I Chronicles 27:16-22 · Bible study
1 Chronicles 27:16-22 Commentary: Tribal Rulers and Missing Tribes
Hebrew · 10 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
An analysis of the list of tribal princes under David, focusing on the omission of Gad and Asher and the administrative structure of Israel.
Research Summary
- Meaning: This passage records the civil rulers of the Israelite tribes under King David, with Gad and Asher omitted.
- Key words: nagid (prince/leader), sar (chief/ruler), shevet (tribe/staff).
- Main debate: Why are Gad and Asher omitted? Most scholars see accidental loss; some suggest they were ruled by a neighboring tribe.
- Theological theme: God’s order in leadership and the preservation of tribal identity.
- Best use: Historical background for David’s administration and a case study in textual transmission.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
16These 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;
17over Levi was Hashabiah son of Kemuel; over Aaron was Zadok;
18over Judah was Elihu, one of David’s brothers; over Issachar was Omri son of Michael;
19over Zebulun was Ishmaiah son of Obadiah; over Naphtali was Jerimoth son of Azriel;
20over the Ephraimites was Hoshea son of Azaziah; over one of the half-tribes of Manasseh was Joel son of Pedaiah;
21over the half-tribe of Manasseh in Gilead was Iddo son of Zechariah; over Benjamin was Jaasiel son of Abner;
22and over Dan was Azarel son of Jeroham. These were the leaders of the tribes of Israel.
WEB World English Bible 2000
16Furthermore over the tribes of Israel: of the Reubenites, Eliezer the son of Zichri was the ruler; of the Simeonites, Shephatiah the son of Maacah;
17of Levi, Hashabiah the son of Kemuel; of Aaron, Zadok;
18of Judah, Elihu, one of the brothers of David; of Issachar, Omri the son of Michael;
19of Zebulun, Ishmaiah the son of Obadiah; of Naphtali, Jeremoth the son of Azriel;
20of the children of Ephraim, Hoshea the son of Azaziah; of the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joel the son of Pedaiah;
21of the half-tribe of Manasseh in Gilead, Iddo the son of Zechariah; of Benjamin, Jaasiel the son of Abner;
22of Dan, Azarel the son of Jeroham. These were the captains of the tribes of Israel.
KJV King James Version 1769
16Furthermore over the tribes of Israel: the ruler of the Reubenites was Eliezer the son of Zichri: of the Simeonites, Shephatiah the son of Maachah:
17Of the Levites, Hashabiah the son of Kemuel: of the Aaronites, Zadok:
18Of Judah, Elihu, one of the brethren of David: of Issachar, Omri the son of Michael:
19Of Zebulun, Ishmaiah the son of Obadiah: of Naphtali, Jerimoth the son of Azriel:
20Of the children of Ephraim, Hoshea the son of Azaziah: of the half tribe of Manasseh, Joel the son of Pedaiah:
21Of the half tribe of Manasseh in Gilead, Iddo the son of Zechariah: of Benjamin, Jaasiel the son of Abner:
22Of Dan, Azareel the son of Jeroham. These were the princes of the tribes of Israel.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
16Furthermore over the tribes of Israel: of the Reubenites was Eliezer the son of Zichri the ruler: of the Simeonites, Shephatiah the son of Maacah:
17of Levi, Hashabiah the son of Kemuel: of Aaron, Zadok:
18of Judah, Elihu, one of the brethren of David: of Issachar, Omri the son of Michael:
19of Zebulun, Ishmaiah the son of Obadiah: of Naphtali, Jeremoth the son of Azriel:
20of the children of Ephraim, Hoshea the son of Azaziah: of the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joel the son of Pedaiah:
21of the half-tribe of Manasseh in Gilead, Iddo the son of Zechariah: of Benjamin, Jaasiel the son of Abner:
22of Dan, Azarel the son of Jeroham. These were the captains of the tribes of Israel.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
16And over the tribes of Israel: Of the Reubenite, a leader is Eliezer son of Zichri; of the Simeonite, Shephatiah son of Maachah;
17of the Levite, Hashabiah son of Kemuel; of the Aaronite, Zadok;
18of Judah, Elihu, of the brethren of David; of Issachar, Omri son of Michael;
19of Zebulun, Ishmaiah son of Obadiah; of Naphtali, Jerimoth son of Azriel;
20of the sons of Ephraim, Hoshea son of Azaziah; of the half of the tribe of Manasseh, Joel son of Pedaiah;
21of the half of Manasseh in Gilead, Iddo son of Zechariah; of Benjamin, Jaasiel son of Abner; of Dan, Azareel son of Jeroham:
22these are heads of the tribes of Israel.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
