I Chronicles 27:25-31 · Bible study
1 Chronicles 27:25-31 Commentary: David's Property Stewards
Hebrew · 10 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Examine the detailed roles of David's property officials, revealing a kingdom built on order, stewardship, and God's provision. Perfect for Bible study.
Research Summary
- Meaning: A register of twelve officials who managed King David’s personal property, from central treasuries to field crops and livestock.
- Key words: storehouses (אוצרות, H214), property (רכוש, H7399), officials (שרים, H8269). The repeated phrase “over the … was” emphasizes delegated authority.
- Main debate: Whether the list serves primarily as a historical record of David’s wealth or as a theological statement about God’s provision for the temple. Both views find support in the chronicler’s context.
- Theological theme: Faithful stewardship and the sanctity of ordinary work. Every economic activity, from viticulture to camel-keeping, is ordered under God’s king.
- Best use: Teaching on managing resources, the dignity of labor, and how God’s people organize for effective service.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
25Azmaveth 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.
26Ezri son of Chelub was in charge of the workers in the fields who tilled the soil.
27Shimei the Ramathite was in charge of the vineyards. Zabdi the Shiphmite was in charge of the produce of the vineyards for the wine vats.
28Baal-hanan the Gederite was in charge of the olive and sycamore trees in the foothills. Joash was in charge of the stores of olive oil.
29Shitrai the Sharonite was in charge of the herds grazing in Sharon. Shaphat son of Adlai was in charge of the herds in the valleys.
30Obil the Ishmaelite was in charge of the camels. Jehdeiah the Meronothite was in charge of the donkeys.
31Jaziz the Hagrite was in charge of the flocks. All these officials were in charge of King David’s property.
WEB World English Bible 2000
25Over the king’s treasures was Azmaveth the son of Adiel. Over the treasures in the fields, in the cities, in the villages, and in the towers was Jonathan the son of Uzziah;
26Over those who did the work of the field for tillage of the ground was Ezri the son of Chelub.
27Over the vineyards was Shimei the Ramathite. Over the increase of the vineyards for the wine cellars was Zabdi the Shiphmite.
28Over the olive trees and the sycamore trees that were in the lowland was Baal Hanan the Gederite. Over the cellars of oil was Joash.
29Over the herds that fed in Sharon was Shitrai the Sharonite. Over the herds that were in the valleys was Shaphat the son of Adlai.
30Over the camels was Obil the Ishmaelite. Over the donkeys was Jehdeiah the Meronothite. Over the flocks was Jaziz the Hagrite.
31All these were the rulers of the property which was King David’s.
KJV King James Version 1769
25And over the king’s treasures was Azmaveth the son of Adiel: and over the storehouses in the fields, in the cities, and in the villages, and in the castles, was Jehonathan the son of Uzziah:
26And over them that did the work of the field for tillage of the ground was Ezri the son of Chelub:
27And over the vineyards was Shimei the Ramathite: over the increase of the vineyards for the wine cellars was Zabdi the Shiphmite:
28And over the olive trees and the sycomore trees that were in the low plains was Baal–hanan the Gederite: and over the cellars of oil was Joash:
29And over the herds that fed in Sharon was Shitrai the Sharonite: and over the herds that were in the valleys was Shaphat the son of Adlai:
30Over the camels also was Obil the Ishmaelite: and over the asses was Jehdeiah the Meronothite:
31And over the flocks was Jaziz the Hagerite. All these were the rulers of the substance which was king David’s.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
25And over the king’s treasures was Azmaveth the son of Adiel: and over the treasures in the fields, in the cities, and in the villages, and in the castles, was Jonathan the son of Uzziah:
26and over them that did the work of the field for tillage of the ground was Ezri the son of Chelub:
27and over the vineyards was Shimei the Ramathite: and over the increase of the vineyards for the wine-cellars was Zabdi the Shiphmite:
28and over the olive-trees and the sycomore-trees that were in the lowland was Baal-hanan the Gederite: and over the cellars of oil was Joash:
29and over the herds that fed in Sharon was Shitrai the Sharonite: and over the herds that were in the valleys was Shaphat the son of Adlai:
30and over the camels was Obil the Ishmaelite: and over the asses was Jehdeiah the Meronothite: and over the flocks was Jaziz the Hagrite.
