Westminster Leningrad Codex with Strong’s numbers

1 וּבְנֵיH1121 יִשְׂרָאֵלH3478 לְֽמִסְפָּרָםH4557 רָאשֵׁיH7218 הָאָבוֹתH1 וְשָׂרֵיH8269 הָֽאֲלָפִיםH505 וְהַמֵּאוֹתH3967 וְשֹׁטְרֵיהֶםH7860 הַמְשָׁרְתִיםH8334 אֶתH853 הַמֶּלֶךְH4428 לְכֹלH3605 דְּבַרH1697 הַֽמַּחְלְקוֹתH4256 הַבָּאָהH935 וְהַיֹּצֵאתH3318 חֹדֶשׁH2320 בְּחֹדֶשׁH2320 לְכֹלH3605 חָדְשֵׁיH2320 הַשָּׁנָהH8141 הַֽמַּחֲלֹקֶתH4256 הָֽאַחַתH259 עֶשְׂרִיםH6242 וְאַרְבָּעָהH702 אָֽלֶףH505

2 עַלH5921 הַמַּחֲלֹקֶתH4256 הָרִֽאשׁוֹנָהH7223 לַחֹדֶשׁH2320 הָרִאשׁוֹןH7223 יָֽשָׁבְעָםH3434 בֶּןH1121 זַבְדִּיאֵלH2068 וְעַלH5921 מַֽחֲלֻקְתּוֹH4256 עֶשְׂרִיםH6242 וְאַרְבָּעָהH702 אָֽלֶףH505

3 מִןH4480 בְּנֵיH1121 פֶרֶץH6557 הָרֹאשׁH7218 לְכָלH3605 שָׂרֵיH8269 הַצְּבָאוֹתH6635 לַחֹדֶשׁH2320 הָרִאשֽׁוֹןH7223

4 וְעַלH5921 מַחֲלֹקֶתH4256 הַחֹדֶשׁH2320 הַשֵּׁנִיH8145 דּוֹדַיH1737 הָאֲחוֹחִיH266 וּמַחֲלֻקְתּוֹH4256 וּמִקְלוֹתH4732 הַנָּגִידH5057 וְעַלH5921 מַחֲלֻקְתּוֹH4256 עֶשְׂרִיםH6242 וְאַרְבָּעָהH702 אָֽלֶףH505

5 שַׂרH8269 הַצָּבָאH6635 הַשְּׁלִישִׁיH7992 לַחֹדֶשׁH2320 הַשְּׁלִישִׁיH7992 בְּנָיָהוּH1141 בֶןH1121 יְהוֹיָדָעH3077 הַכֹּהֵןH3548 רֹאשׁH7218 וְעַלH5921 מַחֲלֻקְתּוֹH4256 עֶשְׂרִיםH6242 וְאַרְבָּעָהH702 אָֽלֶףH505

6 הוּאH1931 בְנָיָהוּH1141 גִּבּוֹרH1368 הַשְּׁלֹשִׁיםH7970 וְעַלH5921 הַשְּׁלֹשִׁיםH7970 וּמַחֲלֻקְתּוֹH4256 עַמִּיזָבָדH5990 בְּנֽוֹH1121

7 הָֽרְבִיעִיH7243 לַחֹדֶשׁH2320 הָרְבִיעִיH7243 עֲשָׂהH0 אֵלH6214 אֲחִיH251 יוֹאָבH3097 וּזְבַדְיָהH2069 בְנוֹH1121 אַחֲרָיוH310 וְעַלH5921 מַחֲלֻקְתּוֹH4256 עֶשְׂרִיםH6242 וְאַרְבָּעָהH702 אָֽלֶףH505

8 הַחַמִישִׁיH2549 לַחֹדֶשׁH2320 הַחֲמִישִׁיH2549 הַשַּׂרH8269 שַׁמְהוּתH8049 הַיִּזְרָחH3155 וְעַלH5921 מַחֲלֻקְתּוֹH4256 עֶשְׂרִיםH6242 וְאַרְבָּעָהH702 אָֽלֶףH505

