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Yet there can scarcely he any doubt of the meaning of the verse, viz. that the writer would speak of <span class="cmt_word">the children of Israel, including the chief fathers and captains of thousands and hundreds, as regards their courses and their number in their courses, as they succeeded one another, month by month, including also all those officers who served the king in any relation to these courses - the courses were twelve, and each course was numbered twenty-four thousand.</span> Meantime, when we turn to the list, we do not find any full complement of <span class="accented">chiefs</span>, <span class="accented">captains</span>, and <span class="accented">officers</span> specified, but apparently only the <span class="accented">chief</span> of each course, with somewhat ambiguous additions in vers. 4 (Mikloth), 6 (Ammizabad), 7 (Zebadiah); while what seems an unnecessary stress repeats the <span class="accented">number</span> each time. This, however, in fact, tallies with the clause "respecting their number" in the first verse, and may constitute the explanation of the apparent inconsistency in question. Milman ('Hist. of the Jews,' 1:251, edit. 1830) says on this military portion of David's preparations, that he "organized an immense disposable force; every month twenty-four thousand men, furnished in rotation by the tribes, appeared in arms, and were trained as the standing militia of the country. At the head of his army were officers of consummate experience and, what was more highly esteemed in the warfare of the time, extraordinary personal activity, strength, and valour. His heroes remind us of those of Arthuror Charlemagne, excepting that the <span class="accented">armour</span> of the feudal chieftains constituted their superiority; here, main strength of body and dauntless fortitude of mind." <span class="cmt_word">Which came in and went out month by month</span>; <span class="accented">i.e.</span> exchanged places in rotation (<a href="/2_kings/11-5.htm">2 Kings 11:5-7, 9</a>; <a href="/2_chronicles/23-8.htm">2 Chronicles 23:8</a>). </div> <div class="versenum"><a href="/1_chronicles/27-2.htm">1 Chronicles 27:2</a></div><div class="verse">Over the first course for the first month <i>was</i> Jashobeam the son of Zabdiel: and in his course <i>were</i> twenty and four thousand.</div><div class="comm"><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 2.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Jashobeam</span> is mentioned in <a href="/1_chronicles/12-11.htm">1 Chronicles 12:11</a> as son of Hachmoni, and as one of those "three mighties" of David, of whom the other two were Eleazar and Shammah (see also <a href="/1_chronicles/12-6.htm">1 Chronicles 12:6</a>); he is again referred to (<a href="/2_samuel/23-8.htm">2 Samuel 23:8</a>) in a verse of which the text is corrupt, as "the Tachmonite," or more correctly "the Tahh-cemonite." The <span class="accented">tau</span> in this word is probably an error for the article. Kennicott ('Dies.,' 72, 82) confirms this supposition by noting that the Book of Samuel constantly replaces by the definite article what appears in Chronicles as "son of." He has also shown reason for believing that the words in this passage, "that sat in the seat, are a corruption of the Hebrew text for characters that would spell our name "Jashobeam." We know nothing of this name "Hachmon," which may be the name of an earlier forefather, while <span class="cmt_word">Zabdiel</span>, thence named "the Hach-monite," appears to Be the name of the actual father of Jashobeam. Jashobeam was of Judah. </div> <div class="versenum"><a href="/1_chronicles/27-3.htm">1 Chronicles 27:3</a></div><div class="verse">Of the children of Perez <i>was</i> the chief of all the captains of the host for the first month.</div><div class="comm"><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 3.</span> - This verse tells us that Jasho-beam belonged to the tribe of Judah, through <span class="cmt_word">Perez</span>, the fourth son of Judah (<a href="/1_chronicles/2-4.htm">1 Chronicles 2:4</a>). </div> <div class="versenum"><a href="/1_chronicles/27-4.htm">1 Chronicles 27:4</a></div><div class="verse">And over the course of the second month <i>was</i> Dodai an Ahohite, and of his course <i>was</i> Mikloth also the ruler: in his course likewise <i>were</i> twenty and four thousand.