וּבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לְמִסְפָּרָם רָאשֵׁי הָאָבוֹת וְשָׂרֵי הָאֲלָפִים וְהַמֵּאוֹת וְשֹׁטְרֵיהֶם הַמְשָׁרְתִים אֶת־הַמֶּלֶךְ לְכֹל דְּבַר הַמַּחְלְקוֹת הַבָּאָה וְהַיֹּצֵאת חֹדֶשׁ בְּחֹדֶשׁ לְכֹל חָדְשֵׁי הַשָּׁנָה הַמַּחֲלֹקֶת הָאַחַת עֶשְׂרִים וְאַרְבָּעָה אָלֶף

The children of Israel by their number were also divided into divisions, like the watches of the priests and Levites, directed by the heads of the patrilineal houses and the captains of the thousands and of the hundreds, and their officers who served the king, for all matter of the management of the divisions that came and went each and every month for all the months of the year; each division was twenty-four thousand men.

עַל הַמַּחֲלֹקֶת הָרִאשׁוֹנָה לַחֹדֶשׁ הָרִאשׁוֹן יָשָׁבְעָם בֶּן־זַבְדִּיאֵל וְעַל מַחֲלֻקְתּוֹ עֶשְׂרִים וְאַרְבָּעָה אָלֶף

Over the first division for the first month was appointed Yoshovam son of Zavdiel; in his division were twenty-four thousand.

מִן־בְּנֵי־פֶרֶץ הָרֹאשׁ לְכָל־שָׂרֵי הַצְּבָאוֹת לַחֹדֶשׁ הָרִאשׁוֹן

He was from the children of Peretz son of Judah, and he was the head of all the commanders of the armies for the first month.

וְעַל מַחֲלֹקֶת הַחֹדֶשׁ הַשֵּׁנִי דּוֹדַי הָאֲחוֹחִי וּמַחֲלֻקְתּוֹ וּמִקְלוֹת הַנָּגִיד וְעַל מַחֲלֻקְתּוֹ עֶשְׂרִים וְאַרְבָּעָה אָלֶף

Over the division of the second month was appointed Dodai the Ahohite and his division, with Miklot the prince as his assistant; in his division were twenty-four thousand.

שַׂר הַצָּבָא הַשְּׁלִישִׁי לַחֹדֶשׁ הַשְּׁלִישִׁי בְּנָיָהוּ בֶן־יְהוֹיָדָע הַכֹּהֵן רֹאשׁ וְעַל מַחֲלֻקְתּוֹ עֶשְׂרִים וְאַרְבָּעָה אָלֶף

The third commander of the army, for the third month, was Benayahu son of Yehoyada the priest, leader; in his division were twenty-four thousand. Benayahu’s primary role was as a military figure. Although he was a high-ranking official and a priest, it is not stated that he actually served as a priest.

הוּא בְנָיָהוּ גִּבּוֹר הַשְּׁלֹשִׁים ועַל־הַשְּׁלֹשִׁים ומַחֲלֻקְתּוֹ עַמִּיזָבָד בְּנוֹ

He is Benayahu, the mighty man of the thirty and one of David’s powerful warriors, and he was appointed over the thirty; and leadership of his division was together with Amizavad his son.

הָרְבִיעִי לַחֹדֶשׁ הָרְבִיעִי עֲשָׂהאֵל אֲחִי יוֹאָב וּזְבַדְיָה בְנוֹ אַחֲרָיו וְעַל מַחֲלֻקְתּוֹ עֶשְׂרִים וְאַרְבָּעָה אָלֶף

The commander of the fourth division, for the fourth month, was under the leadership of Asael brother of Yoav, and Zevadya his son was after him, his successor; in his division were twenty-four thousand.

הַחֲמִישִׁי לַחֹדֶשׁ הַחֲמִישִׁי הַשַּׂר שַׁמְהוּת הַיִּזְרָח וְעַל מַחֲלֻקְתּוֹ עֶשְׂרִים וְאַרְבָּעָה אָלֶף

The fifth division, for the fifth month, was under the authority of the commander called Shamhut the Yizrahite; in his division were twenty-four thousand.

הַשִּׁשִּׁי לַחֹדֶשׁ הַשִּׁשִּׁי עִירָא בֶן־עִקֵּשׁ הַתְּקוֹעִי וְעַל מַחֲלֻקְתּוֹ עֶשְׂרִים וְאַרְבָּעָה אָלֶף

The sixth division, for the sixth month, was under the command of Ira son of Ikesh the Tekoite; in his division were twenty-four thousand.

הַשְּׁבִיעִי לַחֹדֶשׁ הַשְּׁבִיעִי חֵלֶץ הַפְּלוֹנִי מִן־בְּנֵי אֶפְרָיִם וְעַל מַחֲלֻקְתּוֹ עֶשְׂרִים וְאַרְבָּעָה אָלֶף

The seventh division, for the seventh month, was under the command of Heletz the Pelonite, from the children of Ephraim; in his division were twenty-four thousand.

