📖WEB · 1 Chronicles 27:25
What does 1 Chronicles 27:25 mean?
"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 towers, was Jonathan the son of Uzziah;"
— 1 Chronicles 27:25 (World English Bible)
Surrounding context
of Dan, Azarel the son of Jeroham. These were the captains of the tribes of Israel.
But David didn’t take the number of them from twenty years old and under, because Yahweh had said he would increase Israel like the stars of the sky.
Joab the son of Zeruiah began to take a census, but didn’t finish; and wrath came on Israel for this. The number wasn’t put into the account in the chronicles of king David.
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 towers, was Jonathan the son of Uzziah;
Over those who did the work of the field for tillage of the ground was Ezri the son of Chelub;
and over the vineyards was Shimei the Ramathite; and over the increase of the vineyards for the wine cellars was Zabdi the Shiphmite;
and 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;
Explanation
This verse comes from a long administrative roster in 1 Chronicles 27 that lists the various officials who managed King David's kingdom near the end of his reign. In plain terms, it simply names two men and their jobs: Azmaveth son of Adiel was in charge of the royal treasuries — the wealth stored in the king's own household — while Jonathan son of Uzziah oversaw the stores kept out in the countryside: in the fields, towns, villages, and fortified towers scattered across the land. These were essentially David's chief financial officers, one managing the central treasury and the other managing regional storehouses and supply depots.
The book of 1 Chronicles was likely written by a priestly or Levitical author (traditionally associated with Ezra) after the Babylonian exile, addressed to the returning Jewish community. Its purpose was to remind a discouraged, rebuilding nation of its heritage — the line of David, the temple worship, and the organized, God-honoring kingdom they came from. Chapters 23–27 catalog the priests, Levites, military commanders, tribal leaders, and royal officials who structured David's government. This particular verse is part of that broader list of "the king's stewards" (27:25–31), officials responsible for agriculture, livestock, and treasury — the practical infrastructure that kept the kingdom running.
Theologically, a verse
Compare translations
Go deeper with ScriptureCompanion AI
Ask questions about any verse, follow reading plans, write personal prayers, and track your daily habit — all grounded in verified scripture text.