</div><div class="comm"><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 4.</span> - Before the name <span class="cmt_word">Dodai</span> we must supply "Eleazar the son of," on the authority of <a href="/1_chronicles/11-12.htm">1 Chronicles 11:12</a>; <a href="/2_samuel/23-9.htm">2 Samuel 23:9</a>. The allusion to <span class="cmt_word">Mikloth</span> (of the tribe of Benjamin, according to <a href="/1_chronicles/8-32.htm">1 Chronicles 8:32</a>; <a href="/1_chronicles/9-37.htm">1 Chronicles 9:37</a>) in this verse is not plain. The translation may possibly be the same which our Authorized Version gives, <span class="cmt_word">And over the course of the second month was</span> (Eleazar, the son of) Dodai the Ahohite, and (over) <span class="cmt_word">his</span> (or, <span class="accented">its</span>) <span class="accented"><span class="cmt_word"></span>course also Mikloth was ruler</span>. The appearances of the Hebrew text, however, favour the supposition of an inaccurate text. A somewhat similar con. struction and position of words in ver. 6 is less difficult by the absence of a conjunction before <span class="accented">Ammizabad.</span> </div> <div class="versenum"><a href="/1_chronicles/27-5.htm">1 Chronicles 27:5</a></div><div class="verse">The third captain of the host for the third month <i>was</i> Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, a chief priest: and in his course <i>were</i> twenty and four thousand.</div><div class="comm"><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 5.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Benaiah</span> (<a href="/1_chronicles/11-22.htm">1 Chronicles 11:22-25</a>; <a href="/2_samuel/23-20.htm">2 Samuel 23:20-23</a>). To this name Keil thinks the word chief (<span class="hebrew">רלֺאשׁ</span>), in the succeeding expression, <span class="accented">chief priest</span>, <span class="accented">belongs.</span> Thus <span class="cmt_word">Jehoiada</span> would be named here only <span class="accented">priest.</span> Yet see <a href="/1_chronicles/12-27.htm">1 Chronicles 12:27</a>, where Jehoiada is called <span class="hebrew">לְאַהֲרֹן חַגָּגִיד</span>; and <a href="/2_kings/25-18.htm">2 Kings 25:18</a>; where <span class="hebrew">כֹּהֵן הָרלֺאשׁ</span> stands for our <span class="hebrew">הכֹּהֵן רלֺאשׁ</span>, as applied to <span class="accented">Seraiah.</span> Benaiah was manifestly a Aaronite. </div> <div class="versenum"><a href="/1_chronicles/27-6.htm">1 Chronicles 27:6</a></div><div class="verse">This <i>is that</i> Benaiah, <i>who was</i> mighty <i>among</i> the thirty, and above the thirty: and in his course <i>was</i> Ammizabad his son.</div><div class="comm"></div> <div class="versenum"><a href="/1_chronicles/27-7.htm">1 Chronicles 27:7</a></div><div class="verse">The fourth <i>captain</i> for the fourth month <i>was</i> Asahel the brother of Joab, and Zebadiah his son after him: and in his course <i>were</i> twenty and four thousand.</div><div class="comm"><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 7.</span> - With this verse, as Keil observes, the description of the successive courses is given with the greatest brevity. Zebadiah was of Judah. Inasmuch as <span class="cmt_word">Asahel</span> (<a href="/1_chronicles/11-26.htm">1 Chronicles 11:26</a>; <a href="/2_samuel/23-24.htm">2 Samuel 23:24</a>) was killed by Abner (<a href="/2_samuel/2-23.htm">2 Samuel 2:23</a>) before this division of military courses was made, it is evident that his name in this place marks, not the individual, but the family. Possibly he and his name were held in all the greater regard, and his son Zebadiah best known for the sake of his father. </div> <div class="versenum"><a href="/1_chronicles/27-8.htm">1 Chronicles 27:8</a></div><div class="verse">The fifth captain for the fifth month <i>was</i> Shamhuth the Izrahite: and in his course <i>were</i> twenty and four thousand.</div><div class="comm"><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 8.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Shamhuth</span>. For variations in the form of this name, see ch. 11:27; <a href="/2_samuel/23-25.htm">2 Samuel 23:25</a>. In the former of these passages also we have <span class="accented">Harorite in</span> place of our <span class="cmt_word">Izrahite</span>, and in the latter <span class="accented">Harodite.