“And over them that did the work of the field for tillage of the ground was Ezri the son of Chelub:” — 1 Chronicles 27:26 (KJV)
The Superintendent of the Fields
Ezri, whose name means “My Help,” was a high-ranking official in the administrative government of King David. While David is often remembered for his “Mighty Men” of war, Ezri represents the vital civilian infrastructure that sustained the kingdom. He was the son of Chelub and served as the overseer of the laborers who tilled the royal fields.
The Economics of the Kingdom
Ezri’s role was essential for the national security and prosperity of Israel. Under King David’s reorganized government, the kingdom was divided into various departments of resource management. Ezri was specifically responsible for the agricultural production of the crown lands.
His duties likely included:
- Supervising Tillage: Ensuring the ground was properly prepared, plowed, and sown.
- Managing Laborers: Coordinating the workers who served in the royal fields.
- Food Security: Guaranteeing that the royal storehouses were filled to support the army and the court.
A Man of Order
Ezri is listed among a group of specialized “overseers” in 1 Chronicles 27, alongside men who managed the vineyards, the olive trees, the herds, and the camels. This list demonstrates that David’s kingdom was not merely a military machine, but a highly organized state where every aspect of the land’s bounty was treated as a stewardship from God.
The Theological Significance
Ezri represents the “Dignity of Labor.” His inclusion in the biblical record offers several insights:
- Service Beyond the Sword: Not everyone in David’s kingdom was called to be a soldier like Joab or a priest like Zadok. Ezri shows that “field work” and “tillage of the ground” are honorable services that are recorded by God alongside the acts of generals and kings.
- The Blessing of the Land: Ezri’s work was the practical outworking of the promise that Israel would be a land of “wheat, and barley, and vines.” He was the steward of God’s physical provision.
- Faithfulness in the Mundane: The name “My Help” (Ezri) suggests a man who relied on the Lord to bring the rain and the harvest. He reminds us that the “help” of God is found in the soil as much as it is in the sanctuary.
Summary
Ezri was the man who ensured that the “bread of the kingdom” was provided. He was a son of Judah who found his calling in the furrows of the field rather than the heat of the battle. His life teaches us that a kingdom is only as strong as the faithfulness of those who manage its humblest resources.