Bible Strands
1 Chronicles 18:15
Joab son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the recorder;
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The chronicler records David’s administrative appointments during the consolidation of his reign over all Israel. The passage functions as a historical register without addressing a specific audience or speaker.
The words — עַל־ (al-) means over, and הַצְּבָא (ha-tzva') means the army, establishing Joab’s command authority.
The thread — This exact personnel listing appears in 2 Samuel 8:16 and reappears in 1 Chronicles 11:6 and 1 Kings 4:3 as later writers track David’s institutional framework.
Why it lands — The verse requires the reader to recognize David’s rule as a structured administration rather than a personal dynasty. It provides a fixed reference point for comparing royal appointments across the historical books.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud, recorder.
Cross-references
- 1 Chronicles 11:6 Now David had said, “Whoever is the first to strike down a Jebusite will become chief commander.” And Joab son of Zeruiah went up first, and he became the chief.
- 2 Samuel 8:16 Joab son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the recorder;
- 1 Kings 4:3 Elihoreph and Ahijah, the sons of Shisha, were secretaries; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the recorder;