</span> The <span class="accented">Izrahite</span> probably means of the family of <span class="accented">Zerah</span> (<a href="/1_chronicles/2-4.htm">1 Chronicles 2:4, 6</a>), and of course marks one of the tribe of Judah. The Hebrew <span class="hebrew">הַיִּזְרָח</span>evidently does not justify the form as translated "Izrahite." </div> <div class="versenum"><a href="/1_chronicles/27-9.htm">1 Chronicles 27:9</a></div><div class="verse">The sixth <i>captain</i> for the sixth month <i>was</i> Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite: and in his course <i>were</i> twenty and four thousand.</div><div class="comm"><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 9.</span> - For <span class="cmt_word">Ira</span>, see <a href="/1_chronicles/11-28.htm">1 Chronicles 11:28</a>; <a href="/2_samuel/23-26.htm">2 Samuel 23:26</a>. He was of Tekoa, belonging to Judah. </div> <div class="versenum"><a href="/1_chronicles/27-10.htm">1 Chronicles 27:10</a></div><div class="verse">The seventh <i>captain</i> for the seventh month <i>was</i> Helez the Pelonite, of the children of Ephraim: and in his course <i>were</i> twenty and four thousand.</div><div class="comm"><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 10.</span> - For <span class="cmt_word">Helez</span>, see <a href="/1_chronicles/11-27.htm">1 Chronicles 11:27</a>; <a href="/2_samuel/23-26.htm">2 Samuel 23:26</a>. He belonged to Ephraim. </div> <div class="versenum"><a href="/1_chronicles/27-11.htm">1 Chronicles 27:11</a></div><div class="verse">The eighth <i>captain</i> for the eighth month <i>was</i> Sibbecai the Hushathite, of the Zarhites: and in his course <i>were</i> twenty and four thousand.</div><div class="comm"><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 11.</span> - For <span class="cmt_word">Sibbecai</span>, see <a href="/1_chronicles/11-29.htm">1 Chronicles 11:29</a>; <a href="/1_chronicles/20-4.htm">1 Chronicles 20:4</a>; <a href="/2_samuel/21-18.htm">2 Samuel 21:18</a>; <a href="/2_samuel/23-27.htm">2 Samuel 23:27</a>, where by a corruption the name <span class="accented">Mebunnai is</span> found for Sibbechai, a corruption all the easier to account for in the similarity of the characters that form the names. He was a Zarhite, and belonged to the tribe of Judah. </div> <div class="versenum"><a href="/1_chronicles/27-12.htm">1 Chronicles 27:12</a></div><div class="verse">The ninth <i>captain</i> for the ninth month <i>was</i> Abiezer the Anetothite, of the Benjamites: and in his course <i>were</i> twenty and four thousand.</div><div class="comm"><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 12.</span> - For <span class="cmt_word">Abiezer</span>, of the tribe of Benjamin, see <a href="/1_chronicles/11-28.htm">1 Chronicles 11:28</a>; <a href="/2_samuel/23-27.htm">2 Samuel 23:27</a>. For Anetothite (<span class="accented">Anathoth</span>) <span class="accented">see</span> <a href="/1_chronicles/6-60.htm">1 Chronicles 6:60</a> (45); <a href="/joshua/21-18.htm">Joshua 21:18</a>; <a href="/jeremiah/1-1.htm">Jeremiah 1:1</a>; <a href="/jeremiah/11-21.htm">Jeremiah 11:21</a>; <a href="/jeremiah/32-7.htm">Jeremiah 32:7-9</a>. </div> <div class="versenum"><a href="/1_chronicles/27-13.htm">1 Chronicles 27:13</a></div><div class="verse">The tenth <i>captain</i> for the tenth month <i>was</i> Maharai the Netophathite, of the Zarhites: and in his course <i>were</i> twenty and four thousand.</div><div class="comm"><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 13.</span> - For <span class="cmt_word">Maharai</span>, of the tribe of Judah, see <a href="/1_chronicles/11-30.htm">1 Chronicles 11:30</a>; <a href="/2_samuel/23-28.htm">2 Samuel 23:28</a>. The <span class="cmt_word">Netophathite</span>. Though the name of the town Netophah happens to occur only after the Captivity (<span class="accented">e.g.</span> <a href="/ezra/2-22.htm">Ezra 2:22</a>; <a href="/nehemiah/7-26.htm">Nehemiah 7:26</a>), yet the name of the people, as in this passage, was evidently a name existing before the Captivity (see also ch. 2:54; 9:16). </div> <div class="versenum"><a href="/1_chronicles/27-14.htm">1 Chronicles 27:14</a></div><div class="verse">The eleventh <i>captain</i> for the eleventh month <i>was</i> Benaiah the Pirathonite, of the children of Ephraim: and in his course <i>were</i> twenty and four thousand.</div><div class="comm"><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 14.