The numbering of the People and the Plague =1 Chronicles 21:1-27 There is no definite note of time to shew when the events here recorded took place, but several indications point to the later years of David's reign. (_a_) The language of 2 Samuel 24:1, "_again_the anger of the Lord was kindled aga... [ Continue Reading ]
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 Jehov... [ Continue Reading ]
_For the king said_ AND THE KING SAID: yielding to the temptation to which he was subjected by permission of God through the instrumentality of Satan. _the host_ The word for _host_in 2 Samuel 24:2_; 2 Samuel 24:4_is different from that generally used of the Israelite army, and perhaps indicates th... [ Continue Reading ]
_the_Lord _thy God add_, &c. Cp. Deuteronomy 1:11. _and that the eyes_, &c. That is, may it happen in the king's life-time. _why doth my lord_, &c. "Why will he be a cause of trespass to Israel?" is the further explanation of Joab's thoughts given in 1 Chronicles 21:3. It is probable that a shrewd... [ Continue Reading ]
_against Joab, and against the captains of the host_ A council of the officers of the army was held, in which the scheme was discussed.... [ Continue Reading ]
_in Aroer_ This Aroer is generally thought to be Aroer near Rabbah in the tribe of Gad (Joshua 13:25): but since it is natural to suppose that the census began from the southern boundary of the Trans-Jordanic territory, which was the river Arnon, and since THE CITY THAT IS IN THE MIDST OF THE RAVINE... [ Continue Reading ]
_Gilead_ The mountainous district partly to the north and partly to the south of the River Jabbok. _the land of Tahtim-hodshi_ No such district is known, and the form of the words also makes it probable that the text is corrupt. Some conjecture that we should read (with some MSS. of the Sept.) _to... [ Continue Reading ]
_the strong hold of Tyre_ The same term generally rendered _fenced city_in the E. V. is applied to Tyre in Joshua 19:29, where Tyre is named among the places on the border of Asher. Like Zidon it was never occupied by the Israelites, and we must suppose either that the region traversed by the enumer... [ Continue Reading ]
_through all the land_ Joab however omitted the Levites, in accordance with the direction given to Moses (Numbers 1:47 ff.), because they were exempt from military service; and the Benjamites, possibly in order to avoid exciting disaffection in a tribe specially ready to take offence.... [ Continue Reading ]
_eight hundred thousand … five hundred thousand_ In 1 Chronicles 21:5 the numbers are given as 1,100,000 for Israel, and 470,000 for Judah. This discrepancy may be due to textual corruption, but more probably arises from a difference in the original estimates, or in the oral tradition with respect t... [ Continue Reading ]
The choice of punishments 10. _David's heart smote him_ Conscience accused him, and he became aware of his guilt. He recognised the sinfulness of the proud and vainglorious spirit of self-confidence and desire for worldly aggrandisement which had induced him to take the census. See Additional Note... [ Continue Reading ]
_For when David was up in the morning_ AND DAVID AROSE IN THE MORNING, AND, &c.: after the recognition and confession of his sin. The E. V. gives the false impression that the conviction of his sin was the result of Gad's visit, which is not the meaning of the passage. Gad was not sent until after h... [ Continue Reading ]
_seven years of famine_ The reading of the Sept. and Chron. is THREE YEARS, and this is unquestionably to be preferred, as required by the symmetry of the statement. Famine, war, and pestilence are three of Jehovah's four sore judgments (Ezekiel 14:21). Two of them David had already experienced. Not... [ Continue Reading ]
_his mercies are great_ Cp. Psalms 51:1; and the reference to this passage in Sir 2:17-18 : "They that fear the Lord will prepare their hearts, and humble their souls in his sight, saying, We will fall into the hands of the Lord, and not into the hands of men: for as his majesty is, so is his mercy.... [ Continue Reading ]
The Plague 15. _even to the time appointed_ The meaning of these words, which are not found in Chron., is very doubtful. (1) The E. V. follows the Vulg. _usque ad tempus constitutum_. This would naturally mean until the end of the third day; but the duration of the plague seems to have been merciful... [ Continue Reading ]
_the angel_ Angels are God's ministers in temporal judgment now, as well as in the final judgment hereafter. Cp. Exodus 12:23; Psa 78:49; 2 Kings 19:35; Acts 12:23; Matthew 13:41. _the_Lord _repented him of the evil_ Cp. Exodus 32:14; Jeremiah 26:13; Jeremiah 26:19; Jonah 3:10. On the o [ Continue Reading ]
_when he saw the angel_ The writer of Chronicles, dwelling upon the details of the miraculous circumstances which attended the designation of the site of the Temple, records that "David lifted up his eyes, and saw the angel of the Lord standing between the earth and the heaven, having a drawn sword... [ Continue Reading ]
Purchase of Araunah's threshingfloor and erection of an altar there 18. _Gad came_ By direction of the angel, according to 1 Chronicles 21:18. Gad's message was the answer to David's prayer, the announcement to him of the purpose of mercy described in 2 Samuel 24:16. David was still in Jerusalem, p... [ Continue Reading ]
_saw the king_ In Chron. _saw the angel_, but the words _angel_and _king_in Heb. are very similar, and probably _king_is the true reading there also. _went out_ From the threshingfloor where he was at work threshing wheat.... [ Continue Reading ]
_threshing instruments_ THE THRESHING SLEDGES, drawn by the oxen which Araunah offers for sacrifice. For a description of this implement see note on ch. 2 Samuel 12:31. The word there is different, and that used here is found only in 1 Chronicles 21:23 and Isaiah 41:15. Corn was either trampled out... [ Continue Reading ]
_All these things_, &c. Render, THE WHOLE DOTH ARAUNAH, O KING, GIVE UNTO THE KING. The words are a continuation of Araunah's speech in 2 Samuel 24:22. Cp. 1 Chronicles 21:23. Although the rendering, "the whole did king Araunah give unto the king," is grammatically possible, it is inconceivable that... [ Continue Reading ]
_neither will I offer … of that which doth cost me nothing_ For that would contradict the essential idea of sacrifice. "It is an heartless piety of those base-minded Christians that care only to serve God good cheap." _Bp. Hall_. Cp. Malachi 1:13-14. _David bought the threshingfloor and the oxen for... [ Continue Reading ]
_burnt offerings and peace offerings_ The Sept. adds; "And Solomon added to the altar afterwards, for it was small at the first:" and this, whether merely a gloss or part of the original text, agrees with the statement in Chronicles, that David chose the spot for the site of the Temple. See 1Ch 22:1... [ Continue Reading ]