division of the priests the musicians the gatekeepers SPECIAL TOPIC: THOUSAND (eleph) ▣ "month by month" The Hebrew calendar of David's day had 12 months. SPECIAL TOPIC: ANCIENT NEAR EASTERN CALENDARS
1 Crônicas 27:2-15
27:2 "Jashobeam" He (BDB 1000) was a Benjamite from Hakmon. He was famous for killing 300 men with a spear (cf. 1 Chr. 11:10-14). He was one of David's "mighty men" and one of three great warriors (cf. 2 Sam. 23:9,13,16,17,18,19,22,23). ▣ "24,000" This number appears twelve times. It probably refers to 24 main leaders. SPECIAL TOPIC: THOUSAND (eleph) 27:3 "Perez" Nothing more is known about him. 27:4 "Dodai the Ahohite" He (BDB 187) was one of David's military leaders. One of his sons, Eleazar, is mentioned in 2 Sam. 23:9; 1 Chr. 11:12, where he is called "Dodo." "Ahohite" (BDB 29) means a descendant of Ahoah, a grandson of Benjamin (1 Chr. 8:4). ▣ "Mikloth" This man (BDB 324) is named after a Benjamite from Jerusalem (cf. 1 Chr. 8:32; 9:37,38). These names are used repeatedly within families and tribes. Often the exact person or period is uncertain. ▣ "the chief officer" This word (BDB 617) had a wide usage (NIDOTTE, vol. 3, p. 20). tribal leader ‒ 1 Chr. 12:27; 2 Chr. 19:11 military leader ‒ 1 Chr. 13:1 palace official ‒ 2 Chr. 28:7 temple official ‒ 1 Chr. 9:20; 26:24; 2 Chr. 31:12,13 foreign kings ‒ Ps. 76:12; Ezek. 28:2 crown prince ‒ 1 Kgs. 1:35; 2 Chr. 11:22 (i.e., Solomon) in Chronicles it often refers to David as YHWH's special choice In this context #2 fits best. 27:5-6 "Benaiah" He was the leader of the Cherethites and Palethites (BDB 125; probably non-Israelite warriors, cf. 2 Sam. 8:18; 20:23; 1 Chr. 18:17). He was famous for his military exploits in David's army (cf. 2 Sam. 23:20-23; 1 Kgs. 1:38; 1 Chr. 11:21-24). He was active on David's behalf supporting the succession of Solomon. part of Solomon's inauguration (i.e., riding on King David's mule), cf. 1 Kgs. 1:32-37,38-40,44 killed Adonijah ‒ 1 Kgs. 2:24-25 Joab ‒ 1 Kgs. 2:28-35 Shimei ‒ 1 Kgs. 2:40-46 27:5 "the priest, as chief" The term "chief" (BDB 910) here denotes the military warrior (cf. 1 Chr. 11:22,24; 18:17), not the High Priest. 27:6 "Ammizabad" He (BDB 770) is mentioned only here. 2:7 "Asahel" He (BDB 795) was the brother of David's relative and military commander, Joab. Asahel was killed by Abner, Saul's military commander (cf. 2 Sam. 2:18-23). This started a blood feud between Joab and Abner. Because Asahel died so young, his son, Zebadiah, took his place as "division" leader. Asahel was one of the special elite groups of warriors called "the thirty" (cf. 2 Sam. 23:24). 27:8 "Shamhuth the Izrahite" This man (BDB 1030) is mentioned only here (not in 1 Chronicles 11). The word "Izrahite" can mean from the family of Izrah from a town/village name with emendation from "Zerahite," which was from a Judean named Zerah (cf. 1 Chr. 2:4,6; 9:6) 27:9 "Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite" He is also mentioned in 2 Sam. 23:26 and 1 Chr. 11:28. Another one of David's military leaders is "Ira the Ithrite" in 2 Sam. 23:38; 1 Chr. 11:40. These two names are easily confused (i.e., Young's Analytical Concordance, p. 520). 27:10 "Helez the Pelonite" This Ephraimite military leader (BDB 323) is mentioned in 2 Sam. 23:26, along with "Ira." In 1 Chr. 11:27 he is said to be a "Pelonite," but in 2 Sam. 23:26, a "Paltite." Again the second designation (BDB 813 II) could be a place name a family name Whether 2 Samuel 23 or 1 Chronicles 11 is correct is uncertain. Young's concordance prefers "Pelonite," while TEV makes it an unknown city, Pelon. 