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Easy-to-Read Version

1 Chronicles 27:1

This is the list of the Israelites who served the king in the army. Each group was on duty one month each year. There were rulers of families, captains, generals, and the court officers who served the king. Each army group had 24,000 men.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Armies;   Month;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Armies of Israel, the;   Time;   Years;  

Dictionaries:

- Easton Bible Dictionary - Host;   Month;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Army;   Ikkesh;   Netophah;   Taxes;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Dodai;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Chronicles, I;   David;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Abijah ;   Army;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - War;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Army;   Month;   Taxes;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Course;   Father;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Police Laws;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
This is the list of the Israelites, the family heads, the commanders of thousands and the commanders of hundreds, and their officers who served the king in every matter to do with the divisions that were on rotated military duty each month throughout the year. There were 24,000 in each division:
Hebrew Names Version
Now the children of Yisra'el after their number, [to wit], the heads of fathers' [houses] and the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and their officers who 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-four thousand.
King James Version
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.
English Standard Version
This is the number of the people of Israel, the heads of fathers' houses, the commanders of thousands and hundreds, and their officers who served the king in all matters concerning the divisions that came and went, month after month throughout the year, each division numbering 24,000:
New Century Version
This is the list of the Israelites who served the king in the army. Each division was on duty one month each year. There were leaders of families, commanders of a hundred men, commanders of a thousand men, and other officers. Each division had twenty-four thousand men.
New English Translation
What follows is a list of Israelite family leaders and commanders of units of a thousand and a hundred, as well as their officers who served the king in various matters. Each division was assigned to serve for one month during the year; each consisted of 24,000 men.
Amplified Bible
This is the list of the sons (descendants) of Israel, the heads of fathers' households, the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and their officers who served the king in all matters of the divisions which came in and went out month by month throughout the year, each division numbering 24,000:
New American Standard Bible
Now this is the number of the sons of Israel, the heads of fathers' households, the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and their officers who served the king in all the affairs of the divisions which came in and went out month by month throughout the months of the year, each division numbering twenty-four thousand:
World English Bible
Now the children of Israel after their number, [to wit], the heads of fathers' [houses] and the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and their officers who 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-four thousand.
Geneva Bible (1587)
The children of Israel also after their nomber, euen the chiefe fathers and captaines of thousandes and of hundreths, and their officers that serued the King by diuers courses, which came & in went out, moneth by moneth throughout al the moneths of the yeere: in euery course were foure and twentie thousand.
Legacy Standard Bible
Now this is the total count of the sons of Israel, the heads of fathers' households, the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and their officers who ministered to the king in each matter of the divisions which came in and went out month by month throughout all the months of the year, each division numbering 24,000:
Berean Standard Bible
This is the list of the Israelites, the heads of families, the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and their officers who served the king in every matter concerning the divisions that were on rotating military duty each month throughout the year. There were 24,000 men in each division:
Contemporary English Version
Each month a group of twenty-four thousand men served as soldiers in Israel's army. These men, which included the family leaders, army commanders, and officials of the king, were under the command of the following men, arranged by the month of their service:
Complete Jewish Bible
The people of Isra'el, registered according to their clan leaders, were drafted for army duty under captains of thousands and of hundreds, and officers serving the king, in divisions of 24,000 each, for month-long terms of duty covering all the months of the year.
Darby Translation
And [these] are the children of Israel after their number, the chief fathers and captains of thousands and hundreds, and their officers that served the king in every matter of the divisions, which came in and went out month by month throughout the months of the year; in every division were twenty-four thousand.
George Lamsa Translation
NOW the children of Israel after their number, the chiefs of the fathers and the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and their governors who served the king in all matters of the divisions, those who came in and went out month by month throughout all the months of the year under every division were twenty-four thousand.
Lexham English Bible
And as for the number of the Israelites, the heads of families, the commanders of thousands and hundreds, and their officials who serve the king in all matters of the working groups that came and went, month by month, throughout all the months of the year, each working group: twenty-four thousand.
Literal Translation
And the sons of Israel, according to their number, the heads of the fathers, and commanders of thousands and hundreds, and their scribes who served the king in every matter of the divisions which came in and went out month by month for allthe months of the year, the one division had twenty four thousand.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
