1 Chronicles 27: The monthly divisions, the tribal leaders and the king's officers

In plain English: Now the sons of Israel, by their number: the heads of the fathers' households, the captains of thousands and hundreds, and their officers who served the king in every matter of the divisions that came in and went out month by month through all the months of the year. Each division was twenty-four thousand.

In plain English: Over the first division, for the first month, was Jashobeam the son of Zabdiel. In his division were twenty-four thousand.

Good to know: 1 Chronicles 11:11 names Jashobeam as "the son of a Hachmonite, the chief of the thirty". Here he is the son of Zabdiel and is over the first division, and verse 3 says he was "of the sons of Perez". The text does not explain how these fit.

In plain English: He was of the sons of Perez, and the chief of all the captains of the army for the first month.

In plain English: Over the division of the second month was Dodai the Ahohite, with his division, and Mikloth was the leader. In his division were twenty-four thousand.

In plain English: The third captain of the army, for the third month, was Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada the chief priest (or: the priest, a chief; the Hebrew puts "chief" after "priest"). In his division were twenty-four thousand.

In plain English: This is the Benaiah who was a mighty man of the thirty and over the thirty. Of his division was Ammizabad his son (the Hebrew says just "his division, Ammizabad his son", so: Ammizabad was over it, or in it).

In plain English: The fourth, for the fourth month, was Asahel the brother of Joab, and his son Zebadiah after him. In his division were twenty-four thousand.

Good to know: 2 Samuel 2:23 says Asahel fell and died, struck by Abner. This verse names Asahel as the captain of the fourth division and his son Zebadiah "after him". The text does not explain how the two fit together.

In plain English: The fifth, for the fifth month, was the captain Shamhuth the Izrahite. In his division were twenty-four thousand.

In plain English: The sixth, for the sixth month, was Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite. In his division were twenty-four thousand.

In plain English: The seventh, for the seventh month, was Helez the Pelonite, of the sons of Ephraim. In his division were twenty-four thousand.

In plain English: The eighth, for the eighth month, was Sibbecai the Hushathite, of the Zerahites. In his division were twenty-four thousand.

In plain English: The ninth, for the ninth month, was Abiezer the Anathothite, of the Benjamites. In his division were twenty-four thousand.

In plain English: The tenth, for the tenth month, was Maharai the Netophathite, of the Zerahites. In his division were twenty-four thousand.

In plain English: The eleventh, for the eleventh month, was Benaiah the Pirathonite, of the sons of Ephraim. In his division were twenty-four thousand.

In plain English: The twelfth, for the twelfth month, was Heldai the Netophathite, of Othniel. In his division were twenty-four thousand.

In plain English: Over the tribes of Israel: for the Reubenites, Eliezer the son of Zichri was the chief; for the Simeonites, Shephatiah the son of Maacah;

In plain English: for Levi, Hashabiah the son of Kemuel; for Aaron, Zadok;

In plain English: for Judah, Elihu, one of David's brothers; for Issachar, Omri the son of Michael;

In plain English: for Zebulun, Ishmaiah the son of Obadiah; for Naphtali, Jeremoth the son of Azriel;

In plain English: for the sons of Ephraim, Hoshea the son of Azaziah; for the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joel the son of Pedaiah;

In plain English: for the half-tribe of Manasseh in Gilead, Iddo the son of Zechariah; for Benjamin, Jaasiel the son of Abner;

In plain English: for Dan, Azarel the son of Jeroham. These were the captains of the tribes of Israel.

In plain English: David did not take the number of those twenty years old and under, because Yahweh had said he would make Israel many, like the stars of the sky.

Good to know: Verse 24 tells of a count that Joab began. Chapter 21 tells of David's census: 21:6 says Joab did not count Levi and Benjamin, and 21:7 says "God was displeased with this thing; therefore he struck Israel". Verse 24 does not name that census. Here the text gives Yahweh's earlier word as the reason David did not count those under twenty, and says the number was not put into "the chronicles of King David", word for word "the words of the days".

In plain English: Joab the son of Zeruiah began to count, but he did not finish. Wrath came on Israel for this, and the number was not put into the account in the chronicles (literally: the words of the days) of King David.

In plain English: Over the king's treasuries was Azmaveth the son of Adiel. Over the treasuries in the fields, the cities, the villages and the towers was Jonathan the son of Uzziah.

In plain English: Over those who did the work of the field, tilling the ground, was Ezri the son of Chelub.

In plain English: Over the vineyards was Shimei the Ramathite. Over what the vineyards produced, for the wine cellars (literally: the storehouses of wine), was Zabdi the Shiphmite.

In plain English: Over the olive trees and the sycamore trees in the lowland (Hebrew: the Shephelah) was Baal Hanan the Gederite. Over the stores of oil was Joash.

In plain English: Over the herds that grazed in Sharon was Shitrai the Sharonite. Over the herds in the valleys was Shaphat the son of Adlai.

In plain English: Over the camels was Obil the Ishmaelite. Over the donkeys was Jehdeiah the Meronothite. Over the flocks was Jaziz the Hagrite.

In plain English: All these were the officers over King David's property.

In plain English: Jonathan, David's uncle, was a counselor, a man of understanding, and a scribe. Jehiel the son of Hachmoni was with the king's sons.

In plain English: Ahithophel was the king's counselor. Hushai the Archite was the king's friend.

The Hebrew word: "Friend" is re'a, which the dictionary gives as "an associate (more or less close)". 2 Samuel 15:37 also calls Hushai "David's friend", but with a different word, re'eh, which the dictionary gives as "a (male) companion".

In plain English: After Ahithophel came Jehoiada the son of Benaiah, and Abiathar. Joab was the commander of the king's army.