the outward business] This business is here expressly defined as work “for officers and judges,” as compared with the duties of maintaining the worship of the Temple and the construction or repair of the fabric (compare xxiii. 4; 2 Chronicles xix. 11; Nehemiah xi. 16).
³⁰Of the Hebronites, Hashabiah and his brethren, men of valour, a thousand and seven hundred, had the oversight of Israel beyond Jordan westward; for all the business of the Lord, and for the service of the king.
30. the Hebronites] Compare xxiii. 12.
had the oversight of Israel] How their duties were related to those of Chenaniah and his sons (verse 29) is not made clear.
beyond Jordan westward] Compare Joshua xxii. 7, Revised Version Western Palestine is meant.
³¹Of the Hebronites was Jerijah the chief, even of the Hebronites, according to their generations by fathers’ houses. In the fortieth year of the reign of David they were sought for, and there were found among them mighty men of valour at Jazer of Gilead.
31. Jerijah] called Jeriah (Hebrew Jerijahu) in xxiii. 19.
at Jazer] compare vi. 81 (vi. 66, Hebrew); Numbers xxi. 32, Revised Version The Eastern Hebronites were given office east of Jordan; compare verse 32.
³²And his brethren, men of valour, were two thousand and seven hundred, heads of fathers’ houses, whom king David made overseers over the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of the Manassites, for every matter pertaining to God, and for the affairs of the king.
32. his brethren] i.e. the brethren of Jerijah. It is remarkable that their number should be given as 2700 for the two and a half tribes, whereas the overseers for the nine and a half tribes west of Jordan are said to number only 1700. Curtis sees in this a hint of the importance of Gilead in the Chronicler’s period (compare 1 Maccabees v. 45).