1 Chronicles 27

1 Now the children of Israel after their number, the heads of fathers’ households and the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and their officers who served the king in any matter of the divisions which came in and went out month by month throughout all the months of the year—of every division were twenty-four thousand.

This is a list of the Israeli men who served the king in the army. Some were leaders of families, some were commanders of 100 men, some were commanders of 1,000 men, and some were their officers. There were 24,000 men [DOU] in each group. Each group served one month of each year.

2 Over the first division for the first month was Jashobeam the son of Zabdiel. In his division were twenty-four thousand.

Jashobeam, the son of Zabdiel, was in charge of the group that served during the first month [of each year].

3 He was of the children of Perez, the chief of all the captains of the army for the first month.

He was a descendant of Perez, and he was the commander of all the army officers during the first month of each year.

4 Over the division of the second month was Dodai the Ahohite and his division, and Mikloth the ruler; and in his division were twenty-four thousand.

Dodai, from the clan of Ahohi, was the commander of the group that served during the following/second month of each year. Mikloth was his (assistant/chief officer).

5 The third captain of the army for the third month was Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada the chief priest. In his division were twenty-four thousand.

Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada the Supreme Priest, was the commander of the group that served during the following/third month.

6 This is that Benaiah who was the mighty man of the thirty and over the thirty. Of his division was Ammizabad his son.

He was the one who was a mighty warrior among David’s thirty greatest soldiers, and he was their leader. His son Ammizabad was his assistant.

7 The fourth captain for the fourth month was Asahel the brother of Joab, and Zebadiah his son after him. In his division were twenty-four thousand.

Asahel, Joab’s [younger] brother, was [the commander of the group that served] during the following/fourth month. Asahel’s son Zebadiah became the commander after Asahel [was killed].

8 The fifth captain for the fifth month was Shamhuth the Izrahite. In his division were twenty-four thousand.

The commander for the following/fifth month was Shamhuth, a descendant of Izrah.

9 The sixth captain for the sixth month was Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite. In his division were twenty-four thousand.

The commander for the following/sixth month was Ira the son of Ikkesh from Tekoa [town].

10 The seventh captain for the seventh month was Helez the Pelonite, of the children of Ephraim. In his division were twenty-four thousand.

The commander for the following/seventh month was Helez, a member of the Pelon [clan] from the tribe of Ephraim.

11 The eighth captain for the eighth month was Sibbecai the Hushathite, of the Zerahites. In his division were twenty-four thousand.

The commander for the following/eighth month was Sibbecai, a descendant of Zerah from Hushah [town].

12 The ninth captain for the ninth month was Abiezer the Anathothite, of the Benjamites. In his division were twenty-four thousand.

The commander for the following/ninth month was Abiezer from Anathoth [city] in the tribe of Benjamin.

13 The tenth captain for the tenth month was Maharai the Netophathite, of the Zerahites. In his division were twenty-four thousand.

The commander for the following/tenth month was Maharai, a descendant of Zerah from Netophath [town].

14 The eleventh captain for the eleventh month was Benaiah the Pirathonite, of the children of Ephraim. In his division were twenty-four thousand.

The commander for the following/eleventh month was Benaiah from Pirathon [town] in the tribe of Ephraim.

15 The twelfth captain for the twelfth month was Heldai the Netophathite, of Othniel. In his division were twenty-four thousand.

The commander for the last month [of each year] was Heldai, a descendant of Othniel from Netophath [town].

16 Furthermore over the tribes of Israel: of the Reubenites, Eliezer the son of Zichri was the ruler; of the Simeonites, Shephatiah the son of Maacah;

This is a list of the administrators of the [twelve] tribes [DOU] of Israel: Eliezer, the son of Zicri, was the administrator of the tribe of Reuben. Shephatiah, the son of Maacah, was the administrator of the tribe of Simeon.

17 of Levi, Hashabiah the son of Kemuel; of Aaron, Zadok;

Hashabiah, the son of Kemuel, was the administrator of the tribe of Levi. Zadok was the administrator of the tribe of Aaron.

18 of Judah, Elihu, one of the brothers of David; of Issachar, Omri the son of Michael;

Elihu, David’s [older] brother, was the administrator of the tribe of Judah. Omri, the son of Michael, was the administrator of the tribe of Issachar.