9 הַשִּׁשִּׁיH8345 לַחֹדֶשׁH2320 הַשִּׁשִּׁיH8345 עִירָאH5896 בֶןH1121 עִקֵּשׁH6142 הַתְּקוֹעִיH8621 וְעַלH5921 מַחֲלֻקְתּוֹH4256 עֶשְׂרִיםH6242 וְאַרְבָּעָהH702 אָֽלֶףH505

10 הַשְּׁבִיעִיH7637 לַחֹדֶשׁH2320 הַשְּׁבִיעִיH7637 חֶלֶץH2503 הַפְּלוֹנִיH6397 מִןH4480 בְּנֵיH1121 אֶפְרָיִםH669 וְעַלH5921 מַחֲלֻקְתּוֹH4256 עֶשְׂרִיםH6242 וְאַרְבָּעָהH702 אָֽלֶףH505

11 הַשְּׁמִינִיH8066 לַחֹדֶשׁH2320 הַשְּׁמִינִיH8066 סִבְּכַיH5444 הַחֻשָׁתִיH2843 לַזַּרְחִיH2227 וְעַלH5921 מַחֲלֻקְתּוֹH4256 עֶשְׂרִיםH6242 וְאַרְבָּעָהH702 אָֽלֶףH505

12 הַתְּשִׁיעִיH8671 לַחֹדֶשׁH2320 הַתְּשִׁיעִיH8671 אֲבִיעֶזֶרH44 הָעַנְּתֹתִיH6069 לבנימיניH1145 לַבֵּןH1121 יְמִינִיH3227 וְעַלH5921 מַחֲלֻקְתּוֹH4256 עֶשְׂרִיםH6242 וְאַרְבָּעָהH702 אָֽלֶףH505

13 הָעֲשִׂירִיH6224 לַחֹדֶשׁH2320 הָעֲשִׂירִיH6224 מַהְרַיH4121 הַנְּטֽוֹפָתִיH5200 לַזַּרְחִיH2227 וְעַלH5921 מַֽחֲלֻקְתּוֹH4256 עֶשְׂרִיםH6242 וְאַרְבָּעָהH702 אָֽלֶףH505

14 עַשְׁתֵּֽיH6249 עָשָׂרH6240 לְעַשְׁתֵּיH6249 עָשָׂרH6240 הַחֹדֶשׁH2320 בְּנָיָהH1141 הַפִּרְעָתוֹנִיH6553 מִןH4480 בְּנֵיH1121 אֶפְרָיִםH669 וְעַלH5921 מַחֲלֻקְתּוֹH4256 עֶשְׂרִיםH6242 וְאַרְבָּעָהH702 אָֽלֶףH505

15 הַשְּׁנֵיםH8147 עָשָׂרH6240 לִשְׁנֵיםH8147 עָשָׂרH6240 הַחֹדֶשׁH2320 חֶלְדַּיH2469 הַנְּטוֹפָתִיH5200 לְעָתְנִיאֵלH6274 וְעַלH5921 מַחֲלֻקְתּוֹH4256 עֶשְׂרִיםH6242 וְאַרְבָּעָהH702 אָֽלֶףH505

16 וְעַלH5921 שִׁבְטֵיH7626 יִשְׂרָאֵלH3478 לָרֽאוּבֵנִיH7206 נָגִידH5057 אֱלִיעֶזֶרH461 בֶּןH1121 זִכְרִיH2147 לַשִּׁמְעוֹנִיH8099 שְׁפַטְיָהוּH8203 בֶּֽןH1121 מַעֲכָֽהH4601

17 לְלֵוִיH3881 חֲשַׁבְיָהH2811 בֶןH1121 קְמוּאֵלH7055 לְאַהֲרֹןH175 צָדֽוֹקH6659

18 לִֽיהוּדָהH3063 אֱלִיהוּH453 מֵאֲחֵיH251 דָוִידH1732 לְיִשָׂשכָרH3485 עָמְרִיH6018 בֶּןH1121 מִיכָאֵֽלH4317