The children of Israel acordinge to their nombre, were heades of the fathers, and ouer thousandes and ouer hundreds, & officers waytinge vpon the kynge, to go of & on after their course euery moneth one, in all ye monethes of ye yeare. Euery course had foure & twentye thousande.
American Standard Version
Now the children of Israel after their number, to wit, the heads of fathers' houses and the captains of thousands and of 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.
Bible in Basic English
Now the number of the children of Israel, that is, the heads of families, and the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and the men in authority who were servants of the king in anything to do with the divisions which came in and went out month by month through all the months of the year, in every division were twenty-four thousand.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
The children of Israel, after the number of them, ye auncient heads and captaynes of thousandes and hundredes, and their officers that serued the king by dyuers courses, which came in and went out moneth by moneth, throughout all the monethes of the yere: And in euery course were twentie and foure thouthousand.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Now the children of Israel after their number, to wit, the heads of fathers' houses and the captains of thousands and of 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.
King James Version (1611)
Nowe the children of Israel after their number, to wit, the chiefe fathers and captaines of thousands and hundreds, and their officers that serued the king in any matter of the courses, which came in, and went out moneth by moneth, throughout all the moneths of the yeare, of euery course were twentie and foure thousand.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
Now the sons of Israel according to their number, heads of families, captains of thousands and captains of hundreds, and scribes ministering to the king, and for every affair of the king according to their divisions, for every ordinance of coming in and going out monthly, for all the months of the year, one division of them was twenty-four thousand.
English Revised Version
Now the children of Israel after their number, [to wit], the heads of fathers’ [houses] and the captains of thousands and of 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.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Forsothe the sones of Israel bi her noumbre, the princes of meynees, the tribunes, and centuriouns, and prefectis, that mynystriden to the kyng bi her cumpenyes, entrynge and goynge out bi ech monethe in the yeer, weren souereyns, ech bi hym silf, on foure and twenti thousynde.
Update Bible Version
Now the sons of Israel after their number, [to wit], the heads of fathers' [houses] and the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and their officers that ministered to 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.
Webster's Bible Translation
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.
New King James Version
And the children of Israel, according to their number, the heads of fathers' houses, the captains of thousands and hundreds and their officers, served the king in every matter of the military divisions. These divisions came in and went out month by month throughout all the months of the year, each division having twenty-four thousand.
New Living Translation
This is the list of Israelite generals and captains, and their officers, who served the king by supervising the army divisions that were on duty each month of the year. Each division served for one month and had 24,000 troops.
New Life Bible
These were the sons of Israel, the heads of fathers' houses. They were the leaders of thousands and of hundreds. These were the captains who worked for the king in anything to do with the armies which came in and went out every month of the year. There were 24,000 men in each army.
New Revised Standard
This is the list of the people of Israel, the heads of families, the commanders of the thousands and the hundreds, and their officers who served the king in all matters concerning the divisions that came and went, month after month throughout the year, each division numbering twenty-four thousand:
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Now, the sons of Israel - as to the number of them, the ancestral chiefs - and rulers of thousands and hundreds, and their officers who waited upon the king as to any matter of the courses, who came in and went out month by month, for all the months of the year, in each course, were twenty-four thousand.
Douay-Rheims Bible
Now the children of Israel according to their number, the heads of families, captains of thousands and of hundreds, and officers, that served the king according to their companies, who came in and went out every month in the year, under every chief were four and twenty thousand.
Revised Standard Version
This is the list of the people of Israel, the heads of fathers' houses, the commanders of thousands and hundreds, and their officers who served the king in all matters concerning the divisions that came and went, month after month throughout the year, each division numbering twenty-four thousand:
Young's Literal Translation
And the sons of Israel, after their number, heads of the fathers, and princes of the thousands and of the hundreds, and their officers, those serving the king in any matter of the courses, that are coming in and going out month by month, throughout all months of the year -- [are] in each course twenty and four thousand.
THE MESSAGE
Here is the listing of the sons of Israel by family heads, commanders and captains, and other officers who served the king in everything military. Army divisions were on duty a month at a time for the twelve months of the year. Each division comprised 24,000 men.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Now this is the enumeration of the sons of Israel, the heads of fathers' households, the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and their officers who served the king in all the affairs of the divisions which came in and went out month by month throughout all the months of the year, each division numbering 24,000:

