1 Chronicles 27:33

And Ahithophel was the king's counseller: and Hushai the Archite was the king's companion:

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Benson Commentary

1 Chronicles 27:33-34. Ahithophel was the king’s counsellor — The person whose counsel, in matters of state, the king most prized and followed. Hushai was the king’s companion — Or his friend, (2 Samuel 15:37,) the person whom he trusted with his secrets, and whose conversation was most pleasant and acceptable to him. Observe, a cunning man was his counsellor: but an honest man was his friend. After Ahithophel — After his death, these were his chief counsellors. Much of the wisdom of princes is seen in the choice of their ministry. It appears that those whom David made choice of to attend upon and advise him, were such as were peculiarly eminent for wisdom and integrity. But though he had these trusty counsellors about him, he preferred his Bible before them all, making the Lord’s testimonies his delight and his counsellors, Psalm 119:24.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

27:16-34 The officers of the court, or the rulers of the king's substance, had the oversight and charge of the king's tillage, his vineyards, his herds, his flocks, which formed the wealth of eastern kings. Much of the wisdom of princes is seen in the choice of their ministry, and common persons show it in the choice of their advisers. David, though he had all these about him, preferred the word of God before them all. Thy testimonies are my delight and my counsellors.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Was the king's companion - or, "king's friend," as in 1 Kings 4:5. Compare also 2 Samuel 16:17.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

31. rulers of the substance that was king David's—How and when the king acquired these demesnes and this variety of property—whether it was partly by conquests, or partly by confiscation, or by his own active cultivation of waste lands—is not said. It was probably in all these ways. The management of the king's private possessions was divided into twelve parts, like his public affairs and the revenue derived from all these sources mentioned must have been very large.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

The king’s counsellor; the person whose counsel in matters of state the king most prized and followed.

The king’s companion, or his friend, as he is called, 2 Samuel 15:37; the person whom he most trusted with all his secrets, and whose conversation was most pleasant and acceptable to him.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And over the king's treasures was Azmaveth the son of Adiel,.... The historian here proceeds to relate who were employed in the economical and civil affairs of David; and the first mentioned is the lord of his treasury, who had the care of his gold and silver brought into his exchequer, either by a levy on his own people, or by the tribute of others: Jehonathan the son of Uzziah had the care of the storehouses, in which were laid up what the fields, cities, villages, and castles that belonged to the king produced, whether by fruits gathered in, or by rents collected: Ezri the son of Chelub looked after his workmen in the fields, employed in the tillage of the ground: Shimei of Ramath, in the tribe of Benjamin, had the care of the vineyards, to see that they were dressed and pruned, and kept in good order: Zabdi of Shepham, Numbers 34:10 had the charge of the wine squeezed out of the grapes, both in the presses and in the cellars: Baalhanan of Gedor, in the tribe of Judah, Joshua 15:36 was over the olive and sycamore trees, to see that they were well taken care of: and Joash was entrusted with the cellars where the oil was deposited: Shitrai the Sharonite had the herds of cattle fed in Sharon committed to his trust; whether in Sharon beyond Jordan, or that about Lydda and Joppa, near the Mediterranean sea, both affording fruitful pastures for herds; and this man, being of Sharon, was a fit man to be employed in such service: and Shaphat the son of Adlai was over those herds that were in the valleys, where were good pastures for them; such officers Pharaoh king of Egypt had, Genesis 47:6 and as early as the times of Ninus king of Assyria, one named Simma was master of the king's cattle (l), as Faustulus was to Amulius king of the Latines (m); and so Tyrrhus in Virgil (n) had the command of all the king's cattle; and Cicero mentions another in the same office (o): Obil the Ishmaelite (an Arab, as the Targum) had the care of the camels; and a very proper person he was, who must know the nature of them, and how to manage them, Arabia, or the land of the Ishmaelites, abounding with them. This man was so called, either because he was an Ishmaelite by birth, and was proselyted to the Jewish religion; or he was an Israelite that had dwelt some time in the land of Ishmael, and therefore so called. Bochart (p) thinks he had his name of Obil from his office, the word in the Arabic language signifying a keeper of camels. Jehdeiah the Meronothite was over the asses, which were employed in ploughing and carrying burdens; and Jaziz the Hagarite was over the flocks of sheep, the chief shepherd, who had the command of all the under shepherds, and a very proper person, being an Hagarite, or Arab; for such dwelt in tents for the sake of pasturage for their flocks, as Jarchi notes: these were the principal men that had the care of David's personal substance; so, in later times, the Roman Caesars (q) had such sort of servants to take care of their farms, fields, fruit, cattle, &c. the rest that follow were David's courtiers. Jonathan, or to whom David was uncle, the son of Shimea, his brother being a wise and learned man, was his counsellor, see 2 Samuel 21:21 and Jehiel the Hachmonite was preceptor, or tutor to the king's sons, that brought them up, and took care of their education; Ahithophel was his counsellor until the conspiracy and rebellion of Absalom; and Hushai the Archite was his companion, friend, and favourite, with whom he conversed at leisure hours. After the death of Ahithophel, Jehoiada the son of Benaiah, and Abiathar, were his counsellors, and Joab the general of his army.

(l) Diodor. Sicul. l. 2. p. 93. (m) Liv. Hist. Decad. 1. l. 1. p. 5. (n) Aeneid. l. 7. Tyrrhusque pater, &c. ver. 485. (o) Apud Servium, in ib. (p) Hierozoic. par. 1. l. 2. c. Colossians 77. (q) Vid. Pignorium de Servis, p. 548.

Geneva Study Bible

And Ahithophel was the king's counselor: and Hushai the Archite was the king's companion:

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

33. Ahithophel] See 2 Samuel 15:31; 2 Samuel 16:20 to 2 Samuel 17:23.

Hushai] See 2 Samuel 15:32-37; 2 Samuel 16:16-19; 2 Samuel 17:5-16.

Archite] The meaning of this word is unknown; it has no connexion with the “Arkite” of 1 Chronicles 1:15.

king’s companion] R.V. king’s friend; cp. 2 Samuel 16:16. Cp. Erman. Ancient Egypt, Eng. Tr. p. 72. “Special titles served to signify the degree of rank the great men held with respect to the king [of Egypt]. In old times the most important were the friend and the well-beloved friend of the king.” The Greek kings of Syria granted similar titles to their chief dependants; cp. 1Ma 2:18 (R.V. with marg.).

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 33. - For Hushai the Archite, see 2 Samuel 15:32, 37; 2 Samuel 16:16; 2 Samuel 17:14, 15. 1 Chronicles 27:33

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

Ahithophel was also, according to 2 Samuel 15:31; 2 Samuel 16:23, David's confidential adviser, and took his own life when Absalom, in his conspiracy against David, did not regard his counsel (2 Samuel 17). Hushai the Archite was also a friend and adviser of David (2 Samuel 15:37 and 2 Samuel 16:16), who caused Absalom to reject Ahithophel's counsel (2 Samuel 17).