1 Chronicles 27

employed both in peace and in war, as our learned Nic. Fuller observes, in his Miscellanies, lib. ii. cap. 20. As for the business of the king, some think, it was tho gathering his tribute, or perhaps publishing his orders and commands, and the like. (See Grotius, do Juro Sum. Pot. circa Sacra, p. 390.) And in his course were twenty and four thousand. Veiv6\ TJiis is that Benaiah, who tvas mighty among the thirty, and above the thirty.] He was one of David’s worthies, who had done such mighty acts, that this Divine writer did not think fit here to mention him, without a mark of honour set upon him. (See 2 Sam. xxiii. 20. 23.) And in his course tvas Ammizabad his son.’] He was his deputy, when his father could not attend this duty himself; having another office of great dignity, wherein he served as captain of the Cherethites and Pelethites, (2 Sam.‘viii. IS.) Of whom, I observed before, we never read after the time of David: but it is likely were kept up while they lived, though there was no need of them, after these Courses were settled. Vcr. 7. The fourth captain, for the fourth month, was Asahel the brother of Joab.] This confirms Pellicanus’s opinion, that David instituted these courses in the beginning of his reign: for Asahel was killed while David reigned in Hebron, before he was king over all Israel, and settled at Jerusalem. He also was one of David’s worthies, (2 Sam. xxiii. 24.) And Zebadiahhis son after him.’] He had the honour to succeed his father in this great command, when he was slain. The sixth captain, for the sixth month, teas Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite,&c] He is mentioned among the thirty mighty men in 2 Sam. xxiii. 20. and in this book, xi.28. Vcr. 10. The seventh captain, for the seventh month, teas Helez the Pelonite, of the children of Ephraim, &c] He is called the Paltite in 2 Sam. xxiii. 2G. and, for the honour of that tribe, he is said here to be of the children of Ephraim. • Vcr. 11. The eighth captain, for the eighth month, was Sibbecai the Hushathite of the Zarkites, &c] One of that family that was eminent in the tribe of Judah descended from Caleb, (ii. 53.) He slew one of the sons of the giant, in a battle with the Philistines, (2 Sam. xxi. IS.) 5S8 A COMMENTARY UPON [chap. xxvir. Because there fell wrath for it against Israel.’] This seems to import, that before Joab had finished his account the plague began; which put a stop to his proceedings. Neither was the number put in the account of the Chroni* clcsof king David.] An account of the number as far as he went, was givfcn by Joab to the king: but the king being sensible of his error, would not havo it recorded in the public registers of the kingdom, as other things of daily occurrence were. Yet the memory of it is preserved in these holy books, to teach all posterity not to put their trust in the arm of flesh. Ver. 2o. And over the king’s treasures was Azmaveth the son ofAdiel: and over the storehouses in the fields, in the cities, and in the villages, and in the castles, was Jehonathan the son of Uzziah.] The former of these was the principal officer in the exchequer, as wo now speak, who received the king’s money from the under-officers, and was accountable for it; and lived at Jerusalem, where he issued it out, according to the king’s orders. But there was another in the country out of Jerusalem, who received the tribute of all kinds, which the people were to pay him: which he laid up in storehouses, that were built in several places for that purpose.

1 Chronicles 27:1

jy OWthe children of Israel after their number, to wit, the chief fathers and captains of thousands and hundreds, and their officers, that served the king in any matter of the courseSyWhicli came in andwent out monthly month throughout all the months of the year, of every course were twenty and four thousand.] After the settlement of ecclesiastical affairs, here is an account given how the militia, as wo may call it, of tho kingdom was settled in such order, that it might be serviceable. They were distributed into twelve legions, consisting each of twenty-four thousand men; avIio were commanded by one of the chief of the fathers: under whom there were captains of thousands, such. as we now callcolonels, which were twenty-four in every legion, commanding a thousand men. And. then centurions under them, or captains of hundreds; and under them inferior officers. Each of these generals attended, with the legions, one month, for the security of the king and kingdom: at the end of which they, marched off, and another legion, with their general, succeeded; So that their course came but once in a year/ for one month, which made it no considerable burden to them: there being so many valiant men then in the nation, that without much damage such a number might be in arms, for so short a season. Pellicanus thinks, this order was instituted in tlie beginning of David’s reign, but was interrupted by many wars he had abroad; and not rencAvcd till his last years, when he established it again, and left his kingdom to Solomon thus governed. Sec Bertram, de Rcpub. Jud. p. 133. who observes, that after this Ave never read of. the Chcrethitcs and Pelethites; these troops being settled in their room.

