1 CHRONICLES LESSON 30


     We will begin this lesson in I Chronicles 27:1 "Now the 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 courses, which came in and went out month by month
throughout all the months of the year, of every course [were] twenty
and four thousand."

     This has to do with the standing army of Israel. There were
24,000 on duty each month. It appears, there were twelve groups. Each
group contained 24,000. Each group served a month, and then were off
eleven months, unless there was an uprising.

     I Chronicles 27:2 "Over the first course for the first month
[was] Jashobeam the son of Zabdiel: and in his course [were] twenty
and four thousand." I Chronicles 27:3 "Of the children of Perez [was]
the chief of all the captains of the host for the first month."

     Jashobeam is mentioned in chapter 12 verse 11 as one of the three
mighties of David. His was the first group on duty in the service of
the king. Verse 3, above, says that he was of Perez, or Pharez who is
of Judah.

     I 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."

     Dodai is the same as Dodo. He was father of Eleazar, one of
David's three mighty men. He was of the tribe of Benjamin.

     I Chronicles 27:5 "The third captain of the host for the third
month [was] Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, a chief priest: and in his
course [were] twenty and four thousand." I Chronicles 27:6 "This [is
that] Benaiah, [who was] mighty [among] the thirty, and above the
thirty: and in his course [was] Ammizabad his son."

     Benaiah was of the Levitical tribe. He was a descendent of Aaron.
Jehoiada, his father, was chief priest. He was one of the three mighty
men of David. We must continue to notice that each family leader is
over his own 24,000 men. Ammizabad will later become David's captain
of host commanding the third month.

     I Chronicles 27:7 "The fourth [captain] for the fourth month
[was] Asahel the brother of Joab, and Zebadiah his son after him: and
in his course [were] twenty and four thousand."

     Zebadiah was of Judah. Asahel was killed by Abner, before this
office was given. Zebadiah was in place of his father. The father is
mentioned, probably, because the honor was his. What is, probably,
meant by Asahel is the family of Asahel.

     I Chronicles 27:8 "The fifth captain for the fifth month [was]
Shamhuth the Izrahite: and in his course [were] twenty and four
thousand."

     Shamhuth is the same as Shammoth the Harorite. This was, also, a
tribe of Judah.

     I Chronicles 27:9 "The sixth [captain] for the sixth month [was]
Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite: and in his course [were] twenty and
four thousand."

     Ira was of Tekoi which was of Judah. He was one of the 30 chosen
warriors of David. All of these appointments are happening about 1,000
B.C.

     I Chronicles 27:10 "The seventh [captain] for the seventh month
[was] Helez the Pelonite, of the children of Ephraim: and in his
course [were] twenty and four thousand."

     There is nothing more known of him. I might bring to your
attention, again, he is of the tribe of Ephraim.

     I Chronicles 27:11 "The eighth [captain] for the eighth month
[was] Sibbecai the Hushathite, of the Zarhites: and in his course
[were] twenty and four thousand."

     Sibbecai was of Judah. He is called Mebunnai in another
Scripture. He was from the prominent family, the Zarhites. He fought
with the Philistine giant Saph, or Sippia, and won.

     I Chronicles 27:12 "The ninth [captain] for the ninth month [was]
Abi-ezer the Anetothite, of the Benjamites: and in his course [were]
twenty and four thousand."

     Abiezer was a Benjamite. Anetothites were one family of the
Benjamites. It is very interesting to me that many of these leaders
come from Judah and Benjamin, which will later break off from the
twelve. It would be speculation to say that David already knew this
break would eventually come, and was preparing early. This had to be
providence of God.

     I Chronicles 27:13 "The tenth [captain] for the tenth month [was]
Maharai the Netophathite, of the Zarhites: and in his course [were]
twenty and four thousand."

     Maharai was one of David's mighty men. Netophah was a town very
near Bethlehem. In fact the two towns connected. The Zarhites, whom he
was one of, were well thought of.

     I Chronicles 27:14 "The eleventh [captain] for the eleventh month
[was] Benaiah the Pirathonite, of the children of Ephraim: and in his
course [were] twenty and four thousand."

     Benaiah was one of David's thirty mighty men. He was of the tribe
of Ephraim.
     I Chronicles 27:15 "The twelfth [captain] for the twelfth month
[was] Heldai the Netophathite, of Othniel: and in his course [were]
twenty and four thousand."

     Heldai was of Judah. Heldai is sometimes spelled Heled. Othniel
was the son in law of Caleb. Othniel was the first judge of Israel
after Joshua. The majority of the captains {seven} came from Judah.
There were two from Benjamin, two from Ephraim and one from Levi. Each
one of them was over twenty-four thousand men.

     I Chronicles 27:16  "Furthermore over the tribes of Israel: the
ruler of the Reubenites [was] Eliezer the son of Zichri: of the
Simeonites, Shephatiah the son of Maachah:" I Chronicles 27:17 "Of the
Levites, Hashabiah the son of Kemuel: of the Aaronites, Zadok:"
I Chronicles 27:18 "Of Judah, Elihu, [one] of the brethren of David:
of Issachar, Omri the son of Michael:"  I Chronicles 27:19 "Of
Zebulun, Ishmaiah the son of Obadiah: of Naphtali, Jerimoth the son of
Azriel:" I Chronicles 27:20 "Of the children of Ephraim, Hoshea the
son of Azaziah: of the half tribe of Manasseh, Joel the son of
Pedaiah:" I Chronicles 27:21 "Of the half [tribe] of Manasseh in
Gilead, Iddo the son of Zechariah: of Benjamin, Jaasiel the son of
Abner:" I Chronicles 27:22 "Of Dan, Azareel the son of Jeroham. These
[were] the princes of the tribes of Israel."

