서론
無標題
英文原文
In this chapter we have the civil list, including the military, I. The twelve captains for every separate month of the year, 1Ch 27:1-15. II. The princes of the several tribes, 1Ch 27:16-24. III. The officers of the court, 1Ch 27:25-34.
1-15
The Officers of the Army (1015 BC)
軍隊的官長（主前 1015 年）
¹ 以色列人的族長、千夫長、百夫長和官長，都分定班次，每班每月輪流出入服事王；每班共有二萬四千人。 ² 正月第一班的班長是撒巴第業的兒子雅朔班；他班內有二萬四千人。 ³ 他是法勒斯的子孫，是正月所有軍長的首領。 ⁴ 二月的班長是亞何亞人朵代；他本班還有副官密基羅；他班內也有二萬四千人。 ⁵ 三月第三班的軍長是祭司長耶何耶大的兒子比拿雅；他班內有二萬四千人。 ⁶ 這比拿雅是三十勇士中的首領，管轄那三十人；他班內有他兒子暗米薩拔。 ⁷ 四月第四班的軍長是約押的兄弟亞撒黑，他兒子西巴第雅接續他；他班內有二萬四千人。 ⁸ 五月第五班的軍長是以斯拉人珊合；他班內有二萬四千人。 ⁹ 六月第六班的軍長是提哥亞人益吉的兒子以拉；他班內有二萬四千人。 ¹⁰ 七月第七班的軍長是以法蓮族比倫人希利斯；他班內有二萬四千人。 ¹¹ 八月第八班的軍長是謝拉族戶沙人西比太；他班內有二萬四千人。 ¹² 九月第九班的軍長是便雅憫族亞拿突人亞比以謝；他班內有二萬四千人。 ¹³ 十月第十班的軍長是謝拉族尼陀法人瑪哈萊；他班內有二萬四千人。 ¹⁴ 十一月第十一班的軍長是以法蓮族比拉頓人比拿雅；他班內有二萬四千人。 ¹⁵ 十二月第十二班的軍長是俄陀聶族尼陀法人黑第；他班內有二萬四千人。
我們在此看到王國民兵編制的記載。大衛本人是個戰士，曾用刀劍成就了大事；他曾率領大軍上陣。如今我們在此讀到，當神救他脫離一切仇敵、使他得享太平之後，他如何將軍隊編列整齊。他並未將他們全部聚在一處，因為那樣會使他們和國家都過於勞累；但他也沒有將他們全部解散遣散，否則他便使國家赤手空拳，他的百姓也會忘記他們先前受訓的戰事技巧。於是他設法維持常備的兵力，卻又不致成為常備軍。這個設計極為明智。1. 他隨時保持二萬四千人在武裝之中，我想是成建制地編成、受過操練的，分駐在全國的這一處或那一處；自耕農自備武器、自備費用，輪值之時服役。這股力量足以保衛公共的和平與安全。真正作以色列人的，必須學習戰事；因為我們有當較量的仇敵，必須時刻保持警備。2. 他每月輪換一次；如此一來，民兵的總數便達到二十八萬八千人，也許約佔全國能上陣之人的五分之一。藉著如此分為十二班，他們全都受過軍事演習的訓練，並且習以為常；然而沒有一個人被迫服役和負擔費用超過一年中的一個月（這是他們完全可以負擔得起的），除非遇有特殊情況，那時他們可以迅速全部集合。執政者的智慧，也是他們極大的稱讚，就是在為公共安全作預備之時，設法使這預備既有效又輕省，並盡量少給百姓添負擔。3. 每班都有一位元帥統領。除了統轄千、百、五十人的次級軍官之外，每一班或每一軍團都有一位將級軍官。這十二位大元帥，都見於大衛的勇士和猛將名單之中（撒下二十三8-39、代上十一10-47）。他們先是因著偉大的功績彰顯了自己，然後才被提拔到那些高位。一個國家若使尊榮隨功績而來，便是國家之福。比拿雅在此被稱為「祭司長」（代上二十七5）。但「cohen」一詞既指「祭司」，也指「君王」，所以這裏也許譯作「主要官長」更為貼切（如旁註所言）。朵代有密基羅（代上二十七4），無論是作他缺席或病弱時的代理人，還是作他去世後的繼任者。比拿雅有他的兒子在他以下（代上二十七6）。亞撒黑有他兒子接續他（代上二十七7），由此看來，這套民兵的編制乃是在大衛王朝初期所定的；因為亞撒黑在大衛還在希伯崙作王時，就被押尼珥殺了。當他的戰事完畢之後，他恢復了這套制度，並將軍事事务留在這個格局之中，好為他兒子所羅門太平的王朝效力。我們即使以為自己最為安全，但只要仍在肉身之中，就當常作準備，應付屬靈的爭戰。「戴上盔甲的，不可像脫下盔甲的那樣誇口。」
英文原文
The Officers of the Army (1015 BC)
¹ Now the children of Israel after their number, to wit, the chief fathers and captains of thousands and hundreds, and their officers that served the king in any matter of the courses, which came in and went out month by month throughout all the months of the year, of every course were twenty and four thousand.
