Ch. 1 Chronicles 21:1-27 (= 2 Samuel 24:1-25)

The Numbering and the Plague

The subject of the present section (David’s numbering of the people and the plague which followed) is a difficult one, but a combination of the details of the narratives of Sam. and Chron. makes the main features clear. (1) Israel (and not David only) had sinned, for the Lord at the beginning was angry against Israel (2 Samuel 24:1). (2) The anger of the Lord, by withdrawing protection from Israel, gave an opportunity to Israel’s enemy (Satan = “adversary”; see note below). (3) This enemy moved David to commit a sin, the consequences of which affected the whole people. Thus the punishment of sin came through the commission of fresh sin. David’s sin consisted (1) in the pride and (possibly) in the designs of further conquest which prompted his act, (2) in trampling on the feelings of his people as expressed by Joab. Notice that the two numberings ordered by God Himself in the wilderness (Numbers 1:1-46; Numbers 3:39; Numbers 26:1-65) afforded no precedent except for a numbering by direct Divine command. Moreover a census was regarded as a cause of tie outbreak of plague, and it was prescribed that, when Moses took a census, every man numbered should pay half a shekel for the service of the tabernacle “as a ransom for his soul, that there be no plague among them.” (Exodus 30:12).

1. And Satan stood up against Israel] In 2 Sam. “And again the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel,” a former occasion being at the time of the famine (2 Samuel 21:1). By Satan (“adversary”) is meant some hostile spiritual being, such as is mentioned in Job 1:6 ff.; Zechariah 3:1 ff., the very opposite in fact of a guardian angel such as the Michael of Daniel 10:13; Daniel 10:21; Daniel 12:1.

and provoked] R.V. and moved, as 2 Sam., the Heb. word being the same.

to number] (cp. 1 Chronicles 27:23-24) should be like the stars, beyond numbering.

2. to Joab] The object being to number “those who drew sword,” the captain of the host was the most suitable person to entrust with the business.

rulers] R.V. princes.

from Beer-sheba even to Dan] From the extreme south even unto the extreme north of the land.

Dan] The modern Tell-el-Kâdî, about forty minutes distance from Bâniâs (Paneas), north of Lake Huleh (Waters of Merom). Bädeker, p. 264.

that I may know it] Either with a view to imposing a tax or to undertaking some fresh great military expedition.

3. moe] Cp. 1 Chronicles 14:3, note.

are they not all my lord’s servants?] Joab foresees some disaster to the people, and asks why David should destroy his own.

why will he be a cause of guilt to Israel?] Cp. Leviticus 4:3, “if the anointed priest shall sin so as to bring guilt on the people” (R.V.).

4. came to Jerusalem] In 2 Samuel 24:4-8 the route is described and the time taken in the numbering is stated, nine months and twenty days.

5. they of Israel] Chron. gives Israel as 1,100,000 and Judah as 470,000; 2 Sam. gives Israel as 800,000 and Judah as 500,000.

that drew sword] All males over twenty years of age would be so described; cp. Numbers 1:20.

6. Levi] In Numbers 1:49 it is ordained that Levi is not to be numbered among the children of Israel, i.e. treated as liable to military service. The Levites were, however, numbered separately; Numbers 3:15; Numbers 26:57. in 2 Sam. there is nothing to correspond with this verse.

7. he smote Israel] with the plague. David’s confession (1 Chronicles 21:8) was probably wrung from him by the appearance of the pestilence.

8. do away the iniquity] Render perhaps, Remove the punishment; cp. Genesis 4:13, R.V. with marg.

9. And the Lord spake] The historian now retraces his steps to describe the circumstances which heralded the approach of the plague.

Gad] He is three times mentioned in Chron., each time as a “seer,” viz. 1 Chronicles 21:9 (= 2 Samuel 24:11); 1 Chronicles 29:29; 2 Chronicles 29:25. He was perhaps an older contemporary of Nathan, who bears the more modern title of “prophet” (cp. 1 Samuel 9:9).

10. I offer thee three things] The offer is a test of David’s character, just as God’s different offer in 2 Chronicles 1:7 was a test of Solomon’s.

12. three years’ famine] 2 Sam., seven years of famine (LXX. however three, as Chron.).

three months to be destroyed] R.V. three months to be consumed (Heb. nispeh). Some scholars would correct the text of Chron. into agreement with 2 Samuel 24:13, or wilt thou flee three months?

the angel of the Lord] Cp. 2 Kings 19:35; Acts 12:23.

throughout all the coasts] Render, in every border, i.e. through the whole extent.

advise thyself] R.V. consider.

