Chapter 27

The men of Israel were marshalled under clan chiefs and commanders and captains; the king had, besides, his commissioners, serving him at the head of their several regiments. Each of them, with twenty-four thousand men under him, went on duty once a year and was relieved at the end of a month.

The first regiment of twenty-four thousand was on duty in the first month, under Jesbaam son of Zabdiel;

he was descended from Phares, and he took the first month as having precedence among the commissioners.

The second regiment, in the second month, was under an Ahohite, Dudia, and afterwards under another called Macelloth.

The third regiment was under Banaias son of Joiada, the king’s minister,

the same Banaias that was a leader among the thirty, and had thirty under him; his son Amizabad commanded the regiment as his deputy.

The fourth was under Joab’s brother Asahel, and afterwards under his son Zabadias;

the fifth under Samaoth of Jezer;

the sixth under a man of Thecua, Hira son of Acces;

the seventh under the Phallonite Helles, from Ephraim;

the eighth under Sabochai the Husathite, of the race of Zarahi;

the ninth under Abiezer the man of Anathoth, from Benjamin;

the tenth under Marai the Netophathite, of the race of Zarai;

the eleventh under Banaias the Pharathonite, from Ephraim;

the twelfth under Holdai the Netophathite, of the race of Gothoniel.

Meanwhile the tribes had their own chiefs; Eliezer son of Zechri for Ruben, Saphatias son of Maacha for Simeon,

Hasabias son of Camuel for Levi, Sadoc for the race of Aaron,

Eliu, David’s brother, for Juda, Amri son of Michael for Issachar,

Jesmaias son of Abdias for Zabulon, Jerimoth son of Ozriel for Nephthali,

Osee son of Ozaziu for Ephraim, Joel son of Phadaia for western Manasses,

Jaddo son of Zacharias for Manasses in Galaad, Jasiel son of Abner for Benjamin,

and Ezrihel son of Jeroham for Dan; these were the chiefs of Israel.

There was no register giving the number of Israelites under twenty years of age; had not the Lord promised that they should be countless as the stars of heaven?

And indeed, when Joab son of Sarvia went about to register them, he left the task incomplete, because of the divine vengeance that fell on Israel; thus the annals of king David do not give the full number of those registered.

The controller of the king’s own treasure-house was Azmoth, son of Adiel; what was stored in cities, townships and fortresses was in the keeping of Jonathan, son of Ozias.

As for husbandry, the farmers were under Ezri son of Chelub,

the vine-growers under Semeias the Romathite, the cellarage under Zabdias the Aphonite,

the olive and fig plantations all through the country-side under Balanan of Geder, the store-houses of oil under Joas.

Care of the herds that grazed in Saron belonged to the Saronite Satrai, of the cattle in the low grounds, to Saphat son of Adli,

of the camels to the Ismahelite Ubil, of the asses to Jadias the Meronathite,

and of the sheep to Jaziz the Agarean. These were the controllers of the king’s property.

David had an uncle called Jonathan, a prudent counsellor and a man of letters; he, with Jahiel son of Hachamoni, had charge of the royal princes.

Achitophel was the king’s counsellor, and Chusai the Arachite held the title of king’s friend;

after Achitophel came Banaias’ son Joiada, and Abiathar. And the army was commanded by Joab.