Ammizabad is mentioned in the Books of Chronicles as a captain during the reign of King David, specifically serving in the division of the army that operated on a monthly rotation. Though he appears briefly, his role underscores the careful organization of military service in David’s kingdom.
🛡️ A Captain in David’s Order
Ammizabad was the son of Benaiah, one of King David’s most famous and loyal “mighty men” and the head of the King’s bodyguard (the Cherethites and the Pelethites).
Ammizabad served as a captain in one of the twelve divisions of the army that was arranged to serve the king on a rotating schedule throughout the year. The scripture details his placement:
“The ninth captain for the ninth month was Abiezer the Anetothite, of the Benjamites: and in his course were twenty and four thousand. The tenth captain for the tenth month was Maharai the Netophathite, of the Zarhites: and in his course were twenty and four thousand. The eleventh captain for the eleventh month was Benaiah the Pirathonite, of the children of Ephraim: and in his course were twenty and four thousand. And in his course was Ammizabad his son.” (1 Chronicles 27:12-14, KJV)
Ammizabad did not lead his own division; rather, the text indicates that he served directly under the command of his father, Benaiah, who was the eleventh captain for the eleventh month’s military service.
The System of Service
The organization of David’s army, in which Ammizabad served, was highly strategic. The system divided the entire national army into twelve corps, each consisting of twenty and four thousand (24,000) men. Each corps served for one full month of the year and then returned home for the remaining eleven months.
Ammizabad’s placement suggests a couple of key points:
- Hereditary Trust: He was entrusted with a position of leadership, inheriting the military tradition and loyalty established by his father, Benaiah.
- Royal Security: The month he served would have been critical for managing the vast resources and ensuring the security and readiness of the kingdom, as this rotating force provided the standing army without overburdening the populace with year-round military duty.
His name, meaning “people of abundance,” is a fitting descriptor for a leader serving in a military system that ensured the abundance of prepared forces for King David’s reign.