16And over the tribes of Israel were: for the Reubenites Eliezer the son of Zichri was the prince; for the Simeonites, Shephatiah the son of Maachah;
17for the Levites, Hashabiah the son of Kemuel; for Aaron, Zadok;
18for Judah, Elihu of the brethren of David; for Issachar, Omri the son of Michael;
19for Zebulun, Jishmaiah the son of Obadiah; for Naphtali, Jerimoth the son of Azriel;
20for the children of Ephraim, Hosea the son of Azaziah; for the half tribe of Manasseh, Joel the son of Pedaiah;
21for the half [tribe] of Manasseh in Gilead, Jiddo the son of Zechariah; for Benjamin, Jaasiel the son of Abner;
22for Dan, Azareel the son of Jeroham. These were the princes of the tribes of Israel.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
16Now the chiefs over the tribes of Israel were these: over the Rubenites, Eliezer the son of Zechri was ruler: over the Simeonites, Saphatias the son of Maacha:
17Over the Levites, Hasabias the son of Camuel: over the Aaronites, Sadoc:
18Over Juda, Eliu the brother of David over Issachar, Amri the son of Michael:
19Over the Zabulonites, Jesmaias the son of Adias: over the Nephtalites, Jerimoth the son of Ozriel:
20Over the sons of Ephraim, Osee the son of Ozaziu: over the half tribe of Manasses, Joel the son of Phadaia:
21And over the half tribe of Manasses in Galaad, Jaddo the son of Zacharias: and over Benjamin, Jasiel the son of Abner.
22And over Dan, Ezrihel the son of Jeroham: these were the princes of the children of Israel.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · I Chronicles 27:16
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators generally agree that this passage records the civil rulers of Israel’s tribes during the time of David’s census. The list names thirteen individuals (including a separate entry for Aaron alongside Levi, and two half‑tribes of Manasseh), but the tribes of Gad and Asher are absent.
Most attribute the omission to accidental loss in transmission. Adam Clarke states “the account of these has been lost from this register.” Barnes notes the lists as they came down to the Chronicler were incomplete, and the Cambridge Bible terms it “probably accidental.” John Gill suggests an alternative: the prince of a neighboring tribe, perhaps Reuben or half‑Manasseh, may have also ruled Gad and Asher, leaving them without a separate entry. Jamieson‑Fausset‑Brown simply say “for what reason is unknown.”
The shared ground is that the list aims to cover all tribes but does not, and that the textual tradition of Chronicles preserves gaps honestly.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Accidental omission: Most commentators (Clarke, Barnes, Cambridge) argue that the names of the princes of Gad and Asher were lost in transmission, likely due to a damaged source.
- Intentional grouping: Gill proposes that the prince of Reuben or the half‑tribe of Manasseh may have also governed these two tribes, explaining their omission.
What is clear: The list presents the tribal princes of Israel during David’s reign, naming specific leaders for most tribes, and that Gad and Asher are absent.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Omission of Gad and Asher | Both tribes are absent from the list, and this is a notable absence from a list that intends to cover all tribes. | Some see this as an accidental scribal omission (most commentators). Others propose that one of the named princes ruled over these tribes as well (Gill). |
| Elihu’s identity | Elihu is described as “one of the brothers of David.” | Most identify him with Eliab, David’s eldest brother (1 Samuel 16:6), but a few suggest he may be a different brother or relative. |
| Role of the tribal prince | They were civil leaders, distinct from military captains and priests. | Whether they were hereditary (Barnes) or chosen by their tribe (Gill) is uncertain. |
| Counting the tribes as twelve | The list includes thirteen entries (counting Aaron separately from Levi and half‑Manasseh twice). | Some count Aaron within Levi to reach twelve tribal units; others see twelve if Gad and Asher were originally present. |
Historical & Cultural Context
This passage sits within chapter 27, framed by the twelve monthly army divisions (vv. 1, 15) and the stewards of David’s property (vv. 25, 31). It forms a civil complement to the military structure: the nagid (prince/leader) of each tribe oversaw internal governance, while the sar (captain/commander) in vv. 1, 15 led the rotational army. The Hebrew root nagad implies one set over others, a hereditary or appointed ruler.