19 לִזְבוּלֻןH2074 יִֽשְׁמַֽעְיָהוּH3460 בֶּןH1121 עֹבַדְיָהוּH5662 לְנַפְתָּלִיH5321 יְרִימוֹתH3406 בֶּןH1121 עַזְרִיאֵֽלH5837

20 לִבְנֵיH1121 אֶפְרַיִםH669 הוֹשֵׁעַH1954 בֶּןH1121 עֲזַזְיָהוּH5812 לַחֲצִיH2677 שֵׁבֶטH7626 מְנַשֶּׁהH4519 יוֹאֵלH3100 בֶּןH1121 פְּדָיָֽהוּH6305

21 לַחֲצִיH2677 הַֽמְנַשֶּׁהH4519 גִּלְעָדָהH1568 יִדּוֹH3035 בֶּןH1121 זְכַרְיָהוּH2148 לְבִנְיָמִןH1144 יַעֲשִׂיאֵלH3300 בֶּןH1121 אַבְנֵֽרH74

22 לְדָןH1835 עֲזַרְאֵלH5832 בֶּןH1121 יְרֹחָםH3395 אֵלֶּהH428 שָׂרֵיH8269 שִׁבְטֵיH7626 יִשְׂרָאֵֽלH3478

23 וְלֹאH3808 נָשָׂאH5375 דָוִידH1732 מִסְפָּרָםH4557 לְמִבֶּןH1121 עֶשְׂרִיםH6242 שָׁנָהH8141 וּלְמָטָּהH4295 כִּיH3588 אָמַרH559 יְהוָהH3068 לְהַרְבּוֹתH7235 אֶתH853 יִשְׂרָאֵלH3478 כְּכוֹכְבֵיH3556 הַשָּׁמָֽיִםH8064

24 יוֹאָבH3097 בֶּןH1121 צְרוּיָהH6870 הֵחֵלH2490 לִמְנוֹתH4487 וְלֹאH3808 כִלָּהH3615 וַיְהִיH1961 בָזֹאתH2063 קֶצֶףH7110 עַלH5921 יִשְׂרָאֵלH3478 וְלֹאH3808 עָלָהH5927 הַמִּסְפָּרH4557 בְּמִסְפַּרH4557 דִּבְרֵֽיH1697 הַיָּמִיםH3117 לַמֶּלֶךְH4428 דָּוִֽידH1732

25 וְעַלH5921 אֹצְרוֹתH214 הַמֶּלֶךְH4428 עַזְמָוֶתH5820 בֶּןH1121 עֲדִיאֵלH5717 וְעַלH5921 הָֽאֹצָרוֹתH214 בַּשָּׂדֶהH7704 בֶּעָרִיםH5892 וּבַכְּפָרִיםH3723 וּבַמִּגְדָּלוֹתH4026 יְהוֹנָתָןH3083 בֶּןH1121 עֻזִּיָּֽהוּH5818

26 וְעַלH5921 עֹשֵׂיH6213 מְלֶאכֶתH4399 הַשָּׂדֶהH7704 לַעֲבֹדַתH5656 הָאֲדָמָהH127 עֶזְרִיH5836 בֶּןH1121 כְּלֽוּבH3620

27 וְעַלH5921 הַכְּרָמִיםH3754 שִׁמְעִיH8096 הָרָֽמָתִיH7435 וְעַלH5921 שֶׁבַּכְּרָמִיםH3754 לְאֹצְרוֹתH214 הַיַּיִןH3196 זַבְדִּיH2067 הַשִּׁפְמִֽיH8225

28 וְעַלH5921 הַזֵּיתִיםH2132 וְהַשִּׁקְמִיםH8256 אֲשֶׁרH834 בַּשְּׁפֵלָהH8219 בַּעַלH0 חָנָןH1177 הַגְּדֵרִיH1451 וְעַלH5921 אֹצְרוֹתH214 הַשֶּׁמֶןH8081 יוֹעָֽשׁH3135

