I Chronicles 27 (NIV)

Summary:

Army Divisions
Verses 1-15

This is the list of Israelites - the heads of families, commanders of thousands or hundreds, and their officers who served the king when on duty on their specified month.  Each division had 24,000 men.
1st - Jashobeam, son of Zabdiel, the commander; a descendant of Perez
2nd - Dodai the Ahohite, the commander; Mikloth, the division leader
3rd - Benaiah, son of Jehoiada the priest; a mighty man among and over the Thirty; his son, Ammizabad, was the division leader
4th - Asahel, Joab's brother, the commander; son, Zebadiah, was his successor
5th - Shamhuth the Izrahite, the commander
6th - Ira, son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, the commander
7th - Helez the Pelonite, an Ephraimite, the commander
8th - Sibbecai the Hushathite, a Zerahite, the commander
9th - Abiezer the Anathothite, a Benjamite, the commander
10th - Maharai the Netophathite, a Zerahite, the commander
11th - Benaiah the Pirathonite, an Ephraimite, the commander
12th - Heldai the Netophathite, from the family of Othniel, the commander

Officers of the Tribes
Verses 16-24

Reubenites: Eliezer son of Zicri
Simeonites: Shephatiah son of Maacah
Levi: Hashabiah son of Kemuel
Aaron: Zadok
Judah: Elihu, David's brother
Issachar: Omri son of Michael
Zebulun: Ishmaiah son of Obadiah
Naphtali: Jerimoth son of Azriel
Ephraimites: Hoshea son of Azaziah
1/2 tribe of Manasseh: Joel son of Pedaiah
1/2 tribe of Manasseh in Gilead: Iddo son of Zechariah
Benjamin: Jaasiel son of Abner
Dan: Azarel son of Jeroham

David didn't number the men 20 years old and under, because the Lord had promised to make Israel as numerous as the stars in the sky.  Joab son of Zeruiah started to count the men (under David's direction), but didn't finish (because he was opposed to it).  Wrath came upon Israel on account of this numbering, so the number was omitted from the book of the annals of King David.

The King's Overseers
Verses 25-34

All these men were in charge of David's property:
- Azmavoth son of Adiel: royal storehouses
- Jonathan son of Uzziah: storehouses in outlying districts, towns, villages, and watchtowers
- Ezri son of Kelub: field workers who farmed the land
- Shimei the Ramathite: vineyards
- Zabdi the Shiphmite: produce of vineyards for the wine vats
- Baal-Hanan the Gederite: olive and sycamore-fig trees in the western foothills
- Josah: supplies of olive oil
- Shitrai the Sharonite: herds grazing in Sharon
- Shaphat son of Adlai: herds in the valleys
- Obil the Ishmaelite: camels
- Jehdeiah the Meronothite: donkeys
- Jaziz the Hagrite: flocks

- Jonathan, David's uncle, was a counselor, a man of insight, and a scribe.
- Jehiel son of Hacmoni cared for the king's sons.
- Ahithophel was the king's counselor, succeeded by Jehoiada son of Benaiah and by Abiathar
- Hushai the Arkite was the king's friend.
- Joab was the commander of the royal army.

Lori's Thoughts:

Wouldn't it be nice to serve for only 1 month per year, in the army?  As someone who very nearly became an army wife, this seems much more bearable than 18-24 month-long absences.  Now, the Israelites weren't exactly getting deployed thousands of miles away, but still, I'm sure they were away from home for a time when at war.

Now, David had been influenced by the devil (see Chapter 21) to count the fighting men.  Why was this a sin that incurred the wrath of God?  Because, it was an act of faith in mankind.  This was a direct violation of the first commandment God gave us.  (See Exodus 20: 3)  God promised to multiply the Israelites, to make them into a great nation.  Is God a liar?  Of course not.  So, why do we need to check up on His work?  Just trust.  (Something I'm still learning to do.)

It seems as if the Israelites had better job opportunities than we do.  I got excited when he mentioned the overseer for the flock.  Then, I realized that he mean sheep, not birds.  Oh, well.  Working in any form of animal husbandry works for me.  Although, how cool would it be to go down in history as the king's friend?  Pretty sweet position, huh?  Well, Jesus says, " 'You are my friends if you do what I command.' "  What does He command?  " 'This is my command: Love each other.' "  (John 15: 14, 17)  How bad is that? 

I know I want to be friends with the King.