The inclusion of Levi, and Aaron separately, reflects the unique status of the priesthood. Zadok appears as prince of Aaron; the cross‑reference
shows that Jehoiada preceded him, and“Jehoiada was the leader of the household of Aaron; and with him were three thousand seven hundred,
— 1 Chronicles 12:27 (WEB)
establishes Zadok’s early prominence.“and Zadok, a young man mighty of valor, and of his father’s house twenty‑two captains.”
— 1 Chronicles 12:28 (WEB)
Half‑Manasseh appears twice, once for the western territory and once “in Gilead” (the eastern half). This matches the Transjordan settlement granted to Machir (Numbers 32:39, 40) and confirms the Chronicler’s geographic awareness. The census mentioned in w. 23, 24 was aborted due to divine wrath, and the omission of Gad and Asher may connect to that incomplete count. Both tribes were on the geographical periphery: Gad inhabited the east bank alongside Reuben; Asher occupied the northern coast. Textual damage in the Chronicler’s sources remains the most likely explanation, but no firm solution exists.
Textual Notes
The primary textual issue is the absence of Gad and Asher from the list. No significant manuscript variants are noted for this passage. The omission is generally attributed to accidental loss in the transmission of the Chronicler’s sources. Barnes and the Cambridge Bible observe that the lists as they came down to the writer were incomplete. Gill’s alternative, that the prince of a neighboring tribe also governed them, is a harmonizing suggestion, not a textual one.
Reception History
This passage has not been a major focus in church history. It was read as part of the Chronicler’s record of David’s kingdom, affirming the value of orderly civil government. Reformation commentators such as Matthew Henry saw in it David’s wisdom in arranging both military and tribal leadership. The missing tribes became a minor case study in the reliability of Scripture, illustrating that the biblical authors transmitted damaged sources honestly rather than fabricating information. Modern scholarship often cites the omission in discussions of the literary composition of Chronicles and the Chronicler’s use of pre‑existing lists.
Preaching This Verse
Three‑point outline
- God values order. David established both military captains and tribal princes, showing that effective leadership operates at multiple levels.
- God’s people are more than a list. The omission of Gad and Asher does not mean God forgot them. He knows every tribe, every family, every person.
- Names and legacies matter. The Chronicler took care to record these rulers, reminding us that God treasures our names and our service.
Five‑point outline
- David’s administrative genius. The kingdom was organized with both defensive (monthly army) and civil (tribal princes) structures.
- Priestly and civil leadership. Levi and Aaron were given separate representation, showing the distinct role of worship in Israel’s life.
- Geography mattered. Half‑Manasseh’s double listing highlights the land east and west of the Jordan.
- Scripture is honest about its sources. The missing tribes are a flag that the Chronicler transmitted what he had, without filling gaps artificially.
- Unity amid diversity. A single king governed tribes with different princes, foreshadowing the church’s unity under Christ with varied local leadership.
Illustration hooks
- A filing cabinet with two missing folders, the files still exist, but they got mislaid. The office runs on the rest.
- A class photo where two students are absent because they were sick. The photo is still accurate, but it is not the whole story.
- A set of building plans that accidentally omit two rooms. The builder knows the rooms are there and works from memory.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Why are these long lists in the Bible? What are they supposed to teach me?
- What happened to the tribes of Gad and Asher? Did they disappear?
- How reliable is Scripture if it has gaps like this?
Leading a Discussion
This passage can seem like a dry roll call, but it reveals the Chronicler’s honest handling of sources and David’s ordered kingdom. As you work through the questions, notice how even an incomplete record still tells us about God’s care for His people.