     We have already gone into detail about each of the people
mentioned in the verses above. The thrust, here, is the fact that they
were leaders in their respective tribes. Gad and Asher were the only
two tribes who were not mentioned in the list above. It appears, that
David is putting everything in perfect order for it to run smoothly,
even after his death, when his son, Solomon, would reign. Each tribe
had their own leader. We might take note that the Levites were
mentioned first. Zadok was a prominent priest.

     I Chronicles 27:23  "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."

     This is interesting why David did not count the men under twenty
years old. In most places, it speaks of numbering the men who were of
the age to go to war. This tells us that David's census was not for
the purpose of war. David believed God would keep the promise to make
the Israelites beyond numbering.

     I Chronicles 27:24 "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."

     Joab did not want to number the people. He actually quit before
the counting was over. God was very angry about this numbering. David
would not have these numbers recorded, because it was displeasing to
God.

     I Chronicles 27:25  "And over the king's treasures [was] Azmaveth
the son of Adiel: and over the storehouses in the fields, in the
cities, and in the villages, and in the castles, [was] Jehonathan the
son of Uzziah:"

     Azmaveth was over the treasuries of Jerusalem. This consisted of
silver and gold, but it, also, spoke of their wealth in grain.
Jonathan was helper to Azmaveth.

     I Chronicles 27:26 "And over them that did the work of the field
for tillage of the ground [was] Ezri the son of Chelub:"

     Ezri was the supervisor of the work in the field.

     I Chronicles 27:27 "And over the vineyards [was] Shimei the
Ramathite: over the increase of the vineyards for the wine cellars
[was] Zabdi the Shiphmite:"

     The vineyards were a great source of wealth in their land. This
is speaking of the officer in charge of the vineyards and the wine
cellars.

     I Chronicles 27:28 "And over the olive trees and the sycomore
trees that [were] in the low plains [was] Baal-hanan the Gederite: and
over the cellars of oil [was] Joash:"

     Olive trees live for thousands of years, and were a great source
of revenue for the Israelites. You can easily see the importance of
the olive trees and sycamore trees, when we see that Joash {someone
David put great confidence in} was in charge.

     I 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 of Adlai:"

     We can easily see the importance that David placed on each
service. He was making sure that everything in his kingdom, of
importance, had someone to be over it that he could trust. The
valleys, spoken of here, were west of the Jordan. They had tremendous
herds of sheep.

     I Chronicles 27:30 "Over the camels also [was] Obil the
Ishmaelite: and over the asses [was] Jehdeiah the Meronothite:"

     Obil was a descendent of Ishmael. The word "Obil" means tender of
camels. The king and his sons rode on asses.

     I Chronicles 27:31 "And over the flocks [was] Jaziz the Hagerite.
All these [were] the rulers of the substance which [was] king
David's."

     The Hagarites were descended from Hagar, the mother of Ishmael.
The substance, spoken of here, had to do with the things that made
David great. God blessed Israel greatly at that time. There were no
shortages of substance.
     I Chronicles 27:32 "Also Jonathan David's uncle was a counsellor,
a wise man, and a scribe: and Jehiel the son of Hachmoni [was] with
the king's sons:"

     Jonathan was held in high esteem by David. He was David's
personal counsellor. He worked in the presence of David. He was a
scribe, as well as counsellor. He attended all the special events with
David.  This, Jehiel, was tutor to David's sons. One of them would be
king someday. It was his job to see that they were trained and ready.

     I Chronicles 27:33 "And Ahithophel [was] the king's counsellor:
and Hushai the Archite [was] the king's companion:"

     A wise king would have more than one counsellor. David was no
exception to this. Ahithophel was a counsellor along with Jonathan,
David's relative. Hushai was friend and confidant of David. Even
though he was good friend to David, he helped Absalom try to overthrow
David.

     I Chronicles 27:34 "And after Ahithophel [was] Jehoiada the son
of Benaiah, and Abiathar: and the general of the king's army [was]
Joab."

     This just shows the succession from Ahithophel. Jehoiada took the
place of Ahithophel. Abiathar is speaking of the high priest, most
probably. Joab was David's commander in chief. Verses 32, 33, and 34
contain the names of the men in closest contact with David. They were
his key people in his cabinet.


























                      1 Chronicles 30 Questions


1.  What group is verse 1 speaking of?
2.  How long did each group serve at one time?
3.  Jashobeam is one of David's ____________,
4.  Perez is the same as __________.
5.  Dodai is the same as ______.
6.  He was the father of ____________.
7.  Benaiah was of the ____________ tribe.
8.  He was a descendent of _________.
9.  His father, ___________, was high priest.
10. Asahel was killed by _________.
11. Ira was one of _________ chosen warriors of David.
12. Helez was from what tribe?
13. Sibbecai was of the tribe of _________.
14. What was he remembered for?
15. What does the author find to be interesting about where these
    leaders came from?
16. How many men did each of these leaders have?
17. Othniel was the son-in-law of whom?
18. Othniel was the first _________ of Israel after Joshua?
19. How many of the leaders of the troops are from Judah?
20. Why had David not numbered those under 20?
21. Who led the numbering for David?
22. Why did he not finish numbering?
23. What was Azmaveth over?
24. Why were the vineyards important to watch over?
25. How long do olive trees live?
26. What does "Obil" mean?
27. Who were the Hagarites descended from?
28. Who was David's counsellor?
29. Who was tutor to David's sons?
30. Who was another of David's counsellors?
31. Abiathar is speaking of the _______ _______.