² Over the first course for the first month was Jashobeam the son of Zabdiel: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.
³ Of the children of Perez was the chief of all the captains of the host for the first month.
⁴ And over the course of the second month was Dodai an Ahohite, and of his course was Mikloth also the ruler: in his course likewise were twenty and four thousand.
⁵ The third captain of the host for the third month was Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, a chief priest: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.
⁶ This is that Benaiah, who was mighty among the thirty, and above the thirty: and in his course was Ammizabad his son.
⁷ The fourth captain for the fourth month was Asahel the brother of Joab, and Zebadiah his son after him: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.
⁸ The fifth captain for the fifth month was Shamhuth the Izrahite: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.
⁹ The sixth captain for the sixth month was Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.
¹⁰ The seventh captain for the seventh month was Helez the Pelonite, of the children of Ephraim: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.
¹¹ The eighth captain for the eighth month was Sibbecai the Hushathite, of the Zarhites: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.
¹² The ninth captain for the ninth month was Abiezer the Anetothite, of the Benjamites: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.
¹³ The tenth captain for the tenth month was Maharai the Netophathite, of the Zarhites: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.
¹⁴ The eleventh captain for the eleventh month was Benaiah the Pirathonite, of the children of Ephraim: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.
¹⁵ The twelfth captain for the twelfth month was Heldai the Netophathite, of Othniel: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.
We have here an account of the regulation of the militia of the kingdom. David was himself a man of war, and had done great things with the sword; he had brought into the field great armies. Now here we are told how he marshalled them when God had given him rest from all his enemies. He did not keep them all together, for that would have been a hardship on them and the country; yet he did not disband and disperse them all, for then he would have left his kingdom naked, and his people would have forgotten the arts of war, wherein they had been instructed. He therefore contrived to keep up a constant force, and yet not a standing army. The model is very prudent. 1. He kept up 24,000 constantly in arms, I suppose in a body, and disciplined, in one part or other of the kingdom, the freeholders carrying their own arms and bearing their own charges while they were up. This was a sufficient strength for the securing of the public peace and safety. Those that are Israelites indeed must learn war; for we have enemies to grapple with, whom we are concerned constantly to stand upon our guard against. 2. He changed them every month; so that the whole number of the militia amounted to 288,000, perhaps about a fifth part of the able men of the kingdom. By being thus distributed into twelve courses, they were all instructed in, and accustomed to, military exercises; and yet none were compelled to be in service, and at expenses, above one month in the year (which they might very well afford), unless upon extraordinary occasions, and then they might all be got together quickly. It is the wisdom of governors, and much their praise, while they provide for the public safety, to contrive how to make it effectual and yet easy, and as little as possible burdensome to the people. 3. Every course had a commander in chief over it. Besides the subaltern officers that were rulers over thousands, and hundreds, and fifties, there was one general officer to each course or legion. All these twelve great commanders are mentioned among David's worthies and champions, 2Sa 23:8-39, 1Ch 11:10-47 They had first signalized themselves by their great actions and then they were advanced to those great preferments. It is well with a kingdom when honour thus attends merit. Benaiah is here called a chief priest, 1Ch 27:5. But, cohen signifying both a priest and a prince, it might better be translated here a chief ruler, or (as in the margin) a principal officer. Dodai had Mikloth (1Ch 27:4) either for his substitute when he was absent or infirm, or for his successor when he was dead. Benaiah had his son under him, 1Ch 27:6. Asahel had his son after him (1Ch 27:7), and by this it seems that this plan of the militia was laid in the beginning of David's reign; for Asahel was killed by Abner while David reigned in Hebron. When his wars were over he revived this method, and left the military affairs in this posture, for the peaceable reign of his son Solomon. When we think ourselves most safe, yet, while we are here in the body, we must keep in a readiness for spiritual conflicts. Let not him that girdeth on the harness boast as he that puts it off.