27:11 "Sibbecai the Hushathite of the Zerahites" This man (BDB 687) killed one of the "giants" (Raphah) in 2 Sam. 21:18-22; 1 Chr. 20:4-8. He is linked with Ilai the Ahohite in 1 Chr. 11:29. Another Zerahite is mentioned in 1 Chr. 27:13. From 1 Chr. 1:16 they seem to be a tribe of non- Israelites living in Palestine, in the line of Canaan, the son of Ham. It is possible the name Zerahite goes all the way back to Numbers 26:20, which would make them a clan/tribe from Judah by Zerah. SPECIAL TOPIC: TERMS USED FOR TALL/POWERFUL WARRIORS OR PEOPLE GROUPS 27:12 "Abiezer" He (BDB 4) was from Anathoth, where Solomon exiled Abiathar. It was Jeremiah's hometown. He was a Benjamite. 27:13 "Maharai the Netophathite of the Zerahites" This military leader is mentioned in 2 Sam. 23:28 and 1 Chr. 11:30. The term "Netophathite" seems to refer to a place name (cf. 1 Chr. 9:16; Ezra 2:22). There are two people in this list from this area, Maharai in 2 Sam. 23:28 and Heldai in 1 Chr. 27:15 (he was a descendant of Othniel). 27:14 "Benaiah the Pirathonite" There is a different person (BDB 125) by the same name but with a different father and tribe. Benaiah, 1 Chr. 27:5, was from a priestly family Beniah, 1 Chr. 27:14, was from Ephraim, cf. 2 Sam. 23:30; 1 Chr. 11:31 The term "Pirathonite" also appears in Jdgs. 12:12,15. TEV makes it the city of Pirathon. 27:15 "Heldai" He (BDB 317) was a descendant of Israel's first judge, "Othniel" (cf. Jos. 15:17; Jdgs. 1:13; 3:9,11; 1 Chr. 4:13). ▣ "Netophathite" See note at 1 Chr. 27:13 (BDB 643).
1 Crônicas 27:16-24
27:16-22 This is an unusual list of tribes. These verses list the chief officer of each of the twelve tribes (cf. Genesis 49; Exod. 1:2-4; Deuteronomy 33), with the exception of Gad and Asher. The tribes of Simeon and Reuben no longer had tribal identification in the post-exilic period. See Hard Sayings of the Bible, pp. 229-40. The children of Joseph are listed three times (i.e., Ephraim and Manasseh twice). 27:18 "Elihu, one of David's brothers" He (BDB 45) is not listed in 1 Sam. 16:6-11; 17:12; 1 Chr. 2:13-15 but one person is unnamed. It is possible "son" has the connotation of relative; see F. F. Bruce, Answers to Questions, p. 16 the list in 1 Sam. 17:12 has eight sons the early list included only the older male children ▣ "Omri" This Omri (BDB 771) is from the tribe of Issachar. It also appears in 1 Chronicles as a son of Becher, a Benjamite, 1 Chr. 7:8 a son of (Perez), a Judean, 1 Chr. 9:4 The name was made famous by Omri of 1 Kings 16, a military leader and King of Israel. His father, Abner, was possibly Saul's military commander (cf. 1 Sam. 14:50; 20:25). 27:21 "Jaasiel the son of Abner" This (BDB 795) could be the man with the same name among David's mighty men in 1 Chr. 11:47. There his father is not named but he is called a "Mezobaite." 27:23-24 This is recorded in 2 Samuel 24 and 1 Chronicles 21. 27:23 "as the stars of Heaven" There are several metaphors used to describe YHWH's blessings on Israel. numerous as the stars ‒ Gen. 15:5; 22:17; 26:4; Deut. 1:10; 10:22; 28:62 numerous as sand on the seashore ‒ Gen. 22:17; 32:12 numerous as dust ‒ Gen. 13:16; 28:14; Num. 23:10 too numerous to count ‒ Gen. 16:10 This phrase links the post-exilic community to YHWH's promise to Abraham. SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT PROMISES TO THE PATRIARCHS 27:24 "the chronicles of King David" There are several books/scrolls mentioned in the historical books of Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles, which were used as sources. chronicles of Samuel, 1 Sam. 10:25; 1 Chr. 29:29 book of Jashar, 2 Sam. 1:18 (cf. Jos. 10:13) chronicles of King David, 1 Chr. 27:24 chronicles of Nathan, 1 Chr. 29:29 chronicles of Gad, 1 Chr. 29:29 acts of Solomon, 1 Kgs. 11:41; 2 Chr. 9:29 chronicles of the Kings of Judah, 1 Kgs. 14:29; 15:7,23; 2 Chr. 12:15; 13:22; 26:22 chronicles of the Kings of Israel, 1 Kgs. 14:19; 15:31 The genealogies may or may not have been included in these named, written sources.