1 Chronicles 27:2

Over the first course, for the first month, was Jashobeam the son ofZabdiel: and in his course were twenty and four thousand. Now he sets down the names of the chief commander of every legion: and Jashobcam seems to have been the first of his mighty men, mentioned xi. 11. 2 Sam. xxiii. S.

1 Chronicles 27:3

Of the children of Perez was the chief of all the captains of the host for the first month. The forenamed Jashobcam was of the children of Pharez, the son of Judah: which tribe had the honour to have the first chief commander chosen out of it. -

1 Chronicles 27:4

And over the course of the second month was Dodai an Ahohite, and of his course was Mikloth also the ruler: in his course likewise were twenty and four thousand. This Dodo (as he is called in 2 Sam. xxiii. 9.) was another of David’s mighty men: who had for his lieutenant (when he was absent) Mikloth; who, we may suppose, is therefore here mentioned, because he was a person of great eminence, and had some considerable command in this course. *

1 Chronicles 27:5

The third captain of the host, for the third month, tvas Benaiah the son ofJehoiada, a chief priest. Or rather, a chief prince, as the Hebrew word cohen often signifies: (See upon 2 Sam. viii. 18. xx. 2G.) for it is certain, neither Benaiah nor his father was high-priest, or second priest; but Abiathar and Zadok were in those offices.

1 Chronicles 27:8

The fifth captain, for the fifth month, was Shamliuth the Izrahite, &c. It is very probable, that this was that valiant man called Shammah, 2Saim.xxiii.il. and Shammath in this book, xi. 27.

1 Chronicles 27:10

Furthermore, over the tribes of Israel. Besides the twelve great captains beforcmentioned, who commanded, each of them, twenty and fouT thousand men; every tribe had a ruler, (who are called the princes of the tribes of Israel, ver. 22.) who had the chief authority anibng them, under the king. The ruler of the Reubenites was Eliezer the son ofZichri: of the Simeonites; Shephatidh the son of Maachah.] He reckons up the tribes in order according to their birthright, by Leah.

1 Chronicles 27:12

The ninth captain, for the ninth month, tvas A biezer the Anetothite, of the Benjamites. He also is mentioned among the thirty mighty men in 2 Sam. xxiii. 27.

1 Chronicles 27:13

The tenth captain, for the tenth month, tvas Maharai the Netophathite, of the Zarhites, Sec. One -of the same mighty men, (2 Sam. xxiii. 28.)

1 Chronicles 27:14

TJie eleventh captain, for the eleventh month, tvas Benaiah the Pirathonite, of the children of Ephraim. Who is also there mentioned, ver. 30. but here it is added of what tribe he was. Vcr. 15. The twelfth captain, for the twelfth month, was Heldai the Netophathite, of Othniel,&c] He is called Hcled in this book, chap. xi. 30. and Heleb in 2 Sara, xxiii. 29.

1 Chronicles 27:17

Of the Levites; Hashabiah the son ofKemuel. He is mentioned before, (xxvi. 30.) 1 OftheAaronites; Zadok.] They were not a distinct tribe, but of a distinct order, from the rest of the Levites: and therefore had a peculiar chief to preside over them, viz. Zadok. Who (as Bertram thinks) had the chief authority at the tabernacle in Gibeon, as Abiatharhad at Jerusalem, where the ark was. Ver.. 18. Of Judah; Elihu, one of the brethren of David.] Called Eliab in 1 Sam. xvi. 6. Of Issachar; Omri the son of Michael.] He was the fifth son of Leah, and therefore is reckoned next to Judah, who was the fourth, (Gen. xxx. 17, 18.)

1 Chronicles 27:19

Of Zebnlun; Ishmaiah the son ofObddialu. He wais the next son of Leah, (Gen xxx. 20.) OfNaphtali; Jerirnoth the son of Azriel.] Though Dan was the first-born of Bilhah, (Gen. xxx. G.) yet that tribe is put last, and Naphtali, who was the next son, put before him. For what reason we cannot tell.

1 Chronicles 27:20

Of the children of Ephraim; Hosliea the son of Azaziah: of the half tribe of Manasseh; Joel the son ofPedaiah. This is meant of that half tribe, which had its portion on this side Jordan, near to Ephraim.

