1 Chronicles 27:9

The sixt captaine for the sixt moneth, was Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite: and in his course were twentie and foure thousand. 1 Chronicles 27:9 (KJV)

In the book of 1 Chronicles, an Old Testament work that records genealogies and the reign of King David, Chapter 27 provides a detailed picture of the military organization and administration under David’s rule. The chapter lists a series of captains, each appointed for a specific month, and each captain is described as leading a cohort of twenty‑four thousand men. The verse for the sixth month names Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite as the captain, illustrating the regular monthly rotation of leadership and the sizable strength assigned to each commander.

The broader structure of the chapter shows that David’s army was divided into several divisions, each consisting of twenty‑four thousand soldiers. This systematic arrangement reflects a highly organized military system designed for both stability and readiness. Within the tribal leadership section, the text outlines the chiefs of the various tribes. For the tribe of Benjamin, the chief is identified as Jaasiel, the son of Abner (1 Chronicles 27:21). The chapter does not provide a separate military contingent for Benjamin in the same tribal leadership passage (verses 16‑22), indicating that Benjamin’s contribution was integrated into the overall division framework rather than listed as an independent unit.

The emphasis on precise numbers and appointed leaders underscores David’s concern for order and accountability in his forces. By assigning a specific captain to each month and defining the exact size of each cohort, the chronicler conveys the extent of David’s administrative reach and the disciplined nature of Israel’s army during this period. The record serves both as a historical account of Israel’s military capacity and as a testament to the organized governance that characterized David’s reign.