1 Chronicles 27:32

IV.—DAVID’S PRIVY COUNCIL 1Ch_27:32-34).

(32) Also Jonathan David’s uncle was a counsellor.—A son of David’s brother Shimeah was named Jonathan (1Ch_20:7; 2Sa_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” (sôphçr) 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 sôphçr probably means here, as in Ezr_7:6, “a man of letters,” or “skilled in the sacred law.” (See 1Ch_2:55; Isa_33:18; Psa_45:2.) David’s official sôphçr, or scribe, was Shavsha (1Ch_18:16).

Jehiel the son of Hachmoni.—Rather, son of a Hachmonite. (Comp. 1Ch_11:11.)

With the king’s sons—That is, their tutor. The similar lists in 2Sa_8:15-18, 1Ch_18:15-17, and 2Sa_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 (2Sa_15:31 seq., 2Sa_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 1Ch_27:5, and 1Ch_11:22; 1Ch_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.

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

1Ch 27:32 Also Jonathan David’s uncle was a counsellor, a wise man, and a scribe: and Jehiel the son of Hachmoni [was] with the king’s sons:

Ver. 32. David’s uncle.] Indeed, his nephew or cousin.

A wise man and a scribe.] Prudent and learned.

Was with the king’s sons.] To teach them and train them up.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

1Ch 27:32. A wise man and a scribe — Either one learned in the laws of God, which were also the laws of the land, or the king’s secretary. Jehiel was with the king’s sons — As their tutor or governor.

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

27:32-34 The register of David’s officials concludes with this list of influential persons in the king’s immediate entourage. • A wise counselor to the king was probably an intimate confidant.

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

That is, a man learned in the word of God.

To be their schoolmasters and teachers.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

32–34 (cp. 1Ch_18:15-17 = 2Sa_8:16-18; cp. ib. 2Sa_20:23-26). David’s Officers at Court

32. Jonathan David’s uncle] Render (with R.V. mg.) Jonathan David’s brother’s son. This is most probably the “Jonathan son of Shimea David’s brother” of 1Ch_20:7 (= 2Sa_21:21). No uncle of David named Jonathan is known.

a wise man] R.V. a man of understanding.

a scribe] Not the chief scribe; cp. 1Ch_18:16, note.

with the king’s sons] As tutor; cp. 2Ki_10:6.

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.

A list - supplemental in character - of some chief officers of David, not mentioned before. The list cannot belong to a very late part of David’s reign, since it contains the name of Ahithophel, who killed himself during Absalom’s rebellion 2Sa 17:23.

1Ch 27:33

Was the king’s companion - or, “king’s friend,” as in 1Ki 4:5. Compare also 2Sa 16:17.

1Ch 27:34

After Ahithophel - i. e., next in counsel to Ahithophel: inferior to him, but superior to all others.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Man. Hebrew, "a writer." He was a good politician and lawyer. (Grotius) --- Sons, as tutors. (Du Hamel) (Calmet) --- Jahiel was perhaps the brother of Jesbaam, chap. xi. 11. (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).

A counsellor, a wise man, and a scribe; either one learned in the laws of God, which were also the laws of the land, by which all their counsels were to be ruled; or, the king’s secretary.

With the king’s sons, as their tutor or governor.

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

DAVID’S COUNSELLORS, 32-34.

“This catalogue of the king’s officials forms a supplement to the catalogues of the public officials given in 1Ch_18:15-17; 2Sa_8:15-18; 2Sa_20:23-26. It is not the chief public officials who are enumerated, but only the first counsellors of the king, who formed, as it were, his senate, and the catalogue was probably derived from the same source as the preceding catalogues.” — Keil.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Vers. 32-34. These verses contain the names of seven men of high position, and who were, at all events, important enough, in one respect or another, for this closing special mention.

1. Jonathan and Ahithophel are singled out as counsellors (xewOy) of the king.

2. Hushai the Archite is mentioned as the companion (re) of the king.

3. Jehoiada the son of Benaiah, and Abiathar are mentioned as standing in a similar relation of counsellors to the king with Ahithophel, but after him.

4. The great general of the whole army of the king (ab; x; Arc"), Joab, has a place found for his name.

5. And the name of Jehiel is mentioned as of one with the king"s sons. The first thing which may be observed as to this enumeration is that it is not one whole belonging to the later portion of David"s time. Ahithophel had brag before put an end to his own life (2Sa_17:21-23; also see 15:12, 31, 34; 16:20-23). Secondly, that out of the seven names, four or five are already well known to us in some other capacity; for see the lists of 1Ch_18:14-17; 2Sa_8:16-18 2Sa_20:23-26. And thirdly, that in one or two instances, a different or additional part is assigned to the names mentioned. The impression left with us is rather of honourable or special mention made of seven who had been distinguished helpers of the king or the kingdom at one time or another. Nothing is known of any uncle to David, named Jonathan, but special mention is made, in 1Ch_20:7 and 2Sa_21:21, of a nephew, son of Shimea, who rendered valuable service, and uhose name was Jonathan. It is possible that the Hebrew rwOD may mean "nephew," as simply meaning "relative." It must be admitted, however, as very remarkable, that in Leviticus, Numbers, the historical books, Jeremiah, and Amos, to the number of sixteen times in all, the word confessedly means "uncle;" while this seventeenth time, it would appear to mean "nephew." On the other hand, in Proverbs, Canticles, Isaiah, Ezekiel, to the number of thirty-six times in all, the word follows its other branch of signification of "love," and in particular "one beloved." Nothing certain can be said of the Jehiel of this verse, but, if a son of Hachmoni, we may presume him to have been related to Jashobeam of ver. 2 and 1Ch_11:11.

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

A scribe - Either one learned in the laws of God, which were also the laws of the land, or, the king's secretary. King's sons - As their tutor or governour.

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

Jonathan ... Jehiel ... Hakmoni ... Ahithophel ... Hushai ... Jehoiada

These are names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

Arkite

This is the name of a tribe or clan. (See: How to Translate Names)

translationWords

advice

wise men

scribe

Benaiah

Abiathar

Joab

commander

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

And Jehiel the son of Hachmoni was with the king’s sons He was their nurturer and their nurse, who taught them culture.

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.