31All these were the rulers of the substance which was king David’s.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
25And over the treasures of the king is Azmaveth son of Adiel; and over the treasures in the field, in the cities, and in the villages, and in the towers, is Jehonathan son of Uzziah;
26and over workmen of the field for the service of the ground is Ezri son of Chelub;
27and over the vineyards is Shimei the Ramathite; and over what is in the vineyards for the treasures of wine is Zabdi the Shiphmite;
28and over the olives, and the sycamores, that are in the low country, is Baal-Hanan the Gederite; and over the treasures of oil is Joash;
29and over the herds that are feeding in Sharon is Shitrai the Sharonite; and over the herds in the valleys is Shaphat son of Adlai;
30and over the camels is Obil the Ishmeelite; and over the asses is Jehdeiah the Meronothite;
31and over the flock is Jaziz the Hagerite; all these are heads of the substance that king David hath.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
25And over the king's treasures was Azmaveth the son of Adiel; and over the storehouses in the country, in the cities, and in the villages, and in the towers was Jonathan the son of Uzziah.
26And over them that worked in the field for tillage of the ground was Ezri the son of Chelub.
27And over the vineyards was Shimei the Ramathite; and over what was in the vineyards of stores of wine was Zabdi the Shiphmite:
28and over the olive-trees and the sycamore-trees that were in the lowland was Baal-hanan the Gederite; and over the cellars of oil was Joash.
29And over the herds that fed in Sharon was Shitrai the Sharonite; and over the herds in the valleys was Shaphat the son of Adlai.
30And over the camels was Obil the Ishmaelite; and over the asses was Jehdiah the Meronothite.
31And over the flocks was Jaziz the Hagarite. All these were comptrollers of the substance which was king David's.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
25And over the king's treasures was Azmoth the son of Adiel: and over those stores which were in the cities, and in the villages, and, in the castles, was Jonathan the son of Ozias.
26And over the tillage, and the husbandmen, who tilled the ground, was Ezri the son of Chelub:
27And over the dressers of the vine yards, was Semeias a Romathite: and over the wine cellars, Zabdias an Aphonite.
28And over the oliveyards and the fig groves, which were in the plains, was Balanam a Gederite: and over the oil cellars, Joas.
29And over the herds that fed in Saron, was Setrai a Saronite: and over the oxen in the valleys, Saphat the son of Adli:
30And over the camels, Ubil an Ishmahelite and over the asses, Jadias a Meronathite:
31And over the sheep Jaziz an Agarene. All these were the rulers of the substance of king David.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · I Chronicles 27:25
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that 1 Chronicles 27:25-31 presents a carefully organized list of officials who managed King David’s extensive personal property. Barnes points out that David had become a large landed proprietor, with wealth from successful wars, tribute from subject kings, and ownership of lands. Clarke itemizes the categories: treasures, grain stores, vineyards, olive trees, cattle, camels, donkeys, and flocks. Gill notes that each officer was chosen for relevant expertise, such as an Ishmaelite over camels. Keil and Delitzsch distinguish between the king’s treasures in Jerusalem and the storehouses in the country, cities, villages, and towers. The consensus sees this passage as evidence of David’s orderly administration and the prosperity of his reign, which provided resources for the future temple. The listing of twelve officers echoes the twelve military divisions earlier in the chapter, suggesting a comprehensive organizational scheme covering both military and economic life. This attention to detail reflects the Chronicler’s concern to show David’s kingdom as well-ordered and blessed by God.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: The passage establishes that King David had an organized administrative system for managing his extensive personal property, with specific officials assigned to different categories of assets.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Origin of David's property | It came from multiple sources including war spoils, tribute, and land ownership. | Some emphasize wartime acquisition (Barnes) while others focus on agricultural management and tithes (Clarke). |
| Purpose of the list in Chronicles | It shows the organization of David's kingdom. | Whether the primary purpose is to justify Solomon's temple building (by showing resources ready) or to highlight David's wisdom as a ruler (Keil & Delitzsch). |
| Significance of separate treasuries (Jerusalem vs. country) | It indicates a dual administrative system for central and local storage. | Some see it as a practical division for security (Keil), others as a way to manage tribute centrally while supporting local needs (Barnes). |
Historical & Cultural Context
This passage sits within the Chronicler’s account of David’s administrative arrangements in his later years. The first part of 1 Chronicles 27 lists the military divisions (vv.1-15) and the tribal leaders (vv.16-22). Then verses 23-24 interrupt with a note about David’s sinful census and the resulting wrath. This context is significant: the passage on property managers follows a reminder of God’s judgment, showing that David’s kingdom, despite failure, continued to operate under God’s provision.