</span> - For this <span class="cmt_word">Benaiah</span>, who was of Ephraim, see <a href="/1_chronicles/11-31.htm">1 Chronicles 11:31</a>; <a href="/2_samuel/23-30.htm">2 Samuel 23:30</a>. For Pirathon, see <a href="/judges/12-15.htm">Judges 12:15</a>, where alone the place is mentioned. </div> <div class="versenum"><a href="/1_chronicles/27-15.htm">1 Chronicles 27:15</a></div><div class="verse">The twelfth <i>captain</i> for the twelfth month <i>was</i> Heldai the Netophathite, of Othniel: and in his course <i>were</i> twenty and four thousand.</div><div class="comm"><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 15.</span> - For <span class="cmt_word">Heldai</span>, who belonged to Judah, see <a href="/1_chronicles/11-30.htm">1 Chronicles 11:30</a>, where the name appears as <span class="accented">Heled</span>, and <a href="/2_samuel/23-29.htm">2 Samuel 23:29</a>, where it appears as <span class="accented">Heleb.</span> For <span class="cmt_word">Othniel</span> (who was nephew and son-in-law of Caleb, and first deliverer of the people after Joshua), see <a href="/joshua/15-17.htm">Joshua 15:17</a>; <a href="/judges/3-9.htm">Judges 3:9</a>. These twelve captains then come - from Judah seven, from Benjamin and Ephraim two each, and from Levi one. </div> <div class="versenum"><a href="/1_chronicles/27-16.htm">1 Chronicles 27:16</a></div><div class="verse">Furthermore over the tribes of Israel: the ruler of the Reubenites <i>was</i> Eliezer the son of Zichri: of the Simeonites, Shephatiah the son of Maachah:</div><div class="comm"><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verses 16-22.</span> - These verses give the names of the <span class="accented">rulers</span> (ver. 16), or <span class="accented">princes</span> (ver. 22), of ten out of the twelve <span class="accented">tribes of Israel.</span> The tribes not mentioned are Gad and Asher, an omission which reminds of that of the two tribes Dan and Zebulon from the genealogies contained in ch. 4-7, and equally unexplained. These designations <span class="accented">ruler</span> (<span class="hebrew">נָגִיד</span>) and <span class="accented">prince</span> (<span class="hebrew">שַׂר</span>) are the same as are found in the list of vers. 1-15 - the former in ver. 4, and translated also as here "ruler;" and the latter in vers. 1, 3, 5, 8, under the Authorized Version word of" captains." This rehearsal of the <span class="accented">rulers</span> or <span class="accented">captains</span> of the tribes stands evidently in no special relation to the preceding military enumeration, but it forms naturally enough one of four lists in this chapter that purport to set forth David's complete arrangement of the affairs of the kingdom. So far as the enumeration goes, it appears to aim at fulness and no omission, for the "Aaronites" (ver. 17) are given, and <span class="accented">Ephraim</span> and the two halves of <span class="accented">Manasseh</span> separately (vers. 20, 21). </div> <div class="versenum"><a href="/1_chronicles/27-17.htm">1 Chronicles 27:17</a></div><div class="verse">Of the Levites, Hashabiah the son of Kemuel: of the Aaronites, Zadok:</div><div class="comm"><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 17.</span> - It is, perhaps, remarkable that <span class="cmt_word">Hashabiah</span> - presumably a Gershonite - is not distinguished from the Hebronite (<span class="accented">i.e.</span> Kohathite) of the same name (<a href="/1_chronicles/26-30.htm">1 Chronicles 26:30</a>); some, however, think that our <span class="accented">Hasha-biah</span> is the Kohathite (see Smith's 'Bible Dictionary,' 1:759 b). For <span class="cmt_word">Zadok</span>, see ch. 6:4, 12. He was of the line of Eleazar. </div> <div class="versenum"><a href="/1_chronicles/27-18.htm">1 Chronicles 27:18</a></div><div class="verse">Of Judah, Elihu, <i>one</i> of the brethren of David: of Issachar, Omri the son of Michael:</div><div class="comm"><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 18.</span> - David's eldest brother Eliab is no doubt intended here by the name Elihu. The Septuagint gives Eliab. For <span class="cmt_word">Michael</span>, see ch. 7:3. </div> <div class="versenum"><a href="/1_chronicles/27-19.htm">1 Chronicles 27:19</a></div><div class="verse">Of Zebulun, Ishmaiah the son of Obadiah: of Naphtali, Jerimoth the son of Azriel:</div><div class="comm"></div> <div class="versenum"><a href="/1_chronicles/27-20.htm">1 Chronicles 27:20</a></div><div class="verse">Of the children of Ephraim, Hoshea the son of Azaziah: of the half tribe of Manasseh, Joel the son of Pedaiah:</div><div class="comm"></div> <div class="versenum"><a href="/1_chronicles/27-21.htm">1 Chronicles 27:21</a></div><div class="verse">Of the half <i>tribe</i> of Manasseh in Gilead, Iddo the son of Zechariah: of Benjamin, Jaasiel the son of Abner:</div><div class="comm"><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 21.