19 of Zebulun, Ishmaiah the son of Obadiah; of Naphtali, Jeremoth the son of Azriel;

Ishmaiah, the son of Obadiah, was the administrator of the tribe of Zebulun. Jerimoth, the son of Azriel, was the administrator of the tribe of Naphtali.

20 of the children of Ephraim, Hoshea the son of Azaziah; of the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joel the son of Pedaiah;

Hoshea, the son of Azaziah, was the administrator of the tribe of Ephraim. Joel, the son of Pedaiah, was the administrator of the tribe of the [western] half of the tribe of Manasseh.

21 of the half-tribe of Manasseh in Gilead, Iddo the son of Zechariah; of Benjamin, Jaasiel the son of Abner;

Iddo, the son of Zechariah, was the administrator of the [eastern] half of the tribe of Manasseh, in [the] Gilead [region]. Jaasiel, the son of Abner, was the administrator of the tribe of Benjamin.

22 of Dan, Azarel the son of Jeroham. These were the captains of the tribes of Israel.

Azarel, the son of Jeroham, was the administrator of the tribe of Dan. Those were the leaders over the tribes of Israel.

23 But David didn’t take the number of them from twenty years old and under, because the LORD had said he would increase Israel like the stars of the sky.

[When] David [told Joab to count the men of Israel, he] did not [tell him to] count the men who were less then 20 years old, because Yahweh had promised [many years previously] that there would be as many [people] in Israel as there are stars in the sky.

24 Joab the son of Zeruiah began to take a census, but didn’t finish; and wrath came on Israel for this. The number wasn’t put into the account in the chronicles of King David.

Joab [and his helpers] started to count the men of Israel, but they did not finish counting them [because Joab knew that Yahweh was angry about their being counted]. Yahweh punished [MTY] the people of Israel because of this counting, and as a result the total number of Israeli men [able to serve in the army] was not written on the scroll about King David’s [rule].

25 Over the king’s treasures was Azmaveth the son of Adiel. Over the treasures in the fields, in the cities, in the villages, and in the towers was Jonathan the son of Uzziah;

Azmaveth, the son of Adiel, was in charge of the king’s storehouses. Jonathan, the son of Uzziah, was is charge of the storehouses in various towns and villages in Israel, and also in charge of the watchtowers.

26 Over those who did the work of the field for tillage of the ground was Ezri the son of Chelub.

Ezri the son of Kelub was in charge of the workers who farmed the land [that belonged to the king].

27 Over the vineyards was Shimei the Ramathite. Over the increase of the vineyards for the wine cellars was Zabdi the Shiphmite.

Shimei from Ramath [town] was in charge of the king’s vineyards. Zabdi from Shepham [town] was in charge of storing the wine from the [grapes produced in] vineyards.

28 Over the olive trees and the sycamore trees that were in the lowland was Baal Hanan the Gederite. Over the cellars of oil was Joash.

Baal-Hanan from Geder [city] was in charge of storing the olive oil.

29 Over the herds that fed in Sharon was Shitrai the Sharonite. Over the herds that were in the valleys was Shaphat the son of Adlai.

Shitrai from the Sharon Plain was in charge of the herds of cattle that (grazed/ate grass) there. Shaphat the son of Adlai was in charge of the cattle in the valleys.

30 Over the camels was Obil the Ishmaelite. Over the donkeys was Jehdeiah the Meronothite. Over the flocks was Jaziz the Hagrite.

Obil, a descendant of Ishmael, was in charge of the camels. Jehdeiah from Meronoth [town] was in charge of the donkeys.

31 All these were the rulers of the property which was King David’s.

Jaziz, a descendant of Hagar, was in charge of the [king’s] flocks of sheep. All of those officials were in charge of the things that belonged to King David.

32 Also Jonathan, David’s uncle, was a counsellor, a man of understanding, and a scribe. Jehiel the son of Hachmoni was with the king’s sons.

David’s uncle Jonathan was a wise counselor for him. Jehiel, the son of Hacmoni, taught the king’s sons.

33 Ahithophel was the king’s counsellor. Hushai the Archite was the king’s friend.

Ahithophel was the king’s official counselor.

34 After Ahithophel was Jehoiada the son of Benaiah, and Abiathar. Joab was the captain of the king’s army.

Hushai from the Ark people-group was the king’s special friend. Benaiah’s son Jehoiada became the king’s advisor after Ahithophel died, and later Abiathar became his advisor. Joab was the chief commander of the army.