David established a standing army as well as officers over different areas of the economy. God gave David a genius for organization that is clearly seen in this chapter.

What Does It Say?

1. One of the captains over one of the monthly armed forces was Asahel the brother of _____________.
2. Two of the captains, both ___________ and ____________ were called “the Netophathite.”
3. The tribes also had special rulers. The ruler of Judah was __________, one of the brothers of David.
4. Shitrai was ruler over the herds that fed in ____________.
5. Joab is called the __________ of the king’s army.

What Does It Mean?

1. The captain for the third month was Benaiah, the son of a chief priest (1 Chronicles 27:5The third captain of the host for the third month was Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, a chief priest: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.
   See All...). Benaiah served as one of David’s mighty men (1 Chronicles 27:6This is that Benaiah, who was mighty among the thirty, and above the thirty: and in his course was Ammizabad his son.
   See All...). Read about his exploits in 1 Chronicles 11:22-25 [22] Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel, who had done many acts; he slew two lionlike men of Moab: also he went down and slew a lion in a pit in a snowy day. [23] And he slew an Egyptian, a man of great stature, five cubits high; and in the Egyptian's hand was a spear like a weaver's beam; and he went down to him with a staff, and plucked the spear out of the Egyptian's hand, and slew him with his own spear. [24] These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and had the name among the three mighties. [25] Behold, he was honourable among the thirty, but attained not to the first three: and David set him over his guard.
   See All.... Was there any conflict between the son of a priest being a soldier? That is, should a priest have been a man of peace? Or was being a soldier completely compatible with being a priest? Consider 1 Chronicles 12:23-27 [23] And these are the numbers of the bands that were ready armed to the war, and came to David to Hebron, to turn the kingdom of Saul to him, according to the word of the LORD. [24] The children of Judah that bare shield and spear were six thousand and eight hundred, ready armed to the war. [25] Of the children of Simeon, mighty men of valour for the war, seven thousand and one hundred. [26] Of the children of Levi four thousand and six hundred. [27] And Jehoiada was the leader of the Aaronites, and with him were three thousand and seven hundred;
   See All.... What is your answer? Why do you think this was so? Is there application for today?
2. How can you reconcile the statement that Joab did not finish numbering the people (1 Chronicles 27:24Joab the son of Zeruiah began to number, but he finished not, because there fell wrath for it against Israel; neither was the number put in the account of the chronicles of king David.
   See All...) with the passages in 2 Samuel 24:9And Joab gave up the sum of the number of the people unto the king: and there were in Israel eight hundred thousand valiant men that drew the sword; and the men of Judah were five hundred thousand men.
   See All... and 1 Chronicles 21:4-6 [4] Nevertheless the king's word prevailed against Joab. Wherefore Joab departed, and went throughout all Israel, and came to Jerusalem. [5] And Joab gave the sum of the number of the people unto David. And all they of Israel were a thousand thousand and an hundred thousand men that drew sword: and Judah was four hundred threescore and ten thousand men that drew sword. [6] But Levi and Benjamin counted he not among them: for the king's word was abominable to Joab.
   See All...?
3. David’s uncle Jonathan is called a counselor, a wise man, and a scribe (1 Chronicles 27:32Also Jonathan David's uncle was a counsellor, a wise man, and a scribe: and Jehiel the son of Hachmoni was with the king's sons:
   See All...). Using a dictionary to look up these words, tell what you think the separate duties of each position might include.

What Does It Mean to Me?

1. This chapter begins (1 Chronicles 27:1Now the children of Israel after their number, to wit, the chief fathers and captains of thousands and hundreds, and their officers that served the king in any matter of the courses, which came in and went out month by month throughout all the months of the year, of every course were twenty and four thousand.
   See All...) with a statement about how David established a standing army with officers that “came in, and went out month by month throughout all the months of the year.” Evidently, these soldiers would go about their regular business for eleven months of the year and then serve as soldiers of the king during the twelfth month. Why do you think David organized his army this way? What is the wisdom of this plan? How can we apply this wisdom to our own lives? How can we apply it to church ministry?
2. When David numbered the people of Israel, he numbered only those old enough to be soldiers (1 Chronicles 27:23But David took not the number of them from twenty years old and under: because the LORD had said he would increase Israel like to the stars of the heavens.
   See All...). But he also knew that the Lord had promised to increase Israel as the stars of heaven (Genesis 15:3-5 [3] And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir. [4] And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir. [5] And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.
   See All...), so he avoided counting every person. Many Bible students have argued about David’s exact sin in numbering the people of Israel. However, part of his sin was certainly pride. He wanted to know how big his army was so he could compare it with the armies of neighboring nations. How can we commit similar sins today? Why are we so quick to take credit for what God has done? What actions should we avoid in order to give God all the credit for His blessings?