1 Chronicles 27:33

[See comments on 1 Chronicles 27:25].

And Ahithophel was the king's counsellor: and Hushai the Archite was the king's companion: Hushai the Archite was the king's companion , [Septuagint, prootos filos].

The king’ s counsellor; the person whose counsel in matters of state the king most prized and followed. The king’ s companion, or his friend, as he is called, ; the person whom he most trusted with all his secrets, and whose conversation was most pleasant and acceptable to him.

IV.—DAVID’S PRIVY COUNCIL 1 Chronicles 27:32-34). (32) Also Jonathan David’s uncle was a counsellor.—A son of David’s brother Shimeah was named Jonathan (1 Chronicles 20:7; 2 Samuel 21:21). Nothing further is known of the present Jonathan than what is here related. A wise man, and a scribe.—Rather, a sage and a scholar was he. The word rendered “scribe” (sτphηr) usually answers to the γραμματὲυς of the New Testament, and so the LXX. gives it here. We may remember that in the rude epochs of society mere writing has been esteemed an art, so that a king of England who could write was dubbed Beauclerc, “fine scholar.” Charles the Great never got so far as signing his own name, though he made great efforts to do so. But writing goes back to a very ancient period among Semitic races, and sτphηr probably means here, as in Ezra 7:6, “a man of letters,” or “skilled in the sacred law.” (See 1 Chronicles 2:55; Isaiah 33:18; Psalms 45:2.) David’s official sτphηr, or scribe, was Shavsha (1 Chronicles 18:16). Jehiel the son of Hachmoni.—Rather, son of a Hachmonite. (Comp. 1 Chronicles 11:11.) With the king’s sons—That is, their tutor. The similar lists in 2 Samuel 8:15-18, 1 Chronicles 18:15-17, and 2 Samuel 20:23-26, lack representatives of the two offices mentioned in this verse. Obviously this account is independent of those. (33) And Ahithophel was the king’s counsellor.—Rather, a counsellor of the king’s—Ahithophel, the faithless adviser, who committed suicide when his treachery proved unsuccessful (2 Samuel 15:31 seq., 2 Samuel 17:23). Hushai the Archite.—The faithful counsellor, who baffled the wisdom of Ahithophel (2 Samuel 17). (34) And after Ahithophel—After his death, Jehoiada the son of Benaiah, and Abiathar, the Ithamarite high priest, were David’s advisers. Benaiah’s father was named Jehoiada (see 1 Chronicles 27:5, and 1 Chronicles 11:22; 1 Chronicles 18:17), so that David’s counsellor Jehoiada bore the name of his grandfather—a common enough occurrence. Others assume that the right reading is “Benaiah the son of Jehoiada,” who may have been an adviser of David, as well as captain of his guard.

33. Ahithophel] See 2 Samuel 15:31; 2 Samuel 16:20 to 2 Samuel 17:23. Hushai] See 2 Samuel 15:32-37; 2 Samuel 16:16-19; 2 Samuel 17:5-16. Archite] The meaning of this word is unknown; it has no connexion with the “Arkite” of 1 Chronicles 1:15. king’s companion] R.V. king’s friend; cp. 2 Samuel 16:16. Cp. Erman. Ancient Egypt, Eng. Tr. p. 72. “Special titles served to signify the degree of rank the great men held with respect to the king [of Egypt]. In old times the most important were the friend and the well-beloved friend of the king.” The Greek kings of Syria granted similar titles to their chief dependants; cp. 1Ma 2:18 (R.V. with marg.).

DAVID’S , 32-34.“This catalogue of the king’s officials forms a supplement to the catalogues of the public officials given in 1 Chronicles 18:15-17; 2 Samuel 8:15-18; 2 Samuel 20:23-26.