16-34
The Military Force (1015 BC)
兵力與朝廷官員（主前 1015 年）
¹⁶ 管理以色列眾支派的是：流便人的首領是細基利的兒子以利以謝；西緬人的首領是瑪迦的兒子示法提雅；* ¹⁷ 利未人的首領是基母利的兒子哈沙比雅；亞倫家的首領是撒督；* ¹⁸ 猶大人的首領是大衛的一個弟兄以利戶；以薩迦人的首領是米迦勒的兒子暗利；* ¹⁹ 西布倫人的首領是俄巴第的兒子以斯瑪雅；拿弗他利人的首領是亞斯列的兒子耶利摩；* ²⁰ 以法蓮人的首領是亞撒西雅的兒子何細阿；瑪拿西半支派的首領是毗大雅的兒子約珥；* ²¹ 基列的瑪拿西半支派的首領是撒迦利亞的兒子易多；便雅憫人的首領是押尼珥的兒子雅西業；* ²² 但人的首領是耶羅罕的兒子亞薩列。以上是以色列眾支派的首領。* ²³ 以色列人二十歲以內的，大衛沒有記其數目，因為耶和華曾應許說：必使以色列人增多如同天上的星。* ²⁴ 洗魯雅的兒子約押動手數點，卻沒有數完，因為這事降怒於以色列；數點的數目也沒有記在大衛王記上。* ²⁵ 掌管王府庫的是亞疊的兒子押斯瑪弗；掌管田野城邑鄉村保障之倉庫的是烏西亞的兒子約拿單；* ²⁶ 掌管耕種田地之工人的是基綠的兒子以斯利；* ²⁷ 掌管葡萄園的是拉瑪人示每；掌管葡萄園酒庫的是實弗米人撒巴底；* ²⁸ 掌管低原沙崙橄欖樹和桑樹的是基第利人巴勒哈南；掌管油庫的是約阿施；* ²⁹ 掌管在沙崙牧放之牛群的是沙崙人施特賴；掌管在山谷牧放之牛群的是亞代的兒子沙法；* ³⁰ 掌管駱駝的是以實瑪利人俄巴勒；掌管驢群的是米羅諾特人耶希底亞；* ³¹ 掌管羊群的是夏甲人雅悉。以上都是掌管大衛王產業的官長。* ³² 大衛的叔叔約拿單作謀士，是大有智慧的人，又作書記；哈革摩尼的兒子耶歇陪伴王的眾子；* ³³ 亞希多弗作王的謀士；亞基人戶篩作王的朋友；* ³⁴ 亞希多弗之後，有耶何耶大的兒子比拿雅和亞比亞他；王的軍長是約押。*
此處我們看到關於以下各項的記載：
一、各支派的首領。摩西在曠野所設立的古時制度，某種程度上仍然存留——每個支派都有自己的首領或族長。這制度可能一直沿襲下來，或藉選舉，或藉世襲（在同一個家室內）；此處所記的，是在統計之時任這職務的人。猶大人的首領以利戶（或作以利押），是耶西的長子，是摩西時代這支派首領拿順、撒門的直系後裔。至於這些首領究竟像郡守那樣在軍事上引導各支派，還是像首席法官那樣在他們的法庭上主持，經上沒有說明。我們可以推想，如今各支派既都聯合在一位君王之下，他們的權力已遠不及從前大多數時候各自為政之時。我們的信仰要求我們順服，「為主的緣故，要順服人的一切制度」，「或是在上的君王，或是君王所派罰惡賞善的臣宰」（彼前二13,14）。便雅憫人的首領是押尼珥的兒子雅西業，代上二十七21。押尼珥雖然是大衛的仇敵，曾阻撓他登基，大衛卻不因此反對提拔他的兒子，反倒可能提名他擔任這尊榮的職位——這教導我們「以善報惡」（參羅十二21）。
二、關於數點百姓（代上二十七23,24）。此處說：1. 大衛下令數點百姓之時，禁止數點二十歲以下的人，想藉此避免自己的作為對「他們將不可勝數」的應許所造成的影響。然而這補救之法十分拙劣，因為二十歲以下的人本來就不在數點之列，而關於人數的應許主要還是指著有效人力說的。2. 大衛在心裡驕傲之下所作的統計，並沒有帶來甚麼好結果；因為這工作從未完成，也未作得精確，更沒有作為正式記錄存留下來。約押對此厭惡，只作了一半；大衛對此感到羞愧，情願它被遺忘，因為「這事降怒於以色列」。一個敬虔的人，在反省之時，不能以神所不喜悅的事自娛；不能以罪惡所得之物為用，也不能在其中得安慰。
三、關於朝廷的官員。1. 「掌管王的產業」的官長（代上二十七31），就是那些負責監管王的耕地、葡萄園、橄欖園、牛群、駱駝、驢群、羊群的人。此處沒有為排場所設的官職，沒有為娛樂所設的官職——沒有掌管衣庫的，沒有掌管典禮的，沒有掌管馬廄的，沒有掌管獵犬的；一切都是為服務，與那時代的簡樸相稱。大衛是偉大的戰士、偉大的學者、偉大的君王，卻也是自己產業的好管家——他自己留了大量土地，並加以經營，不是為了消遣，乃是為了收益；因為「君王也受田地的供應」（傳五9）。官長若要百姓勤勞，自己就必須作勤勞和專注於事務的榜樣。然而我們看到，後來「國中窮乏的人」只配作「葡萄園的和耕地的人」（王下二十五12）。如今大衛卻派他的重臣主持這些事務。2. 伺候王本人的侍從。他們都是因智慧出眾而被選的，乃是為了與王交往而設的。王的叔叔是一位智者，又作書記——不僅精通政治，而且熟讀聖經——作王的謀士，代上二十七32。另有一位無疑在學問和謹慎上出類拔萃的，作王子女的師傅。亞希多弗這位十分精明的人作王的謀士；但戶篩這位誠實人作王的同伴和親信。看不出他有許多謀士；但他所擁有的，都是有極大才幹的人。君王的智慧，很大一部分顯在他對臣宰的揀選上。然而大衛雖然有這一切可信賴、蒙寵愛的親屬和謀士環繞身邊，卻把自己的聖經置於他們一切之上：「你的法度是我所喜樂的，是我的謀士」（詩一一九24）。