</span> - There is no reason to doubt that <span class="cmt_word">Jaasiel</span> is the son of the Abner who was Saul's own cousin (<a href="/1_chronicles/9-36.htm">1 Chronicles 9:36</a>; <a href="/1_samuel/14-50.htm">1 Samuel 14:50</a>). </div> <div class="versenum"><a href="/1_chronicles/27-22.htm">1 Chronicles 27:22</a></div><div class="verse">Of Dan, Azareel the son of Jeroham. These <i>were</i> the princes of the tribes of Israel.</div><div class="comm"><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 22.</span> - These thirteen <span class="cmt_word">princes of the tribes of Israel</span> were presumably in each case those who represented the tribe according to lineal descent in David's time. Though Gad and Asher are left out, the <span class="accented">thirteen</span> are filled up by the allowance of two for Levi, viz. one for the Levites and one for the priests; and three for Joseph, viz. one for Ephraim and two for the divided tribe of Manasseh. </div> <div class="versenum"><a href="/1_chronicles/27-23.htm">1 Chronicles 27:23</a></div><div class="verse">But David took not the number of them from twenty years old and under: because the LORD had said he would increase Israel like to the stars of the heavens.</div><div class="comm"><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 23.</span> - The contents of this and the following verse may be supposed to be suggested by the distinct reference to the matter of number in the first verse of the chapter, and in the latter halves of the following fourteen verses, contrasting with the utter absence of any allusion to the same matter, when the whole body of the <span class="accented">tribes and their princes</span> are the subject, in vers. 16-22. The deeper significance of the latter part of this verse probably comes to this; that God had already given his people the proudest name for their numbers, in saying that they should be <span class="accented">numberless</span>, <span class="accented"><span class="cmt_word"></span>like to the stars of the heavens</span>, and perpetually on the increase. </div> <div class="versenum"><a href="/1_chronicles/27-24.htm">1 Chronicles 27:24</a></div><div class="verse">Joab the son of Zeruiah began to number, but he finished not, because there fell wrath for it against Israel; neither was the number put in the account of the chronicles of king David.</div><div class="comm"><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 24.</span> - It seems a little surprising to read of Joab, fixed on the page of history as the person <span class="cmt_word">who began to number, but</span>... finished not, when we have been already particularly told that it was <span class="accented">he</span> to whom King David's command to number was "abominable" (<a href="/1_chronicles/21-6.htm">1 Chronicles 21:6</a>). However differently enough from the method of either nature or mankind, the antidote has here preceded the evil. For <span class="cmt_word">because there fell wrath for it</span>, read the Hebrew, <span class="accented">and there was for this wrath upon Israel.</span> The last sentence of the verse purports to say that such numbering as had been done before the point at which Joab stopped was not honoured by a place, where other numbers were found, in the register of the chronicles of King David. </div> <div class="versenum"><a href="/1_chronicles/27-25.htm">1 Chronicles 27:25</a></div><div class="verse">And over the king's treasures <i>was</i> Azmaveth the son of Adiel: and over the storehouses in the fields, in the cities, and in the villages, and in the castles, <i>was</i> Jehonathan the son of Uzziah:</div><div class="comm"><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verses 25-31.