1 Chronicles 27:8

The fifth captain for the fifth month was Shamhuth the Izrahite: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(8) The fifth captain for the fifth month.—Rather, the fifth, for the fifth month, was the captain Shamhuth. Shamhuth is called “Shammoth the Harorite” in 1Chronicles 11:27, and “Shammah the Harodite” in 2Samuel 23:25.

The Izrahite.—Heb., ha-yizráh, which is probably a mistake for ha-zarhî, “the Zarhite” (comp. 1Chronicles 27:11; 1Chronicles 27:13), i.e., a member of the Judean clan called Zerah. Harod was his town.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

27:1-15 In the kingdoms of this world readiness for war forms a security for peace; in like manner, nothing so much encourages Satan's assaults as to be unwatchful. So long as we stand armed with the whole armour of God, in the exercise of faith, and preparation of heart for the conflict, we shall certainly be safe, and probably enjoy inward peace.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Asahel died before the courses, as here described, could have been instituted. Perhaps the arrangements of David in his later years were based upon institutions belonging to the period of his reign at Hebron.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

7. Asahel—This officer having been slain at the very beginning of David's reign [2Sa 2:23], his name was probably given to this division in honor of his memory, and his son was invested with the command.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

Shamhuth; supposed to be the same called Shammah, 2 Samuel 23:11, and Shammoth, 1 Chronicles 11:27.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Over the first course for the first month,.... The month Nisan, sometimes called Abib, which was March:

was Jashobeam the son of Zabdiel; the first and chief of David's worthies, 1 Chronicles 11:11.

and in his course were twenty and four; and so in all the following ones; this man was of the posterity of Perez, or Pharez, a son of Judah, and so had the preference and command of all the captains of the army for that month:

Dodai an Ahohite; the same with Dodo, 1 Chronicles 11:12 was over the course of the second month, the month Ziv, sometimes called Jiar, or April; and his lieutenant or successor was Mikloth:

Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, a chief priest; or rather a prince, a principal officer, was general of the army for the third month, Sivan, or May; the same was mighty among the thirty, and even above them, for he was among the three mighty, 1 Chronicles 11:22 and Ammizabad his son succeeded him, or was his deputy, when other ways employed: though led by our version here, and following the Jewish writers, I have called Benaiah a priest; see Gill on 1 Kings 2:31, yet I am now rather of opinion that he was not one; for though priests might bear arms on some occasions, yet it is not likely that one should be in a constant military office, and especially general of an army; and besides, this man was of Kabzeel, a city in the tribe of Judah, which is not mentioned among the Levitical cities, see 2 Samuel 23:20. Asahel the brother of Joab was over the course for the fourth month, Tammuz, or June, and who being slain by Abner, his son Zebadiah succeeded him: Shamhuth, the same with Shammah, 2 Samuel 23:11 and Shammoth, 1 Chronicles 11:27 was captain for the fifth month, Ab, or July: Ira the son of Ikkesh, the Tekoite, was over the course of the sixth month, Elul, or August, see 1 Chronicles 11:28. Helez the Pelonite was captain for the seventh month, Tisri, or September, see 1 Chronicles 11:27, the captain for the eighth month, Marchesvan, sometimes called Bul, or October, was Sibbecai the Hushathite, of the Zarbites, of the posterity of Zerah, a son of Judah in the line of Hushah, 1 Chronicles 4:4, the captain of the course for the ninth month, Cisleu, or November was Abiezer, of Anethoth, in the tribe of Benjamin, see 1 Chronicles 11:28, Maharai, of Netophah, in the tribe of Judah, and of the posterity of Zerah, was over the course for the tenth month, Tebet, or December, see 1 Chronicles 11:30 and the captain for the eleventh month, Sheber, or January, was Benaiah, of Pirathon, in the tribe of Ephraim, see 1 Chronicles 11:31 and over the course for the twelfth month, Adar, or February, was Heldai the Netophathite, the same with Heled, 1 Chronicles 11:30 and who was of the posterity of Othniel, the first judge in Israel, Judges 1:13.

Geneva Study Bible

The fifth captain for the fifth month was Shamhuth the Izrahite: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

8. Shamhuth the Izrahite] Perhaps to be identified with “Shammoth the Harorite” of 1 Chronicles 11:27; see note there.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 8. - Shamhuth. For variations in the form of this name, see ch. 11:27; 2 Samuel 23:25. In the former of these passages also we have Harorite in place of our Izrahite, and in the latter Harodite. The Izrahite probably means of the family of Zerah (1 Chronicles 2:4, 6), and of course marks one of the tribe of Judah. The Hebrew הַיִּזְרָחevidently does not justify the form as translated "Izrahite." 1 Chronicles 27:8

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

Shamhuth is called in 1 Chronicles 11:27 Shammoth, and in 2 Samuel 23:25 Shamma. He was born in Harod; here he is called היּזרח the Jizrahite, equals הזּרחי, 1 Chronicles 27:13, of the family of Zerah the son of Judah (1 Chronicles 2:4, 1 Chronicles 2:6).