TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS

I - Chapter 27

Translation and Transliteration of 

1The number of Israelites—chiefs of clans, officers of thousands and hundreds and their clerks, who served the king in all matters of the divisions, who worked in monthly shifts during all the months of the year—each division, 24,000.

uv-NAY yis-ra-AYL l'-mis-pa-RAM ra-SHAY ha-a-VOT v'-sa-RAY ha-a-la-FEEM v'-ha-may-OT v'-sho-t'-ray-HEM ha-m'-sha-r'-TEEM et ha-ME-lekh l'-KHOL d'-VAR ha-makh-l'-KOT ha-ba-AH v'-ha-yo-TZAYT KHO-desh b'-KHO-desh l'-KHOL khod-SHAY ha-sha-NAH ha-ma-kha-LO-ket ha-a-KHAT es-REEM v'-ar-ba-AH A-lef

אוּבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לְמִסְפָּרָם רָאשֵׁי הָאָבוֹת וְשָׂרֵי הָאֲלָפִים וְהַמֵּאוֹת וְשֹׁטְרֵיהֶם הַמְשָׁרְתִים אֶת־הַמֶּלֶךְ לְכֹל דְּבַר הַמַּחְלְקוֹת הַבָּאָה וְהַיֹּצֵאת חֹדֶשׁ בְּחֹדֶשׁ לְכֹל חָדְשֵׁי הַשָּׁנָה הַמַּחֲלֹקֶת הָאַחַת עֶשְׂרִים וְאַרְבָּעָה אָלֶף׃

 27:1   The number of Israelites

After listing the jobs of the Kohahim and Leviim, we are told that the rest of the Children of Israel also have an important task: They must perform national army service. While the tribe of Levi is entrusted with the job of spiritually fortifying the nation, the rest of the people are charged with the responsibility of physical protection and defense. In contemporary Israel as well, every citizen is required to perform national army service in the IDF, except those engaged in full time Torah study. In the early 1950’s, Prime Minister David Ben Gurion reached an agreement with the leaders of the religious parties, exempting full time Torah scholars from serving in the IDF. Since its earliest days, Israel has affirmed the fact that just as the army strengthens the Torah, the Torah strengthens the army.

2Over the first division for the first month—Jashobeam son of Zabdiel; his division had 24,000.

בעַל הַמַּחֲלֹקֶת הָרִאשׁוֹנָה לַחֹדֶשׁ הָרִאשׁוֹן יָשָׁבְעָם בֶּן־זַבְדִּיאֵל וְעַל מַחֲלֻקְתּוֹ עֶשְׂרִים וְאַרְבָּעָה אָלֶף׃

3Of the sons of Peretz, he, the chief of all the officers of the army, [served] for the first month.

גמִן־בְּנֵי־פֶרֶץ הָרֹאשׁ לְכָל־שָׂרֵי הַצְּבָאוֹת לַחֹדֶשׁ הָרִאשׁוֹן׃

4Over the division of the second month—Dodai the Ahohite; Mikloth was chief officer of his division; his division had 24,000.

דוְעַל מַחֲלֹקֶת הַחֹדֶשׁ הַשֵּׁנִי דּוֹדַי הָאֲחוֹחִי וּמַחֲלֻקְתּוֹ וּמִקְלוֹת הַנָּגִיד וְעַל מַחֲלֻקְתּוֹ עֶשְׂרִים וְאַרְבָּעָה אָלֶף׃

5The third army officer for the third month—Benaiah son of Yehoyada, the chief Kohen; his division had 24,000.

השַׂר הַצָּבָא הַשְּׁלִישִׁי לַחֹדֶשׁ הַשְּׁלִישִׁי בְּנָיָהוּ בֶן־יְהוֹיָדָע הַכֹּהֵן רֹאשׁ וְעַל מַחֲלֻקְתּוֹ עֶשְׂרִים וְאַרְבָּעָה אָלֶף׃

6That was Benaiah, one of the warriors of the thirty and over the thirty; and [over] his division was Ammizabad his son.

והוּא בְנָיָהוּ גִּבּוֹר הַשְּׁלֹשִׁים וְעַל־הַשְּׁלֹשִׁים וּמַחֲלֻקְתּוֹ עַמִּיזָבָד בְּנוֹ׃

7The fourth, for the fourth month, Asael brother of Yoav, and his son Zebadiah after him; his division had 24,000.

זהָרְבִיעִי לַחֹדֶשׁ הָרְבִיעִי עֲשָׂה־אֵל אֲחִי יוֹאָב וּזְבַדְיָה בְנוֹ אַחֲרָיו וְעַל מַחֲלֻקְתּוֹ עֶשְׂרִים וְאַרְבָּעָה אָלֶף׃

8The fifth, for the fifth month, the officer Shamhut the Izrahite; his division had 24,000.

חהַחַמִישִׁי לַחֹדֶשׁ הַחֲמִישִׁי הַשַּׂר שַׁמְהוּת הַיִּזְרָח וְעַל מַחֲלֻקְתּוֹ עֶשְׂרִים וְאַרְבָּעָה אָלֶף׃

9The sixth, for the sixth month, Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite; his division had 24,000.

