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1 Chronicles 27

The chapter records the people who administer David’s kingdom, while preserving a warning about the census and God’s promise.

David’s kingdom is organized through military divisions, tribal leaders, and officials who manage his property and advise his court. Twelve divisions of twenty-four thousand men serve in rotation, one for each month. The narrator names their commanders before listing tribal rulers. A brief account of the unfinished census interrupts these records, recalling God’s promise and the wrath that came on Israel. The chapter closes with overseers of royal resources and members of David’s court.

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1Now 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.
3He was of the children of Perez, the chief of all the captains of the army for the first month.
4Over 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.
5The 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.
6This is that Benaiah who was the mighty man of the thirty and over the thirty. Of his division was Ammizabad his son.
7The 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.
8The fifth captain for the fifth month was Shamhuth the Izrahite. In his division were twenty-four thousand.
11The eighth captain for the eighth month was Sibbecai the Hushathite, of the Zerahites. In his division were twenty-four thousand.
12The ninth captain for the ninth month was Abiezer the Anathothite, of the Benjamites. In his division were twenty-four thousand.
15The twelfth captain for the twelfth month was Heldai the Netophathite, of Othniel. In his division were twenty-four thousand.
17of Levi, Hashabiah the son of Kemuel; of Aaron, Zadok;
18of Judah, Elihu, one of the brothers of David; of Issachar, Omri the son of Michael;
21of the half-tribe of Manasseh in Gilead, Iddo the son of Zechariah; of Benjamin, Jaasiel the son of Abner;
23But 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.
24Joab 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.
25Over 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;
28Over the olive trees and the sycamore trees that were in the lowland was Baal Hanan the Gederite. Over the cellars of oil was Joash.
29Over the herds that fed in Sharon was Shitrai the Sharonite. Over the herds that were in the valleys was Shaphat the son of Adlai.
32Also Jonathan, David’s uncle, was a counselor, a man of understanding, and a scribe. Jehiel the son of Hachmoni was with the king’s sons.
33Ahithophel was the king’s counselor. Hushai the Archite was the king’s friend.
34After Ahithophel was Jehoiada the son of Benaiah, and Abiathar. Joab was the captain of the king’s army.
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Key verses
1 Chronicles 27:23God’s promise to multiply Israel explains why David excluded those twenty years old and under from the count.
1 Chronicles 27:24The unfinished census interrupts the administrative lists with a record of wrath and a number excluded from David’s chronicles.
1 Chronicles 27:29The named overseers of herds show how the kingdom’s administration extended to livestock and the land where they grazed.
Where this chapter reaches

Genesis shares the promise of descendants as numerous as the stars, while Numbers also records Israel’s population by tribes and military age. The census and several named commanders and counselors connect with 2 Samuel; figures such as Benaiah, Zadok, and Abiathar also appear in 1 Kings.

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After reading the whole chapter

What do the named overseers of fields and herds add to your picture of David’s kingdom?

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How does the census account affect your reading of the chapter’s numbers and lists?

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Questions people ask about 1 Chronicles 27

Why did David leave people twenty years old and under out of the census?

Verse 23 connects their exclusion with YHWH’s promise to increase Israel like the stars of the sky. The next verse says Joab began the census but did not finish, and wrath came on Israel. The chapter does not explain how excluding the younger people addressed the promise.

What were the monthly divisions in 1 Chronicles 27?

They were twelve military divisions serving the king in a monthly rotation. Each division numbered twenty-four thousand and had a named commander. The opening verse also mentions household heads and officers within this structure. The arrangement describes service throughout the year; it does not describe a particular battle or campaign.

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1 Chronicles · 29 chapters
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Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).