הַשְּׁמִינִי לַחֹדֶשׁ הַשְּׁמִינִי סִבְּכַי הַחֻשָׁתִי לזַּרְחִי וְעַל מַחֲלֻקְתּוֹ עֶשְׂרִים וְאַרְבָּעָה אָלֶף

The eighth division, for the eighth month, was under the command of Sibekhai the Hushatite, from the family of the Zerahite; in his division were twenty-four thousand.

הַתְּשִׁיעִי לַחֹדֶשׁ הַתְּשִׁיעִי אֲבִיעֶזֶר הָעַנְּתוֹתִי לַבֵּן יְמִינִי וְעַל מַחֲלֻקְתּוֹ עֶשְׂרִים וְאַרְבָּעָה אָלֶף

The ninth division, for the ninth month, was under the command of Aviezer the Anatotite, of the Benjamite, from the tribe of Benjamin; in his division were twenty-four thousand.

הָעֲשִׂירִי לַחֹדֶשׁ הָעֲשִׂירִי מַהְרַי הַנְּטוֹפָתִי לַזַּרְחִי וְעַל מַחֲלֻקְתּוֹ עֶשְׂרִים וְאַרְבָּעָה אָלֶף

The tenth division, for the tenth month, was under the command of Mahrai the Netofatite, of the Zerahite; in his division were twenty-four thousand.

עַשְׁתֵּי־עָשָׂר לְעַשְׁתֵּי עָשָׂר הַחֹדֶשׁ בְּנָיָה הַפִּרְעָתֹנִי מִן־בְּנֵי אֶפְרָיִם וְעַל מַחֲלֻקְתּוֹ עֶשְׂרִים וְאַרְבָּעָה אָלֶף

The eleventh division, for the eleventh month, was under the command of Benaya the Piratonite, of the children of Ephraim; in his division were twenty-four thousand.

הַשְּׁנֵים עָשָׂר לִשְׁנֵים עָשָׂר הַחֹדֶשׁ חֶלְדַּי הַנְּטוֹפָתִי לְעָתְנִיאֵל וְעַל מַחֲלֻקְתּוֹ עֶשְׂרִים וְאַרְבָּעָה אָלֶף

The twelfth division, for the twelfth month, was under the command of Heldai the Netofatite, of Otniel; in his division were twenty-four thousand.

וְעַל שִׁבְטֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לָראוּבֵנִי נָגִיד אֱלִיעֶזֶר בֶּן־זִכְרִי לַשִּׁמְעוֹנִי שְׁפַטְיָהוּ בֶּן־מַעֲכָה

Over the tribes of Israel there was another appointment, in addition to the commanders of the quasi-military units: For the Reubenite, the chief official was Eliezer son of Zikhri; for the Simeonite, Shefatyahu son of Maakha;

לְלֵוִי חֲשַׁבְיָה בֶן־קְמוּאֵל לאַהֲרֹן צָדוֹק

for Levi, Hashavya son of Kemuel; for the priests, sons of Aaron, Tzadok;

לִיהוּדָה אֱלִיהוּ מֵאֲחֵי דָוִיד לְיִשָּׂשכָר עָמְרִי בֶּן־מִיכָאֵל

for Judah, Elihu, from the brothers of David, perhaps referring to his eldest brother, Eliav; for Issachar, Omri son of Mikhael;

לִזְבוּלֻן יִשְׁמַעְיָהוּ בֶּן־עֹבַדְיָהוּ לְנַפְתָּלִי יְרִימוֹת בֶּן־עַזְרִיאֵל

for Zebulun, Yishmayahu son of Ovadyahu; for Naphtali, Yerimot son of Azriel;

לִבְנֵי אֶפְרַיִם הוֹשֵׁעַ בֶּן־עֲזַזְיָהוּ לַחֲצִי שֵׁבֶט מְנַשֶּׁה יוֹאֵל בֶּן־פְּדָיָהוּ

for the children of Ephraim, Hoshe’a son of Azazyahu; for the half of the tribe of Manasseh west of the Jordan, Yoel son of Pedayahu;

לַחֲצִי הַמְנַשֶּׁה גִלְעָדָה יִדּוֹ בֶּן־זְכַרְיָהוּ לְבִנְיָמִן יַעֲשִׂיאֵל בֶּן־אַבְנֵר

for half the tribe of Manasseh that dwelled in Gilad, east of the Jordan, Ido son of Zekharyahu; for Benjamin, Yaasiel son of Avner, apparently referring to Avner son of Ner;

לְדָן עֲזַרְאֵל בֶּן־יְרֹחָם אֵלֶּה שָׂרֵי שִׁבְטֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל

for Dan, Azarel son of Yeroham. These were the princes of the tribes of Israel.

וְלֹא־נָשָׂא דָוִיד מִסְפָּרָם לְמִבֶּן עֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה וּלְמָטָּה כִּי אָמַר ה' לְהַרְבּוֹת אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵל כְּכוֹכְבֵי הַשָּׁמָיִם

David did not take the number of them, he did not count the youths of Israel, from twenty years of age and under, because the Lord had said He was going to increase Israel like the stars of heaven, and David did not want to conduct a full and detailed census of the entire, numerous, nation.

