2 Samuel 8:16
New International Version
Joab son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was recorder;

New Living Translation
Joab son of Zeruiah was commander of the army. Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the royal historian.

English Standard Version
Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the army, and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder,

Berean Standard Bible
Joab son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the recorder;

King James Bible
And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder;

New King James Version
Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder;

New American Standard Bible
Joab the son of Zeruiah was commander over the army, and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was secretary.

NASB 1995
Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the army, and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder.

NASB 1977
And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the army, and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder.

Legacy Standard Bible
Now Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the army, and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder;

Amplified Bible
Joab the son of Zeruiah was [commander] over the army; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder (secretary);

Christian Standard Bible
Joab son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was court historian;

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Joab son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was court historian;

American Standard Version
And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder;

Contemporary English Version
Joab the son of Zeruiah was the commander in chief of the army. Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud kept the government records.

English Revised Version
And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Zeruiah's son Joab was in charge of the army. Ahilud's son Jehoshaphat was the royal historian.

Good News Translation
Joab, whose mother was Zeruiah, was the commander of the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was in charge of the records;

International Standard Version
Zeruiah's son Joab served in charge of the army, Ahilud's son Jehoshaphat was his personal archivist,

Majority Standard Bible
Joab son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the recorder;

NET Bible
Joab son of Zeruiah was general in command of the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was secretary;

New Heart English Bible
And Joab the son of Zeruiah was in charge of the army; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder;

Webster's Bible Translation
And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder;

World English Bible
Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the army, Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and Joab son of Zeruiah [is] over the host, and Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud [is] remembrancer,

Young's Literal Translation
and Joab son of Zeruiah is over the host, and Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud is remembrancer,

Smith's Literal Translation
And Joab, son of Zeruiah, over the army; and Jehoshaphat, son of Ahilud, remembering.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Joab the son of Sarvia was over the army: and Josaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder:

Catholic Public Domain Version
Now Joab, the son Zeruiah, was over the army. And Jehoshaphat, the son of Ahilud, was the keeper of records.

New American Bible
Joab, son of Zeruiah, was in command of the army. Jehoshaphat, son of Ahilud, was chancellor.

New Revised Standard Version
Joab son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was recorder;
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And Joab the son of Zoriah was over the army; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Yuab, son of Tsuriya, was over the army, and Yushaphat, son of Akhilud, was the Recorder
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Joab the son of Saruia was over the host; and Josaphat the son of Achilud was keeper of the records.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
David's Officers
15Thus David reigned over all Israel and administered justice and righteousness for all his people: 16Joab son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the recorder; 17Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were priests; Seraiah was the scribe;…

Cross References
1 Chronicles 18:14-17
Thus David reigned over all Israel and administered justice and righteousness for all his people: / Joab son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the recorder; / Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were priests; Shavsha was the scribe; ...

1 Kings 4:1-6
So King Solomon ruled over Israel, / and these were his chief officials: Azariah son of Zadok was the priest; / Elihoreph and Ahijah, the sons of Shisha, were secretaries; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the recorder; ...

1 Kings 2:35
And the king appointed Benaiah son of Jehoiada in Joab’s place over the army, and he appointed Zadok the priest in Abiathar’s place.

1 Chronicles 11:6
Now David had said, “Whoever is the first to strike down a Jebusite will become chief commander.” And Joab son of Zeruiah went up first, and he became the chief.

1 Chronicles 27:32-34
David’s uncle Jonathan was a counselor; he was a man of insight and a scribe. Jehiel son of Hachmoni attended to the sons of the king. / Ahithophel was the king’s counselor. Hushai the Archite was the king’s friend. / Ahithophel was succeeded by Jehoiada son of Benaiah, then by Abiathar. Joab was the commander of the king’s army.

1 Kings 1:8
But Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and David’s mighty men would not join Adonijah.

1 Kings 1:32-40
Then King David said, “Call in for me Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada.” So they came before the king. / “Take my servants with you,” said the king. “Set my son Solomon on my own mule and take him down to Gihon. / There Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet are to anoint him king over Israel. You are to blow the ram’s horn and declare, ‘Long live King Solomon!’ ...

1 Kings 2:5-6
Moreover, you know what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me—what he did to Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether, the two commanders of the armies of Israel. He killed them in peacetime to avenge the blood of war. He stained with the blood of war the belt around his waist and the sandals on his feet. / So act according to your wisdom, and do not let his gray head go down to Sheol in peace.

