SATAN] In 2 Samuel 24:1 the LORD is said to have been angry with Israel, and to have moved David to number the people; for the Hebrews in early times did not hesitate to describe God as prompting to evil as well as to good, men being punished for one sin by being led to commit another. But in later... [ Continue Reading ]
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.... [ Continue Reading ]
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 (e.g. Exodus 30:11) had been neglected, the non-inclusion of two tribes by Joab was perhaps a device... [ Continue Reading ]
THREE YEARS' FAMINE] This harmonises better than the 'seven years' of 2 Samuel 24:13 with the three months and three days.... [ Continue Reading ]
ORNAN] in 2 Samuel 24:16; 'Araunah' or 'Ornah.'... [ Continue Reading ]
THE ANGEL.. GAD] For divine communications made to prophets through angels cp. 1 Kings 13:18; 1 Kings 19:5; 1 Kings 19:7; Zechariah 1:11, etc.... [ Continue Reading ]
MEAT OFFERING] RV 'Meal offering': and so elsewhere.... [ Continue Reading ]
SIX HUNDRED SHEKELS OF GOLD] in 2 Samuel 24:24; 'fifty shekels of silver.'... [ Continue Reading ]
ANSWERED.. BY FIRE] Other instances of sacrifices consumed by fire from heaven occur in Leviticus 9:24; 1 Kings 18:38; 2 Chronicles 7:1. This fact is not recorded by the writer of Samuel, but is specially mentioned by the Chronicler because the acceptance of the sacrifice was taken by David to indic... [ Continue Reading ]
HE WAS AFRAID] In his alarm David was loath to leave the spot where God's favour had just been renewed to him.... [ Continue Reading ]