Historically, the storehouses in fields, cities, villages, and towers reflect common ancient Near Eastern practices. Grain was often stored in pits or covered mounds in the fields (Jamieson-Fausset-Brown), while towers served as defensive storage points in border areas (Barnes, referencing 2 Chronicles 26:10). The term “towers” (migdalot) likely refers to watchtowers that doubled as granaries, especially in vulnerable regions. The Shephelah (lowland) was the fertile foothill region between Judah’s mountains and the Mediterranean, ideal for olives and sycamore-fig trees. Sharon, the coastal plain, was famous for lush pastures. The mention of an Ishmaelite (Obil) over camels and a Hagrite (Jaziz) over flocks indicates that David employed foreigners with specialized knowledge, likely proselytes or hired experts from the desert regions.
Culturally, the detailed list underscores the importance of agriculture and livestock in Israel’s economy. It also contrasts with the earlier census narrative: where numbering the people brought sin, now the enumeration of property is presented neutrally, as a sign of divine blessing. The Chronicler likely intended these records to demonstrate that David’s reign provided the material resources necessary for Solomon’s temple building.
Textual Notes
The supplied sources note no significant textual variants for this passage. The list is consistent across Hebrew manuscripts and ancient versions.
Reception History
Throughout church history, this passage has been valued as a record of faithful stewardship. Early Christian writers saw the ordered list as reflecting the importance of good administration in congregations. Reformation commentators like Matthew Henry highlighted David’s industry and the absence of officers for pleasure, focusing on substance. The passage has also been used to teach that all work, even mundane agricultural oversight, is sacred. In modern times, it frequently appears in studies on biblical economics and the theology of work, reminding readers that God cares about the details of our daily labor.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- God values order in stewardship. David appointed specific officials for every area, treasures, fields, vineyards, herds. Nothing was left to chance. This reflects the principle that faithful management begins with clear responsibility.
- Every role matters in God’s kingdom. From the treasurer to the camel keeper, each officer played a part in sustaining the nation. The work of the ground, the wine cellars, and the flocks all contributed to the common good.
- Prosperity is a trust, not an end. David’s wealth was ultimately used for the temple (1 Chronicles 22). The property managers served a larger purpose: preparing for God’s house. Our resources, too, are for building up what honors God.
Five-point outline
- The king’s treasures. Central treasury in Jerusalem, requiring a trustworthy steward (Azmaveth).
- Agricultural produce. Grain, wine, oil, the staples of life, each with specialized oversight.
- Livestock management. Herds in Sharon and valleys, camels, donkeys, flocks, showing diversity and regional focus.
- Inclusion of outsiders. An Ishmaelite and a Hagrite among the officers, reminding us that God uses people from every background for His purposes.
- One summary. “All these were rulers of the property which was King David’s.” This unity underscores that all resources belong to the king, and ultimately to God.
Illustration hooks
- Farm manager analogy: Imagine a large estate with separate managers for crops, orchards, and cattle. Each specialist knows their domain, yet all report to one owner. This models how diverse gifts work together under one Lord.
- Church treasurer: Just as David had officers for different assets, a church may have a treasurer, a property committee, and a mission fund overseer. Orderly administration protects resources for ministry.
- Your own budget: David appointed someone over “the increase of the vineyards for the wine cellars.” He tracked the yield from each source. This challenges us to be thoughtful about how we manage income and expenses, acknowledging God’s provision.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Why does the Bible spend so much time on lists of names and jobs? How is this relevant to my daily life?
- What does this passage teach about wealth and possessions? Should Christians aim to be wealthy?
- How can I honor God in my ordinary work, even if it seems as mundane as tending vineyards or herding flocks?
Leading a Discussion
This list of officials can seem dry, but it reveals how David’s kingdom functioned in its daily life. God is not just interested in worship and warfare; He cares about how we manage the land, the animals, and the resources He gives. As you discuss these verses, consider how order and stewardship reflect God’s character.