1 Kings 2:28-34
When the news reached Joab, who had conspired with Adonijah but not with Absalom, he fled to the tent of the LORD and took hold of the horns of the altar. / It was reported to King Solomon: “Joab has fled to the tent of the LORD and is now beside the altar.” So Solomon sent Benaiah son of Jehoiada, saying, “Go, strike him down!” / And Benaiah entered the tent of the LORD and said to Joab, “The king says, ‘Come out!’” But Joab replied, “No, I will die here.” So Benaiah relayed the message to the king, saying, “This is how Joab answered me.” ...

1 Chronicles 12:26-28
From Levi: 4,600, / including Jehoiada, leader of the house of Aaron, with 3,700 men, / and Zadok, a mighty young man of valor, with 22 commanders from his own family.

1 Chronicles 12:38
All these men of war, arrayed for battle, came to Hebron fully determined to make David king over all Israel. And all the rest of the Israelites were of one mind to make David king.

1 Chronicles 27:1-15
This is the list of the Israelites—the heads of families, the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and their officers who served the king in every matter concerning the divisions on rotating military duty each month throughout the year. There were 24,000 men in each division: / Jashobeam son of Zabdiel was in charge of the first division, which was assigned the first month. There were 24,000 men in his division. / He was a descendant of Perez and chief of all the army commanders for the first month. ...

1 Chronicles 27:25-31
Azmaveth son of Adiel was in charge of the royal storehouses. Jonathan son of Uzziah was in charge of the storehouses in the country, in the cities, in the villages, and in the fortresses. / Ezri son of Chelub was in charge of the workers in the fields who tilled the soil. / Shimei the Ramathite was in charge of the vineyards. Zabdi the Shiphmite was in charge of the produce of the vineyards for the wine vats. ...

1 Chronicles 27:22
and over Dan was Azarel son of Jeroham. These were the leaders of the tribes of Israel.

1 Chronicles 27:16-22
These officers were in charge of the tribes of Israel: Over the Reubenites was Eliezer son of Zichri; over the Simeonites was Shephatiah son of Maacah; / over Levi was Hashabiah son of Kemuel; over Aaron was Zadok; / over Judah was Elihu, one of David’s brothers; over Issachar was Omri son of Michael; ...


Treasury of Scripture

And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder;

Joab

2 Samuel 19:13
And say ye to Amasa, Art thou not of my bone, and of my flesh? God do so to me, and more also, if thou be not captain of the host before me continually in the room of Joab.

2 Samuel 20:23
Now Joab was over all the host of Israel: and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites:

1 Chronicles 11:6
And David said, Whosoever smiteth the Jebusites first shall be chief and captain. So Joab the son of Zeruiah went first up, and was chief.

Jehoshaphat

1 Kings 4:3
Elihoreph and Ahiah, the sons of Shisha, scribes; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud, the recorder.

recorder.

Jump to Previous
Ahilud Ahi'lud Army Chief Chronicler Host Jehoshaphat Jehosh'aphat Joab Jo'ab Keeper Recorder Records Remembrancer Zeruiah Zeru'iah
Jump to Next
Ahilud Ahi'lud Army Chief Chronicler Host Jehoshaphat Jehosh'aphat Joab Jo'ab Keeper Recorder Records Remembrancer Zeruiah Zeru'iah
2 Samuel 8
1. David subdues the Philistines and the Moabites
3. He smites Hadadezer, and the Syrians
9. Toi sends Joram with presents to bless him
11. David dedicates the presents and the spoil to God
14. He puts garrisons in Edom
16. David's officers














Joab son of Zeruiah
Joab, whose name means "Yahweh is father," was a prominent military leader under King David. As the son of Zeruiah, David's sister, Joab was not only a skilled warrior but also a close relative of the king, which afforded him significant influence and responsibility. His role as commander of the army was crucial in establishing and maintaining the kingdom's military strength. Joab's leadership was marked by both loyalty and ruthlessness, reflecting the complex nature of human leadership in biblical narratives. His actions throughout the biblical account demonstrate the challenges of balancing familial loyalty with the demands of justice and righteousness.

was over the army
This phrase indicates Joab's position as the chief military officer, a role of immense importance in the ancient Near Eastern context. The Hebrew term for "army" (צָבָא, tsaba) often denotes not just a military force but also an organized group prepared for battle. Joab's command over the army signifies his strategic and tactical expertise, which was vital for the defense and expansion of Israel's territory. His leadership contributed to the establishment of Israel as a formidable power in the region, fulfilling God's promises to David regarding the security and prosperity of his kingdom.

Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud
Jehoshaphat, meaning "Yahweh has judged," served as the recorder or chronicler in David's administration. His father, Ahilud, is mentioned to establish his lineage, a common practice in biblical texts to affirm legitimacy and heritage. Jehoshaphat's role was crucial in maintaining the historical and administrative records of the kingdom. This position required integrity and accuracy, as the recorder was responsible for documenting the king's decrees, military campaigns, and other significant events. His work ensured that the history of David's reign was preserved for future generations, highlighting the importance of record-keeping in understanding God's unfolding plan for His people.

was the recorder
The term "recorder" (מַזְכִּיר, mazkir) refers to an official responsible for keeping records and managing the king's correspondence. In the context of David's reign, the recorder played a vital role in the administration of the kingdom, ensuring that the king's decisions and the nation's history were accurately documented. This position underscores the value of written records in preserving the legacy and lessons of the past. The recorder's work was not merely bureaucratic but served a divine purpose in chronicling God's faithfulness and the unfolding of His covenant with Israel. Through the meticulous work of individuals like Jehoshaphat, the biblical narrative was preserved, providing future generations with a testimony of God's sovereignty and grace.

(16) Was recorder.--This was a different office from that of "the scribe" (filled by Seraiah), and appears from 2Kings 18:18-37; 2Chronicles 34:8, to have been one of considerable importance. (Comp. also Esther 6:1.) His duty is supposed to have been something like that of the modern "chancellor," and he not only registered the king's decrees, but was his adviser. The same person continued to fill the office in the early years of Solomon's reign (1Kings 4:3).

Verse 16. - Joab... was over the host. Twice in this book we have lists of David's chief officers - here and at the end of ch. 20. The present lint belongs to the period of David's greatest prosperity, when all went well with him in peace and war, and when Jehovah had elevated him to the unique rank of Messianic king - a distinction which belonged to him personally, and was inherited by none of his successors. Between it and the second list there lies a tragic tale of sin and shame, of crime and merited punishment, of the realm rising in rebellion against the adulterous king, and of his own family breaking away from the bends of godly discipline, and giving way to licentiousness, to bloodshed, and to parricidal ambition. But probably David's character had then gained in spirituality and singleness of heart; whereas now prosperity must already have begun its work of sapping the foundations of his moral nature. Joab, who had been stripped of his command for the murder of Abner, had regained it by his bravery at the capture of Jerusalem. We have seen also that David entrusted to him the building of Jerusalem, and apparently he was prime minister in all matters except probably the king's judicial functions. Jehoshaphat... was recorder; literally, remembrancer. It was his office to reduce the king's decrees to writing, and also to see that they were carried into execution. Probably after they had been committed to writing, they were laid before the king for his approval, and, when confirmed by his hand or seal, were entered in the book of remembrance.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Joab
וְיוֹאָ֥ב (wə·yō·w·’āḇ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3097: Joab -- 'the LORD is father', three Israelites

son
בֶּן־ (ben-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1121: A son

of Zeruiah
צְרוּיָ֖ה (ṣə·rū·yāh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 6870: Zeruiah -- an Israelite woman

was over
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

the army;
הַצָּבָ֑א (haṣ·ṣā·ḇā)
Article | Noun - common singular
Strong's 6635: A mass of persons, reg, organized for, war, a campaign

Jehoshaphat
וִיהוֹשָׁפָ֥ט (wî·hō·wō·šā·p̄āṭ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3092: Jehoshaphat -- 'the LORD has judged', the name of a number of Israelites

son
בֶּן־ (ben-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1121: A son

of Ahilud
אֲחִיל֖וּד (’ă·ḥî·lūḏ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 286: Ahilud -- 'child's brother', two Israelites

[was] the historian;
מַזְכִּֽיר׃ (maz·kîr)
Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 2142: To mark, to remember, to mention, to be male


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OT History: 2 Samuel 8:16 Joab the son of Zeruiah was over (2Sa iiSam 2 Sam ii sam)
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