1 Chronicles 27:34

[See comments on 1 Chronicles 27:25].

After Ahithophel, i.e. after his death, these were his chief counsellors.

1 Chronicles 27:34 And after Ahithophel [was] Jehoiada the son of Benaiah, and Abiathar: and the general of the king’ s army [was] Joab.Ver. 34. And after Ahithophel,] i.e., After his death.

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.

Verse 34. And after Ahithophel] The Targum is curious: "When they went to war, they asked counsel of Ahithophel; and, after the counsel of Ahithophel, they inquired by Urim and Thummim of Jehoiada, the son of Benaiah, prince of the Sanhedrin, and chief of the priesthood; and from Abiathar, the high priest. And after they had inquired by Urim and Thummim, they went out to battle, well armed with bows and slings; and Joab, the general of the king's troops, led them on." It is worthy of remark, that Obil, an Ishmaelite or Arab, was put over the camels, which is a creature of Arabia; and that Jaziz, a Hagarene, (the Hagarenes were shepherds by profession,) was put over the flocks: nothing went by favour; each was appointed to the office for which he was best qualified; and thus men of worth were encouraged, and the public service effectually promoted.

34. after Ahithophel] Cp. 1 Chronicles 27:7, note. Jehoiada the son of Benaiah] Either we must read, “Benaiah the son of Jehoiada” (cp. 1 Chronicles 18:17), or we must assume that a person known only from this passage is meant. and Abiathar] Probably such a phrase as “And Zadok and Abiathar were priests” (cp. 2 Samuel 20:25) originally stood here. the general of the king’s army] R.V. the captain of the king’s host.

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.