1 Chronicles 27:1-15

How does the monthly military arrangement distribute royal service?

Berean Standard Bible

1 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 on rotating military duty each month throughout the year. There were 24,000 men in each division: 2 Jashobeam son of Zabdiel was in charge of the first division, which was assigned the first month. There were 24,000 men in his division. 3 He was a descendant of Perez and chief of all the army commanders for the first month. 4 Dodai the Ahohite was in charge of the division for the second month, and Mikloth was the leader. There were 24,000 men in his division. 5 The third army commander, as chief for the third month, was Benaiah son of Jehoiada the priest. There were 24,000 men in his division. 6 This Benaiah was mighty among the Thirty and was over the Thirty, and his son Ammizabad was in charge of his division. 7 The fourth, for the fourth month, was Joab’s brother Asahel, and his son Zebadiah was commander after him. There were 24,000 men in his division. 8 The fifth, for the fifth month, was the commander Shamhuth the Izrahite. There were 24,000 men in his division. 9 The sixth, for the sixth month, was Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite. There were 24,000 men in his division. 10 The seventh, for the seventh month, was Helez the Pelonite, an Ephraimite. There were 24,000 men in his division. 11 The eighth, for the eighth month, was Sibbecai the Hushathite, a Zerahite. There were 24,000 men in his division. 12 The ninth, for the ninth month, was Abiezer the Anathothite, a Benjamite. There were 24,000 men in his division. 13 The tenth, for the tenth month, was Maharai the Netophathite, a Zerahite. There were 24,000 men in his division. 14 The eleventh, for the eleventh month, was Benaiah the Pirathonite, an Ephraimite. There were 24,000 men in his division. 15 The twelfth, for the twelfth month, was Heldai the Netophathite, from the family of Othniel. There were 24,000 men in his division.

What is the context?

The record lists twelve divisions that serve the king in turn through the months of the year. Each is described as having twenty-four thousand men, with its commander named.

Several names connect with the warriors remembered earlier. The notice about Asahel also names his son Zebadiah as his successor, so the list includes succession rather than requiring every commander to hold office at precisely the same moment.

This is an account of organized service rather than a new battle narrative. The repetition makes the monthly structure clear without giving each division a separate story of victory.

How is this passage commonly understood?

Wesley understands the rotation as spreading the burden of military service. The USCCB note questions the literal scale of the repeated figures and reads the presentation as schematic. These are interpretive observations, not an independently verified roster; the BSB’s numbers should remain visible rather than being silently recalculated.

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