29 וְעַלH5921 הַבָּקָרH1241 הָרֹעִיםH7462 בַּשָּׁרוֹןH8289 שטריH7861 שִׁרְטַיH7861 הַשָּׁרוֹנִיH8290 וְעַלH5921 הַבָּקָרH1241 בָּֽעֲמָקִיםH6010 שָׁפָטH8202 בֶּןH1121 עַדְלָֽיH5724

30 וְעַלH5921 הַגְּמַלִּיםH1581 אוֹבִילH179 הַיִּשְׁמְעֵלִיH3459 וְעַלH5921 הָאֲתֹנוֹתH860 יֶחְדְּיָהוּH3165 הַמֵּרֹנֹתִֽיH4824

31 וְעַלH5921 הַצֹּאןH6629 יָזִיזH3151 הַֽהַגְרִיH1905 כָּלH3605 אֵלֶּהH428 שָׂרֵיH8269 הָרְכוּשׁH7399 אֲשֶׁרH834 לַמֶּלֶךְH4428 דָּוִֽידH1732

32 וִֽיהוֹנָתָןH3083 דּוֹדH1730 דָּוִידH1732 יוֹעֵץH3289 אִישׁH376 מֵבִיןH995 וְסוֹפֵרH5608 הוּאH1931 וִֽיחִיאֵלH3171 בֶּןH1121 חַכְמוֹנִיH2453 עִםH5973 בְּנֵיH1121 הַמֶּֽלֶךְH4428

33 וַאֲחִיתֹפֶלH302 יוֹעֵץH3289 לַמֶּלֶךְH4428 וְחוּשַׁיH2365 הָאַרְכִּיH757 רֵעַH7453 הַמֶּֽלֶךְH4428

34 וְאַחֲרֵיH310 אֲחִיתֹפֶלH302 יְהוֹיָדָעH3077 בֶּןH1121 בְּנָיָהוּH1141 וְאֶבְיָתָרH54 וְשַׂרH8269 צָבָאH6635 לַמֶּלֶךְH4428 יוֹאָֽבH3097

Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary
 1   We have here an account of the regulation of the militia of the kingdom. David was himself a man of war, and had done great things with the sword; he had brought into the field great armies. Now here we are told how he marshalled them when God had given him rest from all his enemies. He did not keep them all together, for that would have been a hardship on them and the country; yet he did not disband and disperse them all, for then he would have left his kingdom naked, and his people would have forgotten the arts of war, wherein they had been instructed. He therefore contrived to keep up a constant force, and yet not a standing army. The model is very prudent. 1. He kept up 24,000 constantly in arms, I suppose in a body, and disciplined, in one part or other of the kingdom, the freeholders carrying their own arms and bearing their own charges while they were up. This was a sufficient strength for the securing of the public peace and safety. Those that are Israelites indeed must learn war; for we have enemies to grapple with, whom we are concerned constantly to stand upon our guard against. 2. He changed them every month; so that the whole number of the militia amounted to 288,000, perhaps about a fifth part of the able men of the kingdom. By being thus distributed into twelve courses, they were all instructed in, and accustomed to, military exercises; and yet none were compelled to be in service, and at expenses, above one month in the year (which they might very well afford), unless upon extraordinary occasions, and then they might all be got together quickly. It is the wisdom of governors, and much their praise, while they provide for the public safety, to contrive how to make it effectual and yet easy, and as little as possible burdensome to the people. 3. Every course had a commander in chief over it. Besides the subaltern officers that were rulers over thousands, and hundreds, and fifties, there was one general officer to each course or legion. All these twelve great commanders are mentioned among David's worthies and champions, 2 Sa. 23 and 1 Chr. 11. They had first signalized themselves by their great actions and then they were advanced to those great preferments. It is well with a kingdom when honour thus attends merit. Benaiah is here called a chief priest, 1Chr 27:5. But, cohen signifying both a priest and a prince, it might better be translated here a chief ruler, or (as in the margin) a principal officer. Dodai had Mikloth (1Chr 27:4) either for his substitute when he was absent or infirm, or for his successor when he was dead. Benaiah had his son under him, 1Chr 27:6. Asahel had his son after him (1Chr 27:7), and by this it seems that this plan of the militia was laid in the beginning of David's reign; for Asahel was killed by Abner while David reigned in Hebron. When his wars were over he revived this method, and left the military affairs in this posture, for the peaceable reign of his son Solomon. When we think ourselves most safe, yet, while we are here in the body, we must keep in a readiness for spiritual conflicts. Let not him that girdeth on the harness boast as he that puts it off.

