1 Chronicles 26:31

1Ch 26:31. In the fortieth year of the reign of David — His last year, in which he made all the orders of families and officers recorded in these chapters. We should be so much the more diligent in doing good, as we see the day approaching. If we live not to enjoy the fruit of our labours, let us not grudge it to them that come after us.

Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

26:31 Jazer was a Levitical city (Josh 21:39) that became an administrative center during the monarchy. David and his descendants could depend on the loyalty of the Levites from Hebron (1 Sam 30:27-31; 2 Sam 2:1-11).

Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

(31, 32) Among the Hebronites was Jerijah the chief.—Rather, To the Hebronites there was the head Jeriah (as to the Hebronites, according to their registers, according to families, in the fortieth year of the reign of David, they were sought out; and there were found among them valiant warriors in Jazer-Gilead); and his brethren, sons of might, two thousand seven hundred heads of families: and David the king made them overseers over the Reubenites, &c. The long parenthesis obscures the meaning or these two verses. The general statement is that other Hebronites were charged with the supervision of the land east of Jordan: the parenthesis accounts for the fact.

(31) Jerijah.—1Ch_23:19, “Jeriah.” The Hebrew is the same (Yĕrîyâh).

In the fortieth year of the reign of David.—This datum is important as fixing the time of these last regulations of David. (Comp. 1Ch_23:1.) It evidently points to an ancient source.

Jazer of Gilead.—A Merarite city (Jos_21:39); whereas the Hebronites were Kohathites. Perhaps we should read, “In the cities of Gilead.”

(32) Two thousand and seven hundred chief fathers.—Rather, heads of the families, i.e., of single households. Sometimes the Hebrew phrase means heads of father-houses or clans; but it obviously cannot be so here, as the whole number of Levites appointed to be “officers and judges” was only 6,000 (1Ch_23:4). The 2,700 fathers mentioned here, with the 1,700 of 1Ch_26:30, make a total of 4,400. The remaining 1,600 (6,000 minus 4,400) may probably be assigned to Chenaniah (1Ch_26:29). It is strange that the house of Hebron should be twice mentioned (1Ch_26:30-31) and the house of Uzziel not at all (see 1Ch_26:23). Further, of the three great branches of Levi, none but Kohathite houses are named in connexion with “the outward business.” The account appears to be incomplete.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

31. Among the Hebronites was … fathers] R.V. Of the Hebronites was Jerijah the chief, even of the Hebronites, according to their generations by fathers’ houses. Jerijah is called Jeriah (Heb. Jerijahu) in 1Ch_23:19.

in the fortieth year] Cp. 1Ch_23:27, By the last words (R.V. mg., In the last acts) of David the sons of Levi were numbered.

at Jazer] Cp. 1Ch_6:81 (1Ch_6:66 Heb.); Num_21:32, R.V. The Eastern Hebronites were given office east of Jordan; cp. 1Ch_26:32.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Jazer, a city of Gad, in Galaad. (Adrichomius) (Menochius)

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

In the fortieth year; which was his last year, in which he made all the orders and distributions of families and offices recorded in these chapters.

Jazer of Gilead is here named, either because they were seated in or near that place, but for what cause it is now unknown; or because they were numbered there by some person sent by David to that purpose.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

This verse is at first sight obscure; but its purport is to say that the Hebronite family was, in the lust year of David"s reign, found at Jazer of Gilead, which seems a Merarite city (Jos_13:25 Jos_21:39; Num_21:32) and that Jerijah (1Ch_23:19 1Ch_24:23) was then chief of them. He and his brethren were now appointed to the superintendence of the two tribes and a half eastward of Jordan, while "Hashabiah and his brethren" fulfilled the like duties westward of Jordan The number of those east of Jordan constituted overseers seems large in proportion to those mentioned on the west; but we must bear in mind that the numbers of Chenaniah and their range of sphere are not stated. These will presumably complete the six thousand of 1Ch_23:4. Otherwise we have but to fall back on the conviction that the present account is imperfect as well as brief.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Fortieth year - His last year, in which he made all the orders of families and officers recorded in these chapters. We should be so much the more diligent in doing good, as we see the day approaching. If we live not to enjoy the fruit of our labours, let us not grudge it to them that come after us.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.

Hebron

See how you translated this man's name in 1 Chronicles 23:12. (See: How to Translate Names)

Jeriah

See how you translated this man's name in 1 Chronicles 23:19. (See: How to Translate Names)

counted from the lists

This can be stated in active form. AT: "their names were on the lists" (See: Active or Passive)

In the fortieth year of the reign of David

"When David had been king for 40 years" (See: Ordinal Numbers and Numbers)

men of ability

"capable men"

Jazer

This is the name of a city. (See: How to Translate Names)

2,700 relatives

"two thousand seven hundred family members" (See: Numbers)

translationWords

family

reign

David

Gilead

oversee

tribe

Reuben

Gad

Manasseh

God

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.

to his generations to the fathers in the fortieth year, etc. And also all these computations were in the fortieth year.

Rashi on the Tanakh — English translations: “The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg” (CC BY 4.0); “Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934” (public domain); “The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J” (CC BY 4.0); and “The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.