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1 Chronicles 27

34 verses

TL;DR

1 Chronicles 27 catalogs the organization of Israel’s military and administrative offices under King David, detailing monthly military leadership and various governmental roles.

Summary

The chapter opens with an account of the census, stating that each month’s military course comprised twenty‑four thousand soldiers, led by a chief captain and a sub‑captain. The text lists the captains for each month, naming individuals from different tribes and lineages, illustrating a systematic rotation of command. It then enumerates the leaders of each Israelite tribe, noting the specific office holders for Reuben, Simeon, Judah, and others, showing the political structure of the nation. David’s attempt to count the younger generation is noted as incomplete due to divine displeasure, indicating a limit to the census. The final sections enumerate the managers of the king’s stores, fields, vineyards, livestock, and other assets, as well as the counselors, scribe, and military generals serving David. Together, these passages present an extensive administrative record that highlights order, hierarchy, and the integration of military and civil governance.

Outline
  1. Monthly military leadership and the twenty‑four thousand soldiers per course
  2. Tribal and administrative offices for the entire kingdom
  3. Personnel managing the king’s wealth, counsel, and military forces
Themes
Order and administrative organizationLeadership and military structureIntegration of civil and religious offices
Keywords
censusmilitarycaptainstribesadministrationtreasurescounselorskingDavid
People
JashobeamZabdielPerezDodaiAhohiteMiklothBenaiahJehoiadaAmmizabadAsahelJoabZebadiahShamhuthIraIkkeshTekoiteHelezPeloniteSibbecaiHushathiteZarhitesAbiezerAnetothiteBenjaminMaharaiNetophathiteBenaiah PirathoniteHeldaiOthnielEliezerZichriShephatiahMaachahHashabiahKemuelZadokElihuOmriMichaelIshmaiahObadiahJerimothAzrielHosheaAzaziahJoelPedaiahIddoZechariahJaasielAbnerAzareelJerohamDavidJoabAzmavethAdielJehonathanUzziahEzriChelubShimeiRamathiteZabdiShiphmiteBaalhananGederiteJoashShitraiSharoniteShaphatAdlaiObilIshmaeliteJehdeiahMeronothiteJazizHageriteJonathanHachmoniAhithophelHushaiArchiteJehoiadaAbiathar
Places
IsraelReubenitesSimeonitesLevitesAaronitesJudahIssacharZebulunNaphtaliEphraimManassehGileadBenjaminDanthe king’s treasuresstorehousesfieldscitiesvillagescastlesvineyardswine cellarslow plainsSharonvalleyscamelsassesflocks
Things
censusmilitary organizationcaptains of the hostofficersmonthly coursestreasurystorehousesagriculturevineyardsolive treessycamore treeslivestockcounselorsscribegeneral
Key Verses
  • 1 Chronicles 27:1-2: Introduces the systematic listing of the military structure, setting the tone for the rest of the chapter.
  • 1 Chronicles 27:23-24: Highlights the limits of David’s census effort, revealing divine influence over administrative acts.
  • 1 Chronicles 27:34-34: Summarizes the key advisory and military leadership roles, underscoring the importance of counsel in David’s reign.
Questions
  • What does the monthly rotation of captains reveal about David’s approach to military leadership?
  • Why might the census of the younger generation have been deemed incomplete, and what implications does this have for Israel’s demographic record?
  • How do the administrative roles listed in this chapter reflect the intertwining of religious, civil, and military responsibilities in David’s Israel?
Sentiment

neutral
The chapter presents factual listings without emotive language, reflecting administrative record keeping.