英文原文
The Military Force (1015 BC)
¹⁶ Furthermore over the tribes of Israel: the ruler of the Reubenites was Eliezer the son of Zichri: of the Simeonites, Shephatiah the son of Maachah:
¹⁷ Of the Levites, Hashabiah the son of Kemuel: of the Aaronites, Zadok:
¹⁸ Of Judah, Elihu, one of the brethren of David: of Issachar, Omri the son of Michael:
¹⁹ Of Zebulun, Ishmaiah the son of Obadiah: of Naphtali, Jerimoth the son of Azriel:
²⁰ Of the children of Ephraim, Hoshea the son of Azaziah: of the half tribe of Manasseh, Joel the son of Pedaiah:
²¹ Of the half tribe of Manasseh in Gilead, Iddo the son of Zechariah: of Benjamin, Jaasiel the son of Abner:
²² Of Dan, Azareel the son of Jeroham. These were the princes of the tribes of Israel.
²³ But David took not the number of them from twenty years old and under: because the LORD had said he would increase Israel like to the stars of the heavens.
²⁴ Joab the son of Zeruiah began to number, but he finished not, because there fell wrath for it against Israel; neither was the number put in the account of the chronicles of king David.
²⁵ And over the king's treasures was Azmaveth the son of Adiel: and over the storehouses in the fields, in the cities, and in the villages, and in the castles, was Jehonathan the son of Uzziah:
²⁶ And over them that did the work of the field for tillage of the ground was Ezri the son of Chelub:
²⁷ And over the vineyards was Shimei the Ramathite: over the increase of the vineyards for the wine cellars was Zabdi the Shiphmite:
²⁸ And over the olive trees and the sycamore trees that were in the low plains was Baal-hanan the Gederite: and over the cellars of oil was Joash:
²⁹ And over the herds that fed in Sharon was Shitrai the Sharonite: and over the herds that were in the valleys was Shaphat the son of Adlai:
³⁰ Over the camels also was Obil the Ishmaelite: and over the asses was Jehdeiah the Meronothite:
³¹ And over the flocks was Jaziz the Hagerite. All these were the rulers of the substance which was king David's.