1 Chronicles 27:21

OfthehalfiribeofManassehinGilead. On the oth6r side Jordan, where the Reubenites and Gadites were. Iddo the son of Zechariah.] It doth not appear of what family he was, but it is likely’one of that tribe. Of Benjamin; Jaasiel the son ofAbner.] It seems the family of Abner, who was the greatest man in the kingdom of Israel, continued in high authority after his death.

1 Chronicles 27:22

Of Dan; Azareel the son of Jerohdm. Tliese were the princes of the tribes of Israel. That is, of those tribes beforementioned. But Gad and Asher are omitted, of which we can give no certain account: perhaps they were under the government of the ruler of some neighbouring tribe. For Asher, dwelling in very narrow bounds between Naphtali and Zcbulun, might be under the command of him that governed either of them: and Gad, some think, was comprehended under the Reubenites.

1 Chronicles 27:23

But David took not the nnmb&r of’them. That Is, of Israel, whom he had spoken of before. * From twenty.years old and under.] But only of those who were above the age of twenty years. Because the Lord had said he would increase Israel like to the stars of the heavens.] This was the reason, “Pellicanus thinks, that God was so angry with David for numbering the people: which he had promised should’-be so many, that they should not be numbered. Which promise God would have to be believed, without attempting to prove the truth of it. But these words seem to me to confute that opinion: for they rather signify, that David forbore to number all the people, because he would not question that promise, and contented himself with an account of those that were fit to go to war, xxi. 4. (See my notes upon 2 Sam. xxiv. 10.)

1 Chronicles 27:24

Joab the son of Zemiah began to number, but he finished not. For he did not number those of Levi and Benjamin; as we *cad before in this book, chap. xxi. G.

1 Chronicles 27:26

And over them that did the work of the field, for tillage of the ground, wasEzri the son of Chelub. Besides the tribute paid by the people of corn, wine, oil, &c. the king had land of his own; where he kept servants to till the ground. And this person was set over them, to see they were not idle, and that they were honest in gathering the fruits of the earth, and sending them to the storehouses.

1 Chronicles 27:27

And over the vineyards was Shimei the Ramathite.~. He looked after the vine-dressers. Over the increase of the vineyards for the wine-cellars was Zabdi the Shiphmite.] His office was to sec the wine pressed, out of the, grapes, and carried into the cellars; where it was laid up.

1 Chronicles 27:28

And over the olive-trees, and the sycamore-trees that were in the tow plains, was Baal-hanan the Gederite. This shews that David was a great husband, as we speak, and had ground proper for all sort of fruits; which was managed by his own servants. For, as I have often observed, the greatest men in those times studied the improvement of their ground, of what sort soever it was. And over the cellars of oil was Joash.] It appears, from many places, that a great part of their revenue lay in oil: which required great care, as wine did, in the looking after it.

1 Chronicles 27:29

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 ofAdlai. He had great store of cattle also in his pastures, particularly in Sharon, which was a place noted for its fruitfulness, as we read in the prophet Isaiah, chap, xxxiii. 9. xxxv. 2. And so St. Jerome testifies, " Omnis rcgio Saron,” &c. all the region of Saron, about Lydda, Joppa,and Jamnia, was apt for feeding of flocks. (Sec Isa. lxv. 10.) There was another Sharon besides this near the Mediterranean, which was in the cast beyond Jordan (as I observed upon chap. v. 1G. of this book), where the Gadites inhabited, who abounded in cattle; and therefore were planted by Moses in this region, and in Bashan, which was another rich country for pasture. (See I/Empereur, upon Bava-kama.) And therefore here David, it is likely, bred a gwat many cattle, both in the mountains and in the valleys; and had particular officers to look after them, they being very many. For here, as he observes out of Maimonides, there were great numbers of calves bred, which women had the care of, and were brought from hence to other places to be sold.

1 Chronicles 27:30

Over the camels also was Obil the Ishmaelite. An Ishmaelite was the fittest person t6 look after the breed of camels, because that country abounded with them, and they best understood their nature. And this person seems to have had his name from his office. For as ibil, in Arabic, signifies a camel, so abal, and abil, a keeper of camels: as Bochart notes in his Hierozoicon, par. i. lib. ii. cap. 2. And over the asses teas Jehdeiah the Meronothite.] This was a great part of men’s riches in old times; for we find Ana feeding his father’s asses in Gen. xxxvi. 24. In which book we find them reckoned among the wealth of the ancient patriarchs: and the Israelites took no less than threescore and one thousand of them from the Midianites, Numb. xxxi. 34. And in this book we read of two thousand taken from the Hagarites, (chap. v. 21.) And when the Jews returned out of the captivity of Babylon, they were become so rich, that they brought away with them six thousand seven hundred and twenty asses; as Nchemiah relates, chap. vii. 69.