13. into the hand of the Lord] David deprecates war, and prefers famine or pestilence.

14. there fell of Israel] 2 Sam. adds, from Dan even to Beer-sheba. The pestilence was throughout the whole land.

15. unto Jerusalem] The plague arrived in Jerusalem after making ravages elsewhere.

as he was destroying] R.V. as he was about to destroy, agreeing with 2 Sam., when the angel stretched forth his hand upon Jerusalem to destroy it.

It is enough] The sudden cessation of this pestilence has numerous parallels in the history of epidemics.

the threshingfloor of Ornan] The Chronicler makes this threshing-floor the site of the Temple. The author of Sam. is silent on the point. Cp. 1 Chronicles 21:25; 1 Chronicles 21:28, notes.

Ornan] This is the form of the name throughout this chapter, but in 2 Samuel 24 the K’rî gives everywhere Araunah, The C’thîb of Sam. however offers various forms, one of which (to be read Ornah, 1 Chronicles 21:16) approximates to the form given in Chron. Variation in reproducing foreign names is common; see note on 1 Chronicles 18:5 (Damascus), and on 2 Chronicles 36:6 (Nebuchadnezzar).

16. lift up] The old form of the past changed in modern editions to lifted up; cp. Genesis 22:4, etc.

saw the angel] The full description of the vision is peculiar to Chron.; cp. 2 Samuel 24:17.

and the elders of Israel, who were clothed in sackcloth] The words supplied in A.V. are unnecessary, and are omitted in R.V. The wearing of sackcloth was doubtless accompanied with fasting; cp. Jonah 3:5.

17. let thine hand … be on me] Cp. Moses’ intercession in Exodus 32:32; but Moses was innocent, David guilty.

18. go up, and set up] R.V. go up, and rear; cp. 2 Samuel 24:18.

21. was threshing wheat] By driving oxen over it; cp. 1 Chronicles 21:23.

22. the place of this threshing floor] The expression implies perhaps that David bought more than the mere area of the threshingfloor.

for the full price] Genesis 23:9 (R.V.).

23. the meat offering] R.V. the meal offering; cp. Leviticus 2:1-16.

25. gave … for the place six hundred shekels of gold by weight] In 2 Samuel 24:24, bought the threshing floor and the oxen for money, even fifty shekels (so to be rendered).

A large discrepancy appears here between Chron. and 2 Sam. The former seems to say that 600 shekels were paid for the threshing floor alone, the latter that only 50 shekels were paid for the floor and oxen taken together. But the text of 2 Sam. is probably corrupt and should perhaps run, bought the threshing floor for money, even six hundred shekels, and the oxen for money, even fifty shekels. The “threshing floor” seems to have included the Temple Mount (1 Chronicles 22:1), and we may compare the 600 shekels paid for it with the 400 paid by Abraham for the cave and field of Machpelah (Genesis 23:15-17). In describing the 600 shekels as shekels of gold the Chronicler perhaps goes beyond his authority, for the sum then becomes improbably large.

26. peace offerings] See 1 Chronicles 16:1, note. At the end of the verse LXX. (cp. Pesh.) adds, and consumed the burnt offering. Cp. 1 Kings 18:38. The fire is not mentioned in 2 Sam.

Ch. 1 Chronicles 21:28–Ch. 1 Chronicles 22:1. The Selection of the Site of the Temple

28. At that time &c.] The construction of this section must be carefully noted. Ch. 1 Chronicles 21:28 is a protasis to which ch. 1 Chronicles 22:1 is the apodosis, 1 Chronicles 21:29-30 of ch. 21 being a parenthesis. The division of chapters here is unfortunate.

At that time] The phrase is taken up by “Then” of 1 Chronicles 22:1. The Chronicler wishes us to note that David regarded the success of his intercession at the floor of Ornan as an indication that this floor was God’s approved site for the Temple.

then he sacrificed there] Render, and [David had] sacrificed there, (the full stop is wrong, for the sense is continued in 1 Chronicles 22:1).

29. For] The beginning of a parenthesis.

the tabernacle of the Lord] See the prefatory note to ch. 23; also cp. 1 Chronicles 16:1; 1 Chronicles 16:39, and 2 Chronicles 1:3.

30. he was afraid] Or, he was terrified. The Heb. word is unusual.