</span> - These verses have for their primary object, not to give an exhaustive summary of the wealth of David and the sources thereof, but to give the names of those persons who were charged with the care, or the management and care, of' it. The classification, however, is interesting, and may be naturally expected to be tolerably complete. We do not find any distinction made between such property as might have belonged to David as private property, and such as belonged to him as king - probably because there was none worth making. <span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 25.</span> - For <span class="cmt_word">storehouses</span>, read, as in former clause, <span class="accented">treasures.</span> The suggestion of the second half of this verse in comparison with the first is that <span class="cmt_word">Azmaveth's</span> charge was over treasures in Jerusalem. For the castles, see <a href="/2_chronicles/17-12.htm">2 Chronicles 17:12</a>; <a href="/2_chronicles/27-4.htm">2 Chronicles 27:4</a>. The word <span class="hebrew">אוצָר</span>, though the same in both clauses, may probably enough cover precious treasure, as of gold, silver, costly raiment, etc. (<a href="/1_kings/14-26.htm">1 Kings 14:26</a>; <a href="/1_kings/15-18.htm">1 Kings 15:18</a>), more particularly in the first clause, and grain, fruit, etc. (<a href="/2_chronicles/11-11.htm">2 Chronicles 11:11</a>), in the latter, for the word has distinctly this double application. (See for some illustration of this verse also, Sallust., 'De Belle Jugurth.,' 12.) </div> <div class="versenum"><a href="/1_chronicles/27-26.htm">1 Chronicles 27:26</a></div><div class="verse">And over them that did the work of the field for tillage of the ground <i>was</i> Ezri the son of Chelub:</div><div class="comm"><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 26.</span> - This verse appears to give the name, not (as in the former verse) of the person who had charge of the stored grain, fruits, etc, but of the chief superintendent and manager of the labour and labourers of the field. </div> <div class="versenum"><a href="/1_chronicles/27-27.htm">1 Chronicles 27:27</a></div><div class="verse">And over the vineyards <i>was</i> Shimei the Ramathite: over the increase of the vineyards for the wine cellars <i>was</i> Zabdi the Shiphmite:</div><div class="comm"><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 27.</span> - This verse specifies the officer who had the management of the vineyards, and also the officer who had charge over the wine-cellars. The description of Ramathite does not assist us to identify Shimei, though the choice of place is ample (<a href="/joshua/13-26.htm">Joshua 13:26</a>; <a href="/joshua/18-25.htm">Joshua 18:25</a>; <a href="/joshua/19-29.htm">Joshua 19:29, 36</a>; <a href="/judges/15-17.htm">Judges 15:17</a>). For <span class="cmt_word">Shiphmite</span>, see <a href="/numbers/34-10.htm">Numbers 34:10, 11</a>; to the place Shepham, mentioned in which passage, the reference here may be. For over the increase, read <span class="accented">over that which in the vineyards</span>, etc., where the initial <span class="hebrew">שׁ</span> stands for <span class="hebrew">אֲשֶׁר</span>. </div> <div class="versenum"><a href="/1_chronicles/27-28.htm">1 Chronicles 27:28</a></div><div class="verse">And over the olive trees and the sycomore trees that <i>were</i> in the low plains <i>was</i> Baalhanan the Gederite: and over the cellars of oil <i>was</i> Joash:</div><div class="comm"><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 28.</span> - A similar couple of officers to those of the last verse are described here. <span class="cmt_word">By the low plains</span> here in the Authorized Version is translated what had been better left untranslated, <span class="accented">i.e.</span> the <span class="accented">Shephelah</span>, one of the five divisions of Judaea (Conder's' Bible Handbook,' 2nd edit., 1880, p. 257). It comprised the low-lying tract of land on the coast and, roughly speaking, stretching from Joppa to Gaza. The sycamore tree (<span class="hebrew">הַשִּׁקְמִום</span>, a plural masculine, and once <span class="hebrew">שִׁקְמות</span>, a plural feminine, Psalm 78:87) is to be distinguished from the sycamine, being that kind of <span class="accented">mulberry</span> tree called <span class="accented">fig mulberry.