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Wesley's Explanatory Notes

1 Chronicles 21:6

Counted not — Partly for the following reason; and principally by God's gracious providence to Levi, because they were devoted to his service; and to Benjamin, because they were the least of all the tribes, having been almost extinct, Judges 21:6, and because God foresaw that they would be faithful to the house of David in the division of the tribes, and therefore he would not have them diminished. And Joab also presumed to leave these two tribes unnumbered, because he had specious pretences for it; for Levi, because they were no warriors, and the king's command reached only of those that drew sword. And for Benjamin, because they, being so small a tribe, and bordering upon Jerusalem, might easily be numbered afterward.

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See also 1 Chronicles 21:6 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse 1 Chronicles 21:6. _LEVI AND BENJAMIN COUNTED HE NOT_] The rabbins give the following reason for this: Joab, seeing that this would bring down destruction upon the people, purposed to save two...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    To omit the Levites would be to follow the precedent recorded in Numbers 1:47. The omission of Benjamin must he ascribed to a determination on the part of Joab to frustrate the king’s intention, where...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    10. THE NUMBERING OF THE PEOPLE AND THE PUNISHMENT CHAPTER 21 _ 1. David's failure in numbering the people (1 Chronicles 21:1)_ 2. David's confession and the message of God (1 Chronicles 21:8) 3....

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    1 CHRONICLES 21:1 TO 1 CHRONICLES 22:1 THE NUMBERING OF THE HOSTS; THE PUNISHMENT (see notes on 2 Samuel 24:1). There are many variations from the corresponding passage in 2 S., and it is uncertain wh...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _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...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    LESSON TEN 21-22 A MILITARY CENSUS AND A PLAGUE 13. DAVID'S MILITARY CENSUS AND ITS CONSEQUENCES (Chapter 21) INTRODUCTION The final serious mistake David made was this military census. God did not...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _BUT LEVI AND BENJAMIN COUNTED HE NOT AMONG THEM: FOR THE KING'S WORD WAS ABOMINABLE TO JOAB._ Levi and Benjamin counted he not. If this census was ordered with a view to the imposition of taxes, thi...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    DAVID'S NUMBERING OF THE PEOPLE AND HIS PUNISHMENT This chapter is parallel to 2 Samuel 24, but includes a few additions: see 1 Chronicles 21:6; 1 Chronicles 21:26....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    BUT LEVI, etc.] This is not mentioned in 2 S. If the numbering of the people was due to a presumptuous reliance upon material resources, or some specific command connected with the taking of a census...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    THE BOOK OF 1 CHRONICLES GOD RULES HISTORY 1 CHRONICLES _Ian Mackervoy_ CHAPTER 21 David prepares for the construction of the *temple –...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    (1-6) The Census....

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    BUT LEVI ... — This verse is wanting in Samuel, but it probably existed in the original source. There is nothing in the style to suggest a later hand; while the word “counted” (_pâqad_)_,_ which has n...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    וְ לֵוִי֙ וּ בִנְיָמִ֔ן לֹ֥א פָקַ֖ד בְּ

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    SATAN "And again the anger of Jehovah was kindled against Israel, and He moved David against them saying, Go, number Israel and Judah." 2 Samuel 24:1 "And Satan stood up against Israel, and moved Da...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    The cause of David's action in numbering Israel is distinctly stated to be Satan. Therein lies a revelation of its nature. The one sin of Satan is that of pride and ambition, and this was the sin of D...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _Number. These might therefore escape the pestilence. (Du Hamel) --- For. Hebrew, "because the king's word was abominable to Joab." We read that Benjamin was numbered unto David, chap. vii. 5, 11. But...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    There is a difference in the account here given, from that of 2 Samuel 24:9. Perhaps Levi and Benjamin might not be numbered in the one as in the other....

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    But prosperity exposes David to the temptations of the enemy. Head over Israel, and conqueror of all his enemies, he wishes to know the strength of Israel, which was his glory, forgetting the strength...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    See Gill "1Ch 21:1"....

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _Levi and Benjamin counted he not_ Partly for the following reason, and principally by God's gracious providence to Levi, because they were devoted to his service; and to Benjamin, because they were t...

  • KJV Original Language Details

    1 Dauid tempted by Satan, forceth Ioab to number the people. 5 The number of the people being brought, Dauid repenteth of it. 9 Dauid hauing three plagues propounded by Gad, chuseth the pestilence....

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    David's Sin and its Consequences...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    But Levi and Benjamin counted he not among them, for the king's word was abominable to Joab. It seems that the tribe of Benjamin would have been the last to be numbered, and that Joab, before visiting...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    LEVI AND BENJAMIN COUNTED HE NOT AMONG THEM; partly for the following reason, and principally by God's special and gracious providence to these two tribes; to Levi, because they were devoted to his se...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    1 Chronicles 21:6 count H6485 (H8804) Levi H3878 Benjamin H1144 among H8432 kings H4428 word H1697 abominable...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    May the Lord instruct us while we read. Perhaps We shall understand it better if we begin in the 21 st chapter at the 26 th verse. 1 Chronicles 21:26. And David built there an altar unto the LORD, an...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    1 Chronicles 21:1. _And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel._ Israel had greatly offended and grieved God, and it was to be punished. God punished one sin by another: t...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: David's sin in numbering the people. Joab's faithful protest. David's choice of punishment. CHARACTERS: God, Satan, David, Joab, Gad, Ornan, angel (Jesus). CONCLUSION: God does not judge o...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    1 Chronicles 21:1. _Satan stood up against Israel;_ that is, the accuser, or calumniator. 1 Chronicles 21:3. _Why will my lord the king be a cause of trespass to Israel?_ Joab was struck with the sin,...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _And Satan stood up against Israel and provoked David to number Israel._ UNDER A SPELL (Compare 2 Peter 1:21):-- I. All the world seems to be under a spell or charm; inward influences move men as s...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    1 CHRONICLES 21:1 David’s Census and Preparation for the Temple. David paves the way for Solomon to build the temple. Even his census (1 Chronicles 21:1), though done out of wrong motives, yields a

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    1 CHRONICLES—NOTE ON 1 CHRONICLES 21:5 The Chronicler adds that JOAB found David’s census ABHORRENT (again emphasizing David’s sinfulness). Because of this, Joab did not include the priestly tribe of...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    CRITICAL NOTES.] The events here given appear in 2 Samuel 24, where the manner in which the census was taken is fully described, which took Joab nine months and twenty days. This narrative is condense...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION This very important chapter in David's history is the parallel of 2 Samuel 24:1, which contains some details not found here, _e.g._ the route taken by those who went to number Israel (2 Sam...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    In chapter twenty-one. And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel. And David said to Joab and to the rulers of the people, Go, and number Israel from Beersheba even to Dan...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    2 Samuel 11:15; 2 Samuel 20:10; 2 Samuel 20:9; 2 Samuel 3:27;...

  • When Critics Ask: A Popular Handbook on Bible Difficulties, Norman L. Geisler and Thomas Howe, 1960

    Why do the numbers of men recorded in 2 Samuel 24:9 and in 1 Chronicles 21:5-6 disagree? PROBLEM: When David was moved to number the people of Israel and Judah, he sent Joab to carry out the task. Acc...

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