Annotations Upon the Historical Books Part 2, 1 Chronicles · Chapter 27
CHAP. XXVII.
Verſ. 1. NOw the children of Iſrael after their number, &c.] As in the former chapters is ſhown, how David diſtributed the Prieſts and Levites into twenty foure courſes, ſo here we are told how the Militia of the kingdome were alſo divided into twelve courſes, twenty foure thouſand in each courſe, who in their turns one monethmonth in the yeare, were ſtill in arms ready to be imployed in any ſervice for the State, as the king ſhould appoint them: by which means all the able men of the kingdome were ſtill trained up to be expert in the uſe of their arms, and there was alwayes a ſufficient number ready in arms, if on a ſudden there ſhould be any occaſion to make uſe of them: neither was it any great burthen to the people though for that monethmonth they bore their own charges, becauſe all the reſt of the yeare they were free to follow their own employments.
Verſ. 3. Of the children of Perez, was the chief of all the captains of the hoſt for the firſt monethmonth.] To wit, Jaſhobeam of whom in the former verſe, who was alſo chief of Davids Worthies. See chap. 11.11. It ſeems he was of the poſteritie of Perez or Pharez the ſonne of Judah, Gen, 46.12. and therefore he had the preheminence of being commander in chief over the firſt courſe, and it may be had ſome command over the captains in the other courſes.
Verſ. 4. And of his courſe was Mikloth alſo the ruler.] To wit, after the death of Dodai. Some underſtand that he was Dodai his Lieutenant; but why then is not the Lieutenant of every courſe and company likewiſe named? Rather therefore I conceive, that Mikloth was the captain of this courſe after Dodai, as is ſaid of Zebadiah, verſ. 7. that he was captain the fourth monethmonth after his father Aſahel was dead, who died in the beginning of Davids reigne.
Verſ. 5. The third captain of the hoſt for the third monethmonth, was Benaiah the ſonne of Jehoiadae a chief priest.] If the words be read as it is in the margin (the ſonne of Jehoiada a principall officer) there is no difficulty at all in them; but if we read them as in our text (the ſonne of Jehoiada a chief prieſt) by the ſonne of Jehoiada, muſt be meant the ſonne in law of Jehoiada: for it is not likely that the prieſts were in ordinary courſe captains and commanders of Davids bands of ſouldiers, though ſometimes indeed upon extraordinary occaſions it is evident that the prieſts did arm themſelves.
Verſ. 22. Theſe were the princes of the tribes of Iſrael.] That is, theſe were the heads of the tribes, who had chief power in the civil government. The Princes of Gad and Aſher are not here expreſſed, perhaps becauſe the Gadites and the Reubenites, or the half tribe of Manaſſeh without Jordan, had but one Prince over them both, and ſo likewiſe the children of Aſher might be joyned with ſome tribe that bordered upon them.
Verſ. 23. But David took not the number of them from twenty years old and under.] Having ſet down the Princes of the tribes, it might be expected that in the next place ſhould be ſet down the number of each tribe that were under theſe Princes: eſpecially becauſe the people had been ſo lately numbred by David. In anſwer whereto therefore this clauſe is inſerted, and two things concerning this are affirmed: Firſt, that David gave order to number onelyonly thoſe of twenty years old and upwards; and that becauſe the Lord had ſaid he would increaſe Iſrael like to the ſtarres of the heavens, and ſo David would not attempt to have them ſo numbred, to wit, becauſe he would not ſeem to queſtion the truth of that promiſe; and withall becauſe he did indeed think it would be an endleſſe and tedious work. And ſecondly, verſ. 24. Joab the ſonne of Zeruiah began to number, but finiſhed not, becauſe there fell wrath for it against Iſrael, to wit, becauſe the plague being begun, he ſaw the work was diſpleaſing to God, and ſo gave it over, chap. 21.6. But Levi and Benjamin counted he not: for the kings word was abominable to Joab.
Verſ. 24. Neither was the number put in the account of the Chronicles of king David.] To wit, both becauſe the work was not finiſhed, and becauſe their proceeding ſo farre in it, had brought ſo great wrath upon Iſrael.
Verſ. 32. And Jehiel the ſonne of Hachmoni was with the kings ſonnes.] That is, their tutour, one that was to ſee that they were in all things trained up and inſtructed as beſeemed the princes of Iſrael.
Verſ. 33. And Huſhai the Archite was the kings companion.] That is, his chief favourite, in whoſe company he moſt delighted.
Verſ. 34. And after Ahithophel, was Jehoiada the ſonne of Benaiah, and Abiathar.] That is, after Ahithophels death, Jehoiada and Abiathar were his chief counſellours.