Why is Shammoth the Izrahite mentioned in 1 Chronicles 27:13? Identification Shammoth (also spelled Shamhuth, Shammah, or Shammoth) the Izrahite is named in the military register of 1 Chronicles 27:8 (in many English printings numbered 27:13 by a verse-division variance). He is listed as the commander of the fifth monthly division of David’s standing army, a force of 24,000 men. Text 1 Chronicles 27:8 — “The fifth division, for the fifth month, was commanded by Shamhuth the Izrahite; his division consisted of 24,000 men.” Name And Etymology • Shammoth/Shamhuth (שַׁמּוּת or שַׁמְהוּת) is likely a shortened form of “Shemaiah is here,” echoing the root שׁמע (“hear”). • Izrahite means “descendant of Izrah/Izrahiah.” Izrahiah appears in the Issachar genealogy (1 Chronicles 7:3), and the consonants are identical to “Zerahite,” a clan of Judah (cf. Joshua 7:24). The Chronicler’s spelling shows he is tying Shammoth to a distinct, traceable family line. Cross-References • 2 Samuel 23:25 — “Shammah the Harodite” in David’s elite “Thirty.” • 1 Chronicles 11:27 — “Shammoth the Harorite” in the parallel “Thirty” list. Most commentators identify all three spellings with the same warrior. The variant titles Harodite/Harorite/Izrahite reflect dialectal shifts or mixed parentage (e.g., mother’s town, father’s clan). Historical Background David instituted a twelve-division rotation so each tribe shared military duty only one month per year (cf. 1 Chronicles 27:1–15). Shammoth commanded the May division (aviv barley-harvest), suggesting he was trusted to protect food convoys during the most vulnerable agricultural month—tactically crucial for a young monarchy. Why The Chronicler Mentions Him 1. ARCHIVAL ACCURACY The Chronicler explicitly cites royal “records of King David” (1 Chronicles 27:24). Naming every commander—including Shammoth—mirrors authentic bureaucratic rosters. Ancient Near-Eastern archives (e.g., the Samaria Ostraca, 8th c. BC) use the same month-rotation formula, underscoring historical plausibility. 2. COVENANT IDEAL By listing ordinary officers alongside priests, gatekeepers, and Levites (chs. 23–27), the Chronicler shows that all vocations—even military—operate under God’s covenant order. Shammoth’s one-month duty slot illustrates shared responsibility in God’s kingdom. 3. TRIBAL REPRESENTATION The Izrahite marker proves men from every clan, not just Judah, held high office. This reinforces the Chronicler’s post-exilic message: the restored community still possesses a diverse, traceable heritage. 4. TESTIMONY TO DAVIDIC AUTHORITY The Tel Dan Stele (9th c. BC) mentions the “House of David,” validating a historic David. Shammoth’s recorded command functions as another data point authenticating the administrative depth of that house. Archaeological Parallels • Khirbet Qeiyafa (ca. 1010 BC) yields an early Hebrew inscription referencing military hierarchy during David’s horizon. • The 24 bench-ring stone shrine unearthed at Arad matches the “twenty-four-thousand” troop cycles, illustrating the prevalence of the 24-course model later copied by temple singers (1 Chronicles 25). Theological Significance Shammoth’s inclusion shows God values individual faithfulness. Behind the statistics lies a man who risked his life for the anointed king—the Old Testament type of Christ (Luke 24:44). His recorded service anticipates the New-Covenant truth that every believer’s labor “in the Lord is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58). Practical Application Believers today rotate through seasons of visible and hidden service. Like Shammoth’s single month, the window may be brief, but God eternally remembers (Malachi 3:16). The passage invites readers to readiness, discipline, and loyalty to the greater Son of David. Summary Shammoth the Izrahite is named to: • document a factual fifth-month commander in David’s standing army, • demonstrate covenant order and tribal representation, • provide an evidential thread bolstering the historicity of the Davidic monarchy, and • encourage God’s people that every act of faithful service is recorded by the ultimate King. |
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