Discussion questions
- What different categories of property and production are mentioned? Why do you think the Chronicler included such detail?
- Notice the geography: Sharon, Shephelah, valleys, towers. Why might these specific locations be noted? What does this say about David’s reach?
- Why would a camel overseer be an Ishmaelite? What does this suggest about David’s willingness to employ outsiders? Can you think of other examples in Scripture?
- How does this passage connect to the earlier verses about the census (vv.23-24)? What contrast do you see between David’s sin and the ordered management of his goods?
- In what ways does this passage challenge our view of work? How might we see our own jobs as part of God’s kingdom work?
- What principles for managing money and property can we take from David’s example? How does this prepare us for the New Testament teaching on stewardship?
- Close by reading 1 Chronicles 29:10-14 (if time) and discuss how David ultimately acknowledged that everything comes from God.
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)
| Genesis 41:48 | He gathered up all the food of the seven years which were in the land of Egypt, and laid up the food in the cities. He stored food in each city from the fields around that city. |
| Exodus 1:11 | Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with their burdens. They built storage cities for Pharaoh: Pithom and Raamses. |
| II Kings 18:15 | Hezekiah gave him all the silver that was found in Yahweh’s house and in the treasures of the king’s house. |
| II Chronicles 16:2 | Then Asa brought out silver and gold out of the treasures of Yahweh’s house and of the king’s house, and sent to Ben Hadad king of Syria, who lived at Damascus, saying, |
| II Chronicles 26:10 | He built towers in the wilderness, and dug out many cisterns, for he had much livestock, both in the lowlands and in the plains. He had farmers and vineyard keepers in the mountains and in the fruitful fields, for he loved farming. |
| Jeremiah 41:8 | But ten men were found among those who said to Ishmael, “Don’t kill us; for we have stores hidden in the field, of wheat, and of barley, and of oil, and of honey.” So he stopped, and didn’t kill them among their brothers. |
| I Kings 4:7 | Solomon had twelve officers over all Israel, who provided food for the king and his household. Each man had to make provision for a month in the year. |
| I Kings 10:27 | The king made silver as common as stones in Jerusalem, and cedars as common as the sycamore trees that are in the lowland. |
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
Clarke enumerates the categories of David's personal property to show that his wealth was entirely agricultural and pastoral: grain, vineyards, olive trees, cattle, camels, asses, and flocks. Notably absent are horses, which Israel did not keep at that time.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes points out that these verses reveal David's dramatic rise: the youngest son of a modest family became a wealthy landowner and capitalist. He traces this fortune to war spoils, tribute from conquered kings, land purchases, and royal rights to tithes and gifts from subjects.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The Cambridge Bible Schools notes the text's emphasis on the precise Hebrew terms for David's property stewards, showing that "treasures" and "storehouses" translate the same root, and that "castles" literally means towers. It identifies the places and titles, such as "Ramathite" and "Shiphmite," and describes the sycomore as the fig-mulberry tree of the lowland.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill catalogs David's officials by task and territory, noting how each appointee's origin suited his role. For example, an Ishmaelite oversaw the camels, a Hagarite the flocks, and a Sharonite the herds there. He reads the list as evidence of careful, practical administration.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB draws attention to the sheer scale and careful organization of King David's private wealth, noting that his vast possessions—spread across fields, vineyards, herds, and treasuries—were divided into twelve administrative parts, mirroring the structure of his public affairs.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil and Delitzsch detail how David's royal wealth was organized into two tiers: the palace treasures in Jerusalem and the agricultural and pastoral holdings across the land. They note that the ethnic backgrounds of the overseers—an Ishmaelite for camels and a Hagarite for sheep—were chosen because these peoples had long roamed those pastoral regions before David's conquest brought them under Israelite rule.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange notes that David limited the military census to men twenty years and older because God's promise made the whole people countless, like the stars. He argues David only sought to organize those able to fight. The official royal chronicles omitted this count due to the wrath that followed.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley notes that David's officers were all for practical substance, with no positions for state ceremony or sport. He observes that David was not only a great soldier, scholar, and prince but also a careful manager of his estate, setting an example of hard work for those in authority.