Discussion questions
- Observation: How many tribes are named? Which two are missing? (Look at vv. 16, 22 carefully, count the entries including the two for Manasseh.)
- Observation: What titles do the leaders receive in v. 16 and v. 22? (nagid and sar. What do these Hebrew words tell us about their role?)
- Interpretation: The commentators offer two main explanations for the omission, accidental loss or merging under another prince. Which seems more likely to you, and why?
- Interpretation: How does this list relate to the census in vv. 23, 24? Why might the Chronicler place these two sections together?
- Application: What does it mean that God’s Word includes an incomplete list? How does this shape our trust in Scripture?
- Application: This passage shows both military and civil leadership. How can our church value and support leaders in different areas of service?
- Application: God recorded the names of these princes. What does that suggest about how He sees you and your contribution, even when you feel overlooked?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| I Chronicles 12:27 | Jehoiada was the leader of the household of Aaron; and with him were three thousand seven hundred, |
| I Chronicles 12:28 | and Zadok, a young man mighty of valor, and of his father’s house twenty-two captains. |
| I Chronicles 24:4 | There were more chief men found of the sons of Eleazar than of the sons of Ithamar; and they were divided like this: of the sons of Eleazar there were sixteen, heads of fathers’ houses; and of the sons of Ithamar, according to their fathers’ houses, eight. |
| I Chronicles 24:31 | These likewise cast lots even as their brothers the sons of Aaron in the presence of David the king, Zadok, Ahimelech, and the heads of the fathers’ households of the priests and of the Levites, the fathers’ households of the chief even as those of his younger brother. |
| I Chronicles 26:30 | Of the Hebronites, Hashabiah and his brothers, one thousand seven hundred men of valor, had the oversight of Israel beyond the Jordan westward, for all the business of Yahweh and for the service of the king. |
| I Samuel 16:6 | When they had come, he looked at Eliab, and said, “Surely Yahweh’s anointed is before him.” |
| I Samuel 17:13 | The three oldest sons of Jesse had gone after Saul to the battle; and the names of his three sons who went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, and next to him Abinadab, and the third Shammah. |
| I Samuel 17:29 | David said, “What have I now done? Is there not a cause?” |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
8 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Over the tribes of Israel - In this enumeration there is no mention of the tribes of Asher and Gad. Probably the account of these has been lost from this register. These rulers appear to have been all honorary men, without pay, like the lords lieutenants of our counties.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes suggests that the omission of Gad and Asher from this tribal list, like the omissions of Dan and Zebulon in 1 Chronicles 4-8, simply shows the genealogical records available to the writer were incomplete. He identifies the "rulers" or "princes" as the oldest direct male descendants of the patriarchs, chosen by the law of the firstborn.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator notes that the list of tribal princes omits Gad and Asher, likely by accident. He also identifies several individuals by cross-reference: Elihu may be Eliab from 1 Samuel, and the use of Gilead here is less precise, including Bashan.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill notes that two tribes, Gad and Asher, are missing from this list of Israel's tribal princes. He suggests they may have been governed by the ruler of Reuben or of the half-tribe of Manasseh beyond the Jordan, since those regions lay between neighboring tribes.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB notes the puzzling omission of Gad and Asher from the list of tribal rulers. He also observes that Levi had a civil chief with authority equal to other tribes, though his jurisdiction did not extend to priests, who remained under the high priest. Elihu is identified as likely the same person as Eliab.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch point out that the list of tribal princes omits Gad and Asher for unknown reasons, similar to earlier genealogical omissions. They note that Manasseh gets two princes because the tribe was divided across the Jordan, and that Levi is represented by the high priest Zadok rather than a tribal leader.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange notes that the fourth division's commander is listed as Asahel, who had died years earlier, while his son Zebadiah actually led the unit. This shows the Chronicler honored fallen heroes by naming the course after them. He also connects these military lists to David's census, seeing them as part of the king's final organizational reforms.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley distinguishes these rulers as the standing tribal princes who held higher authority than the twenty-four rotating captains, serving as the king's chief counselors. He also notes that Gad's omission is likely because that tribe was combined with Reuben under a single prince.