Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary1 Chronicles 21

Satan stood up. Chapter 21 deals with David’s census of Israel and with the Lord’s displeasure and the plague that fell upon Israel in consequence. See also on 2 Sam. 24, the parallel passage. Against Israel. The Bible reveals the purposes of God and exposes the wiles of the enemy. Satan is constantly at war against the kingdom of heaven and is doing his utmost to thwart God’s purposes and to bring confusion and distress into the ranks of God’s people. God had wonderfully blessed David and brought great prosperity to Israel. But Satan endeavored to make it appear that David’s success was due to his own prowess and the military strength of the nation, and was endeavoring to cause David more and more to rely upon human resources rather than the blessing of Heaven. Provoked David. Satan is here represented as the one who provoked David to number Israel. In 2 Sam. 24:1, the parallel account, the observation is made, “The anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah.” God is frequently said to do that which He does not prevent. Filled with thoughts of pride and self-sufficiency, David was led by the evil one to take this census in Israel. God did not interpose, but permitted David’s corrupt motive to be translated into action. When the Lord allows the course of evil to take its way, it is often set forth as if this were by the active intervention of God, although it is actually the force of evil that is at work producing its baneful results (see Rom. 1:18, 24, 26, 28; PP 728, 739). To number Israel. The census to be taken of Israel was for military purposes, a form of registration for military service. The number sought was not the whole population, but the fighting strength of the nation (v. 5). By increasing his military might David thought to increase still further the power and prestige of Israel. By doing this, however, he was causing the nations round about to think that Israel’s strength lay in its powerful army and not in God (see PP 747).

Ellen G. White

David said to Joab. David’s proposed census caused great unrest in the nation. The people were not in agreement with the plan to extend the military service. To keep the situation under control, David ordered the army to take charge of the census, rather than the priests or tribal leaders (see Num. 1:2–18; 26:1, 2; PP 747). From Beer-sheba even to Dan. A phrase designating all Israel, from Beersheba at the extreme southern limit, to Dan at the extreme north.

Joab answered. Hardened warrior though he was, Joab saw no light in David’s attempt to number Israel, and registered his protest against the plan.

Cause of trespass. In Samuel, Joab’s protestation is reported thus: “Why doth my lord the king delight in this thing?” (2 Sam. 24:3). In his remonstrance with the king, Joab was endeavoring by a series of questions to cause David to see the folly of his course and the evil it would bring.

The king’s word prevailed. Unfortunately, those in authority are not always right, but it is their word that prevails. Joab was right and David was wrong. Throughout all Israel. The details concerning the taking of the census are not given in Chronicles. According to 2 Sam. 24:5–8, the census takers crossed the Jordan and worked north to Gilead and Dan, then across to Sidon, and south to Beersheba, and returned to Jerusalem after 9 months and 20 days.

Joab gave the sum. The totals given here differ somewhat from the totals in 2 Sam. 24:9. These totals are as follows: Chronicles Samuel Israel 1,100,000 800,000 Judah 470,000 500,000 Total 1,570,000 1,300,000 It is possible that the figure in Chronicles of 1,100,000 includes the total of David’s standing army, 288,000 men (ch. 27:1–15). In round numbers this would be 300,000 men, which, added to the 800,000 of Samuel, would make 1,100,000. The 500,000 of Samuel for Judah may also be a round number for the chronicler’s more exact figure of 470,000 (see further on 2 Sam. 24:9). The number of warriors in Israel had increased considerably since the Exodus, when the total, excluding Levites, stood at 603,550 (Num. 1:46). See Introduction to Chronicles.

Counted he not. This detail is not mentioned in Samuel. According to the instruction given Moses by the Lord, the tribe of Levi was not to be included in a military census (Num. 1:47–49). Benjamin was probably omitted because that may have been the center of opposition to David’s plans for a greater army; and Joab, fearful of results if a forced census were taken, may have regarded discretion as the better part of valor.

God was displeased. This statement is not in Samuel. Instead the following appears: “David’s heart smote him after that he had numbered the people” (2 Sam. 24:10). For the cause of the displeasure see on 1 Chron. 21:1.

Sinned greatly. One of the admirable characteristics of David was his willingness, when convicted of wrong, to confess his guilt. Saul was not willing to pursue such a course. Done very foolishly. Sin is never wise. It brings only evil and woe.

Spake unto Gad. According to 2 Sam. 24:11 the message came “when David was up in the morning.” It was evidently during the night that David had suffered his severe remorse of conscience, and had confessed his sin before the Lord. The Lord heard David’s prayer and sent His answer through the prophet Gad. David’s seer. The prophet Heman was also called “the king’s seer” (ch. 25:5). God had previously spoken to David through Gad (1 Sam. 22:5). Gad was one of the writers who preserved an account of David’s reign (1 Chron. 29:29).

Offer thee. This was an unusual offer that the Lord set before David. Sin invited judgment, but David was given an opportunity to choose what that judgment would be.

Three year’s famine. See on 2 Sam. 24:13.

Hand of the Lord. David did not make a direct choice among the three judgments set before him. He preferred to have his case rest with God rather than with man. Since the Israelites were filled with the same spirit of pride that prompted David’s military

plans, the punishment was permitted to come upon them as well as upon the king (2 Sam. 24:1; PP 748).

Ellen G. White

Sent an angel. See 2 Sam. 24:16. Repented. On the manner of God’s repentance, see on Gen. 6:6; Ex. 32:14.

Saw the angel. Compare Num. 22:31, which reports Balaam’s eyes being opened to see the angel of the Lord standing in the way. Drawn sword. The same description is given of the angel who stood in the way to intercept Balaam (Num. 22:23).

Is it not I? David took upon himself the responsibility for the command that the people be numbered. He frankly confessed his sin, and assumed the blame for the present calamity. God heard and forgave, and the evil was stayed.

Threshingfloor of Ornan. This was on Mt. Moriah. Here Abraham had erected an altar for the offering up of Isaac (Gen. 22:1–14), and here the Temple was later erected by Solomon (2 Chron. 3:1). Ornan is called Araunah in 2 Sam. 24:16.

Grant me the place. According to the record in Samuel, Ornan asked David why he had come to him, and he received from David the reply: “To buy the threshingfloor of thee, to build an altar unto the Lord” (2 Sam. 24:21).

The oxen also. Ornan was willing to make every possible sacrifice on his part that the plague might be stayed.

Six hundred shekels of gold. According to 2 Sam. 24:24, “David bought the threshingfloor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.” According to Gen. 23:16, 17, Abraham paid 400 shekels of silver to Ephron for the field containing the cave of Machpelah (see on Gen. 23:15). Thus it would seem that 50 shekels was too low a price for the property of Ornan. It is possible that the 50 shekels was the price of the threshing floor and the oxen, and that these were only a portion of the total purchase (see on 2 Sam. 24:24).

From heaven. For other occasions in which the Lord signified His presence and approbation by answering with fire see Lev. 9:24; 1 Kings 18:24, 38; 2 Chron. 7:1. The scene of the burnt offerings later became the site of the Temple built by Solomon (2 Chron. 3:1).

Put up his sword. The pestilence was symbolically represented by an angel with a drawn sword (v. 16), the end of the plague by the restoring of the sword to the sheath.

At Gibeon. Compare ch. 16:39, 40.

Could not go. The pestilence that had come upon the nation because of his transgression made David extremely cautious lest he again displease the Lord.