 16   We have here an account,
I. Of the princes of the tribes. Something of the ancient order instituted by Moses in the wilderness was still kept up, that every tribe should have its prince or chief. It is probable that it was kept up all along, either by election or by succession, in the same family; and those are here named who were found in that office when this account was taken. Elihu, or Eliab, who was prince of Judah, was the eldest son of Jesse, and descended in a right line from Nahshon and Salmon, the princes of this tribe in Moses's time. Whether these princes were of the nature of lord-lieutenants that guided them in their military affairs, or chief-justices that presided in their courts of judgment, does not appear. Their power, we may suppose, was much less now that all the tribes were united under one king than it had been when, for the most part, they acted separately. Our religion obliges us to be subject, not only to the king as supreme, but unto governors under him (1Pet 2:13, 1Pet 2:14), the princes that decree justice. Of Benjamin was Jaaziel the son of Abner, 1Chr 27:21. Though Abner was David's enemy, and opposed his coming to the throne, yet David would not oppose the preferment of his son, but perhaps nominated him to this post of honour, which teaches us to render good for evil.
II. Of the numbering of the people, 1Chr 27:23, 1Chr 27:24. It is here said, 1. That when David ordered the people to be numbered he forbade the numbering of those under twenty years old, thinking thereby to save the reflection which what he did might otherwise cast upon the promise that they should be innumerable; yet it was but a poor salvo, for it had never been customary to number those under twenty, and the promise of their numbers chiefly respected the effective men. 2. That the account which David took of the people, in the pride of his heart, turned to no good account; for it was never perfected, nor done with exactness, nor was it ever recorded as an authentic account. Joab was disgusted with it, and did it by halves; David was ashamed of it, and willing it should be forgotten, because there fell wrath for it against Israel. A good man cannot, in the reflection, please himself with that which he knows God is displeased with, cannot make use of that, nor take comfort in that, which is obtained by sin.
III. Of the officers of the court. 1. The rulers of the king's substance (as they are called, 1Chr 27:31), such as had the oversight and charge of the king's tillage, his vineyards, his olive-yards, his herds, his camels, his asses, his flocks. Here are no officers for state, none for sport, no master of the wardrobe, no master of the ceremonies, no master of the horse, no master of the hounds, but all for service, agreeable to the simplicity and plainness of those times. David was a great soldier, a great scholar, and a great prince, and yet a great husband of his estate, kept a great deal of ground in his own hand, and stocked it, not for pleasure, but for profit; for the king himself is served of the field, Qoh 5:9. Those magistrates that would have their subjects industrious must themselves be examples of industry and application to business. We find, however, that afterwards the poor of the land were thought good enough to be vine-dressers and husbandmen, 2Kgs 25:12. Now David put his great men to preside in these employments. 2. The attendants on the king's person. They were such as were eminent for wisdom, being designed for conversation. His uncle, who was a wise man and a scribe, not only well skilled in politics, but well read in the scriptures, was his counsellor, 1Chr 27:32. Another, who no doubt excelled in learning and prudence, was tutor to his children. Ahithophel, a very cunning man, was his counsellor: but Hushai, an honest man, was his companion and confidant. It does not appear that he had many counsellors; but those he had were men of great abilities. Much of the wisdom of princes is seen in the choice of their ministry. But David, though he had all these trusty and well-beloved cousins and counsellors about him, preferred his Bible before them all. Pss 119:24, Thy testimonies are my delight and my counsellors.