1 Chronicles 27:16-24 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Chronicles 27:16-34

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... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Chronicles 27:16-22

Furthermore, over the cities of Israel ,.... Were the following rulers or princes; the captains over the militia before named were of David's appointment; but these ruled over their respective tribes in their own right, or by the choice of their tribes: the ruler of the tribe of Reuben was Eliezer, the son of Zichri: of the tribe of Simeon, Shephatiah the son of Maachah; whether this was his father's or mother's name is not certain, it being the name both of a man and woman: of the tribe of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Chronicles 27:23

But David took not the number of them from twenty years old and under ,.... Only those that were twenty years and upwards; but, according to Cornelius Bertram F11 Lucubrat. Franktall, c. 2. , he numbered them that were under twenty, though but sixteen, seventeen, eighteen, or nineteen years of age, provided they were of robust bodies, and of a tall stature, and able to bear arms; which he takes to be the sin of David, in numbering the people, being contrary to the law of God; yet... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Chronicles 27:24

Joab the son of Zeruiah began to number ,.... By the order of David, but entirely against his own will, see 1 Chronicles 21:2 , but he finished not ; the two tribes of Benjamin and Levi not being counted by him, 1 Chronicles 21:6 . because there fell wrath for it against Israel ; the plague being broke forth before he had done numbering, which put a stop to it, 1 Chronicles 21:14 . neither was the number put in the account of the chronicles of David ; that which was brought... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Chronicles 27:16

Over the tribes of Israel - In this enumeration there is no mention of the tribes of Asher and Gad. Probably the account of these has been lost from this register. These rulers appear to have been all honorary men, without pay, like the lords lieutenants of our counties. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Chronicles 27:24

Neither was the number put in the account - Joab did not return the whole number; probably the plague began before he had finished: or, he did not choose to give it in, as he had entered on this work with extreme reluctance; and he did not choose to tell the king how numerous they were. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Chronicles 27:16-22

These verses give the names of the rulers ( 1 Chronicles 27:16 ), or princes ( 1 Chronicles 27:22 ), of ten out of the twelve tribes of Israel. The tribes not mentioned are Gad and Asher, an omission which reminds of that of the two tribes Dan and Zebulon from the genealogies contained in 1 Chronicles 4:1-43 .-7; and equally unexplained. These designations ruler ( נָגִיד ) and prince ( שַׂר ) are the same as are found in the list of 1 Chronicles 4:1-15 —the former in 1... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Chronicles 27:17

It is, perhaps, remarkable that Hashabiah —presumably a Gershonite—is not distinguished from the Hebronite ( i.e. Kohathite) of the same name ( 1 Chronicles 26:30 ); some, however, think that our Hasha-biah is the Kohathite. For Zadok , see 1 Chronicles 6:4 , 1 Chronicles 6:12 . He was of the line of Eleazar. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.