Over the first course for the first month was Jashobeam the son of Zabdiel: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.

Over the first company the first month Jesboam, the son of Zabdiel was chief, and under him were four and twenty thousand.

Over the first division for the first month was Ishbaal, the son of Zabdiel; and in his division were twenty-four thousand.

Jashobeam, the son of Zabdiel, was in charge of the first company in the first month; and under him were twenty-four thousand.

Jashobeam - Jashobeam is mentioned in marginal references as the chief of David's mighty men. He is called in 1-Chronicles 11:11 "the son of Hachmoni." We learn from 1-Chronicles 27:3 that he was of the tribe of Judah, being descended from Perez (or Pharez), the son of Judah, from whom David himself sprang. See 1-Chronicles 2:3-15.

First course for the first month - Instead of mentioning first, second, third, etc., month, the Targum names them thus: First month, Nisan; second, Aiyar; third, Sivan; fourth, Tammuz; fifth, Ab; sixth, Elul; seventh, Tishri; eighth, Marchesvan; ninth, Cisleu; tenth, Tebeth; eleventh, Shebat; twelfth, Adar. No mention is made of a veadar or intercalary month.

Over the first course for the first month,.... The month Nisan, sometimes called Abib, which was March:
was Jashobeam the son of Zabdiel; the first and chief of David's worthies, 1-Chronicles 11:11.
and in his course were twenty and four; and so in all the following ones; this man was of the posterity of Perez, or Pharez, a son of Judah, and so had the preference and command of all the captains of the army for that month:
Dodai an Ahohite; the same with Dodo, 1-Chronicles 11:12 was over the course of the second month, the month Ziv, sometimes called Jiar, or April; and his lieutenant or successor was Mikloth:
Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, a chief priest; or rather a prince, a principal officer, was general of the army for the third month, Sivan, or May; the same was mighty among the thirty, and even above them, for he was among the three mighty, 1-Chronicles 11:22 and Ammizabad his son succeeded him, or was his deputy, when other ways employed: though led by our version here, and following the Jewish writers, I have called Benaiah a priest; see Gill on 1-Kings 2:31, yet I am now rather of opinion that he was not one; for though priests might bear arms on some occasions, yet it is not likely that one should be in a constant military office, and especially general of an army; and besides, this man was of Kabzeel, a city in the tribe of Judah, which is not mentioned among the Levitical cities, see 2-Samuel 23:20. Asahel the brother of Joab was over the course for the fourth month, Tammuz, or June, and who being slain by Abner, his son Zebadiah succeeded him: Shamhuth, the same with Shammah, 2-Samuel 23:11 and Shammoth, 1-Chronicles 11:27 was captain for the fifth month, Ab, or July: Ira the son of Ikkesh, the Tekoite, was over the course of the sixth month, Elul, or August, see 1-Chronicles 11:28. Helez the Pelonite was captain for the seventh month, Tisri, or September, see 1-Chronicles 11:27, the captain for the eighth month, Marchesvan, sometimes called Bul, or October, was Sibbecai the Hushathite, of the Zarbites, of the posterity of Zerah, a son of Judah in the line of Hushah, 1-Chronicles 4:4, the captain of the course for the ninth month, Cisleu, or November was Abiezer, of Anethoth, in the tribe of Benjamin, see 1-Chronicles 11:28, Maharai, of Netophah, in the tribe of Judah, and of the posterity of Zerah, was over the course for the tenth month, Tebet, or December, see 1-Chronicles 11:30 and the captain for the eleventh month, Sheber, or January, was Benaiah, of Pirathon, in the tribe of Ephraim, see 1-Chronicles 11:31 and over the course for the twelfth month, Adar, or February, was Heldai the Netophathite, the same with Heled, 1-Chronicles 11:30 and who was of the posterity of Othniel, the first judge in Israel, Judges 1:13.

Jashobeam the son of Zabdiel--(See on 1-Chronicles 11:11; 2-Samuel 23:8). Hachmoni was his father, Zabdiel probably one of his ancestors; or there might be different names of the same individual. In the rotation of the military courses, the dignity of precedence, not of authority, was given to the hero.

Over the first division was Jashobeam, scil. commander. The second מחלקתּו על is to be rendered, "in his division were 24,000 men," i.e., they were reckoned to it. As to Jashobeam, see on 1-Chronicles 11:11 and 2-Samuel 23:8.