Contextual Overview

1 This is the list of the Israelites who served the king in the army. Each group was on duty one month each year. There were rulers of families, captains, generals, and the court officers who served the king. Each army group had 24,000 men. 2 Jashobeam son of Zabdiel was in charge of the first group for the first month. There were 24,000 men in Jashobeam's group. 3 Jashobeam, one of Perez's descendants, was leader of all the army officers for the first month. 4 Dodai, from the Ahoahites, was in charge of the army group for the second month. Mikloth was a leader in that group. There were 24,000 men in Dodai's group. 5 The third commander, for the third month, was Benaiah son of Jehoiada the leading priest. There were 24,000 men in Benaiah's group. 6 He was the same Benaiah who was a brave soldier from the Thirty Heroes. He led these men. His son Ammizabad was in charge of Banaiah's group. 7 The fourth commander, for the fourth month, was Asahel the brother of Joab. Later, Asahel's son Zebadiah took his place as commander. There were 24,000 men in Asahel's group. 8 The fifth commander, for the fifth month, was Shamhuth from Zerah's family. There were 24,000 men in Shamhuth's group. 9 The sixth commander, for the sixth month, was Ira son of Ikkesh from the town of Tekoa. There were 24,000 men in Ira's group. 10 The seventh commander, for the seventh month, was Helez from the Pelonites and a descendant of Ephraim. There were 24,000 men in Helez's group.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

the chief fathers: The patriarchs, chief generals, or generals of brigade. This enumeration is widely different from that of the preceding. In that, we have the order and course of the priests and Levites, in their ecclesiastical ministrations: in this, we have the account of the order of the civil service, what related simply to the political state of the king and kingdom. Twenty-four persons, chosen out of David's worthies, each of whom had a second, were placed over 24,000 men, who all served a month at a time, in turn; and this was the whole of their service during the year, after which they attended to their own affairs. Thus the king had always on foot a regular force of 24,000, who served without expense to him or the state, and were not oppressed by the service, which took up only a twelfth part of their time; and by this plan he could, at any time, bring into the field 12 times 24,000 or 288,000 fighting men, independently of the 12,000 officers, which made in the whole an effective force of 300,000 soldiers; and all these men were prepared, disciplined, and ready at a call, without the smallest expense to the state or the king. These were, properly speaking, the militia of the Israelitish kingdom.

captains: 1 Chronicles 13:1, Exodus 18:25, Deuteronomy 1:15, 1 Samuel 8:12, Micah 5:2

served: 1 Chronicles 28:1, 2 Chronicles 17:12-19, 2 Chronicles 26:11-13

any matter: 1 Kings 5:14

month: 1 Kings 4:7, 1 Kings 4:27

Reciprocal: Numbers 1:4 - General 1 Chronicles 7:2 - whose number 1 Chronicles 29:6 - the chief 2 Chronicles 1:2 - to the captains 2 Chronicles 25:5 - captains over thousands