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:
³³ And Ahithophel was the king's counsellor: and Hushai the Archite was the king's companion:
³⁴ And after Ahithophel was Jehoiada the son of Benaiah, and Abiathar: and the general of the king's army was Joab.
We have here an account,
I. Of the princes of the tribes. Something of the ancient order instituted by Moses in the wilderness was still kept up, that every tribe should have its prince or chief. It is probable that it was kept up all along, either by election or by succession, in the same family; and those are here named who were found in that office when this account was taken. Elihu, or Eliab, who was prince of Judah, was the eldest son of Jesse, and descended in a right line from Nahshon and Salmon, the princes of this tribe in Moses's time. Whether these princes were of the nature of lord-lieutenants that guided them in their military affairs, or chief-justices that presided in their courts of judgment, does not appear. Their power, we may suppose, was much less now that all the tribes were united under one king than it had been when, for the most part, they acted separately. Our religion obliges us to be subject, not only to the king as supreme, but unto governors under him (1Pe 2:13,14), the princes that decree justice. Of Benjamin was Jaaziel the son of Abner, 1Ch 27:21. Though Abner was David's enemy, and opposed his coming to the throne, yet David would not oppose the preferment of his son, but perhaps nominated him to this post of honour, which teaches us to render good for evil.
II. Of the numbering of the people, 1Ch 27:23,24. It is here said, 1. That when David ordered the people to be numbered he forbade the numbering of those under twenty years old, thinking thereby to save the reflection which what he did might otherwise cast upon the promise that they should be innumerable; yet it was but a poor salvo, for it had never been customary to number those under twenty, and the promise of their numbers chiefly respected the effective men. 2. That the account which David took of the people, in the pride of his heart, turned to no good account; for it was never perfected, nor done with exactness, nor was it ever recorded as an authentic account. Joab was disgusted with it, and did it by halves; David was ashamed of it, and willing it should be forgotten, because there fell wrath for it against Israel. A good man cannot, in the reflection, please himself with that which he knows God is displeased with, cannot make use of that, nor take comfort in that, which is obtained by sin.
III. Of the officers of the court. 1. The rulers of the king's substance (as they are called, 1Ch 27:31), such as had the oversight and charge of the king's tillage, his vineyards, his olive-yards, his herds, his camels, his asses, his flocks. Here are no officers for state, none for sport, no master of the wardrobe, no master of the ceremonies, no master of the horse, no master of the hounds, but all for service, agreeable to the simplicity and plainness of those times. David was a great soldier, a great scholar, and a great prince, and yet a great husband of his estate, kept a great deal of ground in his own hand, and stocked it, not for pleasure, but for profit; for the king himself is served of the field, Ec 5:9. Those magistrates that would have their subjects industrious must themselves be examples of industry and application to business. We find, however, that afterwards the poor of the land were thought good enough to be vine-dressers and husbandmen, 2Ki 25:12. Now David put his great men to preside in these employments. 2. The attendants on the king's person. They were such as were eminent for wisdom, being designed for conversation. His uncle, who was a wise man and a scribe, not only well skilled in politics, but well read in the scriptures, was his counsellor, 1Ch 27:32. Another, who no doubt excelled in learning and prudence, was tutor to his children. Ahithophel, a very cunning man, was his counsellor: but Hushai, an honest man, was his companion and confidant. It does not appear that he had many counsellors; but those he had were men of great abilities. Much of the wisdom of princes is seen in the choice of their ministry. But David, though he had all these trusty and well-beloved cousins and counsellors about him, preferred his Bible before them all. Ps 119:24, Thy testimonies are my delight and my counsellors.
本章我們讀到民政名冊，包括軍事編制：一、一年中每一個月分別的十二位首領（代上二十七1–15）。二、各支派的族長（代上二十七16–24）。三、朝廷的官員（代上二十七25–34）。