Annotations upon the remaining historicall part of the Old Testament. The second part. to wit, the books of Joshua, Judges, the two books of Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles, and the books of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther : wherein first, all such passages in the text are explained as were thought likely to be questioned by any reader of ordinary capacity : secondly, in many clauses those things are discovered which are needfull and usefull to be known ... and thirdly, many places that might at first seem to contradict one another are reconciled ... / by Arthur Jackson.

CHAP. XXVII.

Vers. 1. NOw the children of Israel after their number, &c.] As in the former chapters is shown, how David distributed the Priests and Levites into twenty foure courses, so here we are told how the Militia of the kingdome were also divided into twelve courses, twenty foure thousand in each course, who in their turns one moneth in the yeare, were still in arms ready to be imployed in any service for the State, as the king should appoint them: by which means all the able men of the kingdome were still trained up to be expert in the use of their arms, and there was alwayes a sufficient number ready in arms, if on a sudden there should be any occa∣sion to make use of them: neither was it any great burthen to the people though for that moneth they bore their own charges, because all the rest of the yeare they were free to follow their own employments.

Vers. 3. Of the children of Perez, was the chief of all the captains of the host for the first moneth.] To wit, Jashobeam of whom in the former verse, who was al∣so chief of Davids Worthies. See chap. 11.11. It seems he was of the posteritie of Perez or Pharez the sonne of Judah, Gen, 46.12. and therefore he had the prehemi∣nence of being commander in chief over the first course, and it may be had some command over the captains in the other courses.

Vers. 4. And of his course was Mikloth also the ruler.] To wit, after the death of Dodai. Some understand that he was Dodai his Lieutenant; but why then is not the Lieutenant of every course and company likewise named? Rather therefore I conceive, that Mikloth was the captain of this course after Dodai, as is said of Zeba∣diah, vers. 7. that he was captain the fourth moneth after his father Asahel was dead, who died in the beginning of Davids reigne.

Vers. 5. The third captain of the host for the third moneth, was Benaiah the sonne of Jehoiadae a chief priest.] If the words be read as it is in the margin (the sonne of Jehoiada a principall officer) there is no difficulty at all in them; but if we

read them as in our text (the sonne of Jehoiada a chief priest) by the sonne of Je∣hoiada, must be meant the sonne in law of Jehoiada: for it is not likely that the priests were in ordinary course captains and commanders of Davids bands of soul∣diers, though sometimes indeed upon extraordinary occasions it is evident that the priests did arm themselves.

Vers. 22. These were the princes of the tribes of Israel.] That is, these were the heads of the tribes, who had chief power in the civil government. The Princes of Gad and Asher are not here expressed, perhaps because the Gadites and the Reu∣benites, or the half tribe of Manasseh without Jordan, had but one Prince over them both, and so likewise the children of Asher might be joyned with some tribe that bordered upon them.

Vers. 23. But David took not the number of them from twenty years old and under.] Having set down the Princes of the tribes, it might be expected that in the next place should be set down the number of each tribe that were under these Prin∣ces: especially because the people had been so lately numbred by David. In answer whereto therefore this clause is inserted, and two things concerning this are affirmed: First, that David gave order to number onely those of twenty years old and up∣wards; and that because the Lord had said he would increase Israel like to the starres of the heavens, and so David would not attempt to have them so numbred, to wit, because he would not seem to question the truth of that promise; and withall be∣cause he did indeed think it would be an endlesse and tedious work. And secondly, vers. 24. Joab the sonne of Zeruiah began to number, but finished not, because there fell wrath for it against Israel, to wit, because the plague being begun, he saw the work was displeasing to God, and so gave it over, chap. 21.6. But Levi and Benja∣min counted he not: for the kings word was abominable to Joab.

Vers. 24. Neither was the number put in the account of the Chronicles of king David.] To wit, both because the work was not finished, and because their pro∣ceeding so farre in it, had brought so great wrath upon Israel.

Vers. 32. And Jehiel the sonne of Hachmoni was with the kings sonnes.] That is, their tutour, one that was to see that they were in all things trained up and in∣structed as beseemed the princes of Israel.

Vers. 33. And Hushai the Archite was the kings companion.] That is, his chief favourite, in whose company he most delighted.

Vers. 34. And after Ahithophel, was Jehoiada the sonne of Benaiah, and Abi∣athar.] That is, after Ahithophels death, Jehoiada and Abiathar were his chief coun∣sellours.