used of entering upon and leaving the service (cf. 2Ch 23:4, 2Ch 23:8; 2Ki 11:5, 2Ki 11:7,2Ki 11:9). But the words are hardly to be understood to mean that the classes which were in service each month were ordered from various parts of the kingdom to the capital, and there remained under arms; but rather, as Clericus, that they paratae essent ducum imperiis parere, si quid contigisset, dum ceterae copiae, si necesse essent, convenirent.
Verse 2
Over the first division was Jashobeam, scil. commander. The second מחלקתּו על is to be rendered, “in his division were 24,000 men,” i.e., they were reckoned to it. As to Jashobeam, see on 1Ch 11:11 and 2Sa 23:8.
Verse 3
1Ch 27:3 1Ch 27:3 further relates of him that he was of the sons (descendants) of Perez, and the head of all the army chiefs in the first month (i.e., in the division for the first month).
Verse 4
Before דּודי, according to 1Ch 11:12, בּן אלעזר has been dropped out (see on 2Sa 23:9). The words הנּגיד וּמקלות וּמחלקתּו are obscure. At the end of the sixth verse similar words occur, and hence Bertheau concludes that וּ before מקלות is to be struck out, and translated, “and his divisions, Mikloth the prince,” which might denote, perhaps, “and his division is that over which Mikloth was prince.” Older commentators have already translated the word in a similar manner, as signifying that Mikloth was prince or chief of this division under the Ahohite Eleazar. All that is certain is, that מקלות is a name which occurred in 1Ch 8:32 and 1Ch 9:37 among the Benjamites.
Verses 5-6
Here the form of expression is changed; הצּבא שׂר, the chief of the third host, begins the sentence. As to Benaiah, see 1Ch 11:22 and the commentary on 2Sa 23:20. ראשׁ does not belong to הכּהן, but is the predicate of Benaiah: “the prince of the ... was Benaiah ... as head,” sc. of the division for the third month. This is added, because in 1Ch 27:6 still a third military office held by Benaiah is mentioned. He was hero of the (among the) thirty, and over the thirty, i.e., more honoured than they (cf. 1Ch 11:25 and 2Sa 23:23). - With 1Ch 27:6 cf. what is said on the similar words, 1Ch 27:4.
Verse 7
From here onwards the mode of expression is very much compressed: the fourth of the fourth month, instead of the chief of the fourth host of the fourth month. Asahel (see 1Ch 11:26 and on 2Sa 23:24) was slain by Abner (2Sa 2:18-23) in the beginning of David's reign, and consequently long before the division of the army here recorded. The words, “and Zebadiah his son after him,” point to his death, as they mention his son as his successor in the command of the fourth division of the