טהַשִּׁשִּׁי לַחֹדֶשׁ הַשִּׁשִּׁי עִירָא בֶן־עִקֵּשׁ הַתְּקוֹעִי וְעַל מַחֲלֻקְתּוֹ עֶשְׂרִים וְאַרְבָּעָה אָלֶף׃

10The seventh, for the seventh month, Helez the Pelonite, of the Ephraimites; his division had 24,000.

יהַשְּׁבִיעִי לַחֹדֶשׁ הַשְּׁבִיעִי חֶלֶץ הַפְּלוֹנִי מִן־בְּנֵי אֶפְרָיִם וְעַל מַחֲלֻקְתּוֹ עֶשְׂרִים וְאַרְבָּעָה אָלֶף׃

11The eighth, for the eighth month, Sibbecai the Hushathite, of Zerach; his division had 24,000.

יאהַשְּׁמִינִי לַחֹדֶשׁ הַשְּׁמִינִי סִבְּכַי הַחֻשָׁתִי לַזַּרְחִי וְעַל מַחֲלֻקְתּוֹ עֶשְׂרִים וְאַרְבָּעָה אָלֶף׃

12The ninth, for the ninth month, Abiezer the Anatotite, of Binyamin; his division had 24,000.

יבהַתְּשִׁיעִי לַחֹדֶשׁ הַתְּשִׁיעִי אֲבִיעֶזֶר הָעַנְּתֹתִי לבנימיני [לַבֵּן ] [יְמִינִי] וְעַל מַחֲלֻקְתּוֹ עֶשְׂרִים וְאַרְבָּעָה אָלֶף׃

13The tenth, for the tenth month, Mahrai the Netophathite, of Zerach; his division had 24,000.

יגהָעֲשִׂירִי לַחֹדֶשׁ הָעֲשִׂירִי מַהְרַי הַנְּטוֹפָתִי לַזַּרְחִי וְעַל מַחֲלֻקְתּוֹ עֶשְׂרִים וְאַרְבָּעָה אָלֶף׃

14The eleventh, for the eleventh month, Benaiah the Pirathonite, of the Ephraimites; his division had 24,000.

ידעַשְׁתֵּי־עָשָׂר לְעַשְׁתֵּי־עָשָׂר הַחֹדֶשׁ בְּנָיָה הַפִּרְעָתוֹנִי מִן־בְּנֵי אֶפְרָיִם וְעַל מַחֲלֻקְתּוֹ עֶשְׂרִים וְאַרְבָּעָה אָלֶף׃

15The twelfth, for the twelfth month, Heldai the Netophathite, of Otniel; his division had 24,000.

טוהַשְּׁנֵים עָשָׂר לִשְׁנֵים עָשָׂר הַחֹדֶשׁ חֶלְדַּי הַנְּטוֹפָתִי לְעָתְנִיאֵל וְעַל מַחֲלֻקְתּוֹ עֶשְׂרִים וְאַרְבָּעָה אָלֶף׃

16Over the tribes of Yisrael: Reuven: the chief officer, Eliezer son of Zichri. Shimon: Shephatiah son of Maaca.

טזוְעַל שִׁבְטֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לָראוּבֵנִי נָגִיד אֱלִיעֶזֶר בֶּן־זִכְרִי לַשִּׁמְעוֹנִי שְׁפַטְיָהוּ בֶּן־מַעֲכָה׃

17Levi: Hashabiah son of Kemuel. Aharon: Tzadok.

יזלְלֵוִי חֲשַׁבְיָה בֶן־קְמוּאֵל לְאַהֲרֹן צָדוֹק׃

18Yehuda: Elihu, of the brothers of David. Yissachar: Omri son of Michael.

יחלִיהוּדָה אֱלִיהוּ מֵאֲחֵי דָוִיד לְיִשָׂשכָר עָמְרִי בֶּן־מִיכָאֵל׃

19Zevulun: Ishmaiah son of Ovadya. Naftali: Jerimoth son of Azriel.

יטלִזְבוּלֻן יִשְׁמַעְיָהוּ בֶּן־עֹבַדְיָהוּ לְנַפְתָּלִי יְרִימוֹת בֶּן־עַזְרִיאֵל׃

20Ephraimites: Hoshea son of Azaziah. The half-tribe of Menashe: Yoel son of Pedaiah.

כלִבְנֵי אֶפְרַיִם הוֹשֵׁעַ בֶּן־עֲזַזְיָהוּ לַחֲצִי שֵׁבֶט מְנַשֶּׁה יוֹאֵל בֶּן־פְּדָיָהוּ׃

21Half Menashe in Gilad: Ido son of Zecharya. Binyamin: Jaasiel son of Avner.

כאלַחֲצִי הַמְנַשֶּׁה גִּלְעָדָה יִדּוֹ בֶּן־זְכַרְיָהוּ לְבִנְיָמִן יַעֲשִׂיאֵל בֶּן־אַבְנֵר׃

22Dan: Azarel son of Jeroham. These were the officers of the tribes of Yisrael.

