First Book of Chronicles 27

¹ The sons of Israel; their enumeration. The heads of families, the commanders of thousands and hundreds, their scribes, these performed their duties among the people. The orders played their part in all royal business. There was one on duty for a month, every month of the year. Each order was made up of twenty-four thousand men.

² The commissioner for the first order detailed for the first month was Jashobeam son of Zabdiel. He had charge of an order of twenty-four thousand men.

³ He was a son of Perez and chief of all the officers of the group detailed for the first month.

⁴ The commissioner for the order for the second-month was Dodai the Ahohite. He had charge of an order of twenty-four thousand men.

⁵ The officer of the third group detailed for the third month was Benaiah son of Jehoiada, the chief priest. He had charge of an order of twenty-four thousand men.

⁶ This was the Benaiah who was champion of the Thirty, and who was commissioner for the Thirty and for his order. Ammizabad was his son.

⁷ The fourth, detailed for the fourth month, was Asahel, the brother of Joab; his son Zebadiah succeeded him. He had charge of an order of twenty-four thousand men.

⁸ The fifth, detailed for the fifth month, was the officer Shamhuth the Izrahite. He had charge of an order of twenty-four thousand men.

⁹ The sixth, detailed for the sixth month, was Ira son of Ikkesh of Tekoa. He had charge of an order of twenty-four thousand men.

¹⁰ The seventh, detailed for the seventh month, was Helez the Pelonite, one of the sons of Ephraim. He had charge of an order of twenty-four thousand men.

¹¹ The eighth, detailed for the eighth month, was Sibbecai of Hushah, a Zerahite. He had charge of an order of twenty-four thousand men.

¹² The ninth, detailed for the ninth month, was Abiezer of Anathoth, a Benjaminite. He had charge of an order of twenty-four thousand men.

¹³ The tenth, detailed for the tenth month, was Maharai of Netophah, a Zerahite. He had charge of an order of twenty-four thousand men.

¹⁴ The eleventh, detailed for the eleventh month, was Benaiah of Pirathon, a son of Ephraim. He had charge of an order of twenty-four thousand men.

¹⁵ The twelfth, detailed for the twelfth month, was Heldai from Netophah, of Othniel. He had charge of an order of twenty-four thousand men.

¹⁶ Commissioners for the tribes of Israel: Eliezer son of Zichri was chief officer for the Reubenites, Shephatiah son of Maacah for the Simeonites,

¹⁷ Hashabiah son of Kemuel for the Levites, Zadok for the Aaronites,

¹⁸ Elihu, one of David’s brothers, for the Judaeans, Omri son of Michael for the Issacharites,

¹⁹ Ishmaiah son of Obadiah for the Zebulunites, Jeremoth son of Azriel for the Naphtalites,

²⁰ Hoshea son of Azaziah for the Ephraimites, Joel son of Pedaiah for the half-tribe of Manasseh,

²¹ Iddo son of Zechariah for the half-tribe of Manasseh in Gad, Jaasiel son of Abner for the Benjaminites,

²² Azarel son of Jeroham for the Danites. These were the officials for the tribes of Israel.

²³ David took no census of those who were twenty years old and under, since Yahweh had promised to make Israel as numerous as the stars of heaven.

²⁴ Joab son of Zeruiah began a census, though he did not finish it. That is why the wrath came on Israel, and the figure never reached the figure found in the Annals of King David.[*a]

²⁵ Commissioner for the king’s stores: Azmaveth son of Adiel. Commissioner for the stores in provincial towns, villages, castles: Jonathan son of Uzziah.

²⁶ Commissioner for the agricultural workers employed on the land: Ezri son of Chelub.

²⁷ Commissioner for the vineyards: Shimei of Ramah. Commissioner for those in the vineyards who looked after the wine cellars: Zabdi of Shepham.

²⁸ Commissioner for the olives and sycamores in the lowlands: Baal-hanan of Geder. Commissioner for the stores of oil: Joash.

²⁹ Commissioner for cattle in pasture at Sharon: Shitrai of Sharon. Commissioner for cattle in the valleys: Shaphat son of Adlai.

³⁰ Commissioner for camels: Obil the Ishmaelite. Commissioner for donkeys: Jehdeiah of Meranoth.

³¹ Commissioner for flocks: Jaziz the Hagrite. All these were bailiffs for King David’s property.

³² Jonathan, David’s uncle, who was a councillor, a shrewd man and a scribe, had charge of the royal children, with Jehiel son of Hachmoni.

³³ Ahithophel was the king’s counsellor. Hushai the Archite was Friend of the King.

³⁴ Jehoiada son of Benaiah, and Abiathar[*b] succeeded Ahithophel. Joab was commander of the king’s armies.