</span> The Septuagint, however, does not observe the distinction, and always translates <span class="greek">συκάμινος</span>. It was a common tree, and useful to the poor. It is the same with the <span class="accented">black</span> mulberry of Egypt, and abounded in Palestine (<a href="/1_kings/10-27.htm">1 Kings 10:27</a>). Its fruit was eatable, and its wood, though soft, yet valuable for enduringness (see Smith's 'Bible Dictionary,' 3. p. 1394; Conder's 'Bible Handbook,' 2nd edit., pp. 223, 399; Stanley's 'Sinai and Palestine,' edit. 1866, pp. 146, 393). The name <span class="cmt_word">Baal-hanan</span> comes first before us as that of a King of Edom (<a href="/genesis/36-38.htm">Genesis 36:38, 39</a>; <a href="/1_chronicles/1-49.htm">1 Chronicles 1:49</a>). The place <span class="accented">Gederah</span> (<a href="/joshua/15-36.htm">Joshua 15:36</a>), or Beth-gader (<a href="/1_chronicles/2-51.htm">1 Chronicles 2:51</a>), attached to the name of the present <span class="accented">Baal-hanan</span>, renders it not less probable that he was of similar extraction. </div> <div class="versenum"><a href="/1_chronicles/27-29.htm">1 Chronicles 27:29</a></div><div class="verse">And over the herds that fed in Sharon <i>was</i> Shitrai the Sharonite: and over the herds <i>that were</i> in the valleys <i>was</i> Shaphat the son of Adlai:</div><div class="comm"><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 29.</span> - Sharon (see <a href="/1_chronicles/5-16.htm">1 Chronicles 5:16, 21</a>). It means with the article, which, with one exception, always accompanies it, "the level laud," and on the west of the Jordan exactly corresponds with the <span class="accented">Mishor</span> on the east, a word of identical signification with <span class="accented">Sharon.</span> The tract of pasture-land which it designated stretched from Carmel to Joppa (Stanley's 'Sinai and Palestine,' edit. 1866, pp. 485, 260, 264). The <span class="cmt_word">valleys</span> here intended are not specified. </div> <div class="versenum"><a href="/1_chronicles/27-30.htm">1 Chronicles 27:30</a></div><div class="verse">Over the camels also <i>was</i> Obil the Ishmaelite: and over the asses <i>was</i> Jehdeiah the Meronothite:</div><div class="comm"><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 30.</span> - Whether the word <span class="cmt_word">Obil</span> (<span class="hebrew">אובִיל</span>), is a proper name or not, it signifies "a tender of camels" by derivation. The task suited the Ishmaelite, no doubt! Nothing is known of the <span class="cmt_word">Meronothite</span>, nor of the situation of the place called Meronoth, unless anything may be conjectured from <a href="/nehemiah/3-7.htm">Nehemiah 3:7</a>. </div> <div class="versenum"><a href="/1_chronicles/27-31.htm">1 Chronicles 27:31</a></div><div class="verse">And over the flocks <i>was</i> Jaziz the Hagerite. All these <i>were</i> the rulers of the substance which <i>was</i> king David's.</div><div class="comm"><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 31.</span> - For the <span class="cmt_word">Hagerite</span> tribe, see <a href="/1_chronicles/5-10.htm">1 Chronicles 5:10, 18-22</a>. For <span class="cmt_word">the rulers of the substance</span>, the Hebrew words are <span class="hebrew">שָׂרֵי הָרְכּוּשׁ</span>. The number of them adds up again to twelve; Keil justly supposes that the two named in ver. 25 were those principal officers to whom the other ten delivered the proceeds of their respective charges. </div> <div class="versenum"><a href="/1_chronicles/27-32.htm">1 Chronicles 27:32</a></div><div class="verse">Also Jonathan David's uncle was a counseller, a wise man, and a scribe: and Jehiel the son of Hachmoni <i>was</i> with the king's sons:</div><div class="comm"><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verses 32-34.</span> - These verses contain the names of seven men of high position, and who were, at all events, important enough, in one respect or another, for this closing special mention. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="Text_Heading">1.</span> <span class="cmt_word">Jonathan and Ahithophel</span> are singled out as counsellors (<span class="hebrew">יועֵצ</span>) of the king. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="Text_Heading">2.</span> <span class="cmt_word">Hushai the Archite</span> is mentioned as the <span class="cmt_word">companion</span> (<span class="hebrew">רֵעַ</span>) of the king. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="Text_Heading">3.</span> <span class="cmt_word">Jehoiada the son of Benaiah, and Abiathar</span> are mentioned as standing in a similar relation of counsellors to the king with Ahithophel, but after him. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="Text_Heading">4.