1 Chronicles 27:32-34

23. SPECIAL COUNSELLORS (1 Chronicles 27:32-34)

TEXT

1 Chronicles 27:32. Also Jonathan, David's uncle, was a counsellor, a man of understanding, and a scribe: and Jehiel the son of Hachmoni was with the king's sons: 33. and Ahithophel was the king's counsellor: and Hushai the Archite was the king's friend: 34. and after Ahithophel was Jehoiada the son of Benaiah, and Abiathar: and the captain of the king's host was Joab.

PARAPHRASE

1 Chronicles 27:32. The attendant to the king's sons was Jonathan, David's uncle, a wise counsellor and an educated man. Jehiel (the son of Hachmoni) was their tutor. 33. Ahithophel was the king's official counsellor and Hushai the Archite was his personal advisor. 34. Ahithophel was assisted by Jehoiada (the son of Benaiah) and by Abiathar. Joab was commander-in-chief of the Israeli army.

COMMENTARY

Jonathan, here called David's uncle, is named in 2 Samuel 21:21 as David's brother Shimea's son. He would then be David's nephew. The term used here may simply refer to Jonathan as a relative. His credentials in this record are very good. He must have been intelligent, well educated, an able consultant to David. Ahithophel was a trusted counsellor of David'S. He is identified as the grandfather of Bathsheba. When Absalom rebelled, Ahithophel went with him. Hushai returned to Jerusalem at the time of Absalom's rebellion so he could defeat the counsel of Ahithophel. When Ahithophel saw that he had taken second place to Hushai, he went home and hanged himself (2 Samuel 17:23). David also received some valuable assistance in policy making from Jehoiada and Abiathar, both of whom were from the priestly connection. Joab certainly was one of David's closest confidants. All of these men were makers of history. Each was very influential in his own right and carried the destiny of many people on his shoulders.