SERIES K --- ISRAEL’S GOLDEN AGE --- LESSON 21

A STANDING ARMY

THE NATION’S LEADERS

From 1 Chronicles 27

King David reorganized the army, dividing it into twelve divisions, each one serving a month of active duty each year. There were twenty-four thousand men in each division, including the officers. The twelve divisions are listed here, with the commander for each and the month in which that division had active duty:

1 -- First month; Jashobeam, son of Zabdiel, descendant of Perez.
2 -- Second month; Dodai, a descendant of Ahohi. His chief officer was Mikloth.
3 -- Third month; Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, a high priest. He was leader of The Thirty, the greatest of David’s warriors. His son Ammizabad succeeded him.
4 -- Fourth month; Asahel, Joab’s brother. His son Zebadiah succeeded him.
5 -- Fifth month; Shamhuth from Izrah.
6 -- Sixth month; Ira, son of Ikkesh from Tekoa.
7 -- Seventh month; Helez from Pelona in the territory of Ephraim.
8 -- Eighth month; Sibbecai from the Hushite family, which was part of the larger family of Zerah.
9 -- Ninth month; Abiezer from Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin.
10 -- Tenth month; Maharai from Netophah in Zerah.
11 -- Eleventh month; Benaiah from Pirathon in the territory of Ephraim.
12 -- Twelfth month; Heldai from Netophah in the region of Othniel.

Here is a list of the tribal leaders at this time:

1 -- Tribe of Reuben; Eliezer the son of Zichri.
2 -- Tribe of Simeon; Shephatiah the son of Maachah.
3 -- Tribe of Levi; Hashabiah the son of Kemuel. Aaron’s descendants within this tribe; Zadok.
4 -- Tribe of Judah; Elihu, King David’s brother.
5 -- Tribe of Issachar; Omri the son of Michael.
6 -- Tribe of Zebulun; Ishmaiah the son of Obadiah.
7 -- Tribe of Naphtali; Jerimoth the son of Azriel.
8 -- Tribe of Ephraim; Hoshea the son of Azaziah.
9 -- Half tribe of Manasseh in Gilead; Iddo the son of Zechariah.
10 -- The other half tribe of Manasseh; Joel the son of Pedaiah.
11 -- Tribe of Benjamin; Jaasiel the son of Abner.
12. Tribe of Dan; Azareel the son of Jeroham.

In his census, King David did not include anyone under twenty years of age, for Adonai had said He would multiply Israel like the stars of heaven. Joab did not finish the census he started, for YHVH in His anger sent a plague against Israel and the census totals were never entered in King David’s records.

Here is a list of some other leaders in Israel at that time and their responsibilities:

1 -- Azmaveth the son of Adiel; in charge of the king’s treasures.
2 -- Jonathan the son of Uzziah; in charge of the storehouses in the villages, cities and fortresses.
3 -- Ezri the son of Chelub; in charge of the farm labourers on the king’s land.
4 -- Shimei from Ramath; in charge of the king’s vineyards.
5 -- Zabdi from Shiphma; in charge of the king’s wine making and storage.
6 -- Baal-hanan from Gedera; in charge of the king’s olive groves and sycamore fig trees which were in the low plains area.
7 -- Joash; in charge of the olive oil.
8 -- Shitrai from Sharon; in charge of the herds in the Plain of Sharon.
9 -- Shaphat the son of Adlai; in charge of the herds in the valleys.
10 -- Obil from the territory of Ishmael; in charge of the camels.
11 -- Jehdeiah from Meronoth; in charge of the donkeys.
12 -- Jaziz the Hagrite; in charge of the sheep.
13 -- Jonathan, King David’s uncle; a wise counsellor and a scribe. He was the personal attendant of King David’s sons.
14 -- Ahithophel; the king’s counsellor.
15 -- Hushai the Archite; the king’s personal adviser.
16 -- Jehoiada the son of Benaiah; Ahithophel’s helper.
17 -- Abiathar; Ahithophel’s helper.
18 -- Joab; commander-in-chief of the army.

COMMENTARY

HOW DAVID’S ARMY WAS ORGANIZED

During peacetime, rotating divisions of twenty-four thousand men would be on military duty each month. In all of David’s kingdom, duties were carefully defined and strong leaders chosen. David’s army, headed by Joab, numbered two hundred eighty-eight thousand, and was divided into twelve regiments of twenty-four thousand. Each regiment was on duty one month of each year. The highest-ranking officers were divided into two groups, serving directly under Joab: The Top Three, and The Thirty. This second group eventually became fifty-three, but it kept its original name of The Thirty. In addition to military leaders, David also appointed twelve tribal officers to oversee political affairs, palace treasures and supplies, and other royal business.