</span> The great general of the whole army of the king (<span class="hebrew">שַׂר־צָבָא</span>), <span class="cmt_word">Joab</span>, has a place found for his name. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="Text_Heading">5.</span> And the name of <span class="accented">Jehiel</span> is mentioned as <span class="cmt_word">of one with the king's sons</span>. The <span class="accented">first</span> thing which may be observed as to this enumeration is that it is not one whole belonging to the later portion of David's time. Ahithophel had brag before put an end to his own life (<a href="/2_samuel/17-21.htm">2 Samuel 17:21-23</a>; also see 2 Samuel 15:12, 31, 34; 16:20-23). <span class="accented">Secondly</span>, that out of the seven names, four or five are already well known to us in some other capacity; for see the lists of <a href="/1_chronicles/18-14.htm">1 Chronicles 18:14-17</a>; <a href="/2_samuel/8-16.htm">2 Samuel 8:16-18</a>; <a href="/2_samuel/20-23.htm">2 Samuel 20:23-26</a>. And <span class="accented">thirdly</span>, that in one or two instances, a different or additional part is assigned to the names mentioned. The impression left with us is rather of honourable or special mention made of seven who had been distinguished helpers of the king or the kingdom at one time or another. <span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 32.</span> - Nothing is known of any <span class="cmt_word">uncle</span> to David, named <span class="cmt_word">Jonathan</span>, but special mention is made, in <a href="/1_chronicles/20-7.htm">1 Chronicles 20:7</a> and <a href="/2_samuel/21-21.htm">2 Samuel 21:21</a>, of a nephew, son of Shimea, who rendered valuable service, and u-hose name was Jonathan. It is possible that the Hebrew <span class="hebrew">דּור</span> may mean "nephew," as simply meaning "relative." It must be admitted, however, as very remarkable, that in Leviticus, Numbers, the historical books, Jeremiah, and Amos, to the number of sixteen times in all, the word confessedly means "uncle;" while this seventeenth time, it would appear to mean "nephew." On the other hand, in Proverbs, Canticles, Isaiah, Ezekiel, to the number of thirty-six times in all, the word follows its other branch of signification of "love," and in particular "one beloved." Nothing certain can be said of the <span class="cmt_word">Jehiel</span> of this verse, but, if a son of <span class="cmt_word">Hachmoni</span>, we may presume him to have been related to Jashobeam of ver. 2 and <a href="/1_chronicles/11-11.htm">1 Chronicles 11:11</a>. </div> <div class="versenum"><a href="/1_chronicles/27-33.htm">1 Chronicles 27:33</a></div><div class="verse">And Ahithophel <i>was</i> the king's counseller: and Hushai the Archite <i>was</i> the king's companion:</div><div class="comm"><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 33.</span> - For <span class="cmt_word">Hushai the Archite</span>, see <a href="/2_samuel/15-32.htm">2 Samuel 15:32, 37</a>; <a href="/2_samuel/16-16.htm">2 Samuel 16:16</a>; <a href="/2_samuel/17-14.htm">2 Samuel 17:14, 15</a>. </div> <div class="versenum"><a href="/1_chronicles/27-34.htm">1 Chronicles 27:34</a></div><div class="verse">And after Ahithophel <i>was</i> Jehoiada the son of Benaiah, and Abiathar: and the general of the king's army <i>was</i> Joab.</div><div class="comm"><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 34.</span> - The <span class="cmt_word">after</span> of this verse may possibly be the <span class="accented">after</span> of time, <span class="accented">i.e.</span> after the <span class="accented">death</span> of Ahithophel, instead of the <span class="accented">after</span> of place, <span class="accented">i.e.</span> subordinate. <span class="cmt_word">Jehoiada the son of Benaiah</span>. Either the individual of ver. 5; <a href="/1_chronicles/18-17.htm">1 Chronicles 18:17</a>; <a href="/2_samuel/8-18.htm">2 Samuel 8:18</a>; <a href="/2_samuel/20-23.htm">2 Samuel 20:23</a>, is not the person here intended, or we have here the names accidently reversed. There seems no sufficient reason to doubt that the high priest of the Ithamar branch is here meant. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span> <span class="p"><br /><br /></span> </div></div></div><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center">The Pulpit Commentary, Electronic Database. 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