Definition
1 Chronicles 27 is the twenty‑seventh chapter of the First Book of Chronicles in the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament. It comprises a series of lists detailing the administrative officials, military organization, and economic provisions of King David’s kingdom.
Overview
The chapter is organized into four main sections:
- Chief Officials (verses 1‑9) – Names the chief officers serving under King David, including Joab as commander of the army, Benaiah as chief of the bodyguard, and Shimeah, the king’s brother, as chief overseer of the king’s work.
- Military Divisions (verses 10‑31) – Describes twelve military units, each commanded by a “chief of the thousands,” with the number of men (typically 24,000 or 22,000) and the names of the commanders. Each division is associated with a specific month of the year, indicating a rotational duty schedule.
- Storehouses and Taxation (verses 32‑34) – Lists the officials responsible for managing the storehouses of the king and the collection of taxes (referred to as “the king’s tribute”).
- Daily Provisioning (verses 35‑45) – Details the daily supply of grain, oil, and wine allotted to each of David’s officials and to the royal household.
The chapter serves as a historical record of the administrative and military infrastructure during the reign of David, reflecting the centralized governance and organized logistics of the united monarchy.
Etymology/Origin
- Chronicles derives from the Greek Chronika (χρονικά), meaning “annals” or “records of time,” a title given to the books by the Septuagint translators.
- 1 Chronicles designates the first of two books (1 Chronicles and 2 Chronicles) that together form a historical account covering Israel’s history from Adam to the post‑exilic period, focusing particularly on Davidic and post‑Davidic events.
- The numbering “27” follows the conventional chapter division used in modern printed Bibles; the original Hebrew text was continuous.
Characteristics
- Literary Form: Primarily a census‑type enumeration; it employs a repetitive structure (“the chief of the [month] was…”) characteristic of ancient Near Eastern administrative records.
- Historical Context: Reflects the late monarchic period (circa 10th century BCE) and likely draws on official court archives or royal annals.
- Thematic Emphasis: Highlights the organized nature of David’s rule, emphasizing both military readiness and economic management.
- Structure: Divided into 45 verses in most standard biblical translations.
- Language: Originally composed in Biblical Hebrew; surviving manuscripts include the Masoretic Text and fragments found among the Dead Sea Scrolls.
Related Topics
- Books of Chronicles – The overall composition, authorship, and theological themes of 1 Chronicles and 2 Chronicles.
- King David – The biblical monarch whose reign is the focal point of the chapter’s administrative listings.
- Ancient Near Eastern Military Organization – Comparative studies of army structuring in neighboring cultures.
- Biblical Census Lists – Similar enumerations found in other biblical books (e.g., Numbers, 1 Kings).
- Hebrew Bible / Old Testament – The broader canonical collection containing 1 Chronicles.
- Septuagint and Masoretic Text – Key textual traditions preserving the chapter’s wording.