← All Chapters The Book of 1 Chronicles · Chapter 27

1 Chronicles 27: Divisions, Tribes, and Officials

Israel's military divisions rotate month by month, while tribal leaders, stewards, and trusted counselors are named to serve the king and the kingdom.

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1 Chronicles 27 (WEB)

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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

8 The fifth captain for this fifth month was Shamhuth the Izrahite: and in his division were twenty-four thousand.

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

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

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

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

13 The tenth captain for the tenth month was Maharai the Netophathite, of the Zerahites: and in his division were Twenty-four thousand.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

24 Joab the son of Zeruiah began to number, but didn’t finish; and there came wrath for this on Israel; neither was the number put into the account in the chronicles of king David.

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

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

27 and over the vineyards was Shimei the Ramathite: and over the increase of the vineyards for the wine cellars was Zabdi the Shiphmite:

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

29 and over the herds that fed in Sharon was Shitrai the Sharonite: and over the herds that were in the valleys was Shaphat the son of Adlai:

30 and over the camels was Obil the Ishmaelite: and over the donkeys was Jehdeiah the Meronothite: and over the flocks was Jaziz the Hagrite.

31 All these were the rulers of the substance which was king David’s.

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

33 Ahithophel was the king’s counselor: and Hushai the Archite was the king’s friend:

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

Summary

This chapter records the civil and military organization of David's kingdom. Twelve army divisions of twenty-four thousand each serve in monthly rotation through the year, each led by a named commander, including mighty men like Jashobeam, Benaiah, and Asahel, so the nation's defense is always ready without burdening the people year-round. Next come the leaders of the tribes of Israel, one named ruler for each, a roll call that recalls God's promise to multiply Israel like the stars. A telling note recalls the census of chapter 21: David did not number the very young, and Joab's counting that brought wrath is remembered with sorrow, the number left out of the royal records. Then the royal stewards are listed, men over the king's treasures, fields, vineyards, oil, herds, camels, and flocks, showing careful management of every resource. Finally David's inner circle is named: Jonathan his uncle the counselor and scribe, Ahithophel and later Jehoiada and Abiathar as counselors, Hushai the king's friend, and Joab as commander of the army. The chapter portrays a kingdom ordered with wisdom, where leadership, defense, stewardship, and counsel all serve God's people under the king.

Key Figures

  • The division commanders — Twelve mighty men, including Jashobeam and Benaiah, each leading twenty-four thousand soldiers in monthly rotation through the year.
  • The tribal leaders — One ruler named over each tribe of Israel, recalling God's promise to make his people as many as the stars.
  • The royal stewards — Officials set over the king's treasures, fields, vineyards, oil, herds, and flocks, managing every resource with care.
  • David's counselors — Trusted advisors such as Ahithophel, Jehoiada, Abiathar, and Hushai the king's friend, with Joab over the army.

Key Verse

1 Chronicles 27:23 (WEB)

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

Lessons Learned

  • Wise leadership organizes responsibility so burdens are shared and shared well (1 Chronicles 27:1).
  • Remembering past sin keeps us humble; the census wrath was not forgotten (1 Chronicles 27:24).
  • God's promises, like multiplying Israel as the stars, shape how we count on him (1 Chronicles 27:23).
  • Faithful stewardship attends to every resource God entrusts (1 Chronicles 27:25-31).
  • Wise leaders surround themselves with trustworthy counselors and friends (1 Chronicles 27:32-33).
  • Good order shares the burden. The army served in monthly divisions of twenty-four thousand so the load rotated through the year (1 Chronicles 27:1, WEB).
  • God's promises outweigh our calculations. David did not number the young because God had said he would "increase Israel like the stars of the sky" (1 Chronicles 27:23, WEB).
  • Past sin is remembered with sober humility. Joab "began to number, but didn't finish; and there came wrath for this on Israel" (1 Chronicles 27:24, WEB).
  • Every resource deserves faithful stewardship. Officials were set over treasures, fields, vineyards, herds, and flocks, "the rulers of the substance which was king David's" (1 Chronicles 27:31, WEB).
  • Wise leaders welcome trusted counsel. Jonathan was "a counselor, a man of understanding," and Hushai "the king's friend" (1 Chronicles 27:32-33, WEB).
  1. What wisdom do you see in rotating the army through monthly divisions rather than keeping everyone mobilized at once?
  2. Why might the chronicler deliberately recall Joab's census and the wrath it brought?
  3. How does God's promise to multiply Israel like the stars shape the way David counts, or refuses to count?
  4. What does the careful listing of stewards over fields, herds, and treasures teach about managing what God gives?
  5. Who are the wise counselors and faithful friends in your life, and how can you both seek and offer godly counsel?
  1. Rotation kept the nation defended without exhausting the people or the economy. It models leadership that distributes responsibility wisely and sustainably rather than overloading a few.
  2. Recalling the census keeps the memory of sin and its cost alive, guarding against pride in numbers. The chronicler will not let success erase the lesson of dependence on God.
  3. David rests in God's promise rather than in tallies, learning from the earlier disaster. Help the group see the difference between faithful planning and faithless self-reliance.
  4. Naming stewards over every kind of resource shows that all of life, from vineyards to flocks, is to be managed faithfully before God. Stewardship is comprehensive, not compartmentalized.
  5. A gentle application question. Encourage people to value godly counsel and friendship, and to consider whether they invite wise voices into their decisions or go it alone.

Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible (WEB), the King James Version (KJV), and the American Standard Version (ASV), all of which are in the public domain.