כבלְדָן עֲזַרְאֵל בֶּן־יְרֹחָם אֵלֶּה שָׂרֵי שִׁבְטֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל׃

23David did not take a census of those under twenty years of age, for Hashem had promised to make Yisrael as numerous as the stars of heaven.

כגוְלֹא־נָשָׂא דָוִיד מִסְפָּרָם לְמִבֶּן עֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה וּלְמָטָּה כִּי אָמַר יְהֹוָה לְהַרְבּוֹת אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵל כְּכוֹכְבֵי הַשָּׁמָיִם׃

24Yoav son of Tzeruya did begin to count them, but he did not finish; wrath struck Yisrael on account of this, and the census was not entered into the account of the chronicles of King David.

כדיוֹאָב בֶּן־צְרוּיָה הֵחֵל לִמְנוֹת וְלֹא כִלָּה וַיְהִי בָזֹאת קֶצֶף עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵל וְלֹא עָלָה הַמִּסְפָּר בְּמִסְפַּר דִּבְרֵי־הַיָּמִים לַמֶּלֶךְ דָּוִיד׃

25Over the royal treasuries: Azmaveth son of Adiel. Over the treasuries in the country—in the towns, the hamlets, and the citadels: Yehonatan son of Uzziyahu.

כהוְעַל אֹצְרוֹת הַמֶּלֶךְ עַזְמָוֶת בֶּן־עֲדִיאֵל וְעַל הָאֹצָרוֹת בַּשָּׂדֶה בֶּעָרִים וּבַכְּפָרִים וּבַמִּגְדָּלוֹת יְהוֹנָתָן בֶּן־עֻזִּיָּהוּ׃

26Over the field laborers in agricultural work: Ezri son of Chelub.

כווְעַל עֹשֵׂי מְלֶאכֶת הַשָּׂדֶה לַעֲבֹדַת הָאֲדָמָה עֶזְרִי בֶּן־כְּלוּב׃

27Over the vineyards: Shim'i the Ramathite. And over the produce in the vineyards for wine cellars: Zabdi the Shiphmite.

כזוְעַל־הַכְּרָמִים שִׁמְעִי הָרָמָתִי וְעַל שֶׁבַּכְּרָמִים לְאֹצְרוֹת הַיַּיִן זַבְדִּי הַשִּׁפְמִי׃

28Over the olive trees and the sycamores in the Shephelah: Baal-hanan the Gederite. Over the oil-stores: Yoash.

כחוְעַל־הַזֵּיתִים וְהַשִּׁקְמִים אֲשֶׁר בַּשְּׁפֵלָה בַּעַל חָנָן הַגְּדֵרִי וְעַל־אֹצְרוֹת הַשֶּׁמֶן יוֹעָשׁ׃

29Over the cattle pasturing in Sharon: Shirtai the Sharonite. And over the cattle in the valleys: Shafat son of Adlai.

כטוְעַל־הַבָּקָר הָרֹעִים בַּשָּׁרוֹן שטרי [שִׁרְטַי] הַשָּׁרוֹנִי וְעַל־הַבָּקָר בָּעֲמָקִים שָׁפָט בֶּן־עַדְלָי׃

30Over the camels: Obil the Ishmaelite. And over the she-asses: Jehdeiah the Meronothite.

לוְעַל־הַגְּמַלִּים אוֹבִיל הַיִּשְׁמְעֵלִי וְעַל־הָאֲתֹנוֹת יֶחְדְּיָהוּ הַמֵּרֹנֹתִי׃

31Over the flocks: Jaziz the Hagrite. All these were stewards of the property of King David.

לאוְעַל־הַצֹּאן יָזִיז הַהַגְרִי כָּל־אֵלֶּה שָׂרֵי הָרְכוּשׁ אֲשֶׁר לַמֶּלֶךְ דָּוִיד׃

32Yehonatan, David's uncle, was a counselor, a master, and a scribe: Yechiel son of Hachmoni was with the king's sons.

לבוִיהוֹנָתָן דּוֹד־דָּוִיד יוֹעֵץ אִישׁ־מֵבִין וְסוֹפֵר הוּא וִיחִיאֵל בֶּן־חַכְמוֹנִי עִם־בְּנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ׃

33Achitofel was a counselor to the king. Hushai the Archite was the king's friend.

לגוַאֲחִיתֹפֶל יוֹעֵץ לַמֶּלֶךְ וְחוּשַׁי הָאַרְכִּי רֵעַ הַמֶּלֶךְ׃

34After Achitofel were Yehoyada son of Benaiah and Evyatar. The commander of the king's army was Yoav.

לדוְאַחֲרֵי אֲחִיתֹפֶל יְהוֹיָדָע בֶּן־בְּנָיָהוּ וְאֶבְיָתָר וְשַׂר־צָבָא לַמֶּלֶךְ יוֹאָב׃