Cross-References

Genesis 27:23
Isaac did not know it was Jacob, because his arms were hairy like Esau's. So Isaac blessed Jacob.
Genesis 27:25
Then Isaac said, "Bring me the food. I will eat it and bless you." So Jacob gave him the food, and he ate it. Then Jacob gave him some wine, and he drank it.
Genesis 48:10
Israel was old and his eyes were not good. So Joseph brought the boys close to his father. Israel kissed and hugged the boys.
1 Samuel 3:2
Eli's eyes were getting so weak that he was almost blind. One night he went to his room to go to bed.
Ecclesiastes 12:3
At that time your arms will lose their strength. Your legs will become weak and bent. Your teeth will fall out, and you will not be able to chew your food. Your eyes will not see clearly.
John 9:3
Jesus answered, "It was not any sin of this man or his parents that caused him to be blind. He was born blind so that he could be used to show what great things God can do.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Now the children of Israel after their number,.... Not the whole body of the people, but the militia of the nation; for after the account of the division of the priests and Levites into courses, follows an account of the militia of the nation, being divided also into monthly courses; which, though done in the beginning of David's reign, as Kimchi and Jarchi observe, yet is here related; and that it was so soon is clear from the instance of Asahel, who was killed while David was king in Hebron, 1 Chronicles 27:7 to wit,

the chief fathers; the chief men in the tribes, the princes of them, not the natural fathers of the soldiers in each course, as a learned man suggests i: since it can never be thought that such a number sprung from those as made a course of 24,000; for they are distinct from the captains and officers after mentioned, under which the soldiers were; besides, why should they be called "chief fathers?" these, no doubt, were the general officers or princes, under which the captains and inferior officers were:

and captains of thousands and hundreds; in the several tribes:

and their officers; that were under them:

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; by which it appears that the militia of the kingdom was divided into twelve courses, which served each month by turns; when one went out another came in; by which means the king was well supported and guarded, and had an army at once at command upon any insurrection or war that might arise; and each course serving but one month in a year, it was no great burden upon them, even if they maintained themselves, since they were at leisure, the other eleven months, to attend to their business; and especially if it was, as Jarchi observes, that not the poor but the rich were selected for this service:

of every course were twenty and four thousand; so that the twelve courses amounted to 288,000 men.

i Delaney's Life of King David, vol. 1. p. 319.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

This verse is a general heading to the list 1 Chronicles 27:2-15. The heading has been taken from some fuller and more elaborate description of David’s army, whereof the writer of Chronicles gives us only an abridgement. Omitting the captains of thousands, the captains of hundreds, and the officers (probably “scribes”) who served the king, he contents himself with recording the “chief fathers” or heads of the divisions 1 Chronicles 28:1, and the number of Iraelites in each course.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

CHAPTER XXVII

An account of the twelve captains who were over the monthly

course of twenty-four thousand men; each captain serving one

month in turn, 1.

The names of the twelve, and the months in which they served,

2-15.

The names of the rulers of the twelve tribes, 16-22.

The reasons why the whole number of Israel and Judah had not

been taken, 23, 24.

The persons who were over the king's property, treasures,

fields, flocks, c., 25-31.

His officers of state, 32-34.

NOTES ON CHAP. XXVII

Verse 1 Chronicles 27:1. The chief fathers and captains of thousands — The patriarchs, chief generals, or generals of brigade. This enumeration is widely different from the preceding. In that, we have the orders and courses of the priests and the Levites in their ecclesiastical ministrations in this, we have the account of the order of the civil service, that which related simply to the political state of the king and the kingdom. Twenty-four persons, chosen out of David's worthies, each of whom had a second, were placed over twenty-four thousand men, who all served a month in turn at a time; and this was the whole of their service during the year, after which they attended to their own affairs. Thus the king had always on foot a regular force of twenty-four thousand, who served without expense to him or the state, and were not oppressed by the service, which took up only a twelfth part of their time, and by this plan he could at any time, when the exigency of the state required it, bring into the field twelve times twenty-four thousand, or two hundred and eighty-eight thousand fighting men, independently of the twelve thousand officers, which made in the whole an effective force of three hundred thousand soldiers; and all these men were prepared, disciplined, and ready at a call, without the smallest expense to the state or the king. These were, properly speaking, the militia of the Israelitish kingdom. See Calmet.


 
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