Bible Strands
2 Samuel 20:24
Adoram was in charge of the forced labor; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the recorder;
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — David’s administrative roster is recorded immediately after the defeat of Sheba’s rebellion, listing Joab as army commander and Benaiah as head of the Cherethites and Pelethites.
The words — The Hebrew הַמַּס (haMas) literally means “the forced labor,” and הַמַּזְכִּיר (hamazkir) translates directly as “the recorder.”
The thread — Jehoshaphat’s office as recorder is noted in 1 Kings 4:3, while Adoram’s oversight of forced labor appears in 1 Kings 12:18 and 1 Kings 4:6, where the same duty is assigned to Adoniram.
Why it lands — The text simply catalogs David’s civil and military officers without commentary, requiring the reader to recognize the structural continuity of royal administration across David’s reign and Solomon’s succession.
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 Adoram was over the tribute: and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder:
Cross-references
- 1 Kings 4:3 Elihoreph and Ahijah, the sons of Shisha, were secretaries; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the recorder;
- 1 Kings 12:18 Then King Rehoboam sent out Adoram, who was in charge of the forced labor, but all Israel stoned him to death. And King Rehoboam mounted his chariot in haste and escaped to Jerusalem.
- 1 Kings 4:6 Ahishar was in charge of the palace; and Adoniram son of Abda was in charge of the forced labor.