Free group study handout
1 Chronicles 27: Group Study Handout
How to use: read 1 Chronicles 27 aloud together, then take the questions in order. One page is enough for an evening.
Overview
Israel is counted by their divisions. The heads of families, captains, and officers serve the king. Each division includes twenty-four thousand men.
Key verse
“Now the children of Israel after their number, the heads of fathers’ households and the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and their officers who served the king, in any matter of the divisions which came in and went out month by month throughout all the months of the year—of every division were twenty-four thousand.”
1 Chronicles 27:1 (WEB)
Outline
- 1 Chronicles 27:1 Census of Israel's Military Divisions
- 1 Chronicles 27:2–15 Monthly Military Commanders
- 1 Chronicles 27:16–22 Tribal Leaders of Israel
- 1 Chronicles 27:23–24 Census Limitations and Consequences
- 1 Chronicles 27:25–31 Administration of Resources
- 1 Chronicles 27:32–34 Counselors and Military Leadership
Discussion questions
- In v6, what is said about Benaiah's character as a 'mighty man'?
- What does the phrase 'twenty-four thousand' in vv. 1-15 indicate about the divisions?
- David's decision not to take a census in v23: what does this imply about his view of Yahweh's promise?
- In v24, what does the mention of Joab and the 'wrath' on Israel suggest about the consequences of the census?
- When have you felt a sense of duty like the leaders in vv. 16-22 to serve your community?
Go deeper
Passages that echo 1 Chronicles 27: 1 Chronicles 11, 2 Samuel 23, 2 Samuel 24.
Before next time: read 1 Chronicles 28.