1 Chronicles 27:31

Among the Ilebronites ivas Jerijah the chief, even among the Ilebronites, according to the generations of their fathers. He was the principal person among the sons of Hebron, as we find before, xxiii. 19. In’the fortieth year of the reign of king David, they were sought for, and there were found among them mighty men of valour at Jazer of Gilead.] In the last year of king David’s reign, not only these things mentioned in this chapter were established, but all the other ordinances which we read of in the foregoing, as the Hebrew commentators observe. And his care extended itself to the utmost parts of his dominion, where he sought for men fit to be put into these offices, on tho other sido of Jordan: and found many persons of great courage at Jazcr in Gilead, and the territory belonging to it; among whom Jerijah was the chief: Jazer was a city given to the children of Merari, (Josh. xxi. 39.) And over the flocks was Jaziz the Hagarite. All these.were the rulers of the substance which was king David’s.] The flocks of sheep, no doubt, were very numerous; but among all the flocks and herds there is no mention made of swine, as Bochartus observes". Nor had the patriarchs any that we read of, when mention is made of their possessions. Nor had Job any in Arabia, though he had a vast number of other cattle. Nor did the Israelites ever take any of these as spoil from their enemies. And therefore Gadara, where swine were kept in Judea (as we read in the gospel), was a Greek city, not a Jewish, as Josephus tells us. (See Hierozoicon* par. i. lib. i. cap. 51.)

1 Chronicles 27:32

And his brethren, men of valour, were two thousand seven hundred chief fathers, whom David made rulers over the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh. This was a great number to be employed in so small a country; when on the other side of Jordan (besides those under Chenaniah) there were but one thousand and seven hundred. But the reason was, that they lived a great way from Jerusalem, and therefore needed more to inspect, and admonish them of their duty, lest they should forget their relation to the temple, or grow sluggish in the worship of God, or embrace the religion of their neighbours, as Pcllicanus observes. For every matter pertaining to God, and affairs of the king.] It was the more necessary, there should be such a numbeT of officers among them, to keep them in their obedience to the king, as well as in their duty to God. For there was danger of their desertion from their, sovereign, who lived at a great distance, and was separated from them by the river Jordan. And nothing could be more pernicious, as he likewise observes, than the rending of the kingdom, and neglect of the Divine service. From these words it appears very plainly, as Johannes Vorstius notes, (in his dissertation de Synedriis Hcbraeorum, sect. 3G.) that the same persons took care of the things or causes pertaining to God, and those concerning the king. For nothing hindered that one and the same college of judges might judge both kind of things, whether spiritual, as we distinguish, or, civil. And he thinks, no interpretation of the things’ of God, and the things of the king, is so probable, as. that which I have given before: that by the things of God, are meant such things as might be judged by the Divine law; and tho things of the king, such as could not be determined by the laAV, but were left to the judgment of the king. Who could not abrogate theancicnt laws, being bound to study the book of the law^ all the days of his life, (Dcut.xvii.) and judge according to it. But all things being hot there defined, or not so clearly and plainly that they could be determined by those laws, the king, or those whom he entrusted in his stead, gave sentence in such matters and could make new laws, provided they did not contradict tho old. Also Jonathan, David’s %incle, was a counsellor, a wise man, and a scribe.] He was one of the privy-council; being a man of great wisdom, and also skilful in the law: for so the word sopher (which we render scribe) signifies. A very learned author thinks it signifies a secretary of state, or rather a chancellor. And Jehiel the son ofHachmoni was with the king’s sons.] He also, no doubt, was a man of great understanding, being a tutor, as we speak, or governor to the king’s sons.

1 Chronicles 27:33

And Ahithophel was the king’s counsellor: and Hushai the Archite was the king’s companion. Ahithophel seems to have been president of the council: but Hushai was his favourite (being called David’s friend), in whose company he most delighted, and whom he trusted with his greatest secrets.

1 Chronicles 27:34

And after Ahithophel was Jehoiada the son of Benaiah, and Abiathar. After Ahithophel had made away himself, these two were the principal counsellors; as Kimchi and other Jewish doctors understand these words. But others think the meaning is, that next to him these two were accounted the ablest men that David advised withal: but o/- tcr him, for he was esteemed the man of greatest prudence. And the general of the king’s army was Joab.] The Targum hath a strange exposition of this verse, which is this: When there was war to be made, they consulted Ahitho-