יוֹאָב בֶּן־צְרוּיָה הֵחֵל לִמְנוֹת וְלֹא כִלָּה וַיְהִי בָזֹאת קֶצֶף עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵל וְלֹא עָלָה הַמִּסְפָּר בְּמִסְפַּר דִּבְרֵי הַיָּמִים לַמֶּלֶךְ דָּוִיד

Yoav son of Tzeruya began to count, and he did not finish. Yoav did not want to fulfill David’s command completely. He therefore based his count on estimates and omitted certain groups from the census, but even so, there was wrath on Israel for this. The number did not enter into writing in the tally, or the narrative, in the chronicles of King David.

וְעַל אֹצְרוֹת הַמֶּלֶךְ עַזְמָוֶת בֶּן־עֲדִיאֵל וְעַל הָאֹצָרוֹת בַּשָּׂדֶה בֶּעָרִים וּבַכְּפָרִים וּבַמִּגְדָּלוֹת יְהוֹנָתָן בֶּן־עֻזִּיָּהוּ

The official in charge of the king’s treasuries was Azmavet son of Adiel, and in charge of the treasuries in the field, in the cities, in the villages, and in the towers, was Yehonatan son of Uziyahu;

וְעַל עֹשֵׂי מְלֶאכֶת הַשָּׂדֶה לַעֲבֹדַת הָאֲדָמָה עֶזְרִי בֶּן־כְּלוּב

in charge of the performers of labor of the field for working the land was Ezri son of Keluv;

וְעַל־הַכְּרָמִים שִׁמְעִי הָרָמָתִי וְעַל שֶׁבַּכְּרָמִים לְאֹצְרוֹת הַיַּיִן זַבְדִּי הַשִּׁפְמִי

in charge of the vineyards was Shimi the Ramatite; in charge of that which was in the vineyards, the grapes earmarked for the wine cellars, was Zavdi the Shifmite;

וְעַל־הַזֵּיתִים וְהַשִּׁקְמִים אֲשֶׁר בַּשְּׁפֵלָה בַּעַל חָנָן הַגְּדֵרִי וְעַל־אֹצְרוֹת הַשֶּׁמֶן יוֹעָשׁ

in charge of the olive trees and the sycamores that were in the plain was Baal Hanan the Gederite; and in charge of the oil stores was Yo’ash;

וְעַל־הַבָּקָר הָרֹעִים בַּשָּׁרוֹן שִׁרְטַי הַשָּׁרוֹנִי וְעַל־הַבָּקָר בָּעֲמָקִים שָׁפָט בֶּן־עַדְלָי

and in charge of the cattle that grazed in the Sharon, Shirtai the Sharonite; in charge of the cattle in the valleys was Shafat son of Adlai;

וְעַל־הַגְּמַלִּים אוֹבִיל הַיִּשְׁמְעֵלִי וְעַל־הָאֲתֹנוֹת יֶחְדְּיָהוּ הַמֵּרֹנֹתִי

in charge of the camels was Ovil the Ishmaelite, whose expertise with camels can be attributed to the fact that he dwelled among the Ishmaelites or was himself an Ishmaelite; and in charge of the female donkeys was Yehdeyahu the Meronotite;

וְעַל־הַצֹּאן יָזִיז הַהַגְרִי כָּל־אֵלֶּה שָׂרֵי הָרְכוּשׁ אֲשֶׁר לַמֶּלֶךְ דָּוִיד

and in charge of the flocks was Yaziz the Hagrite, whose expertise in tending to flocks can be attributed to his Arabian origins. All these were the officers of the property that was King David’s.

וִיהוֹנָתָן דּוֹד־דָּוִיד יוֹעֵץ אִישׁ־מֵבִין וְסוֹפֵר הוּא וִיחִיאֵל בֶּן־חַכְמוֹנִי עִם־בְּנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ

Yehonatan, David’s uncle, was counselor; he was a man of understanding, an intelligent, learned individual, and a scribe, who also knew how to write in foreign languages; Yehiel son of Hakhmoni was with the king’s sons; he was responsible for teaching them wisdom and royal protocol. Some read the verse as saying that both Yehonatan and Yehiel were with the king’s sons.

וַאֲחִיתֹפֶל יוֹעֵץ לַמֶּלֶךְ וְחוּשַׁי הָאַרְכִּי רֵעַ הַמֶּלֶךְ

Ahitofel was counselor to the king, concerning all matters on the public agenda; Hushai the Arkite was the king’s confidant. This was not an official position, like that of a counselor; rather, it was a personal appointee of the king who advised the king outside the official framework of his government. He was typically an individual with a very close relationship with the king.

וְאַחֲרֵי אֲחִיתֹפֶל יְהוֹיָדָע בֶּן־בְּנָיָהוּ וְאֶבְיָתָר וְשַׂר־צָבָא לַמֶּלֶךְ יוֹאָב

After Ahitofel, below him in rank in the government, or after him in the order of decision makers, was Yehoyada son of Benayahu, and Evyatar the priest. Some of the early commentaries explain the verse as follows: After Ahitofel died, he was followed by Yehoyada. And the commander of the army for the king was Yoav. In many respects, this was the central and most important office in David’s kingdom.