July 24, 2026

Business by the Book

I Chronicles 12:33 Of Zebulun, such as went forth to battle, expert in war, with all instruments of war, fifty thousand, which could keep rank: they were not of double heart.

The seventh leadership trait that we see in the men who assembled to make David the King of Israel is that they knew they could keep rank.

This could be interpreted two different ways.

One is that these men were men of honor and responsibility. They could obtain a rank and not lose it through disobedience or ineptitude. Likewise, they did not overstep their rank and infringe on matters above their pay grade. They obtained a rank, kept that rank, and did not presumptuously exceed their rank.

The second way of interpretation is that once in rank, as in a skirmish line, they did not forsake their line. Think about the war strategies at the time of the revolutionary war. The opposing armies would square off on the field of battle in lines. One line in front of the next line and so on. As they advanced on the foe one line would be ordered to fire, then they would fall back, reload, close ranks, and prepare to fire again. This took enormous courage, mutual trust, and singleness of purpose. Perhaps this is what the phrase “they were not of double heart” at the end of the verse means. Their heart was on one solitary goal, to make David king, even in the face of personal tragedy.

Either way, these men could keep rank. They were solid, fixed, determined, and honorable in their purpose of making David king. Leaders are people who can keep rank. They do not lose their position due to a lack of character, they do not overstep their responsibilities, and when things get dicey they can be trusted by all others on the team that they will not break rank and run in the face of trouble.

Leaders know how to keep rank; the men of Zebulun did.

Dr. William Howe