II. THE PRINCES OR EMIRS OF THE TWELVE TRIBES (1 Chronicles 27:16-24).
(16) Furthermore over the tribes of Israel. Literally, and over the tribes of Israel... the Reubenites had as prince (nâgîd) Eliezer, etc.
Eliezer the son of Zichri. — Originally the emir of the tribe was its leader in war, as well as its chief authority in times of peace. David, as appears by the list (1 Chronicles 27:1-15) made the important change of nominating the chief commanders himself. The emirs would still manage the internal affairs of their tribes.