1 Crônicas 27:25-31
27:25 "Azmaveth the son of Adiel" This (BDB 740 I) elite military leader (i.e., one of the thirty) is mentioned in 2 Sam. 23:31 and 1 Chr. 11:33, where he is called "the Baharumite," which may mean he was from the city of Bahurim, close to Jerusalem. This geographical reference is the meaning here. Here he is said to be the son of Adiel. There is an Adiel mentioned in 1 Chr. 9:12, who was a priest. It is uncertain if they should be linked. ▣ "Jonathan the son of Uzziah" There is a Jonathan (BDB 220) mentioned in 2 Sam. 23:32 and 1 Chr. 11:34. This would be a similar parallel to other names in the list but the father is not the same. 27:26 "Ezri the son of Chelub" He (BDB 741) is mentioned only here. ▣ NASB, NRSV, LXX "soil" NKJV, Peshitta "ground" NJB, REB "land" The Hebrew root (BDB 9, Adamah) has a wide semantic field. man or mankind (Gen. 1:26; 2:5,7,8) name for Adam (1 Chr. 1:1) ground, land (Gen. 2:5,9; 3:17,23) dirt, earth (Gen. 2:7) surface of the planet (Gen. 1:25; 6:20) country (Gen. 47:19; Lev. 20:24) whole inhabited earth (Gen. 12:3; 28:14; Deut. 14:2) 27:27 "Shimei the Ramathite" This man (BDB 1035 I) is mentioned only here. He is possibly from a village of Ramah. ▣ "Zabdi the Shiphmite" He (BDB 256) is possibly a descendant of Benjamin from 1 Chr. 8:19, but the name "Shiphmite" may refer to the Judean city of Shepham. 27:28 "Baal-hanan the Gederite" This man (BDB 128) is mentioned only here. It is surprising that a servant of David had a name connected to the male fertility god of Canaan. He was possibly from the southern city of Geder (cf. Jos. 12:13). SPECIAL TOPIC: FERTILITY WORSHIP OF THE ANCIENT NEAR EAST ▣ "the shephelah" This refers to the low hills between the coastal plain of the Mediterranean and the Judean highlands (BDB 1050). ▣ "Shitrai the Sharonite" This man (BDB 1009) is mentioned only here but he is from the area (i.e., Sharon), over which he managed the cattle (cf. 1 Chr. 5:16). ▣ "Shaphat the son of Adlai" There is a man (BDB 1048) of the tribe of Gad by the same name in 1 Chr. 5:12 but there is no implied connection. 27:30 "Obil the Ishmaelite" This person (BDB 6) is mentioned only here. His name (BDB 6) means "driver" or "leader." The Ishmaelites were traders and had experience with camels. ▣ "Jehdeiah the Meronothite" This man (BDB 292) is mentioned only here. The second word (BDB 599) could mean from the city of Meroneth a region in Zebulon a family name There is another person with this same descriptive title in Neh. 3:7. 27:31 "Jaziz the Hagrite" This is the only place this person appears (BDB 265). Hagrite seems to refer to the family name related to "Ishmaelites." They are mentioned in 1 Chr. 5:10,19,20. If they are the source of this designation this is another non-Israelite manager.
1 Crônicas 27:32-34
27:32 "a scribe" See SPECIAL TOPIC: SCRIBES. ▣ "Jehiel the son of Hachmoni" The first name is a common OT name, used eleven times (BDB 313). However, this is the only reference to this person. It is not found in 2 Samuel 23 or 1 Chronicles 11. He was a tutor to the royal princes, an important and powerful position (i.e., 2 Kgs. 10:1,6-7). 27:33 "Ahithophel" This close counselor betrayed David and joined the rebellion of Absalom (BDB 27; cf. 2 Sam. 15:12,31,34; 16:15,20,21,23; 17:1,6,7,14,15,21,23; 23:34). After the rebellion failed he committed suicide. SPECIAL TOPIC: SUICIDE ▣ "Hushai the Archite" This counselor (BDB 302) was loyal to David but was instructed to return to the palace and give Absalom bad counsel (cf. 2 Sam. 15:30-37; 16:17; 17:5,15). Archite refers to a place name (i.e., Archie) a family that owned the city of Ataroth, near Bethel (cf. Jos. 16:2-3) ▣ "the king's friend" This was an Egyptian title for a close counselor to the king (cf. 2 Sam. 22:20; 26:6). 27:34 "Jehoiada the son of Benaiah" In 1 Chr. 27:5 these names are reversed. It may be MSS corruption a later ancestor with the same family name or just another person ▣ "Abiathar" This was one of two High Priests during David's reign. Abiathar was the only survivor of Saul's slaughter of the priests at Nob (BDB 5; cf. 2 Samuel 21-22).