2 Samuel 24:1-9

The Numbering of the People

1. again The previous manifestation of God's anger referred to was the famine (ch. 21). It is possible that the two narratives stood in close juxtaposition in the original document used by the compiler.

and he moved David against them The subject of the verb is Jehovah. The nation had sinned and incurred His anger, and He instigated David to an act which brought down a sharp punishment on the nation. The statement that God incited David to do what was afterwards condemned and punished as a heinous sin cannot of course mean that He compelledDavid to sin, but that in order to test and prove his character He allowed the temptation to assault him. Thus while we read that "God himself tempteth no man" (James 1:13), we are taught to pray "Bring us not into temptation" (Matthew 6:13). In 1 Chronicles 21:1 we read "Satan stood up against Israel and moved David to number Israel." The older record speaks only of God's permissive action: the latter tells us of the malicious instrumentality of Satan. The case is like that of Job (Job 1:12; Job 2:10).

Go, number Go, count; a different word from that translated numberin the rest of the chapter, for the meaning of which see note on ch. 2 Samuel 18:1.

Israel and Judah The designation of the people as Israel and Judah seems to have been in use even before the Division of the Kingdoms. In the next